Jonathan averted civil war by conceding defeat-DANJUMA

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62380

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THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

Forgive Oba Akiolu, Yoruba monarchs beg Ndigbo 8

Jonathan averted civil war by conceding defeat •Says Jonathan has made history and should be emulated by the rest of Africa •Adds Ojukwu would've saved Nigeria one year of bloodshed if...

— DANJUMA

By Ben Agande

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BUJA — FORMER Chief of Army Staff and ex-Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma (retd) declared, Continues on Page 5

FG, govs leave huge debts for incoming govts 53 Mr & Mrs VISIT: President Goodluck Jonathan (left) with former Defence Minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd) during a visit by the President to the General's House In Asokoro, Abuja, yesterday.

Court refuses to halt Fayose's impeachment proceedings COLUMNISTS: Governor Kashim Shettima and my gubernatorial wish list •P.17 C M Y K

•P.19

Oba Akiolu’s expensive gaffe

Life after the big •P.19 storm

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Defection galore as Gulak, Zwingina, others dump PDP 9

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POCKET CARTOON

PREPARATION FOR POLLS: Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officials distributing materials for governorship and House of Assembly elections to local government areas in Bauchi State, yesterday. Photo: NAN

Jonathan averted civil war —Danjuma Continues from Page 1 yesterday, that President Goodluck Jonathan averted civil war in the country by conceding defeat to the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, MajGen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) even before the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, announced the final result of the March 28 presidential election.

Danjuma, who spoke shortly after a closeddoor meeting with President Jonathan, said if former Biafran warlord, late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, had done what President Jonathan did by conceding defeat, he

would have saved Nigeria one year of bloodshed. Danjuma said the President had set a record in the history of the country by conceding defeat.

The meeting between Jonathan and Danjuma took place at General Danjuma’s residence in Asokoro, Abuja.

According to Danjuma, if Ojukwu had done the same thing after the fall of Enugu, when his government had to flee into the bush, he would have saved the country from bloodshed.

Said he: “The outcome of the election and the manner in which President Jonathan conceded defeat to Buhari, is totally un-

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek — Barak Obama.

There is only one person in this whole wide world that one can change. That person is you. This is the most important point to understand thoroughly, otherwise one endlessly tries to change the other and as there are billions of ‘others,’ it would be a life-time task with still no success at the end.

If one grasps that the way to living peacefully is by changing oneself – and oneself only – then all of one’s interactions with others will undergo a radical transformation. You set them free of your graceless demands ... your endless neediness born out of being alone.

The cause of sadness and loneliness is not, as is commonly believed, alienation from others. The single reason for being alone and lonely is from not being what-I-am, but being, instead looking out to something outside oneself.

Try appreciating your life and be you. In the whole universe, you’ll never find another person as yourself. Be happy…you are worthy.

African, it is very important in the history of Africa.

“If Ojukwu did the same after the fall of

Enugu, and conceded defeat to the federal troops he would have saved the nation one full year of bloodshed.

“President Jonathan has made history, set a record to be emulated by the rest of Africa and indeed the whole world.

It’s an excellent thing he did.”

At the end of the meeting, Jonathan thanked Danjuma for his fatherly support during the election.

Jonathan’s meeting with Danjuma was part of preparations for handover of power to President-elect, Buhari, on May 29 this year.

Jonathan had been making wide

consultations with relevant stakeholders across the country for a smooth transition.

Since the announcement of Buhari on March 28 by INEC as winner of the 2015 presidential election, Jonathan has been having private meetings with high profile citizens in the country.

He had also met with Buhari at the Presidential Villa last Friday to discuss the transition of government.

GOVERNORSHIP POLLS: FG orders closure of land borders •Urges Immigration to ensure non-Nigerians do not vote •IG warns trouble makers

By Kingsley Omonobi & Henry Umoru

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BUJA — AHEAD of S a t u r d a y ’ s governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, ordered the closure of all land borders to allow for peaceful conduct of the polls.

Jonathan also asked the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, to ensure that non-Nigerians did not participate in any part of the process.

A statement signed, yesterday, by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mr Abubakar Magaji and entitled: “Closure of Nigeria’s borders” read: “The President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has approved the closure of all Nigeria’s land borders from midnight of

Wednesday, April 8, 2015 to noon of Sunday, April 12, 2015 to allow for peaceful conduct of the f o r t h c o m i n g gubernatorial/state Houses of Assembly elections.

