Bloodbath in Borno

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61877

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

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Bloodbath in Borno

•22 policemen, 14 prison officials, 2 soldiers, a bride, 3 children, 13 gunmen killed, as Boko Haram attacks Police, Army barracks, prison office, others in Bama

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By NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI— BOKO Haram militants, yesterday, launched series of coor-

dinated attacks on Police, Army and Prison formations in Bama town, Borno State, leaving no fewer thatn 55 persons Continues on Page 5

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POCKET CARTOON

equally recovered from the suspects, including several 4-litre jerrycans of water mixed with hard drugs. He added that his men succeeded in killing many of the suspects, but those who escaped

NSCIA—

From Left: Baba Adini of Lagos, Alhaji Shehu Abou; Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar El-Kanemi and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III at the National Executive Council Meeting of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: NAN

BLOODBATH IN BORNO: 55 killed; Police, Army barracks, prison office, others razed in Bama Continues from Page 1

dead.

JTF spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, who conducted newsmen round the affected places in company of the Command-

ing Officer, Lieutenant Colonel AG Laka, confirmed that the dead include 22 policemen, 14 prison officials, 2 soldiers, 13 Boko Haram members, one woman who just got married to a police corporal and

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Others can stop you temporary but you are the only one that can stop yourself permanently, see you at the top.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

T

HROUGHOUT life you’ve been through a conditioning process that’s created a mindset overflowing with I am nots. As a schoolchild with a less than satisfactory grade on your report card, you thought to yourself, I am not smart. You place anywhere other than number one and say, I am not talented. You feel criticized and believe that I am not good. You look in the mirror and compare yourself to a glamorous movie idol or homecoming queen and tell yourself, I am not attractive. Your relationship fractures and you think, I am unloved or I am unworthy. These, and many more like them, are repeated throughout your developmental years and into adulthood, and become your core defining self-concept — Wayne Dyer Run through as large an inventory as you can of the things that you would like to define your life.

Then make the shift in your imagination from an I am not or I am hoping to become to I am. You want what follows I am to be congruent with your highest self, which is God. Beginning with your inner dialogue, simply change the words that define your concept of yourself. Redefine your self-concept by choosing the words that you opt to place into your imagination. Try this rewording of your inner world as a beginning step to accessing the assistance of your higher self and fulfilling your desires.

three children.

Places attacked by the gunmen numbering about 500 in Hilux Toyota vehicles, some of who wore military uniforms, include different police barracks, 202 Army Barracks in Bama Council area headquarters, Magistrate Court, Revenue office, Primary Healthcare Centre, and Local Government Secretariat.

In the course of the attack by the gunmen, 109 prison inmates were also set free.

Also set ablaze were the Divisional Police Headquarters and the offices of the DPO and that of the Area Commander.

Bama is about 70 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital and an epicentre of Boko Haram sect which had witnessed series of killings and bombings in recent time.

The incident which started at about 4am, yesterday threw the whole town into confusion, as the streets were deserted while only few Mobile policemen and some military men were seen on major streets when Vanguard correspondent visited the ghost town in the evening.

The security men at the prison office said that when the gunmen struck, all the prison officials hid in heaps of firewood at the back of the prison yard. However, the freed inmates gave them up before they were all killed by the insurgents.

How they struck It was gathered that the gunmen first attacked the police barracks, and set them ablaze, killing some policemen, their wives and children in the attack.

But when some of the sect members who were assigned to attack the 202 military barracks at the outskirts of Bama attempted to jump into the fence, the military men fired back and killed 13 of the suspects, while one of them, Bakura Ibrahim was arrested.

The Commanding Officer confirmed that the gunmen, after successfully attacking the different locations in Bama, attempted the Military barracks, but were repelled by the soldiers, where 13 of the attackers were killed while one of them was arrested.

He added that arms and ammunition were

picked up the corpses of their fallen colleagues on the streets and ran into the bush, heading towards Abbaram before attacking Banki a town bordering Cameroun Republic.

Reps begin ratification of Bakassi, other treaties

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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BUJA—THE House of Representatives, yesterday, initiated the process of ratification of treaties and agreements reached with international bodies

by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.

According to the legislators, the United Nations (UN) records showed that Nigeria had entered into about 400 treaties, agreements and protocols while local records showed that Nigeria is a party to over 200 treaties, agreements and protocols.

It was further revealed that while records showed that less than 15 treaties have been domesticated or properly ratified, 10 have been duly domesticated or ratified, while another 10 did not complete the process during the previous Assembly.

The lawmakers, in their resolution requested that all MDAs, as a matter of urgent national importance and in compliance with the provision of the constitution, should within 30 days, liaise with the Committee on Treaties and Agreements and commence domestication and ratification processes of all Treaties, Agreements and Protocols entered into, so as to allow for the laying of such before the House.

Sponsor of the motion, Yacoob Bush-Alebiosu (ACN, Lagos) cited Section 12 (1), (2) and (3) of the 1999 constitution that clearly states that ‘No Treaty between the Federation and any other country shall have the force of law except to the extent to which such a treaty has been enacted into law by the National Assembly’.

COLUMNISTS:

ROTIMI FASAN Umaru Musa Yar’Adua: Three years after (2) •P.19

DEAR BUNMI Is he trying to con me? •P.42

Mr & Mrs

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

Edo lawmaker remanded for alleged firearms possession

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN — A LAWMAKER in Edo State,Mr. Rasaq Momoh, has been remanded in Prisons custody in Auchi by a Magistrate court for allegedly being in possession of fire arms.

Momoh who represents Etsako West Constituency I in the state Assembly was arrested April 20, 2013 for unlawful possession of firearms.

The lawmaker who was earlier arraigned on May 2, 2013 in a court presided by Mrs. Caroline Nwoha was allegedly arrested during the Edo State local government elections in Agbede, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state He was, however, on May 2, 2013 remanded in police custody instead of prison on health grounds as pleaded by his counsel, Mr Olayiwola Afolabi.

The court had reserved ruling for yesterday after listening to the amendment of the earlier charge of unlawful possession of firearms to that of robbery.

Mr. Daniel Mato, Prosecutor and representative of the Edo State Commissioner of Police, had also prayed that the case be transferred to the state high court for hearing, adding that the charge had nothing to do with electoral offences.

Community hands over alleged kidnap kingpin to police

BY EMMA ARUBI

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ARRI— THE leadership of Ekpan community in Uvwie council area of Delta State has apprehended an alleged kidnap and robbery kingpin, Gift Famous Etagvwene a.k.a Babune and handed him over to the Ekpan Police Headquarters.

The community was said to have arrested him last Wednesday after an alleged escape and gun fire exchange with security personnel in the community.

Famous, said to be an ex-convict, was involved in the kidnap of a Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, staff (name withheld) on March 19, 2001.

Security sources told Vanguard that they swooped on the gang in Benin City where a member was caught with Famous (Babune) while others escaped.

Security details later trailed Babune to Ekpan where he again escaped into the bush after a gun duel .

Fire guts Bauchi hotel as Minister opens function

BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI —THERE was commotion, yesterday, when the popular Zaranda Hotel, Bauchi, caught fire during the opening ceremony of a five-day workshop on revitalisation of adult literacy in the state.

The workshop was organised by the Department of Continuing Education and Extension Services of the National Commission for Mass Literacy/Adult and Non-formal Education in conjunction with UNESCO, with the theme: “Training of Trainers for Revitalization of Adult Literacy in Nigeria.”

The participants were drawn from all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

PROTEST—

National Assembly staff protesting non-payment of their approved allowan president, Senator David Mark addressing the protesters, yesterday. Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Suspected pirates kill two in

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA — SUSPECTED pirates reportedly shot dead two persons in the early hours of yesterday in the riverside town of Kuroamagbene in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

It was learnt that the deceased were relatives of the Special Adviser to the Bayelsa Governor on Higher Education, Dr. Godswill Ziriki.

One of the victims was recently appointed as a caretaker committee member of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Development Centre.

The incident occurred at about 1 a.m. yesterday at the community waterfront.

Nigerian laments alleged inhuman treatment by Norway

BY LAJA THOMAS

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AGOS — CITIZEN Kingsley Joseph Aghado has cried out for help over inhuman treatment meted to him by Norwegian officials prior to his deportation to Nigeria.

In a petition to the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, a copy of which was made available to newsmen, Aghado lamented various degrading conditions he faced in the hands of Norwagian police, prison and courts officials.

According to him, he was arrested on trumped up charges in 2009.

He said: “The charges kept changing as the former charge fell like a pack of cards. Initially I was found guilty but was to be discharged and acquitted by an appellate court.”

He claimed that Norway authorities accused him of sundry offences but could not produce any evidence in court. They also produced witnesses who could not even identify him.

Aghado insisted that he did not commit any offence and as such wondered why he could be put through such trouble.

He noted: “In the course of the trial/imprisonment I lost my mar-

riage. I lost my education and my means of livelihood. On three occasions I attempted to commit suicide. I was psychotic for a long time and prison papers will show diagnosis of psychotic behaviour and continuous and long treatment for mental imbalance.”

He stated further that he was put in solitary confinement for six months out of the one year and nine months he was detained.

To make matters worse, Aghado said he was chained from neck to waist during the forced deportation where he was accompanied by two Norwegian policemen.

Sources told Vanguard that the victims met their untimely death when they, alongside other youths, tried to scare away some intruders suspected to be pirates from stealing a speed boat at the community waterfront.

It was learnt that the deceased and other community youths were at a wake-keep some dis-

tance from the waterfront when they noticed an unusual movement there.

They were said to have raised alarm and were hauling stones at the intruders, an action which allegedly angered the gunmen who opened fire on them, killing two youths.

The gunmen reportedly fled the

Retired Judge sues church over land dispute

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WERRI — A RETIRED judge of the Imo State High Court (name withheld) is alleged to have taken some members of the Zion Methodist Church, Obazu Mbieri to Alaogbaga Shrine of Chokoneze in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State over a land dispute.

It was alleged that the judge, who is reported to be a senior member of the Methodist Church built his house on land belonging to the said Zion Methodist Church and that the church sued him in an Imo State High Court sitting at Iho in Ikeduru Local Government Area of the state.

Our correspondent who monitored the case said the jurist who recently retired from the Imo State judiciary, was sighted at the shrine on April 29, 2013 when the matter was first called for men-

tion but that the defendants in the matter did not appear.

Efforts to reach the said retired judge on his mobile line

JTF deploys base in

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA — THE Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta code-named Operation Pulo Shield, yesterday, said only the continued deployment of troops to the Southern Ijaw council area of Bayelsa State especially Azuzuama would put a stop to the high level criminality in the area.

Meantime, an intelligence report released by the special security outfit has declared the waterways and creeks of the Bayelsa and Delta states as a

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013—7

Gunmen kill four Ibadan traders as tension mounts

BY OLA AJAYI

I

nces, yesterday, in Abuja. Inset: Senate

Bayelsa scene without accomplishing their mission.

Attempt to get the comment of the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, on the matter proved abortive as he was not picking his calls but a relation of the deceased who pleaded annonymity confirmed the incident.

in shrine proved abortive as the line rang without response. The matter was adjourned to a later date.

BADAN — FOLLOWING the killing of four Bodija Market traders by gunmen on Sunday, fear of possible reprisal attack mounted, yesterday, in Ibadan as the news of their death was broken to other traders in the market.

As a sign of protest, the popular Bodija market was shut with scores of security agents patrolling the area to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.

According to information gathered, the traders whose names were given as Amodu, Fatai, Nihas and Alaba were travelling to buy wheat from the north when they were reportedly ordered to alight from a 16-passenger bus.

They were said to have been identified as Yoruba by their attackers.

Other people of northern extraction in the bus were reportedly spared while the Ibadan traders were asked to lie face down and shot to death.

The traders were two kilometres from Dikua village when the incident happened.

The source who spoke with newsmen said: “We heard there were 16 passengers in all including four Yorubas who were ordered to lie face down and shot to death.

“This is not the first time. That was how they killed three cattle dealers from here in the same area three days to the Eid-el-kabir festival last October.

“Many of us often contribute money so we could buy in bulk and then share, especially our elders who could no longer undertake such trips.”

On whether the assailants could not have been robbers, the traders insisted that they were not robbers because if they were, they would have first robbed them of their belongings and money before killing them. But in this case, we heard they first killed them.

In any case this was not the first

more troops, establish Bayelsa community new hub of criminal activities in the Niger Delta.

Media Coordinator of the JTF, Lt. Col Onyema Nwachukwu stated this in Yenagoa at a media briefing.

He said in spite of the successes of Operation Clean Slate launched in the creeks of Southern Ijaw in the wake of the killing of 12 policemen sometime last month and the precarious security situation more troops were being deployed to the area to bolster security.

His words: “In spite of the successes of Operation Clean Slate, Headquarters JTF assessment is

that only a continuous deployment of troops in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area particularly Azuzuama would put a stop to these unwholesome activities and rid the area of criminals.

“In line with our mandate, the JTF has deployed troops at Azuzuama WEF 5 May 13. The deployment in Azuzuama is robust and comprises all components of the JTF, operational effectiveness.

“The troops are fully on ground and their impact is already being felt given the general atmosphere of calm and security that prevails in the area.”

time.

However, after killing them, the assailants reportedly stole millions of Naira found on their victims.

But, at about 5pm yesterday,

some traders had started displaying their wares in front of the shops.

At press time, the remains of the slain traders were still beinging expected.

The deserted Bodija Market, Ibadan, yesterday.

19-yr-old boy remanded for allegedly killing master

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ANO— THE Police, yester day, arraigned a 19-yearold boy, Kabiru Ibrahim, in a Kano Magistrates’ Court for killing his 75-year-old master, Alhaji Rabi’u Goga.

The offence is contrary to Section 221 of the Penal Code.

According to the First Information Report, FIR, on March 26, 2013 at about 6:00 hours, one Hajiya Halima Rabi’u Goga and her daughter, Rukayya Rabi’u Goga, reported the matter to the Kofar Wambai Police Division in Kano metropolis.

They said on the same date, at about 02:00 hours, the accused, Kabiru Ibrahim, of the same address, entered the house of her deceased husband and stabbed him with a knife severally.

According to the FIR, the deceased sustained various degrees of injury and as a result, he was rushed to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead by medical experts.

When the content of the FIR was read to the accused, he pleaded guilty.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Ibrahim Abdul-Razak, urged the court to adjourn the matter in view of the nature of the case which he said was capital in nature as the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The Presiding Judge, Magistrate Umma Kurawa, adjourned the matter to June 3, for further mention and ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody.

Son, 27, jailed 2 years for threatening to kill father

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BUJA — A KUBWA Up per Area Court, yesterday, sentenced a 27-year-old student, Gideon Sambo, to two years imprisonment for threatening to kill his father.

The Presiding Judge, Malam Munir Lawal, did not give the convict any option of fine. He admonished him to take advantage of the opportunities in the prison to become a reformed person.

Sambo was arraigned before the court for mischief and criminal intimidation.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Danjuma Abdullahi, had told the court that the case was reported to the Dutse police sta-

tion by the convict’s father, Mr Yohana Sambo, on April 28.

“On that date, the complainant told the police that his son, Gideon, damaged his house windows and other property.

He also told the police that his son threatened to kill him with a cutlass. He said the boy had threatened him severally. He encouraged the police to initiate criminal proceedings against his son,” Abdullahi said.

He added that the offences contravened sections 327 and 397 of the Penal Code.

Sambo had pleaded guilty to the charges, but complained that his father always starved him of funds.

Police arraign Canadian for alleged N15m fraud

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BUJA — THE police, yesterday, arraigned a Canadian, Jim Mansfield, at a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court for allegedly cheating one Hajiya Binta Muktar of N15 million.

The prosecutor, Tope Falode, told the court that Muktar reported the matter to the Interpol on May 2012.

Falode said in May 2012, Muktar leased her house located at 3, Udi-Hill Close, Aso Drive, to Mansfield with an agreement that he should pay N15 million into her account.

However, he said Mansfield fraudulently possessed the said house and refused to credit Muktar’s account.

The prosecutor added that the accused, in July 2012, presented forged documents from Wells Faruo Bank to Muktar, claiming to have deposited the said sum into her account, an offence which contravened sections 312, 321 and 368 of the Penal Code.

However, Mansfield, pleaded not guilty to the charges as his counsel, Mr David Ashaolu, prayed the court to grant bail to his client.

Ashaolu said his client would not jump bail and would not jeopardise investigation in the case.

But the prosecutor objected to the bail of the accused, and said “the accused is not a Nigerian and he is likely to jump bail.”

The prosecutor also alleged that the accused had two different passports bearing two different names.

“The accused has a Canadian passport bearing the name Jim Mansfield and a UK passport with the name James Michael Mansfield.”

Mansfield’s counsel, however, urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Tony Ubani, granted the accused bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum.

He said one of the sureties must be a civil servant of not less than Grade Level 13 and must be living within the court’s jurisdiction.

He said the civil servant must deposit the original copies of his employment and last promotion letter and bank statement of account for the last three months in the court.

The second surety should be reasonable and swear to an affidavit of having not less than N2 million in his account.

8—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

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HE House of Representa tives, Arewa Youths and Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State were among other Nigerians, who yesterday, urged the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the Presidential Adviser on Niger-Delta Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, as well as the former leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, NDVF, Alhaji Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo, over alleged "inciting statements" capable of causing disaffection in the country.

Both Kuku and Dokubo were alleged to have threatened that there would be upheavals in the country, if President Goodluck Jonathan was not voted into office in 2015 to complete the amnesty programme for the Niger Delta militants.

In Minna, capital of Niger State, Governor Babangida Aliyu, also urged security agencies to arrest the NDVF leader, Dokubo over what he described as his alleged treasonable offence against the nation.

Aliyu spoke just as a former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye called for arrest of Dokubo following his purported threat that there would be no peace in the country if President Jonathan failed to win the 2015 poll.

Dokubo had at a news conference in Abuja, weekend, said Nigeria will be in crisis if Jonathan was denied a second term in office because, according to him, the current peace being enjoyed in the Niger Delta region was because Jonathan was the President.

Kuku also reportedly threatened in far away United States that there would be chaos in the country if President Jonathan was not re-elected in 2015.

However, in a unanimous motion passed by the House of Representatives, it noted that there was urgent need to check the unguarded statements of the Niger Delta leaders and urged the police high command to investigate them.

The motion for investigation of both Kuku and Dokubo was moved by Ali Sani Madaki (PDP, Kano) on the urgent need to check the utterances of some Nigerians, capable of causing disaffection among people in the country.

Madaki regretted that “while Nigerians are fervently praying for peace in the country, some Nigerians are already sowing seeds of discord amongst the people,” adding that if not checked, the statements credited to Kuku and Dokubo were “capable of creating disunity and disaffection among the good people of Nigeria.’’

When the motion was put to vote by the Speaker of the House of Representatives,

Arrest Dokubo, Kuku, Gov Aliyu, Arewa youths, others tell Police Statements capable of creating disunity, disaffection — Reps Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, members unanimously adopted it after condemning Kuku and Dokubo’s statements “in strongest terms” and mandated its committee on Public Safety and National Security to liaise with the IGP and keep the House abreast with any development on the subject matter and condemned the statements.

But Governor Aliyu, who spoke when he received members of the House of Representatives Committee on Education, led by Aminu Sule who paid him a courtesy call at Government House, Minna, said Asari Dokubo should have been picked-up for what he described as "unfortunate and inciting statement".

His words: "Dokubo went on to say that the day Goodluck is no longer the president, all of us (militants) who are on sabbatical will come back.

There will be no peace not only in the Niger Delta but everywhere. If they say it is an empty boast let them wait and see. You do not win election by frightening people and even if you win, it will be pyrrhic victory. We should bring discipline into our politics."

According to Aliyu, Nigerians and their leaders should cultivate the habit of respecting the nation’s security agencies and give them the support that will make them successful in their assignments.

He commended the security agents for the role they played in restoring peace to Madalla, in the state, after the 2011 Christmas Day bombing which led to death of over 30 worshippers at St Theresa’s Catholic Church.

Earlier, the Committee Chairman, Aminu Sule had observed that Nigeria was passing through difficult moments, saying that people of goodwill and those interested in her survival should work towards ensuring sanity in the polity.

Aminu Sule added that the House of Representatives would continue to work with people who are genuinely interested in the survival of democracy. "We will always back those who speak the truth for the nation to grow,’’ he said.

A former member of the House of Representatives and Executive Secretary of AntiCorruption Network, Dino Melaye, also asked the Federal Government to take

VISIT—President Jacob Zuma of South Africa (right) welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan to Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday.

’

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH, OKEY NDIRIBE, WOLE MOSADONI & JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

The statements credited to Kuku and Dokubo were capable of creating disunity and disaffection among the good people of Nigeria

Dokubo’s threat seriously, since it had to do with the unity of the country.

According to him, all relevant security agencies including the police, Department of State Security, DSS, and National Intelligence Agency, NIA, should without delay arrest and place Asari-Dokubo under surveillance, as he had earlier "carried arms against the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

Melaye further said, “were it to be any of us in the civil society groups that made such an outrageous statement, by now, we would have been invited by the DSS and the police and we would have been accused of threatening the security and peace of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“How can a private citizen who has carried arms against the Federal Government but, the country became so magnanimous to grant him amnesty, now categorically state that if Jonathan is not re-elect-

’

ed in 2015, apparently, there will be no Nigeria again.

“We are using this opportunity to call on the IGP, DG of SSS and DG of NIA to place Dokubo-Asari on caution and let him be made to write a statement and that statement must be investigated. A man who has carried arms before and is giving this kind of threat should not be taken lightly. He should be arrested, investigated and placed on caution,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Arewa Youth Forum also yesterday asked security agencies to urgently arrest and prosecute ex-militant leader, Asari Dokubo, for threatening to levy war on Nigeria in peace time without any justification.

The National President of the AYF, Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, made the demand in a reaction to the claim by Dokubo that there would be no peace in Nigeria if Jonathan was not re-elected for a second term in 2015.

Although the AYF dismissed Dokubo’s threat as the figment of a confused person. It maintained that the ex-militant leader should be brought to book before he plunged the nation into avoidable crisis.

“To start with, Asari Dokubo cannot be said to be speaking for any group because he has no credibility to do so as his double speak over the years has only shown him as a character who is only after what he can get from the authorities for his selfish gratification .

“Asari must understand and recognize the fact that we in the north are not afraid of war or violence that he is declaring, but following recent antecedents in the country we are of the view that this is the time for wellmeaning Nigerians to put their heads together and work for peace and socio-economic development of the country.

“We are looking forward to the 2015 elections with the minds of democrats who believe in the democratic tenets that will usher in socio-economic development for a united Nigeria where all youths will be able to achieve their potentials. We believe that power comes from God and he will give it to whoever he pleases any time.

“Ordinarily we will not join issues with the likes of Asari that are known for their antecedents, but let it be known that as youths from the North we are not afraid of Asari and his cohorts.

“All we are concerned about is to work with other stakeholders in the country towards the return of peace and normalcy in the region and by extension throughout the country so that we can continue with the process of building a virile and peaceful country where the present and future generations and youths can be happy and have a stake to develop themselves to their full potential.’’

Adding their voice to the AYF, a group of Unemployed Nigerians in the 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria, GUN774, described the outburst by Dokubo as a serious threat to national peace, which should not be taken lightly by President Jonathan and the security agencies.

The National Leader of GUN774, Okey Nwachukwu, told Vanguard that such a careless statement by Dokubo, a kinsman of Mr. President, was capable of plunging the country into unnecessary chaos at a time the country was in dire need of peace and development.

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013—9

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & CHIDI NKWOPARA

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HE nation’s political land scape was redefined, yesterday, after Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State defected from the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, to the yet unregistered All Progressive Congress, APC. The defection during a public rally at the Heroes Square, Owerri was witnessed by eight governors from opposition political parties.

Okorocha indicated that as many as 12 governors possibly from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had given indication to boost the ranks of the opposition governors to 23 from 11.

The move was immediately flayed by the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. According to Imo State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Blyden Amajirionwu, this was another indication of Governor Okorocha’s determination to hang on to power in any shape.

National chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh shied away from commenting on the matter as he didn’t respond to a text message sent to him on the issue.

Okorocha’s defection was witnessed by governors from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Edo, Osun, Nasarawa and Borno states.

Flanked by his wife, Nkechi and the visiting governors, an elated Okorocha explained that the merger of some political parties was being engineered by those he called “a crop of seasoned, patriotic politicians who want to rescue the nation from the quagmire inflicted on it by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.” Okorocha gave assurance that Ndigbo have embraced APC because of what he termed their sad experience in the hands of the PDP at the federal and state levels, pointing out that the party has been consigned to the dustbin of history in Imo State.

He advised Imo people to sustain their spirit of democracy and good governance through the rejection of the PDP and all that the party stands for in all future electoral exercises.

“I must commend all the governors that have chosen to come under the APC umbrella, especially as this is a sure way of ending bad administration in this God blessed country”, Okorocha said.

Lamenting the fate of the country in the last 12 years under different PDP federal administrations, Okorocha who derided the party as “people deceiving people”, said: “this ugly trend has pauperized Nigerians through poverty of vision and project implementation. Never again will Nigeria represent a nation in bondage.”

In his speech, Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN, of La-

Okorocha defects to unregistered APC Igbo people 'll not back a sectional party — PDP gos State, commended Okorocha for his spirit of patriotism in joining the APC family, adding that the coalition marked the beginning of a veritable change for positive transformation and reformation in the country.

Fashola, Ajimobi laud Okorocha Fashola said: “We in APC are committed to a change for the betterment of our dear nation and our people. The coming of APC is neither borne out of selfishness nor greed but a positive step to liberate our people from a state of hopelessness”.

Adding an element of humour into the event, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, announced that Okorocha had been conferred with the title of “Girigi of Oyo State”.

Ajimobi said: “Those who have accepted to join and identify with APC would enjoy everlasting divine blessing, while those still procrastinating on when and how to do so, would have their blessings deferred”.

He commended Governor Okorocha for “his landmark achievements that have ultimately brought smiles on the faces of Imo people,”

stressing that Imo people should continue to support him.

Meanwhile, the state capital, Owerri virtually stood still yesterday as schools, markets and a good number of business centres were closed for most of the day on account of the defection.

Responding to the defection, the PDP spokesman, Chief Amajirionwu said: “What he did is one of those unserious things that are always associated with him.

"In the history of Nigeria, the South East was never known to play opposition politics. What is counted today as APC is a Yoruba party and if you come to the political history of this country we in the South East have always played along the national tendency, not playing along sectional issues. I want to assure you that in Imo State not even a ward, not to talk of a local government would go the way of APC. "Rochas is on his own and

that is his nature which we have been saying to everybody. Rochas is not dependable, look at the party that sponsored him, look at how he has dumped and disgraced APGA. APGA is not even backing him on what he is doing and this is APGA that sponsored him to where he is now. And that is a lesson for those now with him because he would also one day dump them and move on.”

VISIT—From right: Vice President Namadi Sambo; Swedish Minister of International Development Cooperation, Gunilla Carlsson; Swedish Minister of Finance, Anders Borg; and Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Suante Kilandex, during a visit to the Presidential Villa by Swedish delegation, yesterday.

World Asthma Day: Experts harp on control, prevention

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

A

S Nigeria, yesterday, joined the rest of the world to mark the 2013 World Asthma Day, experts have called on both the public and private sectors to create a conducive work environment devoid of sensitisers that could trigger occupational asthma, as well as contribute to already high incidence of asthma in Nigeria.

Also, operators of companies dealing in strong chemicals that can trigger asthma in adults have also been advised to ensure adequate protection of their staff to prevent them from developing the condition.

The Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris who gave the advise, also urged parents and guardians to engage with health care professionals on improved knowledge, awareness and management of childhood asthma to check the chronic condition that is most

commonly responsible for absence of pupils from schools across the federation.

Speaking at a symposium organised by the Elias Nelson Oyedokun Foundation, ENOF, established last year in memory of late Nelson Oyedokun, a 13-year-year-old boy who died from asthma with the theme: "You Can Control Your Asthma," said asthma deaths are ultimate tragic evidence of uncontrolled asthma and these were mostly preventable if control measures are effectively instituted.

According to the commissioner, the prevalence of asthma is increasing throughout the world, especially as communities adopt western lifestyles and become urbanised.

He said: “This is of great relevance to Nigeria, especially Lagos, which is presently undergoing an economic transition.

"An estimated 300 million people worldwide have asthma according to the Global Burden of Asthma Report, a compilation of public data on the prevalence

and impact of asthma around the world. “Children constitute a reasonable percentage of those afflicted”.

Quoting the report, the commissioner who was represented by Dr. Jemilade Longe, Director of Disease Control, for health in Lagos said, the prevalence of asthma was increasing throughout the world, especially as communities adopt western lifestyles and become urbanised. “It is estimated that there may be an additional 100 million persons worldwide with asthma by 2025, and the developing world may be disproportionally contributing to this increase,” Idris lamented.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterised by recurrent breathing problems and symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing, chest tightness and coughing.

Although, asthma cannot be cured, it can be effectively treated, said Idris.

Medical Director of Massey Children Hospital, Dr. Abieyuwa Emokpae while noting

that strong chemicals like paints can trigger asthma in adults, advised persons at risk of asthma to avoid strong fume, perfume, insecticide, mentholatum, smoke, among others.

In his presentation, a Professor of Paediatrics, James Renner advised parents to first get a proper diagnosis of asthma and prevent living in denial of the condition.

Secondly, he noted that affected persons should stick to the health plan regarding when to use drug and when not to use the drug. "They should know which drug to use and for what situation.

There should be no fears for mother to manage asthmatic children,” said Renner.

In her remarks, Lola Ilaka and founder of the ENOF said the objective of the organisation is to create awareness about asthma and to touch lives, adding that ENOF will train health care providers on improved asthma care and create avenue for people to learn about asthma.

10—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

Youths protest Ekiti varsity student murder

NAF releases names of Niamey plane crash pilots

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

A

DO-EKITI— SCORES of youths, mainly students, yesterday, staged a protest at Ilupeju Ekiti over the killing of 400 level student of Ekiti State University, Mr. Seyi Fasere.

Fasere was killed in controversial circumstances in February 28, in Oye Ekiti by the police after some armed bandits struck at a first generation bank in the town.

During the protest, commercial and social activities were paralysed, as the youths sealed off all the public and private schools in the town, and commercial centres for the over eight hours that the protest lasted.

The aggrieved youths, who had trooped out as early 7am, were said to have engaged the police in serious battle, while being tear-gassed, which culminated in a stampede that led to the hospitalisation of one Deji Omoniyi.

During the protest, the youths blocked the IfakiLokoja Highway, thereby disrupting human and vehicular movements along the axis.

Oloyede becomes NSCIA scribe

K

ADUNA—NIGERIA Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, has appointed Prof. Ishaq Oloyede as its SecretaryGeneral.

He replaces late Lateef Adegbite, who died last year.