“The Nigeria Immigration Service has also been directed to ensure that nonNigerians do not participate in any part of the election process."

IG warns trouble makers Meanwhile, following intelligence reports that some politicians have recruited thugs with a bid to disrupt Saturday’s elections, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Police to ensure that the elections are hitch-free.

Consequently, he has warned all trouble makers that may attempt

to foment trouble before, during and after the elections to desist from such or face unpleasant consequences.

According to a statement from the Force Headquarters, “stern measures have also been mapped out to stop trouble makers in their tracks, as acts of impunity will not be tolerated.

“The Police High Command has further identified flash points in some geopolitical zones and has devised strategies to address all issues of safety and security as concerns the election.

“Furthermore, the IGP states that the Force will continue to encourage a level playing ground to all.

He advised Nigerians to vote and maintain tranquility for the smooth running of the elections.

“He equally advised party leaders to implore their supporters to shun

any act of violence/ thuggery, as the full weight of the law will rest on trouble makers."

Also, the IGP “has tasked officers and men of the Police Force to exercise a high sense of professionalism in their conduct on election duties as laid down in the Police Regulations and the Standard Operational Guidelines.

“The officers and men are equally directed to adopt an attitude of complete neutrality, and impartiality in carrying out their duties in connection with the election."

While directing that “all officers involved in election duties must be firm, fair and approachable to all parties,” the IGP enjoined them “to take charge of security at polling units and collation centres as the Police Force is the leading law enforcement agency.”

6 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

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20-man robbery gang on rampage in Lagos, 2 arrested

By Evelyn Usman

By Ola Ajayi, Bukola Ifegbayi & Fisayo Ogunwale

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OBBERS went on rampage in the early hours of yesterday in Iju-Ishaga area of Ifako Ijaye, Lagos, leaving in their trail the death of a local vigilante man.

However, two of the robbery suspects were reportedly arrested by anti-robbery policemen attached to Iju division.

The bandits, numbering 20, stormed the area at about 2a.m. and attacked residents of Nelson Cole, Iyabo Williams, Alafia and Hope streets. While they were operating, members of the vigilante group were said to have foiled the operation, following the alarm raised.

Unfortunately for one of the guards, identified simply as Matthew, he was beaten to death with a stone by the armed bandits at Alafia Street, after several shots fired at him did not penetrate his body.

The robbers were said to have opened fire on sighting policemen.

But they reportedly bowed to the superior fire power of the police team as two of them were arrested.

Recovered from the suspects, according to spokesman of Lagos State Police Command, Kenneth Nwosu, were two locally-made cut-to-size guns, live cartridges, charms and ATM cards, suspected to have been stolen from their victims, and substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

Secretary of Alade Olowosokedile Community Development Association, Iju Ishaga, Evangelist Elijah Umoh, said: “I received a call from one of my tenants that he was hearing some noise in the area and that he suspected they were armed robbers.

“We raised alarm. When the robbers discovered that the security men were all over the place, they started looking for escape route.

“Unfortunately, one of the guards, Matthew, who was a member of Odua Peoples Congress, OPC, was killed.

“This is not the first time robbers would storm this community. It happened two years ago during which we also lost a resident.”

He appealed to the state government to do something about its abandoned projects around the area, which he said served as haven for criminals.

The robbers, according to Nwosu, have been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Sqaud, Ikeja, for further investigation, adding that efforts were on to apprehend other members of the gang who escaped through the canal.

Police arrest 49 over DPO's death in Oyo

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The suspects, recovered item and stone used in killing a guard.

My husband's killers threatening us, says and wipe out other “When the killers left, I came Adube's wife come members of the family if they out only to see that they had

By Jimitota Onoyume & Davies Iheamnachor

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ORT HARCOURT— SURVIVORS of the nuclear family of Chief Christopher Adube have raised alarm that their lives were under fresh threats.

Unknown gunmen murdered Chief Adube and five others in his residence at Obrikom, Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The first wife, Mrs Patience Adube, said yesterday that since the incident happened last Friday, they have not had the courage to spend a night in the house.

According to her, the killers of her husband, two of his children, his driver and two others have been threatening to

do not keep their mouth shut.

She lamented: “They have been threatening to come and kill all of us if we do not stop talking about what happened that day.

“My husband, Chief Adube, was in his office in the compound. He was the former chairman of our local government and has maintained a private office in the house since.