The appointment was ratified during the council’s National Executive Council meeting yesterday, in Kaduna.

Prior to his appointment, Oloyede was elected the Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin in 2007 for a single term of five years.

Oloyede is the Executive Secretary of National Inter-Religious Council, NIREC, and President of Association of African Universities, AAU.

PROTEST: Youths and students protesting the killing of a student of Ekiti State University in Ilupeju-Ekiti, yesterday.

Ekiti Assembly ratifies Adelabu as Dep Gov

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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DO-EKITI—EKITI State House of Assembly, yesterday, ratified the appointment of Professor Modupe Adelabu as the new Deputy Governor of the state.

The former university don was screened by the 26-member Assembly at 10.15am, yesterday, in Ado-Ekiti.

Adelabu, present Chairman of Ekiti State Universal Basic Education, was screened at the Houses’s parliamentary session.

Governor Kayode Fayemi sent the name of Prof.

Adelabu to the House for ratification as replacement for late Deputy Governor, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka, who died of cancer on April 6, last Friday.

The former chairman of the Education Board was ushered in to the assembly building by the Speaker of the House, Adewale Omirin, and drilled for about 30 minutes.

Speaking with the newsmen shortly after the exercise, Omirin said: “We conducted the screening at the parliament based on the decision of the lawmakers.

“They drilled the nominee for over 30 minutes but she did not let us down. She answered us intelligently and we didn’t expect anything less.”

Addressing newsmen later, Prof. Adelabu appealed to politicians in the state to cooperate with the government in building a state all Ekiti citizens can be proud of.

She said: “Irrespective of our political differences, this state belongs to all of us. We should all come together and forget our political differences to build a solid state

because whatever happens now, either good or bad, will be for all of us.”

Adelabu said she was happy to have been ap-

pointed, saying she never expected that she could find herself in the position until her name was announced by the state government.

We've recovered N6bn trapped fund— CBN

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has disclosed that it had recovered over N6 billion customers’ money trapped in various commercial banks across the country from internet banking and electronic money transfer transactions within one year.

CBN Deputy Governor (Operations), Mr. Tunde Lemo, disclosed this yesterday, during a visit to Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State in OkeMosan, Abeokuta, on the planned take-off of the cashless policy in the state.

He said that with the measures put in place by CBN, the commercial banks could ill-afford to “play games” with customers’ funds in their vaults.

Lemo, who spoke on the theme Cashless Nigeria: The

Journey So Far, said through the newly created Consumer Protection Department, CBN had been able to recover over N6 billion funds belonging to commercial banks’ customers, who had had problems in their internet banking and electronic money transfer transactions.

He said CBN had succeeded in reducing the incidence of fraud in the nation’s banking sector by 90 percent through its cashless policy, adding that from next month its cashless policy would kick off in Ogun, Abuja, Kano, Abia, Anambra and Rivers states.

Speaking on behalf of the state government, Deputy Governor, Segun Adesegun, said the state was ready to adopt the cashless policy and mobile banking, but urged CBN to organise series of awareness programmes for the people of the state.

B U J A — F O RT Yeight hours after the fatal Alpha jet accident involving two Nigerian Airforce pilots, who lost their lives in Niamey, authorities of Nigeria Air Force, yesterday, gave the names the pilots as Squadron Leader Benjamin Ado and Flying Officer Ayuba Layelmenson.

Both of them are young men with one survived by a child, while the other officer was a bachelor.

The release of the names of the officers came as the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, paid condolence visits to families of both officers in Kaduna and Kainji.

A statement by Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, Director of Air Force Public Relations said: “Following the unfortunate Alpha Jet accident of yesterday, the Nigerian Air Force has released the names of the two pilots that died in the aircraft in Niamey.

“The officers are Squadron Leader Benjamin Ben Ado and Flying Officer Ayuba Joab Layelmenson.

“Ado hailed from Konchisha Local Government Area of Benue State and was a member of the 50th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

“Flying Officer Layelmenson hailed from Azare in Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe State and was a member of the 57th Regular Course.

"He graduated from Hellenic Air Force Academy in July 2011 and was commissioned as a pilot officer."

Akure monarchs defy Deji's deposition order

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—AN end seems not in sight in the supremacy tussle among traditional rulers in Akure, Ondo State capital, as the lesser monarchs ordered to be deposed by the Deji of Akureland, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, for not getting his approval, called his bluff yesterday.

Oba Adesida had last week

directed the dethronement of all monarchs appointed without the consent of the Deji-in-Council.

In a letter to Alayede Ogbese, Oba Iseoluwa Oluyede, the Deji directed him to limit his rulership to his community and not dabble to other territories under the purview of the Deji.

The lesser Obas said they do not need the consent of the Deji before being appointed into the various positions in their com-

munities in Akure North area of the state.

On behalf of the affected monarchs, embattled Olu of Alayere, Prince Adeniran Aladetoyinbo said they would remain on the throne despite the deposition order by the Deji-in-Council.

He said since they were appointed by the prescribed authorities in Akure North Local Government, only it can dethrone them.

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013—11

3-storey building collapses in Lagos Body recovered, others trapped

BY EVELYN USMAN & MONSUR OLOWOPEJO

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RAGEDY struck, yesterday, at Ojodu Berger area of Lagos State, after a three-storey building under construction caved in and trapped a yet-tobe ascertained number of persons.

At the time of this report, only one body, believed to be one of the construction workers, had been recovered.

The incident, as gathered, occurred at 3.50pm at 24 Bashiru Street.

The uncompleted building as gathered was owned by an unnamed church.

A resident, who identified himself as Jamiu, told Vanguard that they (residents) were jolted by a deafening sound before the building caved in.

Although nobody could tell how many construction workers were on site at the time of the incident, there were indications that some of the workers were still trapped under the debris as telephone calls reportedly

made to one of the them, identified as Musilu, revealed that he was pleading passionately for urgent help.

At 5.10pm, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA; Lagos State Emergency management Author-

ity, LASEMA; Federal Road Safety Corps and policemen were sighted at the scene battling to save those trapped under the debris.

The state spokesperson for NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye confirmed that only one dead body had been recovered.

General Manager, L ASEMA, Mr. Femi

Osayintolu, disclosed that four persons were rescued alive.

He added that efforts were on to ascertain the exact location of the trapped victims with a detector, before excavation of the particular area would be done.

None could, however, state the cause of the collapse.

Re s c u e workers at the scene of the three-storey building that collapsed at Bashiru S t r e e t , Ojodu0Berger area of Lagos State, yesterday.

Aribisala: Ruling on jurisdiction for June 26

BY INNOCENT ANABA & BATHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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Lagos High Court has adjourned till June 26 to rule on whether it has jurisdiction to hear a suit by Chief Ajibola Aribisala, who was recently suspended from using the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. Trial judge, Justice Oludotun AdefopeOkojie, is also expected to rule on Aribisala’s preliminary application, asking for an injunction, restraining the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, LPPC, from stripping him of the rank of SAN. The court fixed the date for ruling after hearing arguments from parties.

On the preliminary objection by Fidelity Bank, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit, its counsel urged the court to decline jurisdiction on three grounds.

The bank argued that LPPC being a Federal Government establishment, the claimant ought to have instituted the matter at the Federal High Court and not at Lagos High Court.

It argued that LPPC was not a private organisation that could be sued at a State High Court, hence the court should strike out the suit with substantial cost against the claimant.

In his response, claimant’s lawyer observed that Fidelity Bank failed to raise the issue of jurisdiction in its statement of defence in compliance with the rules, hence the court should discountenance it.

On the preliminary application for injunction, Aribisala's counsel urged the court to restrain LPPC from stripping the claimant of the rank of SAN. He submitted that LPPC failed and or ignored to file counter affidavit and written address in opposition to the claimant’s application for interlocutory injunction.

Rivers: Suspended council boss drags IG, AG to court

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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HE Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke have been dragged before a Federal High Court, Port Harcourt by the Caretaker Committee of Obio Akpor local government over the sealing of the council secretariat by the police.

It will be recalled that activities have been grounded at the secretariat since last week Friday when about 50 policemen were deployed to seal off the place allegedly on the orders of the Inspector General of Police.

In a motion ex-parte filed by the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council, Mr Chikordi Dike he asked the court to order the police to vacate the council.

The matter has been adjourned till tomorrow.

Meantime, the trial judge, Justice H.A Ngajiwa has directed that the IG and the Attorney General be served the court processes within 24 hours.

Counsel to Obio Akpor local government had argued that the action of the police had completely grounded activities at the secretariat.

Lagos registers 13,116 job seekers

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

L

AGOS—NO fewer than 13,116 job seekers have been registered in the Lagos State’s online data bank, the state government has disclosed.

The data bank was designed to capture the details of unemployed residents in the state and their area of interest of employment for eventual placement.

Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Wale Ahmed, spoke, yesterday, at the annual briefing of the Ministry of Special Duties, in commemoration of the sixth year administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola.

12—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, MAY 8 , 2013

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013—13

Kefas assures on NIMASA's core function

BY GODFREY BIVBERE & IFEYINWA OBI HAIRMAN of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr. Agbu Kefas, has said that the agency had not abandoned its core functions of maritime security and capacity development for revenue drive.

Speaking with Vanguard at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, in Houston, Texas, USA, Kefas explained that the management of the apex maritime regulatory agency was working on all its functions simultaneously with the hope of improving the industry.

He said: “Everyone has his own opinion on what we are doing, if you are in the area of security, you will feel that NIMASA is focusing too much in that area. I want to state that we are carrying out all our duties and not focusing on one particular area.”

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Host communities in Rivers vow to occupy oil field over alleged marginalisation ...gives Shell 7 days ultimatum

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— HOST communities of E A Field 12 have called on Shell Petroleum Development Company to urgently address the issue of marginalisation presented to it within seven days, failing which, they would occupy the field indefinitely.

Coordinator, E A Chairmen Forum, Mr. Amamogiran Francis, who addressed newsmen, yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said that Shell should immediately convert the nine casual workers and 12 community contract officers, who had been working with them in the last 11 years, to permanent staff of the firm.

The coordinator, flanked

by His Royal Highness, Stephen Tume, the Amananawei of Letugbene; His Royal Highness Ajuju Jacob, Amananawei of Orobiri and Mr. Simon Franklin, said

Shell had failed to comply with a Federal Government policy on employment of qualified indigenes into lower cadres and other positions of responsibilities.

He said: “We call on SPDC/ SNEPCO to open up the service boats, catering and housekeeping services supply con-

tracts for indigenes from our area to also obtain and render such services. There are also capable contractors from our area, who can provide such services and they should be given opportunity to participate and get the economic benefits.

On his part, HRH Ajuju Jacob, said they were being pushed by Shell to get angry, adding that ordinarily, they were peaceful communities. “Shell is making us angry, if not we are a peaceful people. The world should step in .”

BRIEFING: Chairman Oil Producing Community, Ndokwa Nation, Delta State, Chief Anamali Joseph (middle); Chief Grant Oji (left) and Chief Fidelis Onu, during a press briefing on local content and transfer of the operation of the oil well to Atlantic Energy in their community, in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

OTC: We're here to display, tap from existing technology —NNPC GMD

BY GODFREY BIVBERE & IFEYINWA OBI

G

ROUP Managing i rector of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Engr.

Andrew Yakubu, yesterday said that the Nigerian oil and gas community was at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, to display the technology available in the country as well as tap from latest technology globally.

The NNPC boss, who declared the Nigerian stand open, said that there had been a steady increase in the volume of the nation’s crude and petroleum products over the years and called on the international community to invest in the huge opportunities in the industry in Nigeria.

He explained that the nation’s industry was central and strategic to the global industry.

Yakubi pointed out that Nigeria was working at remaining relevant in the global oil and gas industry, noting that indigenous participation in the sector had not been high. He stressed D

that a few years back, Nigerian’s crude oil production was only 10 percent.

He said that Federal Government’s interest in the sector had led to a lot

of divestments, adding that Shell Petroleum Development Company, in particular divested from about five of its operations in the last two years.

Delta community drags oil firm to court

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—THE Okpai community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State has dragged Sterling Global Company Limited before a Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, praying the court to restrain the oil firm from laying oil pipelines across residential areas of the community.

The Okpaluku of Okpai Oluchi, Pa. Patrick Obianife and Mr. John Nwanosike, plaintiffs, suing for themselves and the entire community are seeking the following reliefs: “A declaration that the laying of oil pipeline through the residential areas of or Okpai town without a consideration of its impact on the inhabitants or the people of Okpai town and without

carrying out an environmental impact assessment of same before laying same is unlawful."

Madam Edama for burial May 18

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ATE Madam Victoria Edama, who slept in the Lord on February 28, will be buried at Ohore Town, near Effurun, in Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State, on May18.

Christian wake-keep will hold at 10, Abukuru Street, Ajegunle-Apapa, Lagos, tomorrow.

Late Madam Edama

14—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

Nigercem drags Ebonyi State Government to court ...as court fixes May 17 for hearing

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—THE Nigerian Cement Company Plc, Nigercem, has dragged Ebonyi State government

2015: Ohanaeze ex-president backs Obiogbolu

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HE GOVERNORSHIP aspiration of Dr. Alex Obiogbolu recently got a boost when the former President General of Ohaneze, Chief Dozie Ikedife, Ikenga Nnewi, threw his weight behind his candidature.

Chief Ikedife, who spoke when the PDP governorship aspirant paid him a curtsey visit, said Obiogbolu was a very good material for the job of piloting the affairs of Anambra State.

Ikenga Nnewi said the state was in dire need of a man of integrity, intellect and courage to consolidate on the achievements of the incumbent governor.

He noted that these qualities were imbued in Obiogbolu because of his antecedents in government agencies where he had worked.

Chief Onukwube passes on

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HIEF JOEL Onukwube of Adagbe Abomimi Enugwu-Ukwu in Anambra State, is dead, aged 83..

He is survived by his wife, seven children and many grandchildren, including Mrs. Edith Ekpe, a public health worker in Dallas, USA. His remains will be laid to rest in EnugwuUkwu on May 9, 2013, after funeral services at St. Peter ’s Anglican Church Enugwu-Ukwu.

Late Onukwube C M Y K

before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, asking the court to restrain it from stopping Ibeto Cement from taking over its company situated at Nkalagu in Ebonyi State.

The plaintiff is contending that the state government lacked the powers to revoke its mining lease, just as it sought a declaration “that the defendant or any of them cannot lawfully or validly interfere with the property right of the plaintiff over the mining lease duly granted to the plaintiff by virtue of Section 1(1) (2)(3) of the Minerals and Mining Act 2007.”

Those joined as defendants in the suit were the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Inspector General of Police, and Ebonyi State government.

Besides, the plaintiff is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, privies or whosoever described from interfering in any way whatsoever with the right of the plaintiff to obtain access and enter the mining lease area.

The plaintiff also sought to exclusively use, occupy and carry out mineral exploration and exploitation within the mining lease areas without the plaintiff being found in breach of the terms and conditions of the mining leases or upon the expiration of the tenure of the mining lease.

Meanwhile, Justice Abdul Kafarati has fixed May 17 to hear the suit.

From left: Mr. Alex Dadson, Managing Director, Qualcomm West Africa; Mr. Arif Chowdhury, Vice President, Tecno Group; Mr. Wael Ammar, Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, and Mr. Mounir Boukali, Public Relations Manager, Tecno Africa, at the launch of Tecno P3 Phone, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau

DPR seals 9 filling stations in Enugu for alleged cheating

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU—THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Enugu, Mega Retail Outlet, was among the nine filling stations sealed off, yesterday, by the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, for alleged under dispensing of fuel and other petroleum products.

Officials of DPR led by Enugu Zonal Manager downstream, Engr. Sule Yusuf, who inspected the filling stations in Enugu, were shocked to discover that majority of petroleum product

Imo MDAs shut operations over unresolved industrial issues

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI — THE doors of ministries, departments and agencies of Imo State government were yesterday securely locked, following the industrial action called by labour to press home their demands.

Government had severally warned civil and public servants on the dire consequences of obeying the industrial action called by the leadership of Joint Negotiating Council, JNC. The warning came through press statements issued at varying times by Secretary to State Government, SSG, Professor Anthony Anwuka, Head of Service, HOS, Mrs. Nkechi Onumajulu and the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Chinedu Offor.

Confirming the development

to newsmen in Owerri, the JNC Chairman, Comrade Coleman Okwara, was particularly irked that the state government refused to honour agreements it reached with labour in the past.

Most of these agreements bordered on promotion of civil servants, non-payment of salaries to a category of workers in some parastatals and agencies.

Other unresolved issues include unwarranted suspension of a serving permanent secretary, non-payment of overtime and several allowances.

The leadership of JNC similarly decried the inability of the state government to handle matters in the health sector and continuous deduction of one percent of workers salaries without reference to labour.

dealers in the state were under dispens- ing, thus cheating the buyers.

Though many of them were selling petrol at N97 per litre, the petrol dispensed was far less than the quantity paid for.

The team had driven into the mega station for routine check, but on sighting the officials, all the workers, including fuel attendants, disappeared into thin air.

Apparently acting on a tipoff by consumers, the DPR officials stormed the mega station to ensure compliance.

As soon as the officials brought out the Sarafin Can used for determining adjusted metres, all the workers swiftly disappeared.

The drama lasted for about an hour to the consternation of consumers on long queue seeking to procure fuel.

The refusal of the staff to come out for the inspection of their metres led to the sealing

off of the station which had about 20 dispensing pumps.

Even as the DPR officials came back later in the day to carry out the inspection of metres after the mega station staff were persuaded by officials of NNPC to submit, most of the fuel pumps in the station were discovered to be grossly under-dispensing fuel to consumers at N97 per litre.

The acting operations controller and head of corporate services, Mr. Peter Ijeh, told the mega station staff after the check that the mega station would remain closed until further notice.

Other filling stations sealed up for gross under dispensing of fuel to consumers include Total filling station along Presidential Road, Conoil, Bontus and McManuel Energy Oil and Gas along Ogui Road, MRS along Abakaliki Road and NARCO along Presidential Road.

Murder: Community tasks IGP on proper investigation

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA — THE peo ple of Amizi in Awomnuzie Autonomous Community in Ikwuano Local Governemnt Area of Abia State have called on the Inspector General of Police to order a comprehensive investigation into the death of their kinsman, Mr. Andrew Onwuebuibo Ukatta.

Andrew Ukatta, 58, was murdered on January 10, 2013, in his farm by unknown persons.

According to the community, Ukatta went to his farm January 10 but did not return.

The community raised a

search team which discovered his battered body after being shot around his farm.

The way he was killed threw the community into mourning as he was described as a truthful man who served the community diligently.

In an effort to support proper investigation of his murder, taxable adults in the community were said to have contributed N300 each which was allegedly given to the traditional ruler of the community and his cabinet.

Feeling dissatisfied about the investigation, the community had called on the IGP to take over the matter.

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013—15

Sambo decries trade imbalance between Nigeria and Sweden

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA — VICE President Namadi Sambo has decried the imbalance in trade relations between Nigeria and Sweden and called for improvement He spoke yesterday when he received a delegation of Swedish officials, led by the Minister of International Development Corporation, Gunilla Carlsson, in Abuja.

Other members of the delegation include the Minister of Finance, Anders Borg, Director General for African Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an Ambassador in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to the Vice President, Nigeria is ready for improved cooperation with Sweden.

He noted that though the trade volume between Nigeria and Sweden had moved from $26 million years ago to about $800 million, it was still far below expectation. ”I will advise that we look at the MoU that was signed sometimes in 2011 and the need to look at improving our bilateral relations and agreements such that it will allow faster growth of our economic development between the two countries.

“Probably with proper understanding and agreements on how our trade cooperations can be enhanced, it will improve our trade relations and cooperation will be enhanced,” the Vice President

said.

He said Nigeria and Sweden had to explore faster avenues for the implementation of ideas and decisions reached between both countries because part of the administration’s developmental economic plans was to address specific areas the nation had deficit.

He called on Swedish companies to take advantage of the government’s programme in the power sector to invest in power generation and transmission, He said: “As I speak we have over 200 existing dams that we can develop small and medium hydro power scheme

and also the irrigation schemes.

“We will develop economic corridors that would have small and medium agricultural industries, and Sweden and other Scandinavian countries have immense experience in this direction. ”There are several other opportunities like the transport sector, we understand Sweden also has immense experience in ports management and sea transportation. ”One area in addition to power to revamp our transport sector. In the rail system, we are rehabilitating almost 4000

kilometres of our exiting narrow gauge gateway; we are constructing new standard gauge fast train lines in the country and we are designing many more.

“So there is opportunity for economic cooperation in that both in infrastructure and the railway constructions. ”In the ports development, we are planning the development of deep sea ports and the improvement of our existing ports because our present ports were built several decades ago and the capacity has already been exceeded and the need to build and improve on existing ones is obvious.

From left: Barr. Ezenwo Wike, Minister of State for Education; Dr. MacJohn Nwabiala, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, and Prof. Charles Onocha, Acting Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, during the Minister's meeting with contractors handling Federal Government UBEC, Almajiri school projects and those handling Federal Government colleges library projects, yesterday, in Abuja.

Workers' protest disrupts NASS activities

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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BUJA — ACTIVITIES at the National Assembly were, yesterday, brought to a standstill as a result of a protest embarked upon by parliamentary workers.

The workers who besieged the lobby of the National Assembly in large numbers, carried placards with different inscriptions expressing their grievances.

They gave the management a 21-day ultimatum to address their demands or face a full blown strike. Some of the inscriptions read: “Maikasuwa, staff fasted and prayed for you to become Clerk of National Assembly.

Now you have failed us." ”Maikasuwa must go,” “our pension deductions, Please, stop the fraud.” “Land allocation for staff housing; C M Y K

where is it? We need it.”

The workers, who occupied every nook and corner of the National Assembly lobby in the early hours of the day, levelled sundry allegations against the management of the National Assembly.

Among the allegations were corruption and diversion of public funds as well as refusal to pay workers other ”welfare packages” and fringe benefits meant for them by the leadership.

Efforts to pacify them by some lawmakers fell on deaf ears as the protesters insisted in their demand to speak with only the principal officers of the two chambers.

However, tension which had hitherto built up in the lobby of the complex subsided with the intervention of the Senate President, David Mark, and Speaker of the House of

Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who later addressed them.

In their petition to the Principal officers, the parliamentary workers

described the National Assembly management, led by the Clerk, Salisu Maikasuwa, as a cabal against the workers.

House Committee on Works begins inspection of federal roads in South-East, North Central

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA — MEMBERS of the House Committee on Works, yesterday, commenced inspection of the state of federal roads in the South East and North Central geopolitical zones of the country.

The team, led by House Committee Chairman on Works, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, are expected to inspect the dualisation of AbujaLokoja road and the emergency repairs of the flooded section of the highway; dualisation of Lokoja-Benin road section 1and 2 before proceeding to the rehabilitation of OtukpaAy a n g b a - A j a o k u t a Okene road Phase 1.

Other states to be covered by the team this week include: Benue, Niger, Nasarawa and FCT. It would be recalled that the Federal Government had expended a whopping N312 billion on road c o n s t r u c t i o n , rehabilitation and maintenance across the country in 2012.

Deputy chairman, House Committee on Works, Mohammed Ali Wudil, disclosed this recently while addressing reporters.

He said about N226 billion from the national budget was spent on roads in 2012.

Shake up in police: 11 CPs redeployed with immediate effect

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA — THE Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday, ordered the redeployment of 11 Commissioners of Police (CPs) to commands and formations across the country.

The IGP’s order followed the recent elevation of some senior officers to the rank of commissioners of police and retirement of others in state commands and police formations.

The CPs and their commands are: Agboola OshodiGlover, Kwara State; Abubakar Adamu, formerly the DC in charge State CID, Kaduna State Command, is now CP, Enugu; CP Tonye Ebitibituwa was redeployed from Force headquarters as CP, Bayelsa; CP Umaru Shehu, formerly DC, Operations at FCT Command, is now CP, Nasarawa State.

Acting CP Hurdi Mohammed is now CP, Katsina State, Sylvester Umeh moves from

Force headquarters to CP Port Authority Police, Eastern Port; Kudu Nma is new CP, Gombe State; CP Saidu Madawaki is CP, Border Patrol; CP Usman Isa Baba is CP, Cooperative; CP Abdulmajid Ali is CP in charge Explosive Ordinance Department while CP Usman Yakubu is CP, Welfare.

The IGP charged the newly redeployed CPs to show commitment in the fight against crime and criminality in their respective new beats.

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

CONDOLENCE VISIT TO THE FAMILY OF LATE CHIEF PINI JASON

From left: Mrs. Gloria Ogbechie, Mrs. Priscilla Onyegbaduo (widow), and Mrs. Naedi Ogaziechi, during a condolence visit to the family of Late Chief Pini Jason Onyegbaduo, at his 43, Shomade Crescent, Surulere, Lagos, residence, yesterday. Photos: Diran Oshe.

From left: Chief M. N. Ochulor; Mrs. Priscilla Onyegbadue and Mrs. Patience Marizu, sister-inlaw.

From left: Mrs. Priscilla Onyegbaduo, Mr. & Mrs. Kezie Ogaziechi.

From left: Mrs. Gloria Ogbechie, Mrs. Priscilla Onyegbaduo and Mrs. Naedi Ogaziechi.

From left: Mrs. Faith Daniel, Mr. Daniel Akwana and Air Commodore L. C. Ochulor, first Military Administrator of Delta State.

Clark to Orubebe: You can’t be governor of Delta State come 2015

BY EMMA AMAIZE, Regional Editor, S-South & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

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ARRI—SOUTHSOUTH leader, Chief Edwin Clark, Tuesday, lashed out at Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe, accusing him of disobeying and embarrassing President Goodluck Jonathan with his bloated ambition to take over from Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State in 2015.

Chief Clark was peeved that the minister, whose nomination he fought for against all odds, had forgotten so soon, adding that even if Ijaws in Delta State were asked to produce a gubernatorial candidate, “It will not be Mr. Orubebe and he is fully aware of that.”

Delta Speaker He also spoke on the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei, who is eyeing the governorship seat in 2015, saying: “I wish to advise Orubebe and Ochei to give peace a chance and not use their positions to intimidate and cause confuC M Y K

sion among the people.”

The elder statesman, who returned from the United Kingdom, recently, was, however, more particular about Orubebe, saying that his attention was drawn to comments made by the minister that he was going to contest the 2015 gubernatorial elections in the state because it was the turn of Ijaw ethnic nationality to do so.

Noting that President Jonathan had categorically directed that “none of his ministers and government functionaries should engage in politics as to declaring their intentions or supporting anyone for elective position, including Senatorial, House of Representatives or gubernatorial,” he said he was taken aback when he received text messages on Orubebe’s declaration.

He said: “Mr. Orubebe cannot claim ignorance of Mr. President’s directive. His flagrant disobedience is no doubt an embarrassment to Mr. President, to the leaders of the party and the party faithful, particularly to me who everybody believes contributed greatly to his becoming a Minister having regard to the opposition from the former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibor and his supporters against me.

“However, I did not believe

that Mr. Orubebe made such declaration until my return to Warri on May 2, 2013. I was not only besieged by party members on the alleged statement by Mr. Orubebe at Ovu town, when he paid a condolence visit to the family of late Alam Barovbe.

Three members, who were present testified to the fact that Mr. Orubebe made such statement in Ovu. This was also confirmed by a prominent party leader in Delta state, Chief Bernard Edewor, who said he replied to the speech made by Mr.

Orubebe.

“Our opponents and detractors are definitely cashing in on Orubebe’s careless and irresponsible statement and are now using it to insult Mr. President, the Ijaws and even myself, that the President and I, are definitely behind him.

I had tried to disabuse the minds of people and denied that neither Mr. President nor I was aware of Mr. Orubebe’s statement. The calls to my telephone have not stopped, hence my decision to address

the people of Delta State.

“Perhaps, Mr. Orubebe has also forgotten how I accompanied him to the State House in Abuja after his confirmation at the Senate as a minister and to be sworn-in as Minister with three other colleagues of his. And the embarrassment caused to me when the former Secretary to the Federal Government, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe came to inform me that Mr. President had decided not to swear in Mr. Orubebe."

Host communities back NPDC, Atlantic Energy oil blocs deal “The local content which is

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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BUJA—THE Niger Delta Oil Producing Communities have expressed support for the National Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, over its transfer of oil blocs to Atlantic Energy Concept Limited.

Representatives of the host communities, in an interactive session with newsmen, Tuesday, in Abuja, noted that those calling for the revocation of the affected oil blocs were working against the interests of host communities.

Chief Anamali Oji, who spoke on behalf of the group, explained that the agitators were

trying to blackmail top management of the NNPC and the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said: “They are creating unnecessary tension and in a way, causing fresh uprising in our region and they should be charged with treason. How many traditional leaders did they consult?

"The NPDC, a subsidiary of NNPC did the right thing by transferring the operatorship of the oil blocs to Atlantic Energy Concept Limited. If not for anything, the deal supports the local content policy which we, the oil producing communities, have agitated for over the years.

a key provision in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is one major reason why the oil producing communities have consistently urged the National Assembly to pass that piece of legislation which we believe will mark an unprecedented participation of Nigerians in the petroleum sector.

“We are of the opinion that as long as an Ijaw man can live in Lagos, an Uhrobo or Itsheiheri can own a house or business in Lagos or Jos, we wonder why a Yoruba man or whosoever, as the case may be, wouldn’t be able to do business in our area, in as much as the interests of the host communities are protected."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013— —17

C M Y K

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

T must be stated clearly that aviation I authorities have statutory rights to decide which aircraft flies. They can also

impose sanctions for infractions, in line with the law.

The controversy generated over grounding the Rivers State plane (often called Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s plane: he is the user not the owner) should recognise the powers of the authorities to regulate the skies and the craft that fly them.

Where there are reasons to ground a plane, the authorities should do it primly.

Clarity is crucial in regulatory matters. If the authorities worked that way, they would be receiving plaudits, not the damaging insinuations.

What raised eyebrows is the manner of the regulation. The authorities seemed to have grounded the aircraft before deciding the owner allegedly violated the law.

It ook a lot of probing for them to explain their actions.

The plane was detained on arriving Akure from Owerri and the pilot was accused of not filing a flight plan. He proved he did. Why was the plane then held? An additional charge, related was that there

Those who can’t fly was no manifest, a disclosure of the passengers in the plane. The pilot said he filed it.

Next was the allegation that the aircraft was not airworthy. There was proof to the contrary. The authorities fished for another flaw.

They brought the ownership of the aircaft to question. Though there was no reported case of a stolen or missing aircraft before them, they claimed that the plane belonged to the Bank of Utah which had a trusteeship deed with the Rivers State Government. Did Rivers State steal the plane?

What cast doubts on the reasons for grounding the plane is the processes. Do the regulators have channels for communicating infractions? Were they employed in this case?

If an aircraft was running out of its licensed period are there no warnings to the owner? Were the warning issued to Bank of Utah, which the authorities said is the owner? Was the aircraft airworthy from Port Harcourt to Owerri, then its licence terminated in Akure?

A major revelation of this incident is that aviation regulators seemingly work harder than the public appreciates. They are on their desks on weekends (the public would be delighted) monitoring safety, possibly of commercial planes too. The Rivers State aircraft was grounded on Saturday 27 April!

However, the authorities cannot implement the law by implementing it haphazardly. There are consequences. What they claim is a simple regulatory matter has been mismanaged to the point that Governor Amaechi and the President's politics has been dragged into it.

The dangers are obvious. The new aviation policy — an amendment of the regulations after 12 years — is being pilloried.

Its position on private planes is now seen as an extension of the fight against the Rivers State Governor.

OPINION

BY KEVIN OJI

O

UR convoluted and highly charged political environment gathered more steam recently in the aftermath of the presidential pardon granted eight Nigerians. The Council of States had granted pardon to the former Chief of General Staff,General Oladipo Diya and former Governor Of Bayelsa State,Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.Others include former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquaters, the late Major General Shehu Musa Yar ’Adua,Major Bello Magaji,Mohammed Lima Biu,Shettima Bulama, the late Major General Abdul Kareem Adisa and Major GeneralSegun Fadipe.

The uproar and strident criticisms are predictable and best illustrate the fact that presidential pardons all over the world have been controversial from the onset. The ongoing robust debate and outpouring of opinions, some of them verging on an intolerant streak against the Jonathan Presidency by its most implacable critics, are symptomatic of our democratic dispensation and represent the triumph of the freedom of expression. In truth, even President Jonathan paves our streets in gold, our realpolitic dictates that there will always be an army of critics who will spill their bile in disapproval. Whereas the likes of General Diya who was convicted for high treason attracted the least criticism, critics have refused to be placated over the pardon granted DSP C M Y K

Much ado about presidential pardon Alamieyeseigha, the former Governor of Bayelsa State.In 2005,the former Governor of Bayelsa was arrested at Heathrow Airport in London on suspicion of money laundering. He has served time in Nigeria and was made to forfeit some of his ill-gotten wealth.

The rage against Alamieyeseigha lays bare a dichotomy and the lack of substance which has defined and dominated public discourse in recent times. The traducers of Alamieyeseiya seem to be saying that having been found guilty of corruption for which he has been punished by the law, he loses every right to be reintegrated into the society. This position canvassed by many well-meaning citizens sucked into the vortex of opposition against the Jonathan presidency is fatally flawed precisely because it goes against the grain, essence and the underlying principles of our legal system and reformation. If he offends the law and is punished, does he lose the right of full reintegration into the society? In truth, our laws and society encourage the full integration of those who run foul of the law after they had served time, especially if they show penitence and demonstrated willingness to contribute positively to societal growth.

Empirical evidence amply elucidates

the fact that pardons are nearly always enmeshed in controversies and, therefore, not a Nigerian phenomenon.

Even the United States from where we borrowed our presidential democracy is not immune from these controversies.

The most controversial pardon that George H. W. Bush issued was for six individuals involved in the Iran-Contra Affair. The Iran -Contra Affair revealed that members of the executive branch sold arms to Iran,funnelled the profits to fund the anti- communist rebels in Nicaragua. The charges levelled against them included perjury,withholding of information to Congress, obstruction of justice and making false statements. Bill Clinton’s most controversial pardons occured just hours before he was due to leave office and involved pardon of 140 individuals.

But the most controversial was the pardon he granted to Marc Rich and his half brother, Roger Clinton.

I

n the case of DSP Alamieyeseigha,he was arrested in controversial circumstances by law enforcement agencies in London, set up as it were by a vengeful ex-president out to extract his pound of flesh over a political dispute. Although the highwire politics of recrimination and attrition which

defined Obasanjo’s unrelenting pursuit of his political enemies does not in anyway mitigate the enormity and severity of Alamieyeseigha’s crime, it should however, be noted that he had served time on account of the crime and suffered forfeiture of most of his assets.

Also, the damages to his reputation is quite profound. Rather than erect barricades on his path to full reintegration,it is the responsibility of the society and state to assist him rediscover his better self. Instead of the fixation with the past even after he has confronted his hubris and paid the price, we can help him move on with his life. Lest we forget, Alamieyeseigha contributed enormously to the return of peace to the Niger Delta. As Governor General of the Ijaw nation, he lent his considerable influence to the pursuit of peace in the region. Alamieyeseigha’s contribution to peace in the Niger Delta represents a profound transformation of his life of service to the nation. Critics who continue to spit fire seem to misunderstand the true essence, meaning and philosophy of pardons.

Having shown penitence and willingness to contribute positively to societal growth, no effort should be spared, including a presidential pardon, for their full reintegration into the society. *Mr. Oji, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

—19 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013—

, F

OR at least six months before he finally passed on, President Yar’Adua was no longer in charge of himself to say nothing of the country. This made the three people who surrounded him at this time the actual leaders of the country. They apparently did what they thought was right in the circumstance and put Yar’Adua’s name to it. His health condition had deteriorated to the point he could no longer be said to be in control of most, if not all, of what was attributed to him. The account in Adeniyi’s book confirms this as much as reports filtering in then from unofficial sources about how the President’s life hanged in the balance. Of course, so-called members of the President’s inner cabinet were quick to deny anything that seemed to suggest President Yar’Adua’s health might have been so compromised he could never return to office again as president. To these people, the President had become a meal ticket. Yar’Adua not only had to be alive but he must also be

president for them to live. Which means the President must be kept on his feet and made to continue with the punishing schedule imposed on him if his hangers-on must remain on the gravy train.

And so it was the man travelled to Togo for an ECOWAS meeting after a visit to Bayelsa that had all but drained life out of him. This visit had been cancelled a couple of times on account of Yar’Adu’s fragile health. But in order to maintain a semblance of good health, he followed the trip to Bayelsa with another one to Lome that almost proved fatal. It fell on his ADC to carry him off the tarmac, practically pulling him by his babanriga into a nearby room where he was revived. The spectacle created by occurrences such as this was to say the least pathetic. That the leader of the largest Black country on our planet was reduced to the puppet he had become on account of his health was not a good sight. How this escaped the media at this time is evidence of the great cover of

,

secrecy that had been thrown around the President. Worse had been written about President Yar’Adua’s health but given the vehemence with which his immediate aides denied these claims then much of what filtered to the public sounded too tragically comical to be true. One of the very issues that could have determined the continued existence of Yar’Adua’s presidency even before he contemplated standing for the flawed election that produced him as president was made a cultic affair known only to a few who stood to take the worst advantage of the situation.

A

nd nobody seemed most guilty of this than Turai Yar ’Adua who was apparently more besotted to her husband’s high office even if it was only his corpse that occupied it than insist on his return home to take better care of his health.

But equally intriguing and

The opposition and Nda-Isaiah's game plan

BY JOHNSON MOMODU

W

HEN recently, the publisher and chairman of the Leadership newspapers, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, announced that he was stepping down as Editor-in-Chief of the organisation, I did not need anybody to explain to me the reason he did that. He, however, quickly made it known that he would continue to write his Monday back page column, “Last Word”, in the newspaper. With that, he confirmed my hunch.

I knew he was simply positioning himself for the mouthpiece role he would play for the opposition party in the build-up to the 2015 presidential election. In his thinking, stepping down as Editor-in-Chief should erect a wall between him and the editorial arm as well as content of the newspaper.

But he should have known that some of us cannot be deceived by such publicised gambit.

He who pays the piper dictates the tune.

There is indeed no difference between then when he occupied the dual offices of Chairman and Editor-in-Chief and now that he remains only Chairman. The reality of the intention of that move has begun to unravel faster than I had expected: It is simply that Nda-Isaiah has returned to his perennial role of a spokesperson for the opposition party.

He was wont to play that role for his benefactor, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, who is incurably ambitious that he would one day become a democraticallyelected president of this nation. In 2003, when Buhari challenged the then President and candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olusegun Obasanjo in that year’s presidential election, NdaIsaiah took charge of the media and C M Y K

publicity machinery of the Buhari Campaign Office.

He, along with other foot soldiers of the General, had expected that a Buhari candidature could upstage the applecart of Obasanjo’s presidency. Unfortunately for them, his benefactor was trounced in that election. In 2007, Buhari also ran against Umaru Yar’Adua who was the candidate of the PDP. He lost his deposit. In 2011, he joined the fray on the platform of his Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and was defeated by incumbent President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Through this Buhari odyssey for the nation’s topmost job, Nda-Isaiah was clearly sympathetic to his cause. In the last two presidential contests, he did not unreasonably immerse himself in the turbulent waters, knowing full well that Buhari would not go far. I do not begrudge him for lending his expertise to bolstering his benefactor’s campaign in the media any time he decides to do so, as it is his constitutional right to work to eke a living and try to position himself to reap bountiful democracy dividends that Buhari presidency would have made possible for him.

But what I detest is his current attempt to hoodwink the Nigerian public into believing that he (Nda-Isaiah) is offering patriotic service through his comments in his Monday’s back page column of Leadership newspaper with particular reference to the one published on Monday, April 29, 2013, titled: “Quitting Is Leadership Too”, wherein he threw decorum to the winds, descended into the gutters of fantasy and tried to drag President Jonathan and the high office into the sludge.

From the opening paragraph of the mumbo-jumbo to the conclusion, NdaIsaiah embarked on hate campaign against

mysterious was what could make a man choose to remain in office when it was clear even to him that he was by that doing irreparable damage to himself. Why did Yar’Adua not read the writing on the wall and realise he was better off a living being than a vegetable in a presidential refrigerator?

Which leads one back to the point that the President was under the manipulative influences of a few individuals, not least of whom was his own wife. And how terribly they deceived a nation while Michael Aondoakaa (where is he now?) continued to foul the airwaves with his peculiar interpretation of the law while pretending to be in close touch with a dying man nobody had seen in public for months. As far as his wife, Turai, his CSO, Tilde and ADC, Mustapha were concerned, Yar’Adua could remain in Saudi Arabia and continue to rule in his sick bed for as long Nigerians could tolerate it.

These three were not so much interested in the President’s good health as they were in keeping their own positions. Returning Yar’Adua in the dead of night was also to ensure nobody, especially his then Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, functioned in any capacity that could suggest a change in who was Nigeria’s president- so they could keep their positions. And so it was that a man who could no longer go to work for several weeks at a time or spend more than a couple of hours when he did- so was he pushed through the body-destroying regime of appearing to run a country whose wellbeing had to be sacrificed to satisfy a few mongers of power.

Some of the most harrowing episodes in Adeniyi’s account concerned those tear-jerking

,

Umaru Musa Yar’Adua: Three years after (2)

Three years after Yar’Adua’s passing, we ought to remind ourselves how close we came to the brink as a country, no thanks to a power-obsessed three that held an ailing president hostage

How can the opposition parties unseat the ruling party when they had not and will never provide a credible alternative that is better than the party in government?

,

the President. His grouse is simply his claim of Jonathan’s “desperation” to seek reelection in 2015. I shuddered at Nda-Isaiah’s use of “desperation” because that actually describes the disposition of the opposition camp whose image he has now begun to launder ahead the 2015 presidential election.

J

onathan is today, by the grace of God and the overwhelming support of the Nigerian people who voted for him in the 2011 presidential election, President of Nigeria; and, to that extent, cannot be desperate to be president in 2015. He is already president and if there is any strategic move he intends to make with respect to 2015 contest, it is, I think, simply to approach his party and the Nigerian people to revalidate the mandate which he presently custodies.

I do not, and I believe it holds true for so many other Nigerians, need Nda-Isaiah to tell me sarcastically that he wants Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015 in his erroneous belief that he (Jonathan) would be defeated on the ground of alleged “scandalous performance”. That spurious claim has only confirmed his new role as a hired hand to prosecute the hatchet job of the opposition camp in the media.

There is no amount of efforts dissipated

moments when a man who could no longer walk down from his bed room was propped up like a stuffed teddy bear each time he had to make a public appearance. At a time, they could no longer be bothered about this. They kept him holed up inside. He was quarantined and kept away like a damaged museum piece at a time he was required to but could not perform the simplest of state functions.

Surely, the three people who had charge of Yar’Adua at this time not only wronged him but wronged a nation too. They took a nation for a ride by lying to and deceiving it.

They were prepared to run a country aground for as long as their own position was guaranteed and their meal ticket was not allowed to go in peace. These are among the most presumptuous people one has ever seen. But they had a Hamza Al-Mustapha model to follow. Unfortunately, however, the likes of Goodluck Jonathan who witnessed and suffered personal humiliation during this period have continued in the same way- nothing learned.

It’s a shame that nobody outside the three people that held him hostage for months knows what actually happened to President Umar Yar’adua in his last days.

They ought to be made to tell what they know if we are to get anywhere in our fight against the culture of impunity that has been our undoing. Three years after Yar’Adua’s passing, we ought to remind ourselves how close we came to the brink as a country. No thanks to a power-obsessed three that held an ailing president hostage before our very eyes. May Umar Yar’Adua rest on in peace.

Concluded

by Nda-Isaiah and his ilk in the media that would succeed in re-inventing the wheel of the great achievements that the Jonathan administration has recorded in about two years in office, especially in the areas of road infrastructure development and reforms in the power as well as oil and gas sectors in addition to the generally positive outlook of the economy.

On the platform of performance, NdaIsaiah would be shocked that well-meaning Nigerians who have seen through his shenanigans and the antics of his original benefactor and new pseudo-benefactors in the South West zone of the country would cast their votes for Jonathan to continue his good work.

It is not in Nda-Isaiah’s place to build a mountain out of molehill by thinking up, in the comfort of his study, the bogus proposition that Jonathan is planning to rig the 2015 presidential election. This is clearly repeating the usual refrain or catchphrase of the opposition politicians, who go into elections with such explicably defeatist attitude. How can the opposition parties unseat the ruling party when they had not and will never provide a credible alternative that is better than the party in government?

In his bid to smear Jonathan, Nda-Isaiah accused the President of “trying hard to divide Nigerians along several lines…”. He also talked about ruling government’s “wishful thinking” that the APC alliance would collapse before 2015, saying that “this only shows that the President himself has run out of intelligence ideas…”. First, if anything or any person(s) has (have) divided Nigeria, it is the clandestine move by some Northern leaders whom Nda-Isaiah venerates to make good their threat of making Nigeria ungovernable for Jonathan.

Second, this resort to tragic self-help in the desperate bid to regain presidential power is most unfortunate.

*Mr. Momodu, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

20—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, MAY 8 , 2013

Debate of the masses

Nigerians have very high sense of humour

BY EBELE ORAKPO

E

•Please do not disturb!.... Open air class study in progress

Lagos school where students study under trees

BY BOSE ADELAJA

I

N case the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola or his aides, are reading this piece, their attention is urgently needed at Community Secondary School, Bayeku in Ikorodu area of the State. Reason?

The school is an academic embarrassment.

The Governor has repeatedly promised qualitative education to Lagosians with ‘’Adopt a School Project’’ initiative where private organisations and individuals are encouraged to give public schools a facelift. Since the inception of the initiative, many schools have benefitted immensely.

Examples are Community Senior Secondary School, Tafawa Balewa Crescent; Sari Secondary School, Sari Iganmu; Dolphin Senior High School, Lagos Island and Senior Secondary School, Keffi Ikoyi which can now compete favourably with their private counterparts in terms of basic amenities like functional laboratories and information technology, modern classrooms and toilet facilities, among others.

During Vanguard Metro’s visit to Dolphin Senior High School Lagos Island and Sari Secondary School, Sari-Iganmu, students and teachers were seen carrying out the day’s activities without stress as academic activities took place under a conducive environment; also, there was regular water and power supply in these schools.

But the reverse is the case at C M Y K

Community Secondary school, Bayeku in Ikorodu. The school is bogged down by challenges ranging from dilapidated school buildings, inadequate classrooms, non-functional library, laboratories, lavatories to late attendance of pupils to school.

Also, some structures in the school are so badly damaged that the urgent intervention of government is required to avoid further damages to the school.

The school which was founded on September 5, 1983 is dilapidated and no longer conducive for learning. With the recent 2013 weather forecast, the threat of rains has become a serious concern to students, parents and teachers, especially as learning and other activities usually come to a halt each time it rains.

Makeshift structures Teachers and students still cannot forget the downpour of Sunday July 10, 2011 which caused the collapse of the perimeter fencing of the school, exposing them to the menace of street urchins. The school has only two buildings with leaking roofs.

The buildings are complemented by some makeshift structures with few chairs and tables which cannot serve the number of students in the school. Due to shortage of classrooms, all JSS 1 and 3 students are forced to receive lectures under a tree, except during examinations when they have to swap with JSS 2 students who are entitled to some

of the classrooms.

The rains have made learning very difficult for the students. Some students who spoke to VM said the last time it rained, both the students sitting under the trees and classrooms were drenched, leading to the suspension of academic activities for the day. ‘’In fact, some of us were moved from one ‘classroom’ to another which disrupted learning. The teachers were helpless as the situation forced them to stop teaching.

Temporary respite came when some concerned citizens donated some building materials for construction of more classrooms but the effort was jeopardised due to inadequate fund.

As at the time of filing this report, the perimeter fencing of the school is yet to be reconstructed. Some neighbours who spoke with VM complained that some students now indulge in nefarious activities in and around the school. ‘’Their hideouts are uncompleted buildings and they use dangerous weapons freely,’’ said Mr and Mrs Segun Ayilara.

A proprietor of a private school, who pleaded anonymity, said some students of this school are cultists who visit his school with dangerous weapons to distrupt academic activities. ‘’We have reported them to the school authorities but the teachers are helpless as they are beaten up by the students at slightest opportunity,’’ he said.

When VM spoke with some of the students, they said they were already used to the situation as the school is the only high school in the community. Some of them also complained of sharp practices on the part of teachers which they said has added to the existing problems.

VEN in their anger and frustration, there is still a very high sense of humour noticeable amongst Nigerians. In the usual maddening Lagos traffic, one could hear both drivers and passengers raining abuses on one another, calling themselves some funny names in a manner of venting their anger.

Come to think of it, it’s all very hilarious and as the Bible says and as medical science has confirmed, laughter is a good medicine.

On this particularly busy Tuesday evening along the Murtala Mohammed Airport Road Lagos, vehicles were inching their way slowly towards the airport toll gate to link Ikeja or Oshodi-Agege Motor Road when suddenly, a car moved to overtake another car trying to negotiate a bend. Shouted a commuter in the second vehicle: “Look at him, foolish man, running as if demons are after him.

Where is he going to for God’s sake?”

And when the car caught up with the first car and was about to overtake it, another passenger shouted at the driver: “Take this dustbin off the road. I don’t know what the Ministry of Transport, MOT, is doing.

This kind of vehicle should not be seen on our roads.”

“Which roads?” sneered Nike. “Abeg, he can drive it on some roads but not on this smooth, clean road,” replied Mike. The car is even half-caste,” joked Ndidi.

This elicited laughter and then Moji asked: “How do you mean?”

“Can’t you see it has got two colours? Wine red and grey, horrible combination!” replied Ndidi.

“I think it had an accident, maybe the original colour was wine red,” said Mike.

Almost immediately, a member of the notorious

Lagos mini-bus drivers popularly called danfo, drove past to form another lane on the already congested road. And when a driver with a brand new car complained, the danfo driver, ever-ready with his razor-sharp tongue, shouted at the driver thus: “If you don’t move that plastic toy out of my way, I will destroy it together with those sticks you call legs. Just respect yourself and carry that your ugly face and leave, monkey!”

“Just imagine him calling a brand new car plastic toy,” Joe remarked.

“Oh, you haven’t seen anything. That is the typical Lagos commercial bus driver for you,” said M o j i .

Narrated Ugo: “I was in a bus one day when we suddenly realised that passers-by were pointing at the bus and laughing.

We were wondering why until we got to the park and disembarked. Lo and behold, the bus looked like something out of the scrap market.”

“Didn’t you notice it before you boarded,” asked Moji. Replied Ugo: “Noticed? When everybody was fighting to get on the bus, thanking God that after several hours at the bus-stop, they were able to get a bus. There was no time to notice any flaws. Even if we had noticed, we wouldn’t have given a hoot.”

“But honestly, some vehicles are not supposed to be seen on our roads,” said Moji.

“True, but first, empower the people to be able to afford decent vehicles.

It will be unfair to force a man’s vehicle off the roads without helping him get something decent. Do you think anybody enjoys driving rickety vehicles or ‘push me I push you?” asked Ndidi. “Just reminds me of a medical doctor who was mistaken for a native doctor because of the type of car he was driving”.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013 — 21

N7.62trn informal sector booms in Lagos

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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HE Lagos State government has disclosed that informal sector in the state is worth N7.615 trillion ($48.2 billion). The sector is locked outside the state’s legal framework, which is undercapitalising business activities in the state.”

The government however said it was working on modalities to formalise the state’s informal sector. It has also assured investors that the Lekki Free Trade Zone would be made a fully functional investment haven that will help improve the industrial sector.

Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Olusola Oworu, disclosed this during the 2013 ministerial briefing on the activities of her ministry at Alausa, to commemorate the sixth year of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration.

According to Oworu, “an estimated $48.2 billion was locked in the extralegal sector with concomitant under capitalisation of business undertakings, and impoverishment of the masses.” She explained that these assets existing in the informal markets/extra-legal economy are classified as dead capital or locked assets.

“Despite the status of Lagos State as Nigeria’s economic nerve centre, several business transactions were done outside the formal economic structure in what is otherwise termed the informal sector or shadow economy which has been found to be quite massive in size in the state. This scenario leaves much to be desired in terms of the ability of operators in this sector to leverage on their assets for the creation of the much needed capital essential for the growth and expansion of their businesses,” she said The commissioner added that the state government had commenced works on the development of the Lekki-Epe International Airport to complement activities at the LFTZ and also provide alternative air transport services in the State. “The Lekki-Epe International Airport is designed to handle 5 million

passengers annually with provision for a modular terminal for future expansion.

Preliminary works on the project have commenced the clearing of 150 hectares (run way), 4.5km of the access road and 9 kilometres of perimeter road,” she added.

Oworu pointed out that the airport would be built and managed by private investors, noting that the process for the selection of private investors to develop and manage the airport has commenced. She said the process of selecting the private manager had been contracted to a team of local and internationally acclaimed consultants namely Stanbic IBTC (Financial Advisers), Arup PTY (Technical Consultants), Norton Rose (Off-shore Legal Consultants) and Banwo & Ighodalo (Local Legal Consultants).

The commissioner also lamented the inadequacy of facilities at the Apapa and TinCan Island Ports, thereby necessitating the need for Lekki Deep Seaport. She said the state government with the Federal Government through the Nigerian Ports Authority and a private investor - Lekki

Port LFTZ Enterprise (LPLE) had commenced the development of the Lekki Deep S e a p o r t . “ P r e s e n t l y, shareholders agreement has

been executed while preliminary works have started at the site. When completed the Port would relieve the pressure on the Apapa and Tin-

Can Island Ports and would also support business activities at the Lekki Free Zone.”

The commissioner said the construction of the Port is expected to last for about four years and over 10,000 jobs are projected to be created directly and indirectly during the construction period while over 169,000 jobs would be generated directly and indirectly when it becomes fully operational.

Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Adeolu Bajomo presenting the 2012 Merit Award plaque for the Most Outstanding Quoted Company in the Industrial Sector to the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc, Ms. Uzoma Uja at the 2013 Annual Dinner and Awards Night of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, in Lagos.

Shippers Council seeks investment in trucks transit parks

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

N

IGERIAN Shippers’ Council (NSC) is seeking investment for partnership in the construction of seven model truck transit parks across the country.

Speaking in an exclusive chat with Vanguard, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Hassan Bello, said that NSC is in talks with the relevant government agencies as well as concerned state governments for the preliminary work.

He further explained that the proposal for the first has been concluded with Kogi State government and it is to be located at Lokoja “The Council is working on transit parks and the idea is the delivery of cargo by trucks because what we have been doing is primitive.

We need a place where trucks are parked away from the main roads. Go to Ogere along Lagos – Ibadan expressway, you have to maneuver to pass through and human lives are being endangered. The proposed truck transit parks which are away from the main roads, will be designed in such a way that drivers will be willing to drive in their trucks for stop over.

There will be hotels, there will be mechanic

repair yards, there will be gas stations, restaurants, etc.

“Other travelers will find it easy to stop 1.3 140.25 at the truck transit park where the trucks and trailers are because of the facilities on 2,418.00 +4.00 ground. It is more than comfort and I think that state governments are also going to 0 17.79 0.26 have offices in those places because they will be mainly at the boundaries, and they can advertise their potentials,” he stated.

The NSC helmsman who described the 105.05 +0.86 parks as one stop shop areas, noted that they will save drivers the stress of driving 95.91 +0.30 long distances without stopping, which is very dangerous. He also pointed out that CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING the Council is looking at the possibility of 154.75 155.25 155.75 collaborating with the Federal Road Safety DOLLAR 241.0696 241.8485 242.6274 Corps (FRSC) in changing the orientation POUNDS EURO 202.9856 203.6414 204.2973 of drivers.

FRANC 165.3665 165.9008 166.4351 “We are having the first one in Lokoja YEN 1.5625 1.5675 1.5726 and we are already talking with the Kogi CFA 0.2904 0.3004 0.3104 233.0673 233.8204 234.5734 State government and they will soon WAUA 24.9851 25.066 allocate the parcel of land where we will RENMINBI 24.9041 RIYA 41.2106 41.3438 41.4769 start the experimentation scheme. It is KRONA 27.2313 27.3193 27.4073 going to be on Public Private Partnership SDR 233.8118 234.5672 235.3227 (PPP) basis because we need private sector CBN Exchange rate as at 07/05/2013 participation in this project.

22 — Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

The verdict in SEC vs UBN and 19 others (Part 2) From right: President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Adedoyin Owolabi, presenting a non-member category award to chairman, Vigeo Group, Victor Gbolade Osibodu. With them is the recipient’s wife, Funke Osibodu, at the 2013 ICAN Award and Dinner, in Lagos.

FirstBank records 22% growth in Q1 profit

By CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

F

BN Holdings Plc has reported a growth of 22 per cent profit after tax in its unaudited IFRS compliant results for the first quarter ended March 2013.

In its Q1 financial report released this week, the Group’s profit after tax grew to N24.4 billion from N20.2 billion in corresponding period of 2012.

The Group’s profit before tax rose by 28.9 per cent, recording N31.4 billion year-on-year as against N24.4 billion that it recorded in same period of 2012, benefitting from moderate growth in revenue, lower impairment charges and very mild cost growth.

Its earnings grew year-on-year by 13.5 per cent to N99.5 billion and was primarily driven by the increase in interest income from loans and advances by 11.5 per cent and growth in non-interest revenue 16.7 per cent.

Net interest income remained flat at N56.3 billion, from N56.0 billion in the corresponding period of 2012, due to rising interest expense reflecting the high

interest rate environment and intense competition for deposits within the industry.

The bank’s balance sheet showed that its total assets increased 8.6 per cent quarteron-quarter to N3.5 trillion in March 2013 from N3.2 trillion as at December 2012, largely on the back of growth in customers’ deposits and long term borrowings. This drove a 32 per cent increase in investment securities over the period to N934.3 billion from N706.7 billion in December, 2012.

Its operating expenses rose marginally by 1.5 per cent to N45.8 billion year on year from N45.2 billion in 2012 and well below average inflation rate of 9.0 per cent over the period.

On the results, Bello Maccido, Chief Executive Officer of FBN Holdings said: “The operating environment remained challenging during the first quarter of 2013, the performance of the Group remained resilient. The Group delivered increase in gross earnings of 14 per cent to N.5 billion.

Our flagship Commercial Banking business sustained its dominance, accounting for over 94 per cent of the total Group profit before tax of N31.4 billion.

SEC DG advises Bloomberg on inclusive business reporting

BY CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

D

IRECTOR General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh has advised the Bloomberg Group to ensure that its new African business TV station, Bloomberg TV.Africa, cuts across socio-cultural and economic boundaries.

Speaking during a visit of by Bloomberg Group to her office in Abuja, she said that Bloomberg’s TV Africa’s programme content should leverage sports to draw large audiences advising that, “Bloomberg should use content and news to generate interest in Islamic Finance through inclusion of the likes of Faith in Finance program in its schedule”. Oteh also counseled that Bloomberg Africa should include Francophone Africa in its marketing plans and strategy.

The station, according to the Commercial Director Bloomberg Group,

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Linsey Olivier, will be broadcasting live from Lagos business news, economics and financial markets information on Africa. The station which will commence operations in October 2013 would have Lagos as headquarters.

Olivier noted that Bloomberg Africa will bring about greater understanding of the African markets. “The bigger part of the story is telling it to the international audience” she added while noting that Bloomberg will make content to be easily available locally including through terrestrial distribution.

During the visit to the Director-General of SEC, the Executive Producer Bloomberg Africa TV., Mr. Kieran Baker said the group already has presence in some other jurisdictions like India and Turkey but now wants to tell the African business and financial stories “straight from source” in order to engender enhanced awareness of the business opportunities in Africa and attract more investors to the continent.

O

n Falcon Securities Ltd and Union Trustee Ltd, the Tribunal found as follows: It is however a reasonable assumption that the volume of trade (609, 852,000 units of the 1st Respondent’s shares in 31 transactions) carried out by Falcon Securities Ltd is such that could affect the price movement of shares. It is thus our view that the share purchases by Falcon Securities Limited made pursuant to the scheme to achieve the objective of the 1st Respondent did influence an upward movement of the share price of the 1st Respondent.

In the light of the above, we find that there was a scheme orchestrated by the 1st Respondent with the assistance and connivance of its officers. In other words, there were clear and willful violations of not only the Rules and Regulations guiding operations in the capital market, but also general laws on corporate practice.

On the individual roles of the Respondents, the Tribunal stated: The directors of the 1 st Respondent whether executive or non-executive

owed a duty to ensure that the business of the 1st Respondent was carried out in such an efficient and responsible manner as possible.

Consequently, any purported action or conduct by the Board of the 1st Respondent would be deemed to have the imprimatur of the directors.

Any director who was absent from the Board meeting where a resolution to raise loans was passed but did not raise issues or take action against the transaction cannot absolve himself of liability.

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ll the directors have not satisfied the Tribunal that they discharged the duties imposed upon them by statute. We find that the 2nd – 4th Respondents being executive directors and experienced professionals are particularly culpable for willful violations of the provisions of ISA and SEC rules. The 20th Respondent’s questionable knowledge of corporate governance

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ast week, we presented the judgment of the Investments and Securities Tribunal, IST, in respect of an originating application filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, against Union Bank of Nigeria Plc – UBN and 19 others.

The presentation covered the trial and the submissions of the parties.