“He was in the office with some persons when the killers came.

“I was in my room. Suddenly somebody burst in with a gun, ordering me to lie face down. I did not see his face.

“He took my phone. I just remained transfixed on the floor and was hearing gunshots all over the house.

killed my husband, my two children, our relatives and my husband’s driver.“ Asked if she suspected who was behind the heinous crime, Mrs Adube said it was a clear case of political killing, adding that the husband had been under pressure from one of the political parties to dump All Progressives Congress, APC. She appealed to the state government to come to the family's aid, saying “ we are appealing for assistance. We do not know where to start from.

“He died leaving behind young children. One of those who died also left four children.”

Suspected child trafficker nabbed in Bakassi

By Ike Uchechukwu

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ALABAR—GODKNOWS Edem, 31, a fisherman and native of Ikot Obio Okon in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State was, yesterday, arrested by men of Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, in Bakassi, Cross River State, over allegation of child trafficking.

While parading the suspect in Calabar, Commander of Cross River Command of VGN, Rev. Mercy Effiom, said the suspect said there was a woman who usually brings children to him and others who had need for children.

She said the suspect usually paid the unidentified woman N10,000 monthly for brining children to him.

Narrating how the

incident happened, Mr. Ebito Okon, an inspector of VGN, who resides at Iniabasi, said he woke up one morning to find a small boy lying outside, and that the boy said somebody brought him there from Akwa Ibom State.

He said the boy explained further that he and two others did not know where they were, and that the senior among them managed to escape.

BADAN—THE Oyo State Police Command has arrested 49 suspects allegedly involved in the killing of a Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Ikeokwu Nworgu, at Adekile area of Ibadan, where a kidnappers’ den was discovered.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Katsina, who disclosed this while parading the suspects yesterday, also confirmed that no fewer than 30,000 policemen would be deployed for Saturday ’s election to prevent possible breakdown of law and order during the polls.

He insisted that the reported case of a den was a false alarm, adding that the police had made remarkable progress in the event that led to the demise of the DPO. He said: “We have been able to apprehend the actual perpetrators of the act that led to the demise of one of my DPOs, CSP Ikeokwu Nworgu.

“The killing of my innocent and totally committed officer was premeditated murder.”

8 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

By Clifford Ndujihe, Dapo Akinrefon, Gbenga Oke & Dotun Ibiwoye

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AGOS—A COALITION of Igbo Organisations in Lagos (CIO) and the Traditional Council of Eze Ndi Igbo in the state, yesterday, said the Oba of Lagos, HRM, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu II, should be held responsible if any harm befalls the Igbo now, during and after Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.

According to them, the Monarch’s comments, on Sunday, that the Igbo would perish in Lagos Lagoon within seven days if they did not vote Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate and his anointed standard bearer are threats of wellorchestrated genocide against Igbo not only in Lagos but also in all parts of the country.

The CIO, at a meeting held at National Stadium, Lagos, addressed by Prince Andy Moore Ezejioha (Ndigbo Equity and Justice Initiative), Prince Solomon Ify Ominyi (Igbo Justice Congress) and Chief Amobi Moghalu among others said the Oba’s statement ‘’is clearly a threat to life and security of Igbo living in Lagos in this election season and afterwards... it is an incursion on the right of Igbo to freely vote for the candidate of their choice in the election and is not only meant to give Ambode undue advantage but also to cow Igbo into political slavery. ‘’This is where the CIO is concerned. We henceforth call on Igbo to come out en mass to prove the royal father wrong by voting for the candidate of their choice.

While we call on the Police and other security agencies to fortify all polling booths in Lagos to ensure that voters are not molested or intimidated, we further state that we shall hold His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu responsible if harm befalls any Igbo person in any circumstances in this 2015 election season and beyond.’’

Also, the Traditional Council of Eze Ndi Igbo in Lagos, in a statement by Eze Dr Anthony Elui (Chairman) and Chief John Uche (Igbo Leaders delegate) viewed the Oba’s threat ‘’with every iota of seriousness, as well conceived, with adequate modalities in place for achieving same and perfected by the monarch, as such statement was made out of the abundance of the heart as against being proverbial as subsequent interveners will want to paint it. ‘’It is a clandestine and calculated attempt to wipe out the Igbo indigenes in Lagos and in Nigeria as a whole. It is totally unacceptable and more instigating having emanated from a first class and supposedly respectable first class monarch. ‘’We call on the monarch to retract the said statement forthwith and tender an unreserved apology to the Igbo in Lagos. The monarch should also assure the Igbo in Lagos as to the safety of their lives and properties. It is only by doing these things that we the Council

Forgive Oba Akiolu, Yoruba monarchs beg Igbo ...Oba wanted to score cheap political points – Obanikoro ...You’re safe, Fasehun, OPC assure Igbo of Eze Ndi Igbo of Lagos State will be assured that our people are safe. Otherwise, we shall be forced to seek appropriate legal protection locally and internationally for our people in Lagos.’’