The Tribunal in its decision looked at when, how and why the 1 st Respondent purchased its own shares and the individual responsibilities of the 2nd – 20th Respondents for the purchase.

The Tribunal found as follows: The 1st Respondent at the direction of the 2nd – 4th Respondents, in conjunction with Union Trustees Limited and Falcon conceived of, engaged in and deployed a scheme and or artifice to enhance the value of the 1 st Respondent shares by surreptitiously using the funds procured from foreign institutions for the purpose of purchasing the 1st Respondent’s own shares on the floor of the stock exchange.

The Respondents have made so much weather to the effect that the Applicant had not specifically proved the allegations. It is trite and in fact an unimpeachable proposition of the law that he who alleges must prove. See section 132 of the Evidence Act 2011.

Proof of facts may either be direct or indirect. Circumstantial evidence otherwise known as best evidence.

On the loans from Merrill Lynch and HSBC the Tribunal stated: The Record before us, oral and documentary, shows that in spite of the non-Board approvals, these foreign loans were obtained, utilized and repaid. We can infer that the Respondents have little or no regard for due process or corporate governance policies.

The 19th Respondent, a DGM and Head of Treasury from the evidence is directly culpable and exhibited a reckless disregard for due process and professionalism

,

and procedures is manifest and reprehensible given her position as the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser of the 1st Respondent. The 19th Respondent, a DGM and Head of Treasury from the evidence is directly culpable and exhibited a reckless disregard for due process and professionalism.

The Tribunal reviewed various foreign precedents relevant to this suit and in granting the reliefs sought by the Applicant, the Tribunal appointed KPMG to undertake an audit of transactions on the shares of the 1st Respondent on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange from October 2007 to March 2008 with a view to determining the losses suffered by investors who sold or purchased 1st Respondent’s shares during the above period amongst other things.

The Respondents have filed Notices of Appeal at the Court of Appeal against this judgment. …CONCLUDED

23—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

24—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

,

Law enforcement agents, whose duty are to check if drivers are carrying the necessary papers have often found it difficult to differentiate between the genuine and the fake insurance certificate

Is your motor insurance captured in NIID?

authenticate all insurance policies issued in Nigeria toward reducing the incidence of fraudulent certificates.

Accordingly, if your policy document is not captured in the NIID, then that policy document you have as motor third party insurance certificate is fake and worth nothing.

You can actually verify it yourself, right away from anywhere you are, this has not only brought a check to fake documents, it has now empowered you to make claims on all third party liabilities.

It is important to buy your insurance from a valuable source. If you did not buy from any of the 42 general business insurance companies registered and licensed by the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, it is possible that you have a fake document in the name of insurance.

Vehicle licensing offices are not insurance companies and touts are there with fake documents to sell to you and this denies you the right to make claims when there is liability.

BY RITA OBODOECHINA

A

CCORDING to the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, over 70 per cent of vehicles on Nigerian roads are in possession of fake insurance vehicle certificates. It is in response to this that the Nigerian Insurers Association, NIA, established the Nigerian Insurers Industry Database, NIID.

The NIID

T

he Nigerian Insurance Industry Database, NIID, an initiative of the Nigerian Insurers Association, was officially launched in June 2012.

It is an information technology based system that facilitates easy collation and dissemination of statistical and other information relating to insurance. It helps check activities of fake documents.

Section 68 of the 2003 Insurance Act states, “No person shall use or cause or permit any other person to use a motor vehicle on a road unless a liability, which he may thereby incur in respect of damage to the property of third parties is insured with an insurer registered under this Act.” However, most of the vehicles in the country either ignorantly or out of cost

,

Third party insurance

consciousness have continued to carry fake certificates about.

Law enforcement agents, whose duty are to check if drivers are carrying the necessary papers have often found it difficult to

differentiate between the genuine and the fake insurance certificate.

Importance of NIID

The NIID solution is designed to help insurers and NIA monitor and

Motor Third Party Insurance for private vehicles is N5,000 and so that one they have been selling to you at N1,000 or anything less than N5,000 is fake. So, don’t buy.

The benefit of having a third party insurance policy is huge because it protects against third party damage.

This means that in the event of an accident occurring, the policy holder has a third party property damage limit up to N1 million.

Tits Bits....Tits Bits....Tits Bits....Tits Bits....Tits Bits....Tits Bits....Tits Bits....Tits Bits....

IGI, UK firm provide $100m cover for ship operators

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ndustrial And General Insurance Plc (IGI) and United Kingdombased P&I Association Limited have entered into partnership to underwrite protection and indemnity insurance to safeguard owners and charterers of commercial ships in Nigeria against liabilities.

A statement by IGI’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Steve Ilo, said the partnership, which took effect last month, was brokered by Integro Insurance Brokers of United Kingdom, adding that the venture offers an overall limit of liability to the tune of $100,000,000 which is reinsured by first-class securities within the internationally acclaimed Lloyd’s Market.

He noted that under the partnership, players in Nigeria’s maritime industry, especially ship

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owners and ship operators, have access to protection and indemnity insurance coverage which protects them against liabilities arising from risks such as collision with other vessels, loss of or damage to fixed and floating objects as well as pollution risks, including those caused by bunkers.

Ilo said the insurance cover also protects the policyholder against liabilities for cargo, stowaways, sue and labour and legal costs, fines, wreck removal as well as illness, injury, loss of life of crew members and passengers.

IGI’s Executive Director, Special Risks, Sina Elusakin, said the deal is part of the company’s effort to offer the requisite backing for the development of Nigeria’s maritime industry.

He said “Concerned about the amount of foreign exchange being lost to the P&I Clubs abroad, IGI decided to put the coverage in place to reduce the hardship that ship owners go through in arranging the cover. We also

want to help stem premium export and boost the Local Content initiative and the Cabotage regime of the Federal Government.”

Elusakin noted that the alliance between IGI and the East of England P&I Association Limited is formidable.

He urged brokers, ship owners and ship managers to take advantage of the insurance product and apply for the placement of vessels under the cover.

PensionScope joins insurance and pension awareness campaign

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nsurance and pension awareness campaign has received a boast with the take-off of PensionScope Radio programme on Radio One, formerly known as Choice FM, 103.5 FM of Radio Nigeria.

In a statement by its chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter T. Adediji, the

programme which commenced on Monday, April 29, will run weekly on Mondays by 8.30a.m.

He said the programme is dedicated to airing pensions and related matters, such as pension operation, the operators, regulatory agencies, pension news, interview, pension fund and investment, features, product marketing.

According to him, other areas which the programme will feature are Pension Reform Act, 2004, insurance, stocks, information technology, related legal matters, personnel and customer care.

“Our target audience is pension operators, regulatory authorities, insurance companies and brokers, banks, stock brokers, mortgage institutions, estate valuers, healthcare insurance, professional bodies, educational institutions, trade unions, associations, Non-Governmental Organisations and employer of labour with five or more employees,” he said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013 — 25

Using life insurance to provide for children

BY RITA OBODOECHINA

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NSURING a child at a young age guarantees that he or she has insurance now and has the ability to get insurance in the future. Many people take out a life insurance policy for the purpose of providing for their children should they pass away.

At some time or another, all parents worry about what will happen to their children if one or both parents were to die prematurely. Often, life insurance is the first place parent\s turn to when these worries arise. Although life insurance may be a good source of income for your children, however, before you buy a life insurance policy you should carefully consider whether or not you really need it, what type of policy is best, and who should manage the proceeds on behalf of your children?

Some parents buy whole life policies for their children as a vehicle for saving for the future. Of course, young children don’t understand or appreciate the wisdom behind saving early in life, but as adults they will be very grateful for your foresight.

Many insurance policies for children give you the option of increasing coverage or turning a term policy into a whole life policy. If you are looking at a policy for your child to protect him/her against future insurability, make sure the policy is renewable because most of them are, and your child probably won’t even have to undergo a medical examination when it’s time for renew.

In a way, providing your children with life insurance policies helps you to look out for your future

grandchildren, who may not otherwise be protected by their own parents’ policies.

How will you leave life insurance to your children?

When you determine to leave the life insurance policy to your child then you will need to set aside a person who will be the child’s representative for all of the financial matters. In many cases people will name a lawyer as the

representative but there is the matter of it becoming very costly. If there is a particular family member outside of the immediate that you trust then you may want to consider naming them the guardian in this case.

Even though most children’s life insurance policies are meant to provide coverage for a specific period of time, they are usually setup as a whole life policy. They build cash value and when they come to maturity,

Fight de-marketing of annuity with good products, Insurers told D IRECTOR-GENERAL of Nigerian Insurers Association, NIA, Mr. Sunday Thomas, has called on insurance operators to fight the alleged de-marketing of annuity business by Pension Funds Administrators, PFAs, through development of good products that suits the needs of retirees.

In a media parley with members of National Association of Insurance Correspondents (NAICO), in Lagos, Thomas said that insurers and pension operators ought not to fight over annuity and programme withdrawal as the law has specified the roles to be played by the operators.

He said the menace would have stemmed from the operators’ lack of adequate knowledge of how the two businesses operate, adding that they were designed to complement each other.

He said, “When we heard of the issue of de-marketing between the operators, I had cause to write to the National Pension Commission, C M Y K

PenCom, and copied NAICOM. I believe it is due to lack of adequate knowledge of the subject.

“I was among those who were instrumental to give effect to the law, when I was with NAICOM. And annuity was not designed to be a conflict between the institutions. But the problem may probably be due to lack of proper understanding. The two are supposed to complement each other. “The role of programmed withdrawal is totally different from life annuity. There was a time when the former Director-General of PenCom was encouraging insurance companies to come up with products that will attract retirees. Out of the total number of retirees then, it was very small number that went by way of life annuity.

“If I am an operator, de-marketing will not bother me too much, all I need to do is to come up with good products that would sufficiently go and endear itself to the minds of the retirees. I would go ahead and market the products and engage in public

awareness.”

Thomas noted that the Association would intensify efforts on creating awareness on annuity and its importance in the life of a worker.

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has also called on insurers to intensify efforts in marketing annuity business instead of complaining of de-marketing.

PenCom said the complaint by some life insurers that they are denied annuity business by PFAs is uncalled for as the Pension Reform Acts (PRA) 2004, has spelt out the roles to be played by life insurers and PFAs in managing retirement funds.

Life insurers were asked to double their efforts in marketing the retirees who have been mandated by the pension Act to choose where to invest their retirement benefits. They were enjoined to stop complaining and reach-out to the retirees who would not on their own come to them to invest their benefits.

the value is usually equal to the policy value. This is a distinct benefit of children’s life insurance policies.

Ensuring children are provided for Naming a child as direct beneficiary without a trust or an adult to make sure it reaches them is usually a risky idea.

So, take the time to obtain legal advice on this matter if you have concerns about how your death benefits should be handled. Your insurance professional can also help you to name beneficiaries appropriately and make sure everything stays up to date.

Finally, be sure and follow up. The funny thing about children is that they won’t stay little forever, they grow up and become adults, and as their needs change, your plans should change. Be sure to check in regularly with your financial advisors, including your attorney and your insurance agent, to make sure that your plan makes the most sense for your children Where do you stand today?

Thinking about what your children will do if tragedy strikes and you are no longer with them is difficult. But knowing that they are taken care of if you die unexpectedly can ease the discomfort of having to plan for such an event. Help ease the possible financial burden on your surviving children by including them in a life insurance policy. Maybe they will never have to use it, but you can rest easy knowing that they are protected.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO insuranceandyou@yahoo.com

26— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013 — 27

DIARY Select ICT events Interop 2013.

Holds 6-10 May 2013 in Las Vegas, USA

‘Mobile phone revolution'll make Africa competitive’

FOSE 2013.

Holds 14-16 May 2013 in Washington D.C., USA CTIA WIRELESS 2013 2123 May 2013 in Las Vegas, USA

BY EMMA ELEBEKE & RUTH ODINIYA

SatCom Africa 2013. Holds 27-30 May 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

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gence into the country of the future. ‘‘The government of Nigeria is pleased to see that AUST has welcomed students from 19 African countries. This is a progressive and beneficial partnership that should be extended to other industries, as Nigeria joins Africa’s technological emergence into the century of the future. ‘‘We are pleased to see graduates of AUST beginning to have impact on higher education in Africa, with graduates now occupying positions in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia. AUST is emerging as a source of welltrained graduate assistants, contributing to the development of a critical mass of human capacity in science and technology that can address Africa’s development needs.

“Here in Nigeria, our

ENYAN ICT guru and digital strategist, Mark Kaigwa says the introduction of mobile phone into Africa has ushered in a silent revolution that will transform the continent and make the continent globally competitive.

He said that while governments in various African countries now implement high-level visibility ICT strategies, experts have recently identified far more radical, hidden changes occurring across the Continent, capable of launching Africa into a position of global competitiveness.

Mark Kaigwa, who is expected to deliver a keynote address at the 8th elearning Africa later this month, explained that the situation of wide penetration of mobile phone in Kenya is organic and initiated by the community and on the fringes. ‘’This is what's really going to transform our country and the rest of the East African region, and the whole Continent. ‘‘New technologies, when adopted, are adapted to local needs: a sort of under-the-radar innovation which is now pushing the boundaries of what is possible. ‘‘Across the Continent, people are coming up with varied and innovative solutions. To a Kenyan, a mobile could be a portable bank machine, an efficient way to pay bills, take taxis or eat out, using the m-Pesa banking system. ‘‘To a South African, the same device is a social networking tool, allowing free instant messaging,

Continues on page 25

Continues on page 25

KITEL 2013.

Holds 28-30 May AT AUST: From left, representative of the President and Minister of Science &Technology, Prof. Ita Okon 2013 in Almaty, Bassey, Board Chair of Nelson Mandela Institute at African University of Science & technology, who is also Kazakhstan. Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and President of African University of

Preview

Two-in-one keyboard, mouse

Africa must raise ICT personnel for devt — PRESIDENT JONATHAN

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

The Combimouse combines a computer keyboard with a mouse, resulting in more efficient and easier computer input. The right side of the Combimouse keyboard doubles as a computer mouse, with the mouse functions activated when gripped by the user. This causes certain keys to switch to mouse-specific buttons, allowing the device to feel and operate the same as a standard mouse.

Combimouse creator Ari Zagnoev filed a patent for the Combimouse in 1999, and has been waiting until technology caught up with his vision. That time has arrived, and the Zagnoev is currently seeking funding on Indiegogo in order to create two units for independent evaluation.

I N S I D E C M Y K

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said that Africa lacks enough scientists and engineers for the continent to migrate into the emerging global knowledge-based economy.

President Jonathan stated this at the weekend, during the 4th commencement of the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja held at the weekend.

The president, repre-

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,

New inventions shaping life and living

Science and Technology, Prof. Wole Soboyejo at the 4th commencement of the university in Abuja. Photo : Emmanuel Elebeke.

Hey there!

Haveyou ported?

sented by the Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Okon Bassey Ewa said there is urgent need for Africa to develop strategies that will enable her raise enough information and communication technology, ICT driven scientists and engineers that will create the jobs required for the over a billion population living in the continent, which the times demand.

He described science and technology as engines of economic growth and prosperity, which he

There is urgent need for Africa to develop strategies that will enable her raise enough information and communication technology, ICT driven scientists and engineers that will create the jobs required

Huawei's Windows8 phone comes with cloud services

said is evidenced in Western and Eastern countries of the last few centuries, where industrial revolution was driven by science and technology initiated in leading European universities.

This according to him, informed the decision of federal government to support the establishment of the university in 2007, with a donation of 24,000 acres of land and subsequent funding through the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF. President Jonathan, who expressed satisfaction with the partnership between the university and the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, since inception, described the partnership as a progressive and beneficial partnership that should be extended to other industries, in order to support Nigeria’s bid to join Africa’s technological emer-

Signal Alliance ties up with SAP on Enterprise Assets Management

Create sound policies, Microsoft urges govt

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

A

Hey there! Have you ported?

A

HEAD of the takeoff mobile number portability on our shores, there had been palpable apprehension that when the service goes live, some networks will witness an exodus, while others will experience overload.

Maybe it’s too early to know, but my nose tells me that we are not likely to witness porting in any manner that will impact the industry, even if slightly. The first reason is that our market, nay, our economy, is very much unlike any other in the whole world. It is the unique market characteristics which define Nigeria that makes us different and which is also killing the CDMA sub-sector of the industry.

Another reason is that all of us, who own mobile phone lines have already PORTED. Yes, we have already ported! Because of the peculiar challenges of infrastructure here, telcos have to power their base stations.

When the generators are to be refueled, urchins or area boys, if you like, demand money before they can be allowed. If that is not happening, the base stations themselves are being vandalized, such that service to a particular area by a given network is disrupted. So, to be able to talk at any time, we buy lines from all the networks. If you dial using MTN and it is not going, as we like to say here, you take the other handset and dial using Glo, or Airtel, or Etisalat.

Same thing if the call goes through and the line is “breaking.” Callers simply originate their call from another network to the one they were calling before. The end justifies the means; he/she has had the desired conversation with the desired person.

As a result, it is now commonplace to see a lot of people going about with two dual-SIM phones; MTN and Airtel in one, Glo and Etisalat in another, or whichever

pairing is desired. To that extent, the average user has devised a porting system entirely Nigerian in character.

If I already have lines from all the networks, why do I have to port out of a network for another?

What happens is that if the services of a network suddenly become undesirable, all I do is stop topping the airtime on that line and start recharging the one I feel is offering better service.

Same thing happens when a network is offering a juicy promo: other lines owned by the same subscriber go dormant while the promo lasts.

The other thing is the tari f f charged; networks rapidly g r e w their subscriber base using the p r i c e mechan i s m .

Subscribers with networks charging cheaper rates tend to use lens from that netw o r k m o r e than the others they own.

The handset makers also encouraged Nigerians to acquire lines from all the networks when they hit the market, at first, with dual-SIm handsets. Later, the three-SIM sets, and four-SIM sets came, especially from South-East Asian vendors. Thus, there are various brands of “chinco”phones in the market that can take two, three, and four SIM cards. The only down side is that if the handset gets lost or stolen, all the lines are TOS (remember NITEL?) until another handset can pe procured.

Of course, there is no scientific bases for these assertions, which are aggregates of watching how people use their lines.

Therefore, the unique nature of our market, the parlous state of our infrastructure, the offering of multi-SIM handsets by vendors all contributed to helping the average subscriber here devise his own home grown porting system.

,

The success of MTN in Nigeria in just a little over a decade highlights the benefits to the Nigerian economy of the ending of apartheid

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fresh round of competition in the smart phone ecosystem may have begun as the Chinese telecoms giant, Huawei brings Windows-run smartphone exclusively available in the Africa continent in Nigeria. The customized device will be made available in the Nigerian market tomorrow in partnership with Microsoft as part of its new 4Afrika Initiative.

Huawei's Windows8 phone comes with cloud services in the region develop

Huawei4Africa

The Huawei 4Africa was specifically designed for the African market and runs on the latest operating system from Microsoft , Windows 8 OS. Although there are other smart phones in the market, the objective of the scheme was to increase the penetration of smartphones across the continent. The smart was designed and marketed specifically for the African continent, perhaps to create a global market trend more towards the target market.

The package

The new Windows 8 phone from Huawei However, the series brings 4 inch screen resolution of 800 × 480 pixels with entrusted speed dual core 1.2GHz processor and 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal memory. On the multimedia side, 5MP camera is capable of recording 720p HD video accompanied by a VGA front camera for video chat.

The gadget has an

internal storage memory of 4GB and provision of expanding the storage space with the use of a microSD card up to 32GB. One of the first impressions of the gadget is a clear 4-inch display, similar to the size of the latest iPhone. The device was developed as a cheap wireless broadband in the African continent and help local people

Windows apps. Accessibility The phone will be connected to a customised app store including applications designed by Africans. The Windows 8 platform makes the gadget shine, with a screen covered with live tiles or apps. The physical design mimics Nokia’s high-end Lumia series of phones, with the gadget adopting a block shape and being available in many colours.

Power saving:

The power saving technology gives up to 420 hours standby time and 560 minutes talk time. Being a Windows 8 device, there is extra provision of storage in Microsoft’s SkyDrive cloud computing service. BY EMEKA AGINAM

Adwords: Google offers support to advertisers

BY EMEKA AGINAM

G

OOGLE Nigeria has said with optimism that it would support Nigerian advertisers to harness the internet through its Adwords initiative.

Google Adwords initiative is aimed at providing agencies and their teams with a comprehensive strategy-focused training on the latest tools and best practices of managing accounts.

While admitting that the rate of internet adoption in Nigeria is growing rapidly, the search engine at the recent training session for advertisers and agencies in Nigeria said that GAP program provides agencies and their teams with comprehensive, strategy-focused training and certification on the latest tools and best practices for managing AdWords accounts to better serve advertisers.

The training, according to Google demonstrated their commitment to helping agencies and businesses harness the internet in Nigeria, even as it showed one of the ways that Google was helping to prepare agencies and advertising practitioners reach their audiences through online advertising.

The Head, Agency Business Development CEEMENA and Coun-

try Manager for new Market in Central Eastern Europe, Mr. Goetz Trillhaas, who noted that the rate of Internet adoption in Nigeria was growing very rapidly said that Adwords was helping advertisers to save a lot of money and efforts by helping them to reach their customers in a more scientific way.

“The Nigerian Communications Commission estimated that there were 12.5million active Internet subscriptions in Nigeria in January 2013, and this number is growing. The ITU projects that the number of people online in Nigeria would have risen to 70 million by 2015.” he

said, adding that, the International Telecommunications Union and t h e worldinternetstat.com have reported that there over 48.3 million people online in the Nigeria, representing 28.4 per cent of the population, all sharing and communicating.

He said that as consumers become more price-conscious, they spend more time online, researching purchases and finding good deals – even if they go on to make their purchase in an actual store, everything (search engines, social networks, blogs) plays a large role in driv-

ing that purchase.

“Businesses that want to be online to reach these consumers can market themselves in a way which is flexible, targeted, and cost effective – which means they can get more value out of every naira they spend.

“Advertisers are able to connect with potential customers at a time when they are searching for information – which makes it far more likely that this potential will turn into new sales. Instead of taking a scattergun approach, search marketing enables advertisers to target warm leads.” he explained.

AWARD: James Agada receiving Titans of Tech award from Chris Uwaje, President, Institute of Software Professionals of Nigeria.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013—29

Create sound policies, Microsoft urges govt

BY EMEKA AGINAM

Signal Alliance ties up with SAP on Enterprise Assets Management

BY ADEKUNLE ADEKOYA

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OP information tech nology firm, Signal Alliance is going into partnership with SAP on Enterprise Assets Management. The partnership was announced last week in Lagos at a briefing held by representatives of both firms.

Erabor Okogun, Chief Corporate Adviser and Richard Irikefe, Sales Consultant, represented Signal Allince while Kelechi Nwosu, Ecosystem & Channels Lead and Ayokanmi Ayuba, Partner Account Manager, represented SAP West Africa.

Speaking on the partnership, Erabor Okogun noted that his firm, Signal Alliance is partnering with SAP because “ we have to apply the latest technology for the dividend of democracy to be seen in the country. We have an event that would hold in Abuja and the event is for the public sector and it is on Enterprise Asset Management. We consider that topic because there are two things that make things happen.

One is human resources.

It is when you properly deploy what you have and the people you have that you can talk about development. Nigerians don’t have the right attitude toward public property. We can’t get to where we want to be if we don’t manage our assets in Nigeria.

Also speaking on the partnership, Ayokanmi Ayuba of SAP said “we are only as successful as our platforms. We find it very critical to partner with Signal Alliance in order to drive our vision and it is very important to partner with organizations that will help us achieve this vision, most importantly partners like Signal Alliance.

Richard Irikefe elaborated on the ramifications of the partnership, especially as it concerns Enterprise Assets Management as a solution. Saying our governments — federal, state and local need help, Irikefe said that Enterprise Assets Management “helps in terms of identifying, tracking, cataloguing and generally deriving value in all the numerous assets government has in the country.

In a recent research work we found out that we are going to need about US$ 350 billion investment in C M Y K

PARTNERSHIP: From left: Chief Corporate Adviser, Signal Alliance, Erabor Okogun; Partner Account Manager, SAP West Africa, Ayokanmi Ayuba; Sales Consultant, Signal Alliance, Richard Irikefe, and Ecosystem & Channels Lead, SAP West Africa, Kelechi Nwosu, at the annoucement of partnership between Signal Alliance and SAP, in Lagos. terms of infrastructural development which will bring Nigeria to the forefront in the commity of nations. That is a huge amount of money the government have to spend between this year and 2020 because the government has a mission of putting Nigeria among the top 20 economies of the world by 2020.

If the government has to spend US$ 350 billion to achieve that, and they are not properly maintained, it will cost even more to replace them. If you spend five dollars to acquire an asset, you may not need more than one dollar to maintain it, but if you do not, you will need four dollars to replace it. So, if government has spent US$350 to acquire assets that are not well maintained, it may have to spend US$ 255 billion to address the question of maintenance of infrastructure in terms of the bridges the rails and stuff like that. If government could spend such huge amount we have a solution by which the assets can be used maximally so that it won’t cost so much money to replace them. You can get more value out of them, so that the life span can be elongated. For instance, the airport here or Third Mainland Bridge.

It will cost a lot more to build the Third Mainland Bridge today than when it was built. So that is what enterprise asset management of publish sector is all about.

It is about ensuring we

get maximum value from these assets. There is no point building a new bridge or airport and after six or seven months it worn down. It is about penny wise and not pound foolish. In other words it is better to spend money to maintain our assets than to look for

money borrow to build another asset. That is the bottom line of what enterprise management wants to deliver to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So we are working to push it to the psyche of the government so that Nigeria as a whole will benefit from the assets we have all over.

Unless a sound intellectual property policies were created by Nigerian government to spur innovation in local economies, the fight against piracy may remain unabated, the global software giant, Microsoft has said.

At the celebration of World Intellectual Property day (IP) held recently in Lagos, the software giant noted that the use of non-genuine software threatens legitimate businesses and create enormous negative impact on the global economy, as well as a way out of the quagmire.

“Software piracy and the efforts to illegally profit from counterfeit and pirated software have become increasingly sophisticated and complex, which is why it is so critical to continue to work toward stronger, more effective IP protection,” Juan Hardoy, director, EMEA AntiCounterfeiting and Digital Crime, Microsoft, who spoke at the just concluded Seventh Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy in Istanbul said.

According to him, “Microsoft is dedicated to educating consumers and businesses on the

Africa must raise ICT personnel for devt Continues from page 23

target is to develop into one of the top twenty global countries by the year 2020. This is a goal that can only be achieved, if we consolidate on our development of worldclass capacity in science and technology.

“As we look into the future, in which we hope that Nigeria will make its much desired mark in the global economy, we shall assiduously promote the emergence of AUST as a research university that will contribute new discoveries and innovations vital to the growth of knowledge-based economy in Nigeria,” he added.

In her address, the Chairperson, Board of Directors on the university and Co-coordinating minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala expressed delight with the pace of development of the university, which she said had since inception is quickly becoming a little gem in the heart of Africa, as a great source of science and technology experts. ‘’ AUST is quickly be-

coming a little gem in the heart of Africa. Since, our inception, we have educated students from 19 countries in sub-Sahara countries.

“In just five years, our students have started to make the type of impact that we hoped for, when the institution was established. Many of our students have found jobs in companies such as Schlumberger. Our most precious achievements are embodied in our students.

This year, they have come from 10 African countries with diverse backgrounds that make AUST a truly rich mosaic of Africa culture and talent,” she said.

Dr. Iweala, however urged the students to lead lives of service as they use their knowledge of science, technology and innovation to contribute to the sustainable development of Africa.

In his goodwill message, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku commended the University for standing out in its commitment to serve African continent.

“I came to show solidarity to this university, which is working for African con-

tinent as a whole. I rejoice with you graduands and urge you to face the challenges of the future with optimism and dedication to service, not only your respective countries, but to Africa as a whole,” he added.

Earlier inn his welcome address, the President of the University, Prof. Wole Soboyejo asked the graduating students to prepare ahead of the task of using their knowledge of science and technology to develop Africa .

“You are the agent of change that we hope will transform our continent.

You should, therefore, use your skills and knowledge to do things that add value to our continent and its people.

“As you make your choices, let wisdom be your guide and do not be afraid to take calculated risks. Follow your passion, strive towards perfection and lead lives of service.

You will also live through a period in which Africa will become the fastest growing continent and you must be one of the drivers.

real risks they face from the dangerous malware, viruses and spyware that so often result from counterfeit and pirated software.”

Supporting the call for the creation of sound IP policies in the country in a penal discussion, Adefolu Majekodunmi, Partner Director, Microsoft Nigeria, who chaired the discussion, said, “A good legal framework and proper enforcement is what is needed to create the enabling environment needed for the development of creativity and innovation,” he said.

Also recognizing that piracy hampers the innovation , popular artiste, Lanre Dabiri, said, “Piracy suppresses innovation! A lot goes into nurturing an idea or product to fruition.

“When this idea gets stolen, it means you cannot recoup the resources that went into putting your thoughts together and this is unfair to the artiste or property owner”, adding that , “I have over 400 songs catalogued in the music industry for 15 years and to date I have not made up to N1 million in royalties due to lack of intellectual property rights law”.

‘Mobile phone revolution'll make Africa competitive’ Continues from Page 23 connections to chat rooms and file transfers - they are used. A tablet on a farm allows instant access to markets, agricultural advice and weather warnings; in a school, it is a cheap, scalable replacement for the traditional textbook. ‘‘With all this and more going on, it is no wonder that the eyes of the world are on Africa, eager to find out what successful local solutions could be transplanted elsewhere.

Another speaker expected at the plenary sessions of the 8th eLearning Africa conference will be Prof Sugata Mitra of Newcastle University, who is expected to offer insight into the similarities and differences between Indian and African innovations.

During the conference there will also be chances to learn about how community radio and broadcast television have collaborated to bring education to rural Zambia, and about how farmers in Ghana became hooked on the mobile phone. The conference will be taking place in Windhoek, Namibia, from 29th31st of May.

30— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

Qualcomm’s technology brings opportunity to mobile market —Alex Dadson STORIES BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

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ENIOR Director, Business Development, West Africa at Qualcomm, Mr Alex Dadson last week attributed some of the major breakthroughs the mobile market has experienced in recent times to the technology his company pioneered as a wireless chipsets manufacturer.

Dadson spoke at the recently concluded Mobile Monday which held in Lagos last week. Mobile Monday is a network of mobile enthusiasts including application developers, Office Equipment Manufacturers, OEMs among other operators.

According to him, as a license technology and communication services provider around the world, Qualcomm has become the link to markets and opportunities for more than 25 years.

He claimed that Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of wireless communications, connecting people more closely to information, entertainment and each other. He added that “today, Qualcomm technologies are powering the

convergence of mobile communications and consumer electronics, making wireless devices and services more personal, affordable and accessible to people everywhere.