Don’t succumb to threat, WIC tells Ndigbo in Lagos

The World Igbo Congress (WIC), the umbrella organization of Ndigbo in the Diaspora, told Ndigbo residing in Lagos State not to be intimidated by any form of threat because they are guaranteed of equal protection of the law like every other Nigerian as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

In a joint statement by Larry Udorji (chairman), Cyril Nwaguru (secretary-general) and Jimmy Asiegbu (public relations officer), the group noted that Igbo in Lagos deserve an apology from Oba over his threat.

WIC said: ‘’We call on those who have the ears of Oba Rilwan Akiolu to be guided accordingly and contain his excesses as the Igbo will no longer condone the ignorance and primordial sentiments that informed such dastardly initiatives as the Abandoned Property saga in a country that is purported to be ‘One Nation with One Destiny.’

“We hereby put the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman A. Abba; all South East Governors and all the Igbo members of the Federal and State Houses of Assembly on notice that our people, the Igbo, will take necessary action to defend Igbo lives and property.”

Forgive Oba Akiolu –Yoruba monarchs

The Igbo leaders and groups spoke as Yoruba traditional rulers and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, urged Igbo people to forgive the monarch, saying the Yoruba and Igbo will continue to live together in peace.

The Yoruba traditional rulers spoke at Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Council Chamber, Festac, Lagos when they hosted 24 Igbo traditional leaders from different parts of Lagos.

Oba Kayode Akinyemi, the Alabirun of Ikare, who spoke on behalf of seven other Obas, said Lagos has been so peaceful for everyone because Yoruba do not segregate and everyone should work as one for continuous cooperation and co-existence.

Akinyemi said that Oba Akiolu’s threat should be seen as a slip of the tongue.

The Eze-Ndigbo of Amuwo-

MEETING: From left,; former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; President -lect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari and Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha discussing during a courtesy call to the Palace, in Yola Adamawa State during Adamawa State APC Stakeholder‘s meeting.

Oba’s palace was an eye-opener for the Igbo to make an ideal choice on Saturday during the governorship poll. ‘’ He called on every patriotic Nigerian to condemn the statement, alleging that similar threats were issued by the APCled government to civil servants in Alausa through the Head of Service in the presence of one of Ignore Oba’s threat, his predecessors, Hon Yakubu Balogun, representing Lagos Lagosians are tolerant Island II in the House of – Obanikoro Condemning the Oba’s threat, Representatives.

Obanikoro said such habitual intolerance is not in the character Fasehun, OPC assure trait of the quintessential Lagos Igbo, non-indigenes of safety people.

In like manner, Founder of the Obanikoro appealed to the Igbo not to generalise an average Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Lagosian as intolerant, adding that Dr Frederick Fasehun, has Oba Akiolu’s deliberate assured Igbo and non-indigenes intolerance is for obvious political in Lagos State of safety.

Fasehun, in a statement, said reasons.

His words: “The monarch has that he had mandated OPC shown unambiguous biases members to ensure that no one is despite his place as a custodian intimidated or molested before, of the Lagos traditional institution during and after the polls.

According to him, anybody or and such premeditated and needless hostility could pitch the any group threatening violence non-indigenes against the Lagos against indigenes or nonindigenes would have OPC to indigenes.

“These people have not only contend with because “OPC is a become arrogant with power, they frontline group for the defence of are gradually becoming Yoruba interests and the despots. This is who they are. dispensation of social justice to If an individual lays claim to sojourners in the South-West. And not only hand-picking a we shall be doing everything to governorship candidate but make everyone feel safe alluded to also owning Lagos as throughout the duration of the it were, the Igbo should know electoral process, before, during what such a statement portends and after voting.”

The OPC leader noted that the for them as a people sinisterly organisation would cooperate regarded as strangers.”

Asking the Igbo to ignore such with security agencies on threats, he said: “Igbo have their Saturday to guarantee the right to choice as every other safety of all voters, indigenes Nigerian and stakeholders in the and non-indigenes alike state and what happened at the within and outside Lagos.

Oriade, Dr. Gordian Dimojiaku, on behalf of the delegation, said the Yoruba are very accommodating, adding that the Igbo will continue to live with their hosts as one. Dimojiaku noted that he was with the Oba of Lagos when he made the statement on Sunday but that no harm was meant to the Igbo.

The statement read: “Yoruba cherishes its republican and cosmopolitan outlook, and this cannot be abridged by anybody and any institution. OPC will continue to maintain its position of defending people’s liberty, including the freedom to vote for parties and candidates of their choice.”

He, however, warned that “any attempt to make people think, decide and vote the same way is not only draconian, it is unrealistic and futile. The minority must have its say, but the majority must have its way.”

Fasehun argued that rather than viewing the different people it harbours as a threat, Lagos needed to express pride in being home to many different tribes and cultures.

“Yoruba welcome strangers.

Yoruba people are accommodating and hospitable, which is why land and business holding here is not discriminatory. ''And this reflects in our politics, where we have strong parties and candidates equally competing for public office. ''In the First, Second and Third Republics, key Yoruba politicians did not converge on one political platform, but had equal showing in the ruling parties as well as in the opposition parties at all levels.

That is the beauty of Yoruba politics”, he stated.

He urged politicians to embrace peace and not drag the traditional institution into politics.

According to him, political gladiators must imbibe the example of President Goodluck Jonathan, who always maintained that his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 — 9

By Dayo Johnson, Umar Yusuf & Ola Ajayi

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HE wave of defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC continued yesterday with senior members of the defeated ruling party taking their exit from the party.

Among the heavyweight defectors that left the PDP yesterday was immediate past political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, who initiated the Jonathan re-election campaign and subsequently made an unsuccessful bid for the governorship of Adamawa State on the platform of the party.

The gale of the defections came from Adamawa State and Ondo and Oyo states in the Southwest.

Besides Gulak, two serving senators, Ahmed Hassan Barata and Mohammed Bello Tukur representing Adamawa South and Central respectively, a former Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, former minister of health, Dr. Idi Hong were among many other prominent leaders who jumped ship when President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari visited Yola, Adamawa State yesterday.

Olusola Oke leads the group

And in Ondo State, the PDP’s immediate past national legal adviser, Chief Olusola Oke led several others including his two wives, a member of the House of Representatives representing Okitipupa/Irele federal constituency, former Commissioners under the Late Dr Olusegun Agagu administration Princes Oladunni Odu, Ayo ifayefunmi, Olajide Ajana, former Senator Gbenga Ogunniya and Mrs Febi Adeyemi Others included a former Head of Service Alaba Isijola and a former member of the House of Representatives, Abayomi Sheba among others.

In making his declaration, Oke confessed that he and his groups worked to ensure the defeat of the PDP in penultimate weekend’s presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

In Oyo, Rep, others jump boat

Also yesterday, prominent members of the PDP in Oyo State including a member of the House of Representatives, Afeez Jimoh, a former member of the House of Representatives, Folake Olunloyo - Osinowo, Tayo Sarumi, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, PDP governorship aspirant, Chief (Mrs) Ayoka Lawani, Mr. Waheed Adeleke, former Chairman, Iseyin Local Government, among other party leaders from the Accord, Labour Party and PDP who joined the APC. The mass defection of the

Defection galore as Zwingina, Gulak, Reps, others dump PDP ...They are gold diggers — PDP

disappointed that a man who operated as a major stakeholder in our Party could curiously elect to become a common joiner in a Party.

The mass defection of PDP stalwarts in Oyo State took place at an event held at the Mapo Hall in Ibadan on Wednesday.

Ajimobi receives defectors

The defectors were received by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, his counterpart from Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who represented the presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari and the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

In their separate remarks, the defectors said they were leaving their respective parties for the MEETING: South East Peoples Democratic Party, PDP senators-elect and zonal National APC because they discovered Vice Chairman addressing the media after a caucus meeting at the Enugu residence of that only the APC held hope for the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. the country and the state in particular. politicians took place at an event held at the Mapo Hall in Ibadan on Wednesday.

PDP member of the House of Representatives from Oyo State.