As the line between consumer electronics, computers and mobile communication devices, disappears, Qualcomm is redefining the way people incorporate wireless devices and services into everyday life”.

“It all starts with our commitment to research and development. Innovation is more than what we do. In an increasingly open mobile world, we are developing new capabilities with our partners to give people a uniquely personal mobile experience. Our partnerships accelerate growth for everyone from mobile operators and device manufacturers to Internet companies, mobile software developers and mobile content providers”.

Dadson said that his company’s chipsets power a wide variety of smartphones, tablets, ebooks and more, while its engineering support services deliver total, integrated solutions. “We enable opportunities across the entire wireless value chain by making devices faster, content

*Alex Dadson: Qualcomm is redefining the way people incorporate wireless devices into everyday life. richer and customer relationships stronger”.

In today’s world where innovation continues to drive partnerships for many operators, and service providers, Qualcomm says it was already started looking ahead to the future. “We see an era of total connectivity where highspeed wireless networks will connect everything in your life, not just your phone and your laptop,

but your car, your video camera and many items throughout your home.

So in this increasingly connected world, Qualcomm is also challenging our planet’s most fundamental problems,to save energy, use water wisely and deliver healthcare more efficiently and we see Qualcomm’s innovations embedded in these technologies, every step of the way” he added.

T

HE Director Gener al of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri has described the National Identity Management System,NIMS, as a revealing project that will provide a comprehensive National Database in Nigeria.

Omeri on a courtesy visit to the National Identity Management Commission,NIMC Headquarters in Abuja, gave his counterpart at NIMC Barrister Chris Onyemenam a path on the back, urging him to remain focused on the time table in delivering the project, saying that Nigeria’s road to a credible database was tied to the success of the project.

“What you are doing will no doubt eliminate bottlenecks and streamline the activities of all data collection agencies for the interest of the nation. Nigerians need to be fully aware of the National Identity Management System, its importance and benefits to the government and people of Nigeria. This help our people in demanding for their rights and other basic social needs from the Government” He promised that the National Orientation Agency was ready to collaborate with the commission to explore avenues that will encourage Nigerians to embrace the project and come out to enrol and obtain their National Identification Number (NIN) “The National Identity Management System (NIMS) is the best thing that will happen to Ni-

Nigeria’s database, tied to NIMC success —DG NOA geria in these critical times of security challenges. It will help the Federal Government to tackle insecurity and social vices in the Country.

“Time has come when all the agencies claiming to be gathering one data or the other would come to know and understand the NIMC roadmap because I see them collecting pieces of information while NIMC is collecting comprehensive data for the interest of the country”, he added.

Earlier, the Director General of NIMC, Barrister Onyemenam, had in his introductory remarks reminded NOA Director General that the Commission’s main reason for reaching out to NOA was based on the commission’s belief that the Agency has the core competence to reach out to Nigerians in a convincing manner to buyinto this all important NIMS project Barrister Onyemenam added that Nigeria cannot remain focused on the issuance of Identity card instead of the new trend of Identity Management because without the database infrastructure, the project cannot succeed.

Intel partners Ghanaian women on digital literacy I

NTEL Corporation last week, linked with women entrepreneurs in Ghana, through the country ’s African Women Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP) to deliver digital literacy training.

The training known as Intel EASY STEPS, would help improve the lives of Ghanaian citizen while handing down digital powers to them.

Intel has consistently promised not to relent in providing digital platforms necessary to improve the quality of lives.

The foray into Ghana would see Intel engage the women digitally on a ‘train-the-trainer ’ basis, empowering them to run more efficient businesses and as well transfer their knowledge to many other women in the country.

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The training is part of Intel’s educational content for which it has become reputable across the world.

Corporate Affairs manager of Intel West Africa, Osagie Ogunbor informed that that the training was provided by Intel free of charge, adding that it formed the fulcrum of Intel’s women friendly corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Ogunbor said that digital literacy was pivotal to the improvement of the quality of lives of any individual in today ’s contemporary world and that Intel was committed to partnering with likeminded organisations to improve digital literacy the world over.

For him, “It has become more difficult now to be effective and efficient in the running of any enterprise without digital lit-

eracy. This has become a necessity in this digital age and we are proud to lead in global efforts at digital literacy.”

Expressing her group’s excitement at the partnership, President of AWEP Ghana, Mrs Comfort Adjahoe-Jennings said that the Organisation was delighted that Intel was providing the free training for its members and promised that those who receive the training will in turn ensure that they train others.

Adjahoe-Jennings said despite the large number of women running very small informal businesses in Ghana, a number of them were unable to expand the scope and profile of their businesses because they are unable to take advantage of the opportunities that abound in this dig-

From left: Queen Mother Victoria Ikenchuku receiving a gift from ED of Slot Systems, Mrs Nkechi Ezeigbo during the opening of Slot Store in Asaba.

ital world. For her, online marketing has become a cost effective way of reaching the entire world via the internet.

She however challenged other corporate organisations to see the future from Intel’s consistent efforts to address

issues of women and girls as well as its trademark Education programmes across the world.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013 — 31

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34 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

Charlton Ehizuelen

My Journey to Highway Victory

I

was cutting my teeth in sports journalism when I met Charlton at the National Stadium in Surulere. He had retired from track and field and returned to Nigeria. But shortly after that he went back to the USA. We got in touch again a few months ago through the Face Book.

When Brown Ebewele talks about track and field you are bound to fall in love with the sport. Ebewele, fondly called Juju Man dreams, lives and eats the sport.

He once described Charlton Ehizuelen this way: Charlton is a living legend.

When I got to America I was amazed at the respect and popularity Charlton commanded. If he stepped into any stadium and his name was announced, the whole stadium stood to cheer him in. And that was a Nigerian. He made us proud and gave us identity. .

My dear readers, that is the man who will be writing for us from time to time.

Charlton had done a piece but I felt that the younger generation would need to know him more to appreciate this legend of our time. I pleaded with him to do an introductory piece and he obliged. I present to you Charlton Ehizuelen, the man who the world favoured to win gold at the 1976 Olympic Games but who never had the chance as Nigeria boycotted the games in line with their position against countries that had sporting links with apartheid South Africa. Read Charlton – Onochie Anibeze

•Charlton

BY CHARLTON EHIZUELEN

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ports is infectious. It inculcates in one certain attributes and qualities that help shape one’s life. It is a phenomenon that should be accommodated in all communities because, aside it’s competitiveness it helps the body and mind grow positively. Introduction of sports and play to our children at an early age allows the child to learn about the importance of discipline, respect to rules and regulation, commitment, team work and competition. These

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are qualities that could also be applied to other areas in life. l was born in Kaduna to Ishan parents.

My father served in the Nigerian police and retired after 28 years as a police officer. His work took him to many places like Kaduna, Kano, Maiduguri, Jos and Ilorin. Therefore, l had the opportunity to live in many cities as a young person.

These places had one thing in common, a tradition of sports and play.

The parks, police play ground, and school play grounds, were available to anyone willing to use them.

The opportunities encouraged participation in sports.

We had Youth teams in soccer and athletics but lacked

organisation. But we had fun. The only qualification to participate was a willing heart and the ability to adhere to the rule of play.

This was the environment in which l grew up, understanding the importance of discipline, team work, respect for self, others and competition.

I attended Holy Trinity Primary school in Maiduguri, where a 30 minute a daily break for play and fun was a part of the school curriculum.

This was where the basic skills in sports and play were introduced to the participants.

Formal training in athletics began for me at Anglican Grammar School Evboneka, near Benin-City.

The principal, Mr. Idahosa Osifo,

Continues on pg 29

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013 — 35

and triple jump events, setting my first Nigerian record in understood the importance of the Long jump event. For more athletics and education. than a decade I held both the Some form of sporting activity African and Commonwealth was mandatory for all records in the long jump and students. The pool provided the triple jump events. the opportunity for discovery In March of 1975, at the Big and training. Those selected 10 conference championships were placed in athletics in Bloomington Indiana I was programmess, with many trailing Steve Cobbs of privileges that were not Indiana in the long jump available to non-athletes. finals, and then it happened.

It was when I arrived at Edo Track and Field News College Benin-City that my magazine –Don Kopriva put athletics performance began it this way: “Cobb uncorked a PR 25’11”1/2 on his last to mature. jump to take a ¼ lead over won my first national Ehizuelen with one attempt secondary school left for the confident Illinois championship title in Kaduna, jumper. And then Ehizuelen in the long and triple jump popped, and the partisan events, setting national Indiana crowd knew that it records in both events. In the had seen track history. Only same year in 1972, l Bob Beamon (27’2”3/4 in has ever represented Nigeria for the 1968)8.30m first time at the Nigeria/ surpassed Ehizuelen indoors.

Ghana Championships in Only three others have ever Ibadan as a junior athlete; jumped better than 27 feet there were four junior athletes indoors, and only 10 have ever jumped on the national over 27 feet team that year.

In my first p e r i o d . l was third and competition in “That jump the best (27’1”1/ Nigerian for 1974 at Illinois, was 4,) 8.26m, that day, John I broke Jesse two inches Okoro was the would other Nigerian Owens 39 year more have broken that competed. old record in B o b Joshua Owusu Beamon’s of Ghana won the long jump, w o r l d i t . which was set a record. The It was at the is still Nigeria/Ghana year before the jump the Nigerian Championships, Berlin I n d o o r that an r e c o r d .

American coach Olympics. He with the went on to win he world Ghanaian t e a m , four Olympic renowned impressed at gold medals Track and m y Field News performance and set an magazine approached Olympic featured me me, with the on the front idea of going to record page to the USA. He celebrate my outstanding gave me an address to Coach Bob Wright of the University performances, as the world’s of Illinois and l wrote to him. best Long and triple combo Dr Awoture Eleyae was at the jumper. No African Jumper University of Illinois as a post till date has been featured. graduate student when my I long jumped the best jump letter arrived. At the end, he in the world in 1975, won my played an important role for second NCAA title, a silver my departure to the USA. medal at the Pre-Olympic The 1st national sports festival games in Montreal Canada. was held in Lagos in 1973, l Won a silver and bronze in the won the long and triple long and triple jump events at the Africa / USA/ Germany events. In my first m e e t . competition in 1974 at In 1976, I made the Nigerian Illinois, I broke Jesse Olympic team. Won the Long Owens 39 year old jump at the NCAA, my third record in the long title, had the best jump in the jump, which was set a world. Nigeria boycotted the year before the Berlin 1976 Olympic Games.

Olympics. He went on At the first World Cup in to win four Olympic Dusseldorf Germany in gold medals and set an 1977, representing Africa l Olympic record. By won a Bronze medal in the the end of 1974 season, long jump recorded the third I had recorded the best best jump in the world, and a jump in the world in fourth NCAA title in the long the Triple jump event, Jump. Won two gold medals and became the first in the Long and triple jumps Nigerian to win an at the African championships NCAA title in the triple in Tunis. j u m p .

On Jan 1, 1975, l was NB, That is the track record on the jumps run way of the man who will be in Accra, Ghana, writing for us from time to representing Nigeria time. Stay with us for the at the Africa University best in sports.

Games. I won the long

Continues from pg 28

I

,

,

T

Moses Mikel Bale

Tott enham out ttoo spoil ottenham Chelsea’s par ty party J

uan Mata’s decisive strike at Manchester United at the weekend means Chelsea can all but guarantee Champions League qualification by beating fifthplace Tottenham Hotspur at home on Wednesday.

The Stamford Bridge showdown looked destined to be a straight shootout for a top-four place until Mata struck with three minutes remaining at Old Trafford on

Sunday to give Chelsea a precious 1-0 victory.

The Spaniard’s goal, via a telling deflection off Phil Jones, lifted Chelsea three points above Spurs and means they will be virtually guaranteed a place in next season’s Champions League if they defeat their London rivals. The win over United was Chelsea’s 65th game of the season, but with Champions League

qualification at stake and a Europa League final against Benfica still to come, Mata says there is simply not enough time for mental fatigue to creep i n . ”Three points here (at Old Trafford) is amazing, because now we are in third position. If we win against Tottenham we will be in the Champions League,” he said following Sunday ’s match. ”Mentally you don’t have time to disconnect. We play Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday, so mentally you are always focused. ”We need to rest, to train and get ready. We want and need to win against T o t t e n h a m . ” Had Mata and his teammates failed to overcome United, Spurs would have travelled to west London knowing that victory would have taken them into the Champions League places at Chelsea’s expense.

In any case, Spurs must win to take up a place in the top four.

Atseye, Akingbade eye CBN Tennis domination BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

R

eigning m e n ’ s and ladies s i n g l e s champions of the Central Bank of N i g e r i a Tennis Open, Henry Atseye and Ronke Akingbade have set their sights on more title victories at the tournament.

Atsaye and Akingbade, who weekend Henry Atseye emerged champions of the 35th CBN Open in Lagos, told Sports Vanguard that their triumphs have reinforced their determination to go for more victories in subsequent editions of the annual tournament.

“This victory means a lot to me because many people did not give me the chance of reaching the final. But with hard work and belief, I conquered all my opponents. I am so delighted and hope to win the next two or three editions of the competition”, said Atseye, who is now a two-time CBN singles champion. He first won the prized title in 2011.

To win his second title, Atseye defeated Clifford Enosoregbe in a thrilling final match which was however short-lived, following Enooregbe’s retirement at the start of the second set,

Atseye had won the first set 7-6 but with E n o s o r e g b e sustaining an ankle injury, the road to the tiitle was made easier for Atseye In the ladies singles final match, Akingbade, who had hitherto not won a CBN singles title before, came from a set down to outlast hard-hitting Christy Agbugbon in three thrilling sets of 4-6, 76, 6-3.

After losing the first set with just a break of serve in the ninth game, Akingbade knew that her quest to land her first major trophy was about to evaporate into thin air as another set victory for her foe was going to end her title bid.

And not wanting to be denied again, Akingbade battled hard in the second she won 7-6 on tie-break. It was a see-saw affair but her determination made the difference as she wrestled the initiative from Agbugbon, who let loose a loud shriek to vent her frustration on missing the chance to land the crown.

In the decider, Akingbade broke her foe’s serve twice, the first in the second game and the second in the ninth game to seal her place as a champion at the CBN Open.

Speaking later to Sports Vanguard, Akingbade said that her triumph has raised her hopes of further wins in the competition.

“I am going to use this victory to go for more victories in future tournaments that I will play, especially the CBN Open. It has really boosted my desire to stay at the top for a long time”, said Akingbade.

C M Y K

36 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

In Osun, challenges fuel drive for infrastructural devt

which it hosted in 2010 by committing N30 billion to building 170 new model schools across the state equipping it with state-ofthe-art facilities. It is believed these would enhance and stimulate teaching-learning environment in order to replace the dilapidated buildings that stand as classrooms. These model classrooms are now springing up across the state.

Twenty of these schools are for the high school senior students.

When completed, they will conveniently accommodate 3,000 students on the basis of 40 per class. Each of these structures would cost the state government a whooping sum of N700 million.

The school would also have an examination hall that can comfortably seat 1,500 students and two e-libraries; one for sciences and the other for arts and social sciences.

Interest of students

*One of the new model schools built by the state government

W

HEN Mr. Rauf Ar egbesola took over the reins of office, he made no bones about his desire to transform Osun State from a cluster of small towns to main cities, while still retaining their distinctive social and architectural character.

Almost three years down the line, Iwo a town with rustic buildings, winding roads and acres of land giving it that country side look, near the state capital Osogbo, is beginning to wear a new look; what with the several roads under construction in the town. The importance of the town cannot be underestimated, for Iwo is just ten minutes drive from Osogbo.

But Iwo is just one of the nine cities the Aregbesola administration hopes to develop within the period of its mandate. Ilesa, another town in the state, is also receiving due attention.

Infrastructural development For indigenes of Ilesa, things are looking up and life is just getting better. After several years of neglect, they are just glad to cope with some of the challenges that infrastructural development has brought to the town.

But one is not particularly surprised at what is happening in Osun State when one recalls that Governor Aregbesola, an engineer, was Commissioner for Works during the tenure of former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

During his swearing cer C M Y K

emony he therefore stressed the need for development of the state.

Said he then: “I am committed to developing the state, but I cannot do it alone. I need every one of you to achieve my dream for our dear state”.

Thus, an impassable part of Iwo to Osogbo road along the expressway that connects motorists and travellers from Ibadan to Kwara State received a facelift.

For many users of this road the effort at revamping cannot be over-emphasised as a particular portion of the road had been responsible for several accidents that either claimed lives or left victims with permanent disabilities.

But all that is now a thing of the past, for if there are accidents on that road today, it would not be as a result of disrepair but o v e r - s p e e d i n g .

Osun is not an oil producing state, so it does not have huge resources at its disposal. But one sector the Aregbesola administration is looking at to grow the economy is agriculture. So there is this link between road infrastructure and agricultural development. It is against this backdrop that a contract worth N17.8 billion was signed for the dualisation of the 45-kilometre Osogbo-Ikirun-Kwara State boundary road.

The dualisation which has been segmented into three comprises Osogbo-Dagbolu (International Market) to Alamisi Market in Ikirun (9.52 kilometres); Osogbo (Old-garage) to Ikirun junction road (20.5 kilometres) and Ikirun-Ila Odo- Kwara State

Boundary road (16.55 kilometres). The project has a two years life span. A contractor financing transaction, the project would be paid for in 36 months after its completion.

A development financial institution, the Infrastructure Bank Plc, TIB, which is the Transaction Advisor, Fund Arranger and Financier of the project, is working in conjunction with the construction company and other stakeholders to fund the project.

Demolition of private buildings Some of the road infrastructures are made possible as a result of the demolition of some private buildings. The road construction project has received commendation from the residents as they see it as promised fulfilled by the administration.

The administration has equally commended the people of the state for their understanding over the demolition of some buildings along the road, promising to give its best to the people to justify their understanding. Another project that would make life easier and ease economic hardship for indigenes and residents is Osogbo-Ikirun Ila-Odo/Kwara boundary road project.

When completed, it will facilitate transportation of people and goods towards the Northern part of the country and enhance the economy of that area. The Osogbo, Gbongan, Orile-Owu to Ogun State roads is also aimed at easing transportation to Lagos and enhance the capacity of the

people to move goods to the most promising markets in the SouthWest. The government also awarded the rehabilitation of township roads in the six zones of about 83.66km in length which are 92.5 per cent completed; 26.35km Osogbo township roads rehabilitation which are 42.95 per cent completed and 29.709 km Ilesa township roads rehabilitation which are 45.36 per cent completed.

The quality of the roads being constructed, the administration boasts, is a departure from what used to be the tradition. According to an official, the roads after

,

By JUDITH UFFORD

The 50 junior schools with its model in Osogbo, after completion would accommodate 1,250 students and the elementary schools about 100 is spread across the state. This would conveniently accommodate 900 pupils. To further stimulate the in terest of students to learning, the government is reducing the burden of having to go to school with bags filled with books by replacing books with a computer tablets invented by the state government.

The tablet, designed in form of an iPod called Opon Imo, contains the entire senior school syllabus, including Yoruba traditions. Examination past questions of WAEC, etc, are also part of the software design. The purpose of this is to stimulate students’ interest in learning both at home

The quality of the roads being constructed, the administration boasts, is a departure from what used to be the tradition

their completion have minimum of 20 years lifespan.

It is also worth noting that six selected roads measured at 4.2km: Igbajo-Oke-Irun-Iresi road, 44.43km; Gbongan-Odeyinka-Orile-Owu-Araromi-OwuAjegunde road, Gbongan-Osogbo Ife-Ibadan Express road Junction, 6.8km; Ijebu Jesa-IlokoIwaraja road, 10.2km; Ijebu-JesaIjeda-Ijesa-Iloko Ijesa-Ilesa/ Akure Express road and 74.1km; Ijeda-Ijesa-Erinmo Ijesa roads are at different stages of upgrading.

Another characteristic feature of infrastructural revamp in Osun State is in its educational sector.

It began the implementation of the summit recommendations

,

and in school.

For starters, senior students in public schools targeted for the pilot scheme would be given the computer tablet at no cost. This project will cost the state government about N2 billion. As part of its feature to attract more enrolment of children in public schools, government rejuvenated the school feeding programme and tagged it O’Meal, that is Osun Meal with a high protein content. This according to state officials has increased the enrolment figure in public primary schools by 25 per cent in the last session and government is anticipating an increase in the figure in the coming academic session.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013— 37

BAYELSA CREEKS OF DEATH:

How eight youths met their untimely end

of those killed. They did not deem it fit to contact anyone on the details of what transpired.

It is indeed a set up.

“Two corpses out of that of eight persons shot dead were reportedly buried in a shallow grave in the bush near the Lobia community like they did to the 12 Policemen that were killed. We are worried and appealed to the security agents to use all, within their reach, to bring these killers of our son, brother and family member to book as our family have been thrown into mourning.” Organised labour had on the occasion of the workers day celebration in Yenagoa pleaded with the state government to beef up security in the troubled creek.

Insecurity in our waterways

Yenagoa

B

ARELY four days after or ganised labour expressed concern about the precarious security situation in the creeks of Bayelsa State, tragedy struck Saturday in the troubled waterways when armed gunmen launched a deadly attack on some youths allegedly on a peace mission to Lobia community I in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state, killing eight of them.

The weekend killing occurred along the same axis where 12 policemen were gruesomely murdered sometime last month. The Joint Task Force code-named Operation Pulo Shield, it was learnt, had concluded plan to establish a military outpost in the troubled axis but the move has been stalled by funding.

Alluring vegetation No one would have imagined that the narrow creek, giving its serenity and alluring vegetation on both sides which ordinarily would have been a luxury passage for river travellers, could be turned into a killing field by some disgruntled elements. About 20 lives have been lost in the last one month in the area due to the activities of rampaging hoodlums terrorising the waterways.

Vanguard Features, VF, learnt that Judah, the younger brother to a former militant leader, Mr. Reuben Wilson, popularly known as Pastor, was among the victims of the onslaught.

It was further gathered that five ex-militants, who had embraced the Amnesty programme of the Federal Government under Pastor, were among persons confirmed dead after the violence.

However, there were conflict-

*Return of the dreaded creek militants? ing accounts to the tragic incident. While sources told our correspondent that the incident occurred on Saturday night, the Joint Task Force said it happened at about 2pm on Sunday. But it was gathered that the victims were tricked to the creeks by their attackers, who later shot them dead and abandoned their corpses along the Lobia 1 waterside. The killers were said to be the same gunmen who killed the 12 policemen.

While some persons said the victims were killed in cold blood after they were led to the spot by messengers of the gunmen, others said they died after an exchange of gunfire.

The Media Coordinator, JTF, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the incident occurred when two armed gangs clashed in Lobia 1. He, however, said unspecified number of people died in the incident. He said: “There was an armed collision between two armed groups at Lobia 1 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, which led to the death of unspecified number of persons.”Meanwhile, the Wilson family whose son, Judah, was one of the victims of the Saturday attack, insisted that the slain youths were mur-

dered in cold blood, citing the alleged discovery of two corpses in a shallow grave by a search party at Lobia. The corpses were believed to have been buried in the shallow grave by their killers. The Wilson family in a statement Monday signed by the Head of the Clifford-Wilson Family of Koluama 1 community, Comrade Joseph Wilson, dismissed the claim that the youths were killed after a gang war.

Discovery of the bodies The family insisted that the discovery of the bodies in a shallow grave is a clear evidence that they were set up and murdered by the armed men. Contrary to the claims of the Joint Task Force that the eight youths were killed after a gang war in the area, search party set up by concerned youths of the affected Lobia community discovered the two bodies in a shallow grave and others missing. According to the Wilson family, Judah was shot dead by some yet-to-be known assailants while on a peace mission to Lobia Community in the Southern Ijaw Area of Bayelsa State.

The statement read in part: “It is shocking and traumatic to note that the facts involved in the reported killing of our son and others are being twisted and distorted. The family wants to state categorically that the late Judah is the only one related to Pastor Reuben Wilson and is an indigene of Lobia community. His presence in Lobia is not strange but his movement to his home community was to assist the other murdered youths to restore peace and settle some lingering youth leadership issues in the community. They were unarmed and defenceless when the armed men opened fire on them while trying to anchor their boat by the Lobia Jetty.

“Though we are not out to join issues with the authorities

,

By SAMUEL OYADONGHA,

“Insecurity in our waterways in recent times has continued to be a threat to lives and property, especially the killing of some officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force who were ambushed in Southern Ijaw local government. Therefore, we call on the state government to beef up security in our waterways,” the state NLC chairperson, Mrs. Ebiwou Koku-Obiyai, who spoke on behalf of workers had said.

Organised labour’s appeal came against the backdrop of the recent upsurge in piracy and the gruesome murder of 12 policemen in the creek of Southern Ijaw last month by renegade militants. But the state Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiohga John Jonah (rtd), who admitted the problem of insecurity in the waterways, assured workers of the state, of government’s pre-

The Wilson family insisted that the slain youths were murdered in cold blood, citing the alleged discovery of two corpses in a shallow grave by a search party at Lobia

of the Joint Task Force and other relevant security agencies, but the reported involvement of the late Judah Benaibi Wilson and seven others in a gang fight is wrong and untrue. We, the Wilson family, urge the security agents to rise up to their duties and fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

“The security agents should review the reported facts surrounding the Saturday killing at Lobia Community main town.

To us, who are not security personnel, it appeared that the murdered youths were set up for ambush by the boat driver and the Chief Security Officer of the Lobia community. After the incident, both the boat driver and the Chief Security Officer, arrived in Yenagoa and went into hiding from families

,

paredness to tackle the menace. “Insecurity in our waterways is very sad. It is true that our waterways are insecure. It is true that we have demonstrated enough resolve to ensure that Yenagoa city is secured,” he said.

Admiral Gboribiogha who represented the Governor added: “We have acquired some boats to ensure that the waterways are secured... but it is very difficult; quite unlike roads, the creeks are so many that you may not be able to police all the creeks at the same time. Ours is to make sure we reduce criminality to the barest minimum. If we can avoid it all the best. There are plans to make sure the waterways are secured so that when travelling you don’t have to be watching your back”.

38 — Vanguard,

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

I - N - C - R - E - D - I - B - L - E

Bank detain female customer 3 days for default in payment of loan

•The Micro Finance Bank

,

P

By IFEANYI OKOLIE he Bride Assembly, Lagos Branch, yesterday said that the 30-year-old pastor, Solomon Eze, who was arrested by the police in Lagos State for an alleged case of kidnapping, armed robbery and murder is not a member of their church neither is he a deliverance minister of the church.

In a statement signed by the church Public Relations Officer, Den. E.C. Opara, the church stated “ We wish to state categorically that the said Solomon Eze is not and has never been a minister in this church as all our bona-fide ministers are well known and easily identified with identity cards and certificates of ordination. No one in the Pastoral Board, Deacon Board or Ministerial Board of the church knows the so-called Solomon Eze as a minister in the church. Also, none of our yearly calenders, since inception of the church in 1998 to date, has any such name and person as a Minister.”

Solomon Eze, 30, who was arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Ikeja told Crime Alert while being paraded by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, that he was a deliverance minister at the Bride Assembly Church, Ijesha Lagos.

He denied being a member of the gang claiming that the Ak47 rifle found in his possession was not his. Another alleged member of his gang, Sunday James, however stated otherwise.

A

olice sources said the matter was reported at Gowon Estate Police station and the manager and two others were arrested and taken to the station for detaining the woman illegally.

According to the source, the bank officials admitted that the mother of four kids actually slept in their office because she was not able to pay their money stating that she signed an agreement with the bank

— says “He is not our pastor”

T

By ONOZURE DANIA PETTY trader, Mrs. Rose Abbey got what she didn’t bargain for when she was allegedly detained in a Micro Finance Bank at Ipaja area of Lagos, for failing to pay a weekly N2,000 earlier agreed on towards offsetting the N17,000 loan she borrowed from the bank.

It was alleged that she was abducted and beaten up before she was locked up in a room at the bank located at 170/ 172, Ipaja Road Baruwa on April 25. She was, however, released three days later. Before then, she was allegedly neither allowed to have access to members of her family nor given food. The housewife who hails from Edo state later regained her freedom, after her friend paid the N2,000 to the bank.

Narrating her ordeal the victim told Crime Alert that she borrowed N17,000 from the bank to run her small scale business at Gowon Estate and the condition was that she will be paying back N2,000 every week. She said she has been paying the money until the 25 of April, when she was unable to pay because of poor sales.

“When the manager of the bank confronted me about the payment, I told her that I could not meet up with the payment for the week because of poor sales. She insisted that I must pay the money and dragged me to their office and locked me up along with another defaulter till the third day.

They prevented me from contacting my husband and they attempted to seize my phone and only allowed me to contact a friend who brought the money before I was released. After my release, my husband could not believe my story when I got home. It was only after he confirmed it that he believed me.”

Church denies Pastor’s arrest over robbery in Lagos

They prevented me from contacting my husband and they attempted to seize my phone

,

before they borrowed her the money. The source said that the bank Manager however, denied assaulting her adding that she was only trying to recover the bank’s money.

When Crime Alert contacted the victim’s husband, Mr Emmanuel Adeyemo Abbey on phone, he stated that the first thing that came to his mind when his wife came back was that she has gone after another man, adding that later, he had to listen to her because she has never done that before.

“Initially, I did not believe my wife until later when she showed me the injury she sustained and her friend who gave the bank the money also confirmed it, before I believed her.”

He said he was not aware that his wife was owing such money adding that it was not an excuse to illegally detain her without informing the police.

Lamenting his wife’s fate, the

•Solomon

Kidnappers abduct

By CHINENYEH OZOR, Nsukka

K

•Mrs. Rose Abbey husband further stated that her children were left alone in the house and throughout her stay in the bank, they did not eat anything and were not taken proper care of because they could not tell about their mother’s whereabouts.

He alleged that after the issue was reported to the police, they are yet to do anything about the case adding that he doesn’t like the

way they are treating that case and threatened to go to court to seek for redress if the police fail to take appropriate action against the bank officials.

Efforts made to confirm the story from the police failed but a source at the station confirmed the arrest of Adesuwa and her staff and said they will soon be charged to court.

idnappers,last week,invaded Olo Community in Ezeagu local government area,Enugu state and abducted a young man that just returned from Europe together with his maternal brother.

The two brothers whose names were given as Cajethan Nweke, a building materials merchant and Malite Onyibo, were abducted at the hinterland market, Nkwo Olo at the wee hours of last Wednesday by unknown gunmen. It was gathered that the two brothers had gone out to take some drinks with their friend, Cyril

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

Man runs amok in Lagos — threatens to kill anybody at sight — stabs 69-yr-old woman

By UJU MBANUSI

H

ell was let loose recently in Lagos when a 30-year-old man identified as Kehinde Akinpelu ran amok, armed with a sharp knife, threatening to kill anybody at sight. The incident which took place at Oloja area of Bariga in Lagos made people living in the street to scamper for safety in different directions. Unfortunately, a 69-year-old woman, Titilayo Adekoya who lives at number 27 in that street could not escape before the man pounced on her and stabbed her severally. It took the timely intervention of a team of policemen on patrol and agile neighbours to stop the man from severing her body into pieces.