Adamawa defectors state case

The defectors in Adamawa State made their plans known at a press conference in Yola, the state capital yesterday.

Zwingina, who addressed the press on behalf of the defectors, said: “After careful identification of the best in the current circumstances facing the state, we came to the conclusion that Bindow’s victory will pave the way for the desired restoration and positive change for the peace and development of the state.”

He explained that following the undemocratic tendencies of the candidate imposed on Adamawa State, by the PDP the serving senators under the party formed alliance with major stakeholders in the party to rally around the ambition of Senator Muhammad Umar Jibrilla Bindow.

The defectors alongside thousands of their followers said their choice of APC’s candidate was reached after careful scrutiny identify him as the best candidate for the job hence their total support for his ambition.

Zwingina noted that what motivated them to join APC was premised by the desire to address the myriad of challenges being faced in the state which include economic underdevelopment, insecurity, lack of infrastructure and

political instability among others.

In his remarks, the Director General of Bindowo Campaign organization Alhaji Abdurrahman Abba Jimeta commended the defectors for their move adding that Adamawa indigenes will remain grateful to them for their courage to leave what he described as the “sinking PDP ship that wreaked havoc on the state for the past 16 years.”

Oke lauds turn-coats

Oke, who led the defectors in Akure, Ondo State said that his decision to join the APC was taken because he could not withstand the wind of change he claimed is blowing across the country.

“The wind almost blew me off, but I have now surrendered I can no more resist this change. This change that has blown in the federal must also blow in Ondo State.

Oke said forces of darkness fought against change to happen but “ the only thing that is permanent in life is Change.

“We have come to add value to the APC and salvage the state from bad and visionless leadership with broken promises across the state.

“Ondo State is the poorest in the Southwest because of lack of good leadership. Nothing is working, contractors have abandoned sites, no contract is awarded our youths have no job.

The Party Chairman Hon Isaac Kekemeke welcomed the defectors as he vowed that an APC government in the state

would put an end to personalisation of governance.

Ex-Ondo deputy governor too

Also in the welcoming party was the deputy governor of the state, Ali Olanusi.

Reacting to the defection the Director of Publicity of the PDP in the state Ayo Fadaka described Oke’s action as disappointing.

Fadaka in a statement said Oke has made a short-sighted political mistake.

“We note with aghast the decampment of Chief Olusola Oke from our Party to the All Progressive Congress, to us it is a route that Oke should not in any circumstance embark upon but since he in company of his little band have chosen to do so, they are welcome to it.

“We equally feel duty bound to declare that we are

Why I crossed over, by Olunloyo-Osinowo

In her own remark, Hon Olunloyo-Osinowo said all the members of the PDP in Ibadan South West and Ibadan North West constituency had decamped to the APC, stating that they identified with progressive ideology and believed that only the party would take the country to the promised land.

“God has deserted PDP and Nigerians have rejected it.

That was why we left the party.

The APC remains the only party that can take Nigeria to her land of destiny,” she said.

Another former PDP member of the House of Representatives and now a chieftain of the Accord Party, Hon. Sarumi said that his former party had become a sinking ship that would meet its final Waterloo at the governorship polls on Saturday.

Group marches for Okowa, Nwaka

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SABA—MEMBERS of Aniocha Peoples Assembly under the auspices of Dr. Fidelis Efunwa Foundation, yesterday, embarked on a one million road march to canvass support for Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate and the PDP House of Assembly candidate for Aniocha South constituency, Mrs. Angela Nwaka.

Speaking to newsmen on the occasion, the leader/founder of the group, Dr. Fidelis Efunwa, said though the group is not affiliated to, or being sponsored by any

politician or political group, it, however, decided to embark on the road march to show solidarity and support for both candidates in the Saturday election.

Efunwa also enjoined the people to cast their votes for Okowa and Angela Nwaka.

His words: The PDP governorship and the Aniocha South House of Assembly candidates have been tested and proved to be most qualified to bring prosperity, good governance and qualitative representation and deserves to be supported for a better Delta State.

10 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

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12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

Peterside, Wike sign fresh peace pact zAs Peterside assures on peace during elections

By Gbenga Oke & Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— GOVERNORSHIP candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Nyesom Wike, in Rivers State, yesterday in Port Harcourt, signed a fresh peace accord, promising to be law abiding before and after the elections on Saturday.

The peace deal was brokered by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Hosea Karma. He appealed to all parties to shun violence, promising that the Police would continue to protect lives and property.