The daughter of the victim, Adebimpe Adekoya, a nurse, told Crime Alert that her mother escaped being butchered by whiskers that fateful day. According to her, “I was seated with my mother at the corridor of our apartment around 12noon that fateful day, when all of a sudden, a man we later got to know as Kehinde Akinpelu, ran into the compound holding a sharp knife in one of his hands and shouting, ‘I will kill every body here today ’.

In confusion, everyone around scampered for safety and I joined them.

But it was rather late for my aged mother who was tired as a result of the fasting she was about concluding. The man caught up with her and before anyone could come to her aid, he pushed her to the floor and stabbed her at the back of her left hand. He was about stabbing her further but for the

timely intervention of some men in the neighborhood who quickly organized themselves and came to her rescue.

Otherwise, it would have been a different story because from the way he held her to the floor, he was actually bent on stabbing her to death. The men caught up with him, held him down, and disarmed him; it was a big struggle for them but they managed t o overpower h i m .

L u c k i l y, for us, s o m e police men were patrolling the area, so we called t h e i r attention to the situation o n •Stitches being removed from the wounded g r o u n d . part T h e y came and the man w a s handed over to t h e m , w h i l e M a m a w a s rushed to a nearby clinic.”

Wondering w h a t could be t h e motive behind Kehinde’s action that very d a y , •Titilayo Adekoya

invade Enugu community, Europe-returnee, brother Agudike, who was left with a broken head after the gunmen sped off with the two people to an unknown destination after firing several gun shots into the air to scare away people who scampered for safety.

An eye witness told Crime Alert that, “nobody suspected that such a thing could happen in Olo town due to the peaceful nature of the town. We thought that the abductors equally came to drink but when they started shooting and ordered the two brothers to lie down, it became clear that it was no longer business as usual, things have fallen apart.”

The gunmen reportedly shot sporadically into the air before they sped off with

Bimpe stated, “that day was the first time I set my eyes on him, no member of this family knew him before then, my brother was also around that very day, none of us knew him before that day, so his actions left every one wondering. It was after he was arrested that some members of his family went to the police station where he is being detained to plead for leniency in handling the case, saying that he is a marijuana addict and mentally deranged.

their victims under the shadow of darkness. A villager told Crime Alert, “we are hearing about kidnapping but did not know that they would enter into our village to carry out their nefarious activities. It was dinner time when we started hearing gunshots. We could not believe that gunmen could come and abduct Caje and his maternal brother who just returned from Europe.”

The abductors allegedly came in a bus and laid siege for their victims who were celebrating the happy return of their Europe based brother unknown to them that they had been ambushed.

Caje and Malite hailed from Ogulogu Olo Community,

N-A-R-R-O-W

E-S-C-A-P-E

Drug suspect escape death after failing to excrete cocaine

By Ifeanyi Okolie

A

suspected drug trafficker, Onedigbo Chibueze, narrowly escaped death recently in Lagos after he failed to excrete a wrap of cocaine which he inserted into his anus while trying to smuggle illicit drugs to Pakistan. The suspect was arrested alongside one other, Akwaeze Anthony, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, when operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, during routine screening of Qatar Airline flight spotted and apprehended them.

The NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr Hamza Umar, told Crime Alert that it took the timely intervention of medical doctors who conducted a surgery on Chibueze to save his life.

“While Akwaeze Anthony successfully expelled all 67 wraps of cocaine he ingested without assistance, the case of Onedigbo Chibueze Emmanuel who inserted four wraps of cocaine in his anus was different. He was unable to expel one of the wraps until medical doctors came to his rescue. We were disturbed because his life was in danger” Hamza stated.

Officials were worried that the suspect may die like others who ingest narcotic drugs due to the poisonous nature of drugs.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Onedigbo Chibueze Emmanuel is an unrepentant

drug trafficker who was recently deported from Thailand after serving a threeyear jail term over drug related offences. He was apprehended during the screening of passengers on Qatar Airline flight.

The suspect told Crime Alert, “It is true that I was deported in February 2013 after serving three years jail term in Thailand. I went back into drug smuggling because there was nothing for me to sustain myself. My desire was to get some money from the drug deal and establish a business that can help me prepare for my future. I feel so sad that it turned out this way,” he stated. The suspect hails from Okija, in Anambra State.

In his confessional statement, Akwaeze Anthony Obinna said that he was enticed by an offer of one million naira. “I am a trader at Ahiaohuru Market Aba where I sell textiles. My business has suffered huge losses and I wanted to use the one million naira they promised to pay me to strengthen my business. I never thought of arrest because my mind was focused on how to revive my business. It is hardship that led me into drug trafficking.

I am from a poor family.

Things are bad that I had to abandon my Guidance and Counseling studies at 200 levels at Abia State University,” he stated.

Alleged extortion: Anambra market exco vows to protect traders

By OKONKWO EZE, Onitsha

Ezeagu LGA Enugu state while Caje is domiciled at the hinterland Nkwo market settlement where he runs a building materials business. A family source who pleaded anonymous told Crime Alert that the kidnappers have opened up discussions with the family, demanding N30 million as ransom. “How can we raise that kind of money, we are pleading for them to release our brothers, they are two young men from a family, losing them would be too heavy for the family to bear,” he explained.

Enugu state police image maker, Ebere Amarizu confirmed the incident,explaining that the family reported direct to Enugu state anti-kidnap unit assuring that the state police command have swooped into action.

— 39

M

arket leaders in Anambra State, under the aegis of Anambra State Markets Stakeholders and Elders Forum (AMSEF), have vowed to protect traders in the state against all forms of extortion, intimidation, harassment and manipulations from anybody, organization or groups, no matter how highly placed.

They said they must do this against all odds.

In a press statement issued in Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday and jointly signed on their behalf by their chairman, Oliver Nwankwo and General Secretary, Nwagu Chidiebere (Okosisi), the forum however, urged the traders to ensure a regular, prompt and accurate payment of their stallage fees to the appropriate authorities.

AMSEF also pledged to do every thing within its powers to maintain a continued existence of traders/ government cordial relationship.

They commended Governor Peter Obi for the marvelous works he is doing in the state through Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS), adding, “ we want to extend the happiness and good wishes of the traders to the Governor for his infrastructural developmental strides especially in the areas of road network which is unparalleled in the state and which we adjudge the best in Nigeria”.

They also commended the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Robert Okonkwo, for his tireless efforts so far in the various markets and urged him not to relent.

40 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

Vanguard Vanguard,,

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

— 41

YOUR LUCK TODAY

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: Make sure you strike a balance between time given to domestic affairs and career/business-related issues or else, avoidable trouble would come up unexpectedly.

GEMINI: Do away with unnecessary argument and focus on the best way to enhance your career/business prospects. The more legal minded you are, the better.

CANCER: It is important you guard against deception especially on finance-related issues. The more legal minded you are, the better for you. Don’t neglect your love life.

LEO: Domestic-related issues may become a little bit stormy but if you take good advice, you’ll resolve the whole thing. It’s wrong to take partners for granted.

By Richard Eromosele

HO is a great man? Why study W the great man? What is the benefit derivable from studying great men?

A great man simply put is somebody that has done something notable and remarkable that is of

Studying great men benefit to humanity.

So, if you are a rich man who lives for himself alone, you can’t be said to be a great man.

Asking the question: Why study the great man, is like asking the question why study

history or any other subject. It is important to study the great man in order to understand the principles and philosophy of his greatness. Studying the great man saves you lots of time, money and effort, it helps you

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

not to commit the same mistake of trial and error which he made before achieving greatness.

Study great men.

Their experience could help you to minimise or eliminate pitfalls on your road to success.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

VIRGO: Take very good care of your health and refuse to take unnecessary step capable of disrupting peace within your working arena. Evening period is progressive.

LIBRA: With effort, you’ll be at an advantage position and benefit from happenings within your working arena. However, you must not allow friends to mislead you on matters of-the-heart.

SCORPIO: Although your workload has been on the increase with additional tension along your career/ business line in the recent times, if you are consistent, you’ll emerge winner eventually.

SAGITTARIUS: Guard against miscalculation and being confrontational with the law enforcement agents; respect the law and think about your immediate future.

CAPRICORN: If you’re not sure of the intention of others when it comes to financial transactions, you better be cautious and say no.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

AQUARIUS: Now that you are closer to people of power and influence, you would do yourself good if you let them know what you can do, especially along your career/business line.

PISCES: You are known to be a peace-loving person, thus you’ll further enhance your status if you oil the troubled water within your working arena.

ARIES: If you take friends for granted, you would be disappointed. And this is the wrong time to gamble with matters-of-the heart. Try to be practical.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Analyse my star please!!!

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua, I want you to tell me everything about my Star particularly the kind of person I am. The more blunt you are the better for me Israel, Abuja.

Dear Israel, What space can take will be given here under ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT Aries that hosted the most important heavenly body (the Sun) together with indicator of mental focus lens-Mercury, is known for special leadership quality and higher degree of positive aggressiveness. Yes you were endowed with leadership talents which can manifest either in the business world or POLITICS and probably both.

It is true that Aries can be very aggressive, but with many planets placed in more mild Star signs, with less than 50% of push-full influence, loving Venus as most influential planet when you were born, certainly aggression of Aries is greatly water down to the minimum . That is not to say you are the timid type but yours is a balanced personality. You are gentle, honest and straight forward person. Preponderance of fixed and earth in your chart are pointers to the fact that you are the careful type who will not change his mind just for the fun of it.

Then as peace loving Venus was the most influential planet when you were born, peace and harmony will always come first whenever you want to take any (important and/or) decisive action.

Placement of mighty Sun (indicator of basic-self hood) the Moon (indicator of sub-conscious self/emotion) and the Stellium (that is more than two planets in one Star sign} in Aries, Pisces and Taurus respectively mean that basic characteristics of the three Star signs stated in this paragraph as are highly pronounced in your innerself.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

42—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

Is his ex trying to win him back?

Dear Bunmi, Do you think taking cod liver oil capsules regularly can prevent rheumatism? I’m quite keen to give them a go, but they seem rather expensive and I’m reluctant to spend money if they are not going to help very much.

Ebube, by e-mail.

Dear Ebube, Cod liver oil is an excellent

source of Vitamins A and D and certain unsaturated fatty acids. Its only confirmed medical use is in the treatment of Vitamins A or D deficiency, but is often recommended to people who have an imbalance in the types of fat contained in their blood.

The benefits of cod liver oil in the treatment and prevention of musculo-skeletal disorders such as rheumatism,

are less obvious and I don’t know of any scientific evidence to back up such claims.

However, recent evidence shows that high doses of evening primrose oil may help up to half of all people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

So if you’re worried about your joints, it may make more sense to take evening primrose oil rather than cod liver oil.

She can’t handle her husband’s betrayal

’

Dear Bunmi, My younger sister has been on her own since her husband left her for his pregnant and much younger mistress. They had no children, so I’m happy for her to join us on my birthday which I always celebrated.

She lives in another state and usually stays a couple of days.

The problem is, she always drinks too much and ends up crying and showing herself up.

Last year, she made a pass at my son’s 22-year-old best friend, and it took the two of us to get her away from him and up to bed. When she finally left for home a few days later, I found two empty brandy bottles under her bed.

No wonder she was off her head. My next birthday is in a few weeks and she’s already indicated her wish to attend.

Now I pray she gets a better offer for that date!

Lara, by e-mail.

Dear Lara, It’s unlikely she’ll get a better offer, so be prepared because she’s coming! First, you need to find somewhere to hide all the booze you’ll need for the party.

If you think she’ll bring some with her, make some excuse to get into the bedroom when she’s unpacking, grab the bottles and say, ‘thanks, you’ve brought the brandy!’

Since she’s your sister, and you obviously care a lot for her, don’t you think it’s better that she’s behaving badly in your house and not in any godforsaken pepper soup joint where someone could easily take

I guess what you want is the reassurance that hotblooded men could link up with women who attach the same importance to anatomy

Is he trying to con me?

Dear Bunmi, Five years ago, I got a loan from the bank I still work with to buy a four-bedroom bungalow. Shortly after, I met my current partner after over two years of nursing a broken heart.

My partner was then living rent-free in a flat at his family house and later moved in with me. I currently pay the mortgage on the house while he takes care of other bills which don’t come close to my monthly expenses on the house.

He’s now throwing hints about us getting married and how it would be the proper thing to do to make him a joint-owner of the house. I’m

advantage of her?

She’s only acting this way because she’s lonely and hurting. Try talking to her, and telling her how worried you are. We all need a good shoulder to cry on from time to time. If she feels she can let it all out, then maybe she won’t resort to booze.

If you see her drinking, take her aside and say it might be a good idea if she had some exotic juice instead as it’ll be more difficult if you leave it until she’s actually drunk.

She won’t be lonely for ever.

When she’s back on her feet, the problem may well cure itself.

a bit hesitant to do this as I earn lots more than he does.

If eventually we separated, God forbid, I would be nursing a broken heart all over again— not to talk about the loss of full control of my house. How do I tackle my partner? I truly love him.

Debora, by e-mail.

Dear Debora, You’d been hurt once but how many warning signs do you really need? Like many financially successful women in dicey relationships, you’re afraid he might stop loving you if you don’t hand over the string of your purse to him.

Well, if he really cared about you, he would jump at the

’

chance to protect you. Now he wants to be an equal partner in your property when he doesn’t earn as much as you do.

You’ve got to face the fact that your current partner is a freeloader. He was living off his parents when he met you, now he’s living off you.

Make it clear that you don’t plan to alter the mortgage of the house you bought before you met him— you saved for the deposit on the house, so why should he have any claim to it?

If he still insists on being a co-owner as a prerequisite to marriage, then you’ve got your warning as to the type of person he really is!

’

Can cod liver oil relieve rheumatism?

Dear Bunmi, I’ve been with my partner for 15 years and comfortable with the fact that he keeps in touch with his ex-wife. Now his ex lives just a few minutes’ walk from us and I’m not happy. He’s always dashing round to do jobs for her and gives her lifts most of the time.

They have three children together and they often come to their mother ’s, making the whole atmosphere as cosy as if they’re family again. But we have a daughter of our own who needs him. Why can’t he spend more time with us?

Slyvia, by e-mail.

Dear Slyvia, You didn’t say it but you seem to think your partner is being unfaithful. And if there’s a whiff of an affair, you would be right to feel angry and betrayed. But if he’s simply giving his ex a helping hand and being a good father, then he needs your support.

Talk to him about it all— tell him you’re concerned for your own daughter but don’t turn his love for his children into a contest. They all need him.

Discuss ways of sharing his time, and let him know you’re hurting. Be generous, and you could find this problem melts away.

Make it clear that you don’t plan to alter the mortgage of the house you bought before you met him— you saved for the deposit on the house, so why should he have any claim to it?

’

I prefer an aggressive lover!

Dear Bunmi, Although I am a happy and healthy man living in a large city, I am having great difficulty in a lover, since my marriage fell apart 18 months ago.

It is common knowledge that there are many middle aged women who are looking for a partner after the loss, by death or otherwise, of their life partners. Many who have not lost them still wish to have an intimate relationship outside their marriage.

This is in the hope that this extra-marital relationship will provide something that marriage or living together cannot. Since this is the case, why am I having so much difficulty getting a woman of my choice?

Since I like to be dominant, the more militant females do not interest me. I guess the difficulty is the variety of lively, attractive, high-spirited women, who are submissive.

I want a challenging partner who is as aggressive as I am, as plain love-making doesn’t interest me.

Is there a woman like that out there? I met one once many years ago, so why has it been so difficult to replace

her?

Hassan, by e-mail.

Dear Hassan, I guess what you want is the reassurance that hot-blooded men could link up with women who attach the same importance to anatomy. Well, it is love, not love-making, that makes the world go round.

You see yourself as a trophy man, the kind women might like to go to bed with. Or in what way, other than sexually, do you expect these women you’re looking for to find you attractive?

A woman’s drive attracts her to a man. Her emotional sexual response then helps her to choose a suitable partner. Soon his looks lose importance. The same applies when a man courts and wins a female.

The pin-up image you have of yourself might be putting off the women you’ve approached, and in the age group you mentioned, most women would rather have stability than one-night stands. So why not try establishing good relationships first and see what sexual bonus develops?

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

43—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

Utuama, Oru, others condole with Obule

D

EPUTY Governor of Delta State, Prof.

Amos Utuama, has condoled with Chief Charles Obule over the death of his elder brother, Mr. Andrew Obule. He also prayed for Mr. C. Obule’s quick recovery from his sudden illhealth.

Dignitaries, who paid condolence visits to the country home of Chief Charles Obule, former Delta State governorship aspirant, were Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Regional Chairman, Dr. Steve Oru, represented by his wife; Mr. Akpobasa; erudite lawyer, Mr. Akpomudiaga Odje; Uvwie community leader, Chief Erute; Chief John Orido and Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, executive members from Rivers State, led by Chief Omokri, among others.

The deputy governor was received by Mr. Clever Obule, Director of National Orientation Agency; Hon Joyce Overah, and Sapele politician, Chief Lucky Ayomanor.

Burial

T

HE burial of Mrs. Adetoun Egbedeyi will commence with a service of songs at RCCG, Ajiboye Street, AlapereKetu, today by 4pm.

Interment is at Atan Cemetery, tomorrow by 10am.

Mrs. Egbedeyi was a former Media Manager at Universal Mac Cann, Opebi, Lagos.

She is survived by widower and children.

DESOPADEC admits diverting oil money

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI—DELTA State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, has admitted that Warri Club, Warri, which it rehabilitated with funds meant for the development of Itsekiri oil communities, was a private recreational club.

Chief Legal Officer of the Commission, Mr. Gabriel Eyewuoma, made the admission when he was cross-examined in a N1 billion suit against DESOPADEC by Itsekiri chapter of Host Communities of Oil and Gas Producing Communities of Nigeria, HOSTCOM. He also admitted that DESOPADEC did not receive any letter from the Federal Government soliciting for assistance before it embarked on the renovation of the Nigeria Police Barracks, ‘A’ Division, Warri.

He, however, said that all projects executed by DESOPADEC were published in the Commission’s monthly magazine as it concerned the various ethnic groups.

Asked if DESOPADEC had earlier refuted the publication of the project executed in a news magazine, he said no.

He said he was aware that security personnel guard Warri Club, and a non-member would not enter the club because the

recreational centre was strictly for members.

Itsekiri host communities, led by their chairman, Prince Ikenwoli Emiko, are aggrieved that the money meant for the Itsekiri oil communities were diverted by the Commission to renovate Warri Club and Police

Barracks, which are private and Federal Government concerns.

They contended that the plaintiffs were plagued by coastal erosion, oil pollution, spillages and other ecological and environmental challenges.

The oil communities want

Ugolor vs Police: Appeal Court orders payment of N5m damages

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—THE Court of Appeal sitting in Benin, Edo State, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, and the Attorney-General of Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, to pay N5 million damages, awarded against them by an Edo State High Court, into an interest-yielding account, pending its judgment on the suit by Rev. David Ugolor.

Ugolor, Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, is contesting his arrest and detention over the killing of Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, late Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.

In its ruling, the presiding

judge, Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, ordered Abubakar and Adoke to pay the money to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the appellate court, who would then pay same into an interestyielding account.

However, counsel to Abubakar, Adoke and Nigeria Police Force had earlier sought a stay of execution of the decision of the lower court, which had ear-

U

GHELLI—SPECIAL Project Director in charge of sector ‘A’ of the Ughelli-Asaba road dualisation project, Mr. Sunny Onosueke, has appealed to host communities to cooperate with the contractor handling sector ‘A’ of the project, Consolidated Construction Company, CCC. Onosueke, yesterday, while

addressing Eboh-Iyede youths, who were insisting that the project be stopped unless their affected economic trees were paid for, told the youths that the project was for the benefit of the entire people of the state.

Assuring that their affected economic trees would be paid for, he said they should allow the contractor to continue with the work without hindrance,

T

HE Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Joshua Okpo, yesterday, at Oron, Akwa Ibom State, constituted a nine-man committee on a handbook for the Academy.

The committee, headed by Dr

adding that adequate arrangements were being made to pay compensation on affected economic trees and buildings.

He said Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was determined to complete the road before the expiration of his tenure, saying “we should encourage our governor by allowing the contractors to work without any disturbance."

Egbe Okorie, is to develop a handbook of international standard that will capture what the academy stands for.

While briefing the Rector, Dr. Okorie noted that once management gives the nod, the committee will go ahead with the final production of the handbook.

The Rector thanked the committee members and noted that the production of the handbook was an indication that the academy was heading towards the direction of world class academies, adding that all that were needed to reposition the near 34 years old academy would be done.

He urged other committees that are working on curriculum development to put in their best.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

lier ordered that the money should be paid into an interest-yielding account.

But counsel to Ugolor, faulted the application and described same as a legal virus, arguing that the N5 million has to be paid into an interest-yielding account first, pending the appeal court judgment.

The court held that the money be paid into said account within 60 days.

Rector lauds c'ttee over maritime handbook

Host communities tasked on Ughelli-Asaba road

BY FESTUS AHON

the court to order the commission to account for all monies expended on such illegal projects and pay N100 million for compensation and damages to the plaintiffs.

Trial judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro, adjourned further hearing till May 17.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On mobile number portability(2)

I

hope this porting programme will work because it is something that is worth doing. For instance, my current network services have been frustrating. If I can port, then it gives me the chance to try other networks.— Miss Boluwatife Olatinwo, Student.

N

ETWORK portability can lead to overloading. This is especially possible when consumers want to quickly port, immediately they notice that one network is a bit slow. I hope they make it work smoothly.— Mr. Afolami Oluwafemi, Footballer.

L

ET me say that the idea is good. But will the bad people in this our country allow this good scheme to work? Porting makes somebody like me feel more relaxed with one SIM card accessing many networks.— Mrs. Funmilayo Omisesan, Judiciary Staff.

P

ORTING? I am just hearing this.

Using one SIM card to call numbers from other networks? Is that what it means? If yes, then it is good and in the interest of Nigerians, who are always victims of exploitation by multinationals.— Mr. Solomon Bombata, Pensioner.

I

wonder why they left it till now. In advanced countries, they have been porting for a long time. Well, it is better late than never.

It is good and I want it to stay for Nigerians to really have better network service from the operators.— Mr. Osakuade Seun, Activist.

P

EOPLE have been talking about using one network to access other networks. I am yet to see it happen.

If it becomes possible, then it is good for consumers who may need to have more than one network for good communication.— Miss Ogunwale Nofisat, Student.

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

Delta Speaker urges public, private sector synergy

S

PEAKER of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Victor Ochei, has urged public spirited individuals and organisations to establish a synergy with the state government to enhance the overall development of Delta State.

Ochei, while commissioning a six-classroom block at the Umuebu Secondary School, in Ukwuani Local Government Area, built and donated to the community by Sir Kenny Okolougbo, a commissioner in Delta State Oil Producing Areas Commission, DESOPADEC, stressed the need to assist the government in the provision of amenities as government cannot do it alone.

Earlier in his address, Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Patrick Muoboghare, eulogised Okolougbo, whom he described as a committed philanthropist and patriot, whose contribution to the development of education in Delta State is noteworthy.

Madam Mene for burial

M

ADAM Ibukun Mene is dead.

She died on March 18, in her residence at Ogunaja Quarters, Sapele, Delta State, after a brief illness. She was a devout Christian and a philanthropist.

A statement by the family said burial rites will commence on May 10, at her family residence, Ogunaja Quarters, Sapele.

Reception will be at the same venue.

Late Madam Mene C M Y K

PDP dares Oshiomhole to deny he begged joining them

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

P

EOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, has again challenged Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to open up on how he practically begged to join the party instead of allowing his aides who knew nothing about it to be defending him.

The party, in a statement in Abuja, by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, also dismissed claims by Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, that PDP could not have won the recent local government elections in Edo State on account of the party ’s loss of last year’s gubernatorial election.

Challenging the governor to tell the world how he begged to join the PDP, the party said: “We view this step as necessary against the background of porous and laughable defence posted by both ACN and low cadre assistants to Governor Oshiomhole. This challenge is direct to Oshiomhole. Let him prove wrong, a well documented overture he made to join PDP, a party he lately labelled 'party of rogues.' A

word from the horse’s mouth will either settle this matter or further provide an avenue into the wicked lie that several leaders of the opposition live in our dear nation.

“We do not wish to debate here the contentious performance of Governor Oshiomhole for it pales into insignificance, when compared

to that of other PDP state governors. We do not also need to attack Governor Oshiomhole for reasons of relevance as his party alleged.

We only challenged him on a well documented overture he desperately made to join our party. This challenge, he has not taken up because he knows the truth. Let him

CANADA-NIGERIA TRADE INVESTMENT CONFERENCE: From right: Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and Peter Obi (Anambra), at the just concluded Canada-Nigeria Trade Investment Conference held in Toronto, Canada.

BNC tasks Jonathan on transparency in appointment of UBTH CMD

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—BENIN National Congress, BNC, has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Health to ensure transparency in the appointment of the next Chief Medical Director of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, Benin City, Edo State.

The first term tenure of the incumbent CMD, Prof.

Michael Ibadin, will terminate in July this year. He is

expected to seek for a second term in office.

BNC, in a statement by it Director of Publicity, Mr. David Ekomwenrenren, noted that federal appointments were always shrouded in politics, rather than on merit and fairness, which according to it, affects the management of such institutions.

“In the current situation, we have it on good authority that the various union leaders in UBTH are being blackmailed to officially endorse the incumbent administration on the pages of

newspapers, under the guise of felicitating a situation that we consider antithetical to decorum, peace and tranquility before, during and after the recruitment exercise.

“As a socio-cultural organisation of Edo people, we don’t project any candidate for any public office of this nature, but, we will resist any attempt to impose a dishonest candidate or a stooge by centrifugal force, who believes that federal establishments are their inheritance, and that they must produce or impose their helmsmen."

Delta community alleges invasion, arrests President and Vice-President

by JTF respectively of Egbema for

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

T

HE people of Egbema, in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, have accused the Joint Task Force, JTF, of invading their communities and arresting prominent individuals for protesting alleged years of political marginalisation, economical and environmental despoliation by the Delta State Government and Chev-

speak out.”

On claims by ACN that PDP could not have won a seat at the controversial Edo local government elections, Metuh accused ACN of putting logic on the head, saying that there was no basis to say that “because Governor Oshiomhole won the state governorship election, ACN must win all the seats in a local election."

ron Nigeria Limited, operating in the area.

According to the community, those arrested are Chief Solomon Ogomogo, Mr Benedict Miebi, a Councillor in the Warri North council, Mr. Kenneth Odibo, Special Adviser to Mr. Godwin Ebosa, former Chairman of Warri North council , Mr. Kalawei Wowei, Mr. Peter Ogomogo, among other indigenes.

A statement by Mr. P.E. Fetimi, Mr. Shedrack Igina,

Positive Change, said: “At 1 am Sunday, the JTF in Delta State invaded Egbema communities in Warri North and arrested our people mentioned above. This mass arrest is the continuous act of provocation and the persecution of our people because of our peaceful and lawful agitation against years of political marginalisation and environmental despoliation by the state government and Chevron."

Delta 2015: Obielum urged to contest governorship poll

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—DELTA Progressive Movement, DPM, a political pressure group, has urged Chief Godswill Obielum to contest the Delta State 2015 gubernatorial election.

DPM, in a statement by its secretary, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, described Chief Obielum as a detribalised man, who would deliver the dividends of democracy to Deltans without tribal sentiments.

He said: "The state governor, in 2015, should come from Delta North senatorial district in line with Peoples Democratic Party, PDP rotational policy, such candidate must be one with good pedigree.

“Deltans must shun people who will be driven by tribal sentiments; people who would want every Deltan to dress like the Anioma people before he or she could get any form of government patronage. And the only man that has the pedigree to deliver without tribal sentiments is Chief Obielum."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013 — 45

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

Ngige declares governorship ambition in Anambra

BY ENYIM ENYIM

O

NITSHA — FORMER governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige, yesterday, declared his intention to run for the 2014 governorship election in the state.

Senator Ngige made the declaration in Awka on the occasion of Rainbow Coalition stakeholders' meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), and Democratic People’s Party (DPP).

Speaking on the occasion, convener of the meeting and

coordinator of Rainbow Coalition, Chief Ben Oranusi, explained that after due investigations and understanding of the personalities aspiring for the 2014 gubernatorial election, they found that Ngige was the person good enough and better experienced to take up the task of piloting the affairs of Anambra State.

Oranusi said: “We are urging him to come and contest this election and continue from where he stopped. We have been holding this meeting for months now and now is the time to call him up and say 'go for us and become our

governor again.'”

Former lawmaker in the House of representatives for Anambra East and West Federal Constituency Chief Ralph Okeke, later moved a motion for Senator Ngige to contest 2014 gubernatorial election.

The motion was seconded by Ezike Nwosu, an APGA member from Ezinifite Aguata in Anambra South and supported by Chidi Abasilim of Idemili South and Paul Obianaso who do not belong to any political party.

Speaking on the occasion, Ngige said: “While I was there as governor, I worked

with about N80 billion as total budget and executed about N69 billion and if we go by this data and figure, you will discover that the four budget which I prosecuted I had about N150 billion, including the Internally Generated Revenue.

“Yet we delivered services and built roads and lifted the embargo on employments and promotion which the then governor placed while in office.

“But when you compare my administration with that of the incumbent, Governor Peter Obi, you will see the difference.

“He had received N1.2 trillion in total as allocation from Federal Account and about N800 billion as local government allocation which makes it up to roughly N2 trillion in the last seven years, yet we have nothing to show for it.

“I wish to ask, what do we have in Anambra State in terms of infrastructure to show for the N2 trillion received by the governor?

“Even if you allow for inflation by doubling the N150 billion to N300 billion, does the situation in Anambra State justify the huge resources that has come into the state since then?"

Nigerian Breweries holds investor/ media forum THE MANAGEMENT of Nigerian Breweries Plc holds an investors/ media forum today, May 8, 2013. at the Panoramic View Hall, Civic Centre, Victoria Island,Lagos 11a.m. to 1p.m.

The event will feature presentations by NicoVervelde, the company’s Managing Director/CEO; Victor Famuyibo, Human Resource Director and Jasper Hamaker, Finance Director.

Pa Badewa for burial May 10 Christian wake keep for late Pa Badewa, who died on March 22, 2013. will hold on Friday, May 10, 2013,at his residence No. 15, Kajola Street, Surulere, Ondo State.

According to the family, burial service and interment will take place at his residence on May 11. And entertainment of guests follows immediately at the same venue.

Late Pa Badewa

From left: Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra; Sen. Smart Adeyemi, Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru; President Goodluck Jonathan; Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and Amb. Sani Yusuf, Nigeria High Commissioner to South Africa, at a meeting with the Nigerian community in Cape Town, South Africa.

Bunkering: Abandoned crude oil drums litter Ogbaru area illegal refinery operators in Anambra State have littered the banks of River Niger, along AWKA — THOUSANDS of Ogbaru axis of the state. drums of crude oil abandoned Those involved in the illegal by alleged oil bunkerers and refining activities in the area

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

Gov Elechi appeals to striking doctors over kidnapped colleague

BY PETER OKUTU

ABAKALIKI — GOVERNOR Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State, yesterday, appealed to the state chapter of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, to return to work as government and security agencies were working assiduously to ensure that their colleague, Dr. Pius Chuka Manyiake, who was kidnapped last Sunday was rescued from his captors.

Doctors working in the state, under the auspices of the NMA, had on Monday announced the withdrawal of services in all government and private hospitals in the state, following the kidnap of their member with the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

Briefing newsmen at Government House lodge in Abaka-

liki, Governor Elechi disclosed that he had been briefed by the Commissioner of Police on the matter and that no stone would be left unturned totrack down the criminals.

were said to have abandoned the sites when a combined team of Nigerian Army and Navy raided them, weekend.

Secretary to Anambra State government, SSG, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, said yesterday that officials of the state and Federal Governments were already discussing with security agencies on how to evacuate the abandoned crude oil that littered the banks of River Niger in Ogbaru riverine parts of the state.

Obaze, who visited the affected area, lamented that the state inland waterways and

agricultural farmlands risked massive pollution if the oil remnants were not evacuated before this year’s flood season set in, regretting that the bunkering activities shifted from the Niger Delta into Ogbaru environs of Anambra State when the Nigeri Delta became too hot for them.

He said that state government was also considering direct legislation or amending the extant criminal code in order to expand the scope of the law on bunkering and enhance existing federal laws.

Rights group alleges marginalisation of Igbos in Police Force ...wants SE Govs to intervene

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA — HUMAN rights group, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, INTERSOCIETY, has alleged a deliberate marginalisation of Igbos in the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, and wants the governors of the South East states to intervene

in the matter to address the anomaly.

Chairman of INTERSOCIETY, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, in a statement issued in Onitsha, yesterday, and addressed to the South East Governors’ Forum, regretted that of 6651 top field and administrative formations of the Force in the country, only very few were manned by police officers of

Igbo extraction.

He said: “Other than states Police Commands where about six of them are serving, their absence in other key police formations in the country is acutely noticed.

"For instance, among the 12 Police Zonal Commands in the country, manned by AIGs, none of them is from the IgboSoutheast extraction.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013—47

WEDDING—From left: Chief Tunde Smooth; Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN; his wife, Dr. Nelly Utuama and wife of the Delta State Governor, Mrs. Roli Uduaghan during the wedding of the daughter of the Deputy Governor, Fejiro to Edwin Smooth in Warri, Delta State.

COMMISSIONING—Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Victor Ochei (3rd left); Sir Ken Okolougbo (2nd right), Professor Patrick Muoboghare, Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education (2nd left); Rev Chuks Eke, DESOPADEC Commissioner; and Mrs. Rose Ogu, Principal, Umuebu Secondary School, Umuemu, at the commissioning of blocks of classrooms.

Road walk to mark the 2013 World Asthma Day in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday.

Photo: NAN.

BIRTHDAY— From left: Pastor (Mrs) Ngozi Achonwa; Pastor Charles Achonwa; Pastor Johnson Omomadia, celebrant; Pastor (Mrs) Ese Omomadia, wife; Pastor (Mrs) Anne Adedayo and Rev Akin-Gabriel Adedayo, during the 50th birthday of Pastor Johnson Omomadia of Christ Reality Ministry in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

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From right: Mrs. Doris Smooth; Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN; Mrs. Priscilla Oditah; Edwin Smooth; his wife, Fejiro; Prof. Fidelis Oditah; Chief Tunde Smooth and wife of the Deputy Governor, Dr. Nelly Utuama; Catholic Archbishop of Benin Archdiocese, Most Rev. Augustine Akubeze; Catholic Bishops and priests.

INAUGURATION—Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire (2nd right); Speaker, Lagos Children's Parliament, Daniel Oluwaotobi (left); Perm Sec, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Risikat Akiode (right) and Director of Finance and Administration, Mrs. Toyin Ashafa-Ninalowo (2nd left) at the inauguration of the parliament in Alausa, Ikeja. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

GRADUATION—From left: Country Director, RLG Communications Nigeria Ltd, Mr Tosin Ilesanmi; Best graduating student, RLG/OYESTECH Training Academy, Musbau Akinola; Deputy Governor of Osun State, Chief Titi-Laoye Tomori; and Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, during the graduation of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme trainees, in Oshogbo.

MEETING—From left: Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator 'Gbenga Ashafa; Special Adviser on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina; First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola and Lagos State Conmissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, during the Lagos East Senatorial Town Hall meeting on maternal and child mortality reduction programme in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

MEETING— From left: Member representing Burutu Constituency at the House of Representatives, Frank Enikorogha; Chief Solomon Funkekeme, Commissioner for Works, Delta State; Chief Peter Biakpara, former Commissioner for Agriculture, Delta State; Dan Yingi, member, representing Burutu Constituency I at the Delta State House of Assembly and Chief J. T Government during a meeting of Burutu PDP leaders at Ekpan, Uvwie LGA, Delta State.

48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

GSK creates awareness on Asthma management

Kwara to relocate people from flood prone areas

IN com L memoration of 2013 AGOS—

World Asthma Day which is celebrated across the globe every first Tuesday in May, one of Nigeria’s leading pharmaceutical companies Glaxo Smithkline (GSK), yesterday organized a Road Walk in Lagos to create awareness on Asthma management and control.

Engagement and Communications manager, Bolaji Sanyaolu GSK, while speaking with journalists at the event said: “We want everyone living with asthma to know that they can control it.

Asthma can be managed through proper medication; it is a chronic illness and not terminal disease as many people often say. It can be control if one uses the right medication.

"You don’t have to suffer if you have asthma, you can live a normal healthy life.

"Over 300 million across the globe live with asthma but with good treatment, most asthma patients can achieve good asthma control."

Primate tasks Nigerians on discipline

L

AGOS—THE Pri mate, African Church Nigeria Mission Incorporated and Overseas and President, Christian Council of Nigeria, Most Rev. Emmanuel Udofia, has charged Nigerians to live a more disciplined life.

He made the remark during the formal dedication of a new Cathedral of the United African Methodist Evangelical Church, Abule Ijesha, Lagos.

Udofia also enjoined Christians to be exemplary role models, showcasing the qualities of Christ as the light unto other people’s darkness.

He berated those indulging in shameful vice and charged them to avoid the wrath of God.

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

I

TRAINING—The Arcbishop of Kaduna Anglican Diocese and Chairman Bridge Builders Association of Nigeria, Dr. Josiah Idowu Fearon with Mr Maji Peter and Hajia Amina Kazaure of Inter-Faith Dialogue Group during the closing ceremony of the Peaceful Co-existence,Vocational and Life Skill Training for youths in the North at Jakaranda Farm Resort, Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Appeal Court orders retrial of NAFDAC’s case against Indian

BY INNOCENT ANABA

L

AGOS—NATIONAL Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has won a major legal victory in the battle against importation of fake drugs into the country.

The Kaduna division of Appeal Court, in a unanimous judgment, ordered the retrial of a criminal charge against an Indian National, Vijay Lalwani, which was earlier struck out.

NAFDAC had charged the Indian before a Federal High Court in Kano for allegedly importing fake and unregistered Rambo Aerosol Insecticide into Nigeria.

Lalwani had challenged the competence of the charge and jurisdiction of the court to entertain the charge on the ground that he had earlier filed a civil suit in respect of the subject matter, and urged the court to strike out the charge for being oppressive.

The argument of the foreigner was upheld by the court, while the criminal charge was struck out.

Dissatisfied, NAFDAC appealed the verdict and urged the Appellate Court to upturn the ruling and remit the case back to the Federal High Court for trial on merit.

Justice Abdu Aboki, who read the lead judgment of the Appeal Court, held that the lower court was wrong in its decision, and ordered the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta to re-assign the case to another judge of the court for

trial on merit.

In the judgment, which was corroborated by two other justices - I.G Mbaba and H.A Abiru, the Appeal Court held that: “It is very clear that the issues for determination that were considered by the Court of Appeal in the case of Akintunde v. Ojo (Supra) by Okunola JCA (of blessed memory) who delivered the lead judgment in the aforementioned case never made any pronouncement bordering on the issue of whether concurrently pursuing a criminal as well as civil case against same person is op-

pressive.”

According to the fourcount charge endorsed by NAFDAC’s head of Legal Unit, Kingsley Ejiofor, the Indian, whose address was given as No. 6A, Miller Road, Bompai, Kano, was said to have imported the fake drugs contrary to Section 1 (a) and (b) of the Counterfeit. And Fake Drug and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap F34, LFN, 2004. He was arrested on September 2, 2010 with 780 cartons of fake Rambo Aerosol Insecticide.

Africa’s Youngest Billionaire for Nigerian CSR Confab

L

AGOS—PRESIDENT, Mara Group and Forbes Africa’s Youngest Billionaire, Ashish J. Thakkar, will headline the ThistlePraxis Consulting Limited 2013 Africa CEO Roundtable & Conference on Corporate Sustainability & Responsibility (ARCSR™), scheduled to take place from June 20 – 21, 2013 as Keynote Speaker.

This year ’s industry flagship, all-inclusive CSR & Sustainability management event is themed: ‘Driving Innovation through Transformational Leadership & Sustainability’.

Leaders from within and

outside the continent will gather to share their expertise and experiences on an array of business and development topics, and make a case for a greater focus on transformational leadership in seeking innovative and responsible ways for sustainable development.

Leading experts will discuss issues bordering on how responsibility in leadership promotes innovation and encourages youth empowerment and active participation; the effects of climate change and the increasingly inadequate natural resources that demand better governance.

LORIN— KWARA State government has begun the sensitisation of people living in flood prone areas of the state, with a view to relocating them before the period of heavy rains in the state.

The government has also provided two temporary camp sites to relocate would- be victims of flood. One of the camp sites is located at Muslim Pilgrims camp in Ilorin metropolis, while the other is a virgin land cleared at Patigi Local Government Area of the state.

The state Head of the Civil Service and Chairman, Committee on Flood disaster and Rehabilitation, Alhaji Mohammed Dabarako disclosed this at a press briefing in IIorin yesterday.

Dabarako identified five local government areas prone to flood in

Tanker drivers protest in Kano

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

K

ANO—TANKER drivers, yesterday, protested the alleged shooting of a truck driver by a security agent,over alleged N100 bribe by blocking the ever-busy Kano-Wudil federal highway for about four hours.

The protest caused anxiety in the commercial city, even as the state Police Commissioner, Musa Daura hinted that a police Inspector and another Sergeant had been arrested over the incident with a promise that they would be sanctioned if found guilty after an in-house trial, at the state Police headquarters in Bompai, Kano.

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50—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, MAY 8 , 2013

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52—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

Afenifere revives THE recent gathering of Southwest leaders at the Airport Hotel , Ikeja ,Lagos was that of a mixed multitude. Many of them were of different political persuasions but gathered under the umbrella of the apex socio-cultural organization in the Southwest, Afenifere to give a new bite to the desires of the region.

BY DAPO AKINREFON

I

NDEED, on account of their different political persuasions Afenifere, it was assumed had faded away.

Senator Iyiola Omisore a leading chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was one identified ‘stranger’ as Afenifere leader, Chief Rueben Fasaronti acknowledged the fresh sense of unity that day.

Among those present were general secretary of the body, Chief Sehinde Arogbofa, former secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, publicity secretary of Afenifere, erstwhile Lagos State gubernatorial candidate Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Leader of Afenifere in Europe, Kole Omololu, Mr. Sina Kinawonse a former commissioner in the Gbenga Daniel administration and Comrade Razaq Oladesu.

Also present were Chief Supo Sonibare, Chief Korede Duyile, Akogun Tunde Odanye and Hon. Segun Ojo among several others at the occasion during which Afenifere gave its state of the nation address.

As he commenced his state of the nation address, Fasoranti first made mention of the reunion of the group.

He said: “Let me start with the happy development in Afenifere household where the Almighty God in His own time has brought

• From right Senator Iyiola Omisore, former Deputy Governor of Osun State; Mr Yinka Odumakin, Publicity Secretary, Afenifere; Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Leader of Afenifere; Chief Sehinde Arogbofa, General Secretary and Chief Olu Falae during the state of the nation address by the leaders of Afenifere in Lagos

newsmen who noted the absence of some other strategic members of the group. Remarkably absent was the deputy leader of Afenifere, Senator Ayo Fasanmi and members of the Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG that is believed to be inclined towards the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and its national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Asked about Fasanmi who for some time has not associated with the group, Chief Falae quickly interjected saying that Fasanmi

,

Upon Pa Awolowo’s death in 1987, his followers, who came to be known as Awoists made discernible efforts to emulate Awolowo in words and action

cohesion as cracks in our walls have been largely cemented, given what you can see around me. While appreciating these vibrant gentlemen for returning home to their kit and kin, I cannot but salute those who stayed with me steadfast through thick and thin, through stormy weathers and rough seas. It is my fervent prayer too, that the few members of the family who are still outside the fold will return as we strive to bring all to the table of brotherhood and rebuild our solidarity.”

The assertion towards unity was, however, faulted by some C M Y K

,

has “reached out to our leader for reconciliation.”

How Afenifere split more than ten years ago is easily traced to the struggle for political ascendancy at the onset of the Fourth Republic.

Indeed, from the onset, the Obafemi Awolowo political family which formed the nucleus of Afenifere always had enemies in the South-West but was always able to manage it.

The only hiatus was in 2003 when a political tsunami unfurled by the PDP threw overboard all the Alliance for Democracy, AD governors with the exception of

Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Lagos. The six AD governors then - Segun Osoba (Ogun), late Adebayo Adefarati (Ondo), Bisi Akande (Osun), Lam Adesina (Oyo), Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti) and Tinubu rode on the back of PanYoruba socio-economic and political organisation, Afenifere, to get to power. Their re-election bid also had the nod of Afenifere, which was led by staunch and die-hard followers of the late sage, Awolowo.

Awoists

Upon Pa Awolowo’s death in 1987, his followers, who came to be known as Awoists made discernible efforts to emulate Awolowo in words and action.

Indeed, some of them still wear the Pa Awo fila (cap) till date.

To resolve any controversial issue, the leaders would always quote Awolowo or recall how the late sage resolved a similar issue or what he would have done if he were alive.

And so, the Awoists, who congregated in Afenifere remained a closely knitted and united political unit.

Afenifere was formed as a sociocultural organization for the Yoruba, with Abraham Adesanya as its leader and Chief Bola Ige as deputy leader.

Other founding members were Pa Onasanya, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Adegbonmire, Femi Okurounmu, Ganiyu Dawodu, Sir Olanihun Ajayi, Chief Olu

Falae, Adebayo Adefarati, Alhaji Adeyemo and Ayo Adebanjo.

When the Alliance for Democracy (AD) political party was formed in 1998, it took the Afenifere agenda as its official manifesto.

Following its dismal performance in the April 2003 elections, rival factions of the AD held separate conventions. In the Lagos convention, Adebisi Akande was elected as AD chairman.

In January 2006, the convoy of AD leaders who supported Chief Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa as the party’s national chairman was attacked by thugs in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.

ARG formation

In 2008 the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) was formed with the stated intent of reuniting the feuding factions, but perhaps as an alternative to the faction headed by the older generation of leaders.

A faction of Afenifere in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, installed Chief Reuben Fasoranti as the new leader of the group in November 2008. ARG Leaders including Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, Chief Bisi Akande, Wale Oshun and Yinka Odumakin stated that they did not accept move.

Throughout the dark period of military rule, especially under late General Sani Abacha,

Afenifere chieftains, led by late Chief Adekunle Ajasin and later, Senator Abraham Adesanya, were thorns in the flesh of military rulers who held the country to ransom.

Prior the advent of the Fourth Republic, Afenifere was a force to reckon with. They spoke with one voice on burning national issues. Uncompromisingly, they led the crusade for return to civil rule following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential polls presumably won by late Chief MKO Abiola.

Banking on their honour, integrity and credibility, Afenifere leaders were flawless in the eyes of most south-westerners.

Thus, during the 1998/1999 transition elections, any candidate endorsed by Afenifere in the South-West had almost 70 per cent chance of winning. And so virtually all the candidates nominated by the Alliance for Democracy, AD won the transition polls in the South-West.

Selection of candidates However, seeds of discord were sown during the selection of candidates. In Lagos, while most Afenifere leaders were in favour of Tinubu, some backed the late Engineer Funsho Williams, to emerge as AD governorship candidate in Lagos.

Tinubu was to have his way and went on to win the election but the crack created by the incident was hardly patched. The selection of the AD presidential candidate in 1999 also raised dusts.

Besides this, Chief Akande’s diatribe against the leaders of the group including Chiefs Reuben Fasoranti, Olu Falae, Ayo Adebanjo and Fredrick Faseun for publicly showing solidarity with Mimiko in 2012 during the governorship election in Ondo state also deepened the crisis.

Crisis may persist

But a chieftain of Afenifere, Chief Wumi Adegbomire maintained that the crisis may persist in the fold because some leaders have arrogated to themselves the power to act as puritanical guardian of Awo’s philosophy, despite the fact that their behaviour cannot support their ideological claims.

Adegbomire said while reconciliation is not foreclosed in the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, the agenda for peace may be stalled because leaders of the group have always acted without circumspection.

R

IVETING media reports of last Thursday ’s court judgment on the celebrated land dispute between Dame Patience Jonathan and Hajiya Turai Yar‘Adua was a sweet piece of cake for many. It was especially so for those who abhor the aggrandisement that has in recent times been associated with the spouses of the country’s leaders at national and state levels.

It was no surprise then that one common headline in the news reports was “Turai floors Patience,” a slant that was reflective of the empathy of the media towards the oppressed.

Both ladies interestingly, lay claim to the disputed land, not for personal use, but for some good works.

The choice piece of land in the heart of Abuja was first allocated to Mrs. Yar‘Adua’s NGO, Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation, WAYEF by the FCT authorities in February 2010 while her husband was president, and Dame Patience was in her shadow as wife of the VicePresident.

Remarkably, the allocation was confirmed on February 19, just five days before late President Umaru Yar‘Adua returned to the country in a near vegetative state. It is interesting to also note that the allocation

POLITICAL METABOLISM with

EMMANUEL AZIKEN detritetradetoxifiedpolitics@gmail.com SMS 08052201189

Ne xus of self-ser vice Nexus self-service between FCT ministers and First Ladies was made at the peak of the intrigues woven by the cabal that at that time held the nation hostage with its manipulation of the whereabouts and circumstances of the then ailing president.

It is almost agreed by all that the activities of the two NGOs sponsored by the two women are virtually at parallel to the pains and penury of most Nigerian women.

A comparison of the glitz and grandeur that shadow the banquets of recent first ladies and the drudgery and dourness around our womenfolk in both rural and urban settings underscores the point.

The land allocation to Turai’s WAYEF, according to the incumbent FCT Minister was

revoked in “overriding public interest” and reallocated to the African Peace Mission, a club of African First Ladies championed by Patience.

But how did “overriding public interest” come to mean the interest of the First Lady in this instance? This has unintentionally exposed the nexus of self-interest between recent FCT ministers and the women that hold court at the Presidential Villa at anytime.

Of course there are few doubts that Gen. Jerry Useni who served as FCT minister throughout the Sani Abacha years exerted the greatest influence of all the ministers to have held that portfolio. His influence, some assert, was on account of military superiority and had nothing to do with

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013 —53 It was no surprise that Aliero Mrs. Abacha. Yet others claim his influence in the Abacha was one of the first casualties government drew from the to be sacked by Dr. Goodluck common amusements he Jonathan after Senator Bala shared with Abacha during off Mohammed led the Group of duty hours beyond Mrs. 82 senators in the National Interest Group, NIG to Abacha’s horizon.

It was no surprise that Useni enthrone then Vice-President as a result of these off-duty Goodluck Jonathan as Acting proclivities was allegedly not a President in February 2010.

Bala at the instance of favourite guest at Mrs. Abacha's senators was made Minister of dinner table.

The most memorable bond FCT, an appointment he has between an FCT minister and apparently savoured. Though a First Lady was the bond he was made FCT minister at created between Senator the instance of senators, he has Adamu Aliero and Hajia Turia moved deeper into the circles of the Jonathan administration Yar‘Adua.

The little that is remembered through his unpretentious of Aliero’s 18 or so months in devotion to Mr. and Mrs. office was his very unpopular Jonathan.

It is indeed argued in some mounting of bumps on major quarters that the revocation of highways in Abuja.

Called upon by the Senate the land originally allocated to and the House to remove the Turai by his predecessor, Aliero, destructive bumps, Aliero, was to further consolidate his apparently comforted by the already warm relationship with support he is alleged to have the First Family.

But in doing so, the courts gained from Turai, snubbed the National Assembly. He was to have disagreed with him. emerge as a part of the cabal Further, public opinion holds that gained prominence at the that neither Turai nor Patience height of the illness that befell should, through their privileged positions as President Umaru Yar‘Adua.

Remarkably, while the nation presidential spouses ambush was awestruck on the the national heritage.

The offices and causes of the whereabouts and well-being of President Yar‘Adua, Aliero on presidential and gubernatorial February 19, 2010 finalised spouses are distractions that allocation of the piece of land have been of little benefit to now in dispute to Turai’s anyone!

WAYEF.

Kano LGAs: Pretence as a routine WITH only one local government election conducted in about ten years, the governors of Kano and their people have adjusted, and even accepted, the absurdity of appointed bureaucrats as local government administrators.

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

I

N Kano, apart from 19992002 that the 44 local Government councils enjoyed a semblance of democracy, subsequent attempt in 2007 by the former Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau to bequeath true autonomy to the third tier of Government ended up in bloodbath as no fewer than 9 souls were reportedly lost in the post election violence, while10 local Government secretariats were torched in an exercise many considered as more of an “in house selection than a competitive exercise”.

Perhaps, this explained why Malam Ibrahim Shekarau refused to conduct any other local government election till he left office in 2011.

Rather, he like many other governors in his time adopted the illegal system of caretaker council executives styled as Interim Management Officers (IMOs).

The incumbent governor, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso who inherited the IMOs is still working with the interim management officers.

Understandably, there is little financial autonomy at the grassroots level across the 44 councils in the state.

Though, Shekarau floated a policy that allows the councils

desire patronage. So given the pressure from both the state executive and the locals, many IMOs understandably shy away from appearing at the council secretariat. Some do not go to the office more than twice in a month.

Unwholesome practice

•Kwankwaso: to have access to their monthly subventions from the federation account, this was however rendered a nullity by the several joint projects initiated by the regime that were in most cases, even though of secondary importance to them, they could hardly have the muscle to resist.

IMOs as they are commonly referred to in Kano, are mere puppets of the sitting governor and are generally consider as

paymasters, in that fund release to them are essentially made to settle the wage bill and running cost of the councils.

The IMOs are mainly career civil servants who because they do not want any dents on their civil service files turn into errand boys of the state executive.

Remarkably, the IMOs are also under pressure from the locals who desire the council to carry out its statutory functions and where not, also

Despite the clear aberration, opposition parties appear to be comfortable with the unwholesome practice, perhaps waiting for when it would be their own turn to milk the local governments.

When just after about six months in office, Kwankwanso had shown some inclination towards conducting local government elections when he proposed a seven member State Independent Electoral Commission, (SIEC) to the Kano State House of Assembly for ratification.

This effort was truncated by the protest of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC on

the composition of the nominees forcing the governor to withdraw the nominations.

Despite the hitch, Governor Kwankwaso recently announced his readiness to conduct the poll during an interaction with stakeholders in the state.

Several months after that heroic pronouncement by the governor, there is however, no indication of preparations towards that end.

Indeed, the SIEC is not in place and doubts have been compounded by the security challenges in the state.

Government officials are, however, quick to say that the election will hold soon in line with laid down rules, though they often shy away from putting a date to their projections.

Mr. Bala Salihu DawakinKudu, the Director of Press to the Deputy Governor, whose boss also doubles as the Commissioner in charge of Local Government, revealed that the Government is certainly not in a haste to conduct the exercise to avoid the mistakes of the past.

According to him, “what is worth doing is worth doing well and that is why Governor Kwankwaso is treading cautiously to get it right and I want to assure you that names of credible individuals are being considered as nominees into the seven member electoral committee” Remarkably, while the government dilly-dallies, the opposition as if under a spell is largely reticent.

54—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, MAY 8 , 2013

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013 —55

Queen to miss Commonwealth summit F

OR the first time since 1973, the Queen will not be attending the Commonwealth heads of government meeting this year, Buckingham Palace has said.

She will be represented by the Prince of Wales at the summit in Sri Lanka in November.

Buckingham Palace said it was reviewing the amount of long-haul travel the Queen undertook.

The Queen, 87, is the head of the Commonwealth and every two years leaders meet to discuss global issues.

The Queen was first present at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) in Ottawa, Canada, in 1973 missing the first one in 1971 and has been at every summit since. The last one, in 2011, was held in Perth, Australia.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “I can confirm the Queen will be represented by the Prince of Wales.

“The reason is that we are reviewing the amount of long-haul travel that is taken by the Queen.”

BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the Queen would not have taken the decision lightly and it was both surprising and significant.

He said it was a significant moment for the Prince of Wales and it was also a symbolic move.

“It is about transition, about preparing this country for an elderly head of state who will be able to do less and less,” he said.

“There is no intention of abdication. It will just not happen during her reign.

It is the palace addressing the practicalities of her advancing age - you will

•Queen Elizabeth II see less of her and more of him.”

It is expected that Prince Charles will be joined by the Duchess of Cornwall at the summit in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, he added.

By stepping in for the Queen, Prince Charles will be performing one of his most significant duties to date as a future King.

He has never before attended in place of the

N

ORTH Korea has removed two medium-range missiles from a coastal launch site, indicating a lowering of tension on the peninsula, a US official said.

Pyongyang was believed to be preparing for a launch last month, having threatened attacks in the region.

The threats followed tough new UN sanctions imposed on North Korea

in March after its third nuclear test.

North Korea has been angered by wide-ranging annual US-South Korea military drills, which ended a week ago.

The news that the missiles had been removed from the site on the east coast came on the eve of a summit in Washington between the US and South Korean presidents.

North Korea unveiled medium-range Musudan missiles during a military

parade in 2010 but had not yet tested them.

Last month, South Korea raised its alert level to “vital threat” amid indications that Pyongyang was preparing for a launch.

At least one ballistic missile with an estimated 3,000km (2,000-mile) range had been fuelled and ready for launch, according to US and South Korean sources.

A test launch would be a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1718,

T

In 2007, both the Prince and the Queen attended Chogm in Uganda.

Sweden seeks trade, investment in Africa

BY VICTORIA OJEME

S

WEDISH Minister of International development and Cooperation, Ms. Gunilla

N/Korea removes missiles from east coast launch site

passed in 2006, which states the North “must not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile”.

Pyongyang had issued a series of threats in apparent response to the expanded UN sanctions and the USSouth Korea drills - which saw nuclear-capable B2 and B52 bombers flown over the Korean peninsula.

These included warnings of attacks on Japan, South Korea and US military bases in the region, and a pledge to restart a mothballed nuclear reactor that produced plutonium for its weapons programme.

Carlson, said her country is interested in trade and investment in Africa especially ECOWAS subregion in order to further strengthen its relationships with Africa countries. She said this yesterday at ECOWAS commission in Abuja during her visit to the president of the commission where she disclosed that she came to reach out and engage with Africa believing that ECOWAS is a key organization that can help them reaching out to other African countries.

According to her, “We are looking up working in Africa and development of the region’s capacity because we believe in Africa solution in resolving its challenges and that is why we came to ECOWAS to discuss our plan with the president to see how he can assist in linking us up.”

Israeli attack exposes Assad’s air defense weakness

I

Musudan missiles were displayed during a military parade in Pyongyang last year

U.N names team to investigate torture, camps in N/Korea information from camp sur- Korea about what is hapHE United Nations yesterday named a team of three human rights investigators who will look into allegations of torture and labor camps in North Korea that are believed to hold at least 200,000 people.

Pyongyang denies the existence of such camps and is not expected to cooperate with the investigation, having denounced it during a U.N. Human Rights Council debate, activists said. But the one-year inquiry, launched by the Council on March 21, hopes to gather enough

monarch at the two-yearly gathering of Commonwealth leaders.

vivors and other exiles to document violations that it says may amount to crimes against humanity and build a case for future prosecution. “There is sufficient evidence outside of North

pening inside, so the government can’t keep a lid on it any more. That’s why this investigation is so needed,” said Julie de Rivero of Human Rights Watch.

Michael Donald Kirby, a former justice of Australia’s High Court, and Sonja Biserko, a founder of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, are to join Indonesia’s Marzuki Darusman.

T was too late when air raid sirens wailed at one of Syria’s most fortified military compounds. Israeli jets were already attacking the Hameh complex and civilian employees in nearby housing were scrambling for cover with their families.

Around Damascus, the warplanes staged a series of raids in the early hours of Sunday including on President Bashar al-Assad’s air defenses, opposition and rebel sources said. But none had more

devastating results than at Hameh, a highwalled site linked to his chemical and biological weapons program.

“Families ran to basements and stayed there,” said one witness of the attack on Hameh that lit up the night sky and shook the ground kilometers (miles) away.

“We heard ambulances.

There were very few workers at the compound at that time but an attack of this scale must have killed a lot of soldiers among the guards and patrols.”

Mohamud, Cameron hail new era in Somali

S

O M A L I A ’ s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says Somalia has entered a new era that would herald the end of more than two decades of conflict.

This is even as the UK Prime Minister David Cameron said huge progress was being made

in curbing piracy and tackling an Islamist insurgency in Somalia.

Mohamud was speaking at a major international conference in London to help Somalia rebuild itself.

The UK and other donors pledged some $96m (£62m) in aid for Somalia.

Somalia is widely regarded as a failed state, hit by numerous conflicts since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Siad Barre in 1991.

The United Nations (UN) estimates that nearly 260,000 people during a famine in the East African state from 2010 to 2012.

Israeli soldiers walk together during training close to the ceasefire line between Israel and Syria on the Israeli occupied Golan Heights yesterday.

56—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

Waiting for Pini Jason

Pini Jason belonged to our First Eleven I

ByIKEDDY ISIGUZO, Chairman, Editorial Board

T

By CHUKS ILOEGBUNAM

WAS on Mississippi Street in Maitama, Abuja, about to turn into Alvan Ikoku Street and head home when the terrible news homed into my essence with a bang. I pulled my banger over and cut the engine. This was the last piece of news I expected to receive. I called Ikeddy isiguzo, the Editorial Board chairman of the Vanguard, who had transmitted the unthinkable to me. “Yes, indeed”, he lamented. “Our brother, Pini, is dead.”