“We are all brothers. Lets us be able to shake hands after this election. Let us participate in this election without bitterness. Rivers State will remain after the elections.

Tribes will remain after the elections. Please, let us not do anything that will bring shame to us,” he pleaded.

Meanwhile, Peterside, has assured citizens of the state of maximum protection during the governorship election in

Oshiomhole urges Edo to vote APC

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By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN—AHEAD of this weekend’s House of Assembly elections in Edo State, the state governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, has admonished people of the state not to vote for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in order not to go back to the “dark days of under development, poverty and unemployment.”

Speaking at a rally in Uromi, yesterday, Oshiomhole said “Let me remind you that Saturday is an opportunity to consolidate the change. I hear people say that before All Progressives Congress, APC, was in opposition. Yes we too want them to do opposition. PDP has passed its productive years. Forever and ever, PDP can no longer deliver.

“The engine of the Mercedes in Abuja today is APC’s Muhammadu Buhari, the back axle at the state level is Oshiomhole of the APC, now the seat in the House of Assembly, do you want to put in Volkswagen and reject the Benz? You must vote Adima and Okpame so that the Mercedes will be complete."

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the state.

Peterside, during a town hall meeting in Abuloma, urged the people to take solace in the fact that all forms of persecution, intimidation and threat to their lives will soon be a thing of the past because Nigeria has changed for the better.

He said: “Those who unleashed violence and mayhem on the people of Rivers State during the March 28

presidential and National Assembly elections are already aware of a new Nigeria that abhors lawlessness and impunity. So, I am calling on our people to come out and participate fully in the allimportant process of electing the next governor of Rivers State.

“I am sure that everybody remembered what happened on March 28. They used the army,

police, DSS and militants, seized result sheets and hijacked ballot boxes. They also arrested many people, all to favour the PDP, but God had a different plan. Despite the intimidation and stuffing of ballot boxes, God said it was not time for Goodluck Jonathan to continue in office, so Gen Muhammadu Buhari won the election. Can anybody challenge God?"

DELTA SENATE POLL: I didn't lose to Manager, Wilkie insists

By Emma Amaize

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ARRI—LABOUR Party, LP, senatorial candidate in Delta South, Delta State, Mr. Itse-Elijah Wilkie, who lost the National Assembly elections to the incumbent, Senator James Manager, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said that he did not lose in the election.

Wike, who urged Deltans to embrace change and vote the LP governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, in Saturday’s governorship poll, told Vanguard, “Without mincing words, I did not lose the election. This is because, there was no election.

We only had award of votes to the PDP."

Group urges Deltans to vote Okowa VISIT: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (left) accompanied by the PDP state House of Assembly candidate for Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency I, Mr. Tonye Isenah, during a visit by the governor to Kaiama town, ahead of the state House of Assembly elections on Saturday.

DELTA GOV: Ijaws drum support for Emerhor ...demand control of legislature

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI—IJAWS in Delta State have declared their support for the governorship bid of Olorogun O’tega Emerhor of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in anticipation that his government, if voted in, will support Ijaw’s control of the state House of Assembly.

Grand Patron, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Prince Collins Eselemo, who spoke when he led a delegation of community leaders on a political alignment visit to the Chief Tuesday Onoge faction of Urhobo Progress Union,

UPU, in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State, said the wind of change blowing across the country following the emergence of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as president-elect, now transcends APC and any other partisan

Okowa restates commitment to devt

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By Festus Ahon

SABA—DELTA State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship

Edo Assembly candidate drums support for APC

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By Simon Adewale

HE All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate contesting for Edo State House of Assembly, Esan North Constituency 2, Prince Henry Okpamen, has expressed optimism that the emergence of an APC-led Federal Government under General Mohammed Buhari will boost the fortunes of the party in Edo State.

interest, adding that Delta cannot afford shy away and not align with the mainstream.

He said: “For the governorship, all Delta Ijaws, including those in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have realised that we cannot afford to play opposition to the APC."

Addressing newsmen, Okpamen, who is the former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, expressed gratitude to the people of the state for voting massively for Buhari and assured that the new leader will initiate positive changes that will bring development, security and prosperity to all Nigerians.

candidate for Saturday’s poll, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that he was committed to improving the lives of the people of the state if elected governor.