All around me vehicles hurtled past, as though nothing tragic had happened.

I cannot recall how I made the journey back home. I took time to send text messages on what had happened to a number of friends I shared with Pini.

Each of them, incredulous, asked to be told what led to the fall of his final curtain. But death was the last thing on our minds when Pini and I spoke on the phone on Tuesday, April 23, 2013.

I had initiated the call, after reading his column entitled Terror in the land: The road not travelled. I commended him for the offering but as we began to discuss it in some detail he complained that I was barely audible. The phone “network” was misbehaving as is more often than not the case. We agreed to talk later. When he called two hours later, I was in a meeting and we never discussed the piece again.

Readers should contemplate the final paragraph of that piece elicited by

•Pini Jason...our encyclopaedia

replied that it was the same hospital and the same doctor that had performed a procedure on him about five years ago.

I felt relieved. He was in safe hands. I promised to call him the day after the operation. Then, believing he needed all the rest he could get, I postponed our chat until Saturday evening, only to receive word that afternoon that my bosom friend had passed… Pini Jason was our encyclopedia, our archive. We referred to

,

Pini Jason was our encyclopedia, our archive. We referred to him every so often to achieve clarity on issues before we rushed to write or print. He had three great loves. He loved his family to tiny bits.

He loved Nigeria as only a true patriot could

all the talk on amnesty for Boko Haram terrorists: “By the time he (President Jonathan) is through with this amnesty booby trap, he would have, at least, five million “ex-terrorists”, including Chadians, Malians, Somalis, Nigeriens and Libyans lining up for compensation for killing innocent Nigerian Christians!

They will then go out and buy more arms to fight a brutal war for an Islamic Republic of Nigeria! Is that not what terror leader, Shekau, wants? Where will the money come from?”

When I called Pini again on Saturday, April 27, it was to ask that both of us pay a condolence visit to our mutual friend, Senator Ben Obi, the Presidential Adviser on Inter-Party Matters, whose wife had died. “I and Ikedi (exImo Governor Ohakim) already visited Ben”, Pini said. “I am not even in Abuja.” Pini said he was in a Lagos clinic, down with serious abdominal pains. I wished him well and promised to call later, to monitor his recovery. When I phoned him three days later, Pini told me he was to be operated upon the following day, the cause of his abdominal pains having been diagnosed. I asked where the surgical operation would take place and the doctor to perform it. Pini

,

him every so often to achieve clarity on issues before we rushed to write or print. He had three great loves.

He loved his family to tiny bits. He loved Nigeria as only a true patriot could. (But he was fully conscious of the fact that it was impossible to be a good Nigerian without first being a good son of the Igbo country.) He loved to write. Writing was his enduring passion. I am happy that I paid tribute to Pini’s craftsmanship while he was very much alive. In a piece entitled Orji Kalu and University Education, which I wrote in my Vanguard column of February 19, 2002, I made this point in the penultimate paragraph: “I know Pini Jason and I know his writing. Based on his column, which has been on for over 15 years, he could teach writing to journalism students anywhere.

Doctoral theses could be produced from the corpus of his writing.”

A more enduring tribute came from Sam Amuka-Pemu, the chairman of Vanguard Media Limited himself.

Uncle Sam wrote in his foreword to A Familiar Road, Pini Jason’s compilation of his articles in book form: Pini Jason “is succinct, clear-mind-

ed, matter of fact, pugnacious, tenacious of belief, independent-minded sometimes to the point of obstinacy, unexpectedly and refreshingly detribalised, high mindedly nationalistic when many may doubt if there is still a nation to love, and unyieldingly antagonistic to military dictators and their fawning publicans.” What else can one say of our beloved departed?

Yes, I can state that Pini planned a sequel to A Familiar Road. I know that his family can, as a mark of honour, publish it posthumously. I know also that Pini was writing a book on his experience in government. Only time will reveal the ultimate fate of that project. In my view, Pini’s greatest tribute comes, unwittingly, from his own pen: “I write to create a living space for my children, and their generation. I write so that posterity will know that I saw my country sliding into self-destruction and I tried to do something about it.”

That sad Saturday, I stood for long moments by my bedroom window, unmindful of weekend telecasts of sporting events, watching humanity go by on the road on the far side, looking heavenwards occasionally to espy a few birds twirling in the day’s vibrating heat, and believing that I was only in rumination about the dumbfounding nature of things in this world. It was only when Onyinye, my daughter, tapped me on the shoulder with a question that it occurred to me that I had been soliloquising.

“Dad, what this news you’ve been muttering was the last you expected to hear today?” “The news that Pini Jason is dead!”

My phone rang at this point. It was Senator Joy Emodi, the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters. She was one of those I had texted the terrible news. Her voice was subdued. “Chuks, why is it that we have been losing all of our First Eleven?” My answer, formulated as I am concluding this eulogy is in two words: Pini, rest!

UESDAY passed without Pini Jason’s column that had become a traditional offering in Vanguard for years. What would he have written? What would he have ignored, rating it inconsequential, or scanning his ever fresh memory to remind you when he wrote about it?

We were waiting for Tuesday’s column, not as the ordinary readers did. The copy was awaited at the office, it never arrived: Pini was already dead. “He rarely missed writing his column,” Vanguard Features Editor, Judith Ufford, said, yesterday, as we reviewed his passing. “If he was not writing, he would inform me in advance. I was still waiting for his copy when Mike Ebonugwo called to confirm from me that he was gone. I could not believe it.”

While we waited, Pini was in the pangs of death. If it was an ordinary fight, if it was a fight the outcome depended on the prowess of his pen, he would have won. It was death whose assignment never misses deadlines. Pini missed the deadline for his column. He did not call to indicate he was not writing. He had no chance to say a farewell, to his family, to us, to his readers. Or did he say the farewell and we missed it?

Worthy advice for everyone Why did he go into such details in recounting his life in his last piece, A Letter To Yushau Shuaib? Was that the farewell?

“Your responsibility as a fine writer is to help this society retrieve those values that made us great in the past which this generation about to take over does not care about any more! If you must be part of that recovery, then, you must not lose your head,” he advised the young man. It is a worthy advice for everyone who loves.

The year started early with deaths of journalists. Last January 15, he wrote, When Two Stars Fell From The Firmament, a tribute to great journalists – Victor Ogundipe (finance and economy) and Ayo Ositelu (sports journalist, later politician, combining both admirably). He had ended that piece thus, “We should worry as the few good men among us are passing when Nigeria is poised to completely fall into the hands of the nihilistic and ferociously predatory generation. I am worried. Think of it.”

He had written a March 26 column, Chinua Achebe: No Need To Mourn, “We need not mourn Achebe. He lived out his destiny and discharged his obligation by telling the story of his generation.” Was he addressing the inevitability of death by telling us to discharge our obligation to society? Who would address issues with the piquancy that Pini brought to them, fearing neither friend nor foe? How would our Tuesday be, his column empty, and many issues passing some unchallenging explanations of their (un)importance?

Like Achebe, who he adored, and whose funeral (billed for May 23) Pini should have attended, Pini could have discharged his obligations to society. We were all too busy demanding more of him that we never dreamt that his time would be up, so soon.

•Pini’s articles can be read online on www.vanguardngr.com

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013—57

ments. But we must get the business model right.”

Stressing the importance of increasing capacity, the NNPC boss said that steps were being taken to rehabilitate the old refineries, which have started yielding results with the recovery of the 10 million litres last week.

Indigenous capacity

OTC: From left— Leke Oyewola, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Maritime Matters; Zainab Kure, Chairperson, Senate Committee on Marine Transport; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Chairman, House Committee on Marine Transport, and Agbu Kefas, Chairman, Board of NIMASA, at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, in Houston, Texas.

‘Regulation frustrates greenfield refineries' STORIES BY CLARA NWACHUKWU & SEBASTINE OBASI, Houston Texas

R

EGULATION of the down stream petroleum industry has been identified as a major hiccup for the take-off three greenfield refineries in Nigeria, for which Memoranda of Understanding MoUs, have been signed with a Chinese construction firm.

In 2010, the Nigerian government signed MoUs with Chinese firm, China State Construction Engineering Corporation, CSCEC, for the construction of additional three greenfield refineries in Lagos, Kogi and Bayelsa states.

But these have not been realised due to a number of challenges identified by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Group Managing Director, Mr. Andrew Yakubu.

Although they have not come on stream, the NNPC boss projects that the greenfield refineries will enhance Nigeria’s refining capacity by additional 50 percent.

Yakubu, who fielded questions from journalists on the sidelines of the Offshore Technology Conference, OTC 2013, in Houston Texas, USA, attributed part of the challenges to the take-off of the refinery projects to regulation of the downstream petroleum industry.

NNPC's MD speaks

He said: “There are quite a number of things that are wrong.

No investor will come and invest in a regulated environment.

"Today, the petroleum products are regulated and there are quite a number of things we need to do upfront to ensure that the business environment is conducive for investors to come and invest.

“So it is not about Chinese or any other person bringing money; nobody is going to bring free money.”

Yakubu, who also declared open the Nigerian Pavilion at the Reliant Park, venue of the ongoing con-

ference, argued that for these projects to take off, the business models must be right and this cannot be achieved under a regulated system.

Refining capacity

He, however, said that discussions were ongoing to establish investors’ confidence, as current refining capacity from the nation’s four refineries with combined template of 445,000 barrels per day can barely meet local consumption.

Yakubu noted that in view of population explosion and increased economic activities, local demand for fuel has more

than doubled over the years, but had not been met with corresponding refining increase.

For these reasons, he said the greenfield refineries have become imperative, especially as current output from the refineries is a little above 10 million litres, which was just achieved last week He said: “Our consumption is over 35 million litres on daily basis, and current in-country capacity is about 17 million litres.

"There is no doubt that we need the greenfield so that we can make progress in this critical aspect of our energy require-

Speaking on the poor contributions of indigenous operators to Nigeria’s crude oil production capacity, Yakubu said that efforts were being made to change the trend through divestments and acquisition programmes.

He said: “Indigenous participation has not been high enough, but I must say, it has significantly improved over time. As at last year, we had just about 10 percent of total crude oil production.

"But because of increased government attention to expanding the capacity of upstream participation, within the last year or two, we have had significant divestment of assets from the majors and they were assets that the majors actually did not focus much attention on.

"Shell in particular divested their equity share in about five assets and they were taken up by indigenous participants.”

Besides the Shell assets, he said there were also a number of assets that were being listed for farm-in by indigenous participants, which are also assets that had not received adequate attention from the International Oil Companies, IOCs. He projected that ongoing divestments by ConocoPhillips and Total, may also be taken up by the indigenous operators.

Total Egina, Mobil Erha ready in 2016 tries, the region now “repre— Minister FPSO, with over 560 million sents one of the most exciting barrels oil reserve, while Erha

N

IGERIA’S oil production is expected rise by additional 350,000 barrels per day when two recently approved projects by the Nigerian units of French Total’s Egina and America Exxonmobil’s Erha North are completed before 2016 ends.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, disclosed this, Monday, at the opening of the 2013 edition of Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, holding at the Reliant Park, Houston, Texas, USA. The minister, represented by the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, also said the two deepwater projects have a combined reserve base of over 900 million barrels of oil.

The minister, who spoke during a luncheon on West Africa Development, said: “Egina field is a new built Floating Production Storage and Offloading,

North field is a tie-back to existing Erha Main Field FPSO built and commissioned in 2005, with a combined reserve base of over 900m dpd.

“Expectation is that both projects, when completed in 2015 to 2016 timeframe, will deliver additional 350 Kbpd.”

Prospects

Alison-Madueke projected that based on current industry trend, crude oil and gas production would rise to over 3 million bpd and 10 billion cubic feet, bcf/d, by 2015.

She added that there were various oil and gas projects at different stages of completion in Nigeria in the conventional onshore to shallow offshore terrain, which make Nigeria, and in deed the West African region, an exciting terrain over the next decade.

She noted that in view of the numerous discoveries being made by some small independents in different coun-

frontier exploration provinces in the world, and the corporate landscape is likely to look very different in a few years’ time.”

Specifically, she put Nigeria’s crude oil and condensate production at 2.4 million bpd and gas of over 8bcf, adding that with over 35 billion barrels of oil and 187 trillion cubic feet, tcf of gas, the country’s oil and gas reserves and production capacity are ranked 10th and 12th in the world, respectively.

Economic reforms

Alison-Madueke further noted that to harness the benefits of hydrocarbon resources, governments of the West African countries, including Nigeria, have embarked on various developmental and economic projects.

She said in the case of Nigeria, efforts were geared towards growth in crude oil reserves and expansion in production capacity, among others.

NNPC says gas not Nigeria's problem

C

ONTRARY to claims of gas shortages, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has said gas availability was not responsible for Nigeria’s electricity crisis.

Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Dr. David Ige, who spoke with journalists on the sidelines of the Offshore Technology Conference, OTC 2013, noted that if anything, “gas supply has grown significantly over the three years.”

He said “If you look at the demand on ground, we can meet them. As we speak, gas is not the restrain of power. We are basically shutting in our gas supply as we speak."

What, however, is the problem is the fact that there are some stranded supply, “because of power evacuation challenges,” which he attributed to transmission hiccups.

He argued that once this challenge is sorted, “supply will lack behind demand because new power plants keep coming. But we are also working on those supplies, and we keep catching up with them. So for the average Nigerian, all you are going to be seeing is the upward trend.”

He said further that once the power transmission problem is fixed, the available gas can then be evacuated.

Supply challenge

Although Ige admitted that Nigeria does not have enough gas to feed all the new power generating plants brought on stream, he said efforts were being made to boost supply.

Ige said: “We have additional programmes of supply that are coming on towards the end of the year, and next year to catch up with that.

"Right now, for the average Nigerian on the street, if you are not seeing power as of this afternoon, then it is a gas problem.

“But there is gas as we speak. Except that there is more generating capacity than there is gas supply.

But our overriding constraint is power transmission as we speak.

"If we have enough generating capacity, there is no reason we cannot generate and transmit close to about 4.6 or 4.7 Gigawatts."

58—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

‘Rebuild churches destroyed

by Boko Haram'

BY EMMA AMAIZE

Northern Christians honour Oritsejafor ••Wife says hubby never received a kobo from Jonathan

By SAM EYOBOKA & CALEB AYANSINA

A

B

ISHOP of the Anglican Diocese of Ughelli, Delta State, Rt Rev. Odutemu, has urged the Federal Government to reconst-ruct churches and pri-vate property bombed and destroyed by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, before consider-ing amnesty for the group.

Bishop Odutemu, who described the planned amnesty for the sect as ungodly, made the call at the just conclud-ed sixth Synod of the Diocese, held at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Owhrode, Udu Local Government Area, Delta State.

His words: ”Govern-ment should build the churches and private properties that have been destroyed and allow for trial of those involved in the senseless killing of innocent civilians in the name of Boko Haram”.

The cleric said if this was not done: “We may have more of such up-risings from other parts of the country as that is the only way to get government attention and extract illicit gains from the national cake.”

According to him, un-like the Niger Delta exmilitants, who were pro-voked to armed struggle because of obvious un-derdevelopment of the region that produces the wealth of the nation, the Boko Haram insurgency was provoked by reli-gious and political con-siderations.

He asserted: “It must be expressly stated that the situation in the Niger Delta region and that of a religious-political in-surgence that was creat-ed in the North are two opposites and the move is political and un-godly.”

The bishop also con-demned the move by government to create more reserves for animal husbandry as grazing zone through the Fulani Settlement Bill before the National Assembly, noting the activities of the Fulani herdsmen, over the years, have not made for peace and if given legislative back-ing, the proposed bill could provoke additional impudence and security challenges.

He enjoined tradition-al rulers, religious and political leaders to rise up in open condemnation of the proposed bill so as not to further endanger the lives of our people in the villages, who are exposed daily to the excesses of the herdsmen.

CHRISTIAN group under the aegis of the Christian Elders Forum of North-ern States (NOSCEF) has perfected plans to honour the National President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor for his stead-fastness and boldness to speak against the mena-ce of Boko Haram in the northern part of the country.

In a similar develop-ment, wife of the CAN president, Pastor (Mrs.) Helen Oritsejafor has denied reports making the rounds that President Goodluck Jonathan don-ated a private to *CAN president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and wife, Pastor (Mrs.) Helen Oritsejafor her husband, declaring “my hus- flanked by the leadership of Delta State executive council of Nigeria Labour Congress, band has never received a kobo NLC, during a thanksgiving service to mark this year's May Day at the Word of Life Bible Church, Warri. from the president.”

The regional group said that “Some other eminent people have gett-ing all the knocks and persecuwhile some other eminent personalkept quiet. They are afraid for their tion is because he refused to sell his ities of northern extract-ion were too lives; but by the various actions of Pas- birthright and he is paying dearly for afraid to talk on the spate of violence tor Oritse-jafor, he has shown that he it. God is the judge and that is why the Boko Haram sect had unleashed is a true man of God, a true shepherd you see that God has a way of blesson the people of that region, the CAN who is willing to lay down his life for ing us and enriching us in His own president had been vociferous on his the people. For this we are grateful,” way. con-demnation of the act.

Owojaiye explained.

“It amazes me how God chooses to Speaking on a telephone with our A copy of the notifica-tion of the bless us ...not where people would reporter on the importance and the award add-ressed to the CAN helm- expect that the blessings would come choice of the award, NOSCEF chairsman, reads: “With joy the members from. He reaches to us in very unusuman, Evangelist Matthew Owojaiye of Christian Elders Forum of North- al quarters and sometimes we sit back stated that it was not only meant to ern States (NOSCEF) hereby notify and reflect that with all these persecupass a vote of confidence on Oritseyou that the organization has an award tions God is still God who chooses the jafor’s leadership of CAN, but also to for you—-Award for being a true ser- humble to confound the proud,” express the group’s deep appreciavant of God for your commit-ment and Mama Helen, as she is fondly called tion to the revered man of God for his dedication in defending the cause of in Christ-ian circles stated. staunch stance that there could not ORTY individuals from across the country will Christ in Nigeria.”

“My husband has never recombe an amnesty without justice. be conferred with the Salvation Army’s highest mended anybody to President award in Nigeria on Sunday at the church’s national Jonathan for appointment and he has My husband has never recommended anyhead-quarters auditorium, Onipanu, Shomolu, never asked for any personal favour Lagos at a national service tagged “Terri-torial from him. He spends his money to run body to President Jonathan for appointment thanksgiving and award ceremony.” the CAN secretariat,” she added, notThe august event will be presided over by the and he has never asked for any personal ing that it amazes people who know national leaders of the Salvation Army, Pastor Oritsejafor when they read peofavour from him Commissioners Mfon Jacktor and Ime Akpan who ple saying that President Jonathan will be supported by his chief secretary, Lieutdonated a jet to him.

Colonel Godfrey Payne and the entire cabinet Owojaiye explained that if not for “We believe that what-ever we have Speaking earlier in an interview, members of the religious and humanitarian organhis stand, the Muslims elders from wife of the CAN president, Pastor is given to us by God to bless peo-ple. isation. the region who had hitherto refused (Mrs.) Helen Oritsejafor told our re- I can’t tell you the number of indigent These awards are in recognition of the self-less, to openly castigate the carnage inflictporter that despite the orchestrated stud-ents currently enjoying our scholhumanitarian and philanthropic services of the ed on the region by members of the campaign of calumny, her husband arship in differ-ent schools in Nigeria individuals to the numerous works of The Salvation dreaded sect, would not by now be had never taken a kobo from Presi- and oversees. My husb-and has reArmy in the country, which include among others; taking more than passing interest in habilitated several victims of Boko dent Jonathan.

Building and furnishing of the church halls and bringing back peace into the troubled “Papa Ayo Oritsejafor is a genuine Haram attacks in the North and helped off-icers’ (ministers) quart-ers, purchasing and zone of the country. man of God. He loves God and wants to lessen their burden,” she further donating of vehicles for evangelism and humanApart from that, he noted that it was to pay any price for the gospel and stated. itarian services through social centres, sponsor-ship through his constant opposition to the Long before governm-ent agencies that sometimes scares me. Honestly, of evangelism across the country, assistance with issue of “amnesty for the sect without the people going after him today will and public spirited individuals startrelief materials for the less privileged in our society, justice,” that the Federal Govern-ment stop if he today makes a u-turn and ed donating relief materials to Boko especially those affected by the recent floods and now deems it fit to include the issue sing all the songs they would like to Haram victims in Borno, Bauchi, Plavictims of bomb blasts, and provision of free of compensation for the victims in the hear; and believe you me, he will get- teau and other parts of the North, she professional services to the organisation. amnesty programme. maintained, Pastor Oritsejafor had ting all awards.

The National Thanksgiving and Awards cerHe said: “We are not only passing a “Do you know that everything he is been visiting the troubled zone, givemony will further show The Salvation Army’s sinvote of confidence on the CAN presidoing, he does with his money? De- ing relief materials to them to allevicere appreciation for all the contributions from both dent through this award, we are also spite all the ugly tails you hear ev- ate their sufferings. government organisations and individuals both pass-ing a vote of excellence. Since eryday in the media, President Goodwithin the church and friends of the organisation the Boko Haram insurgency started luck Jonathan has never given my who have partnered to render the numerous huin the North, he has been speaking husband one kobo. One naira, anini, manitarian services in Nigeria. on our behalf. We have been very he has never received from the preshappy with every word he has said ident or anybody in government. and every step he has taken con-cernSHOULD CHRISTIANS PAY TITHE? “It is God that has sustained him, ing the welfare of Christians and sethat has sustained us and the minisSEND ANSWERS TO: vanguarddebate@gmail.com curity, especially in the North. try and one of the reasons why he is

Salvation Army honours 40

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DEBATE:

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Basketball: Niger Obaf emi’s fif th highes Obafemi’s fifth highestt earner in US Milo emerge Champions soccer G

O

BAFEMI Martins is the fifth highest paid player in Major League Soccer for the 2013 season, according to a players’ union release.

He is also the highest ever paid player for Seattle Sounders with an annual basic salary of $1.6million.

Martins beat Freddie Ljungberg record of $1.3million at Seattle Sounders as highest paid player ever in the club history in 2009/ 2010 season.

According to a statement by MLS players’ union, Martins is on the basic wage of $1.6million per season

and earn guaranteed compensation fee of $1.725million.

Robbie Kaene of Los Angeles Galaxy is the highest earner in MLS with $4million salary and $4.333million as his guaranteed compensation.

Second on the list is ex-Arsenal star Thierry Henry, who earns $3.75million and a guaranteed compensation for New York Red Bull striker is $4.35million.

Another New York Red Bull star Tim Cahill is next with an annual wage of $3.5million with guaranteed compensation fee of $3.625million.

OVERNMENT Secondary School, Minna Niger state on Tuesday emerged male champions of the Nestle Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship zonal qualifier after defeating hard-fighting students of Joseph’s Secondary, School, Myiman, Benue state 26-24 points at the Akure Township Stadium, Ondo State.

Both teams had earlier met during the group

•Martins The fourth on the highest paid players list is Los Angeles Galaxy’s Landon Donovan with

•20m penalty clause keeps Mourinho at R eal Real

J

OSE Mourinho insisted that he is contemplating staying at Real Madrid but the message was delivered as a threat, not a promise, as he continues to prepare the ground for his departure from the club and possible return to Chelsea .

He also said that he

•Mourinho C M Y K

will not demand that his contract is paid up in full but will charge only the days he has worked at Madrid “and not a euro more”. That still leaves the question of a penalty clause for unilaterally breaking the contract before its official end in 2016.

The Real Madrid manager knows that he will have to negotiate his exit from the Bernabéu at the end of the season and he took advantage of his appearance before the media ahead of the visit of Málaga on Wednesday night to strengthen his hand and issue a warning: if Madrid’s president, Florentino Pérez, does not agree a settlement that suits both parties he could yet torpedo the club’s plans by announcing that he is staying after all. Madrid intend to replace Mourinho with Carlo Ancelotti.

Mourinho’s contract includes a clause that lays down a penalty in the event of the contract being broken unilaterally by either party. Although the figure is not public, it is believed to be in the region of €20m

Confederation Cup: Rangers handed FC Sfaxien an annual wage of $2.5million with a guarantee compensation fee of $2.5million.

E

NUGU Rangers FC have been handed Tunisian opponent Club Sportif Sfaxien in the

Uche Okafor’s widow loses mom

M

(£16.9m).

Should Mourinho walk away, the club that sign him must pay Madrid that indemnity; should Madrid sack him, that fee would be due to Mourinho.

ADAM Christiana Chiebonam Chigbo (Nee Bosah, Aka “Mum Chigbo”), mother of Nwanze Uche, widow of late former Nigerian international Uche Okafor, is dead.

She passed on March 10 and will be laid to

Osaze Continues from BP was pretty much resolved during last Thursday ’s meeting involving himself, the PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, Albion’s sporting and technical director Richard Garlick and the club’s chief executive Mark Jenkins.

The 31-year-old made it clear during those talks that he wants to leave this summer.

Albion will not stand in his way, provided a suitable agreement can be reached with another club as the Nigeria international will still have 12 months left to run on his current deal.

Odemwingie also contested the four separate fines - one of which was suspended imposed by the club for misconduct during January and February .

That situation has been resolved amicably, although it remains

stage with Benue state managing a 22-20 narrow win in their first match of the competition.

In the girls’ category, Government Secondary School, Gboko, Benue state made for their male counterpart by defeating Queen Amina College, Kaduna 34-22 to emerge champions of the Central Conference. The match ended 9-0, 10-5, 12-6 and 12-11 in their favour.

unclear how many of the fines have been rescinded.

Chiles’ remark, which drew criticism from Steve Clarke last week, was also brought up during the same meeting.

That matter has also been dealt with - the ITV Sport presenter called Odemwingie on Friday to apologise.

Saturday’s game with Wigan re-opened old wounds when substitute Odemwingie was involved in an ugly exchange with a fan as he warmed-up in front of the West Stand.

The drama unfolded when he briefly broke off from his exercises to speak to his wife and child, who were in the front row.

At that point a fan seated nearby launched a verbal attack which prompted an angry reaction from Odemwingie.

rest on May 10, the family has announced.

Sge will be interred after a funeral service billed for compound in Abidi villge Umoji, Idemili North LGA, Anambra State.

playoff of the CAF Confederation Cup. The Confederation of African Football conducted the draw for the play-off on Tuesday May 7, 2013, and pitched the Nigerian side against the Tunisians.

Rangers lost 3-1 to Recreativo do Libolo in the CAF Championship League to relegate to the confederation cup competition.

Keshi Continues from BP seeing Nigeria in Brazil next year summer.

At the meeting were the Minister, NFF President Aminu Maigari, Chairman of NFF Technical Committee Chris Green, NFF’s Director of Competitions Mohammed Sanusi, Keshi and NFF’s Assistant Director (Media) Ademola Olajire.

“I am happy to be back and fully ready and focused on the big challenge of qualifying the Super Eagles for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals,” Keshi said.

Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi charged the NFF leadership to restrategize and work very hard with Keshi in the task of steering the Super Eagles to next year ’s showpiece in Brazil.

“The triumph in South Africa was truly a delight and made Nigerians

happy. But that feat will pale into insignificance if we fail to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.

“The principle behind this meeting is that the country is bigger than all of us. We must forget the little things that might have transpired which we did not like.

We must forget personal injuries and be prepared to forge ahead,” the Minister said.

NFF President Aminu Maigari commended the Minister for all he has been doing for Nigeria football and remarked: “South Africa 2013 was three months ago. We are all focused on the important task of qualifying Nigeria for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals, and also to ensure that we do well at the FIFA Confederations Cup because we are representing the whole of the African continent.”

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

Osaze quits W es Wes estt Brom

P

ETER Odemwingie’s future with Albion was decided during talks between the club and the PFA last week - with the striker set for a summer exit, irrespective of Saturday’s flare-up with Baggies supporters.

I’ll lead Eagles to Brazil 2014

It has also emerged that TV presenter Adrian Chiles has apologised for the comment he made about the striker at last Sunday’s end-of-season dinner.

Odemwingie’s future Continues on Page 63

• Keshi promises Minister S

UPER Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, on Tuesday assured the Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi as well as the top hierarchy of Nigeria Football Federation that he is fully focused on leading Nigeria to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in B r a z i l .

After a three-hour, close-door parley in the Office of the Honourable Minister in Abuja on Tuesday, Nigeria’s longest-serving Captain said the triumph in South Africa was behind him and he will work hand-in-hand with his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation, to realize the goal of

Chelsea v LA LIGA Celta Vigo vs R Madrid vs ITALY SERIE A Pescara vs Atalanta vs Bologna vs Cagliari vs Inter vs Palermo vs Sampdoria vs Siena vs Torino vs

Tottenham

7 :45 pm

A Madrid Malaga

7:30 pm 8:30

AC Milan Juventus Napoli Parma Lazio Udinese Catania Fiorentina Genoa

6:00 8:45 8:45 8:45 8:45 8:45 8:45 8:45 8:45

Osaze

Continues on Page 63

•Keshi

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

FIXTURES

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Difficult (5) 5 Save (6) 8 Shrill (5) 10 Goat (6) 11 Always (4) 14 Audacious (6) 15 Remote (7) 18 Gratuity (3) 19 Consume (3) 21 Yield (4) 23 Awry (5) 24 Pour (4) 27 Number (3) 29 Promise (3) 31 Unaffected (7) 32 Author (6) 34 Swimming-pool (4) 35 Awkward (60 38 Seam (5) 39 Coma (6) 40 Lure (5)

DOWN 2 Possess (3) 3 Cave (6) 4 Girl’s (3) 5 Watched (4) 6 Clergyman (6) 7 Thrill (6) 9 Sincere (7) 12 Tank (3) 13 Mature (4) 16 Island (4) 17 Accepted (5) 20 Occupancy (7) 22 Facts (4) 24 Frustrate (6) 25 Wicked (4) 26 Movement (6) 28 Forthcoming (6) 30 Marry (3) 33 Part (4) 36 Permit (3) 37 Weaken (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

How to Play Sudoku

ACROSS: 1, Secure 5, Gasp 8, Sheep 9, Air 10, Blue 11, Next 12, Meted 13, Briefs 16, Full 18, Ache 20, Wad 22, Fee 23, Lay 24, Pine 25, Fast 28, Savour 30 Tiara 32, Chic 33, Idle 34, Spa 35, Fiend 36, Deft 37, Stolen.

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Shabby 2, Cardigan 3, Rebuff 4, Cheerless 5, General 6, Aped 7, Pity 8, Sum 14, Suffering 15, Shy 17, Lea 19, Carousel 20, Wit 21, Deficit 26, Talent 27, Ordain 29, Iced 30, Tiff 31, Add.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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