Okowa, in Asaba during the 50th birthday of Mr Monday Onyeme, described the celebrator as a blessed son of God who is humble, committed and loyal to the cause of his (Okowa) political ambition, adding that his presence at the ceremony was a show of the honour and regard he has for Onyeme.

He added that it was not long he discovered Mr Onyeme as a philanthropist who was always ready to impact on the lives of the poor, and down trodden.

He noted that Onyeme's exemplary life would be a mirror to many young men who are aspiring to leadership positions.

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group, Door to Door for Okowa Campaign Organisation, has called on Deltans to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa in the April 11 governorship election.

In a statement by Dom Okonma, its National Coordinator, the group enjoined the people of Delta State to go “door to door” from now till April 11, canvassing for votes for Okowa.

‘Deltans won't tolerate bogus results'

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environmentalist in Delta State, Mr. Moses Oddiri, has warned that Deltans will not tolerate bogus results from riverine areas in Saturday’s elections in the state.

He said in a statement that “hand written results from riverine areas have consistently truncated the democratic aspirations of Deltans in past elections.

Deltans should come out on Saturday to vote. We appeal to security agents not to allow themselves to be used to perform thug duties in support of any party."

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015—13

Thousands protest in Rivers over alleged plot to manipulate April 11 polls

By Jimitota Onoyume

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HOUSANDS of Rivers State residents from the 23 local government areas of the state, yesterday, took to the streets to protest alleged plots by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to use the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to manipulate the forthcoming governorship and state House of Assembly elections in the state.

The protesters who marched through several streets in Port Harcourt City terminated their

march on Aba Road office of INEC. They displayed placards which read: “Rivers State is not for sale, ‘Rivers is for PDP,’ ‘Amaechi is a traitor,’ ‘We will vote Wike on Saturday no matter what Amaechi and APC do,’ ‘ Jega don’t be deceived by Amaechi’s money and tricks, we need free and fair elections, ‘Jega don’t send Amaechi’s stooge to conduct elections in Rivers State,’ among others.

Among the protesters were senators elect, members of the House of Representatives,

members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, youth groups, market women, student bodies, non-indigenes and leaders of PDP in the state.

Mrs. Betty Apiaji who spoke during the protest, said the APC only accepts an election to be free and fair when it wins, dismissing allegations of bias levelled against the Resident Electoral Commissioner and security agencies in the state as unfounded.

She said that Rivers State was a PDP state as exemplified by the last presidential and

National Assembly elections, pointing out that the violence being sponsored by the gogernor and the APC will not deter the party from winning the governorship and state Assembly elections.

According to her, the people have since turned their backs on the state governor and the APC because the resources of the state have been used to corruptly enrich APC leaders across the country, while development suffers in the state.

She advised the INEC leadership in Abuja not to fall

prey to the cheap blackmail of the APC, as the people of Rivers State are ready to defend their votes.

She said: “Rivers State is ready for the governorship and state assembly elections. We are here to declare that we are ready for free and fair elections on Saturday. The governor is afraid of elections because he is not popular in the state, that is why he has re - located to Abuja to manipulate INEC." Rivers State PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr Nwanosike Samuel added that the party has received information that the state governor is bribing top INEC leadership to redeploy the current Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC and allow him nominate his crony, so that he can rig the governorship election in Government House, Port

DTHA POLLS: LP candidate raises alarm on bid to terrorise Ethiope East voters

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI—CHIEF Evans Ivwurie, Labour Party, LP, candidate for Ethiope East state constituency in the April 11 elections, has called on security agencies in Delta State to move against alleged plans by a rival candidate to unleash violence in order to rig the election in the area.

Ivwurie told Vanguard in Warri: “A particular party has always thrived in employing violence in rigging elections in this area. They know they stand no chance against me and the LP in this election and I have it on good authority that they are recruiting thugs to create fear in the populace before the elections.

“The candidate of this particular party did not allow free and fair primaries to pick his ticket. On the day of the primaries, he brought thugs to scuttle the event and before a rescheduled date would be announced, he had been declared candidate. From all indications, he is set to employ same tactics in the April 11 elections.”

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14 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015—15

S-East PDP caucus resolves to remain in opposition ...plans alliance with S-South for stronger bargaining power

By Austin Ogwuda

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OUTH-EAST CAUCUS of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, met at the residence of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in Enugu and resolved to remain in opposition in the emerging new political dispensation to be piloted by the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), effective May 29, 2015.

The party’s leadership in the zone made it clear that it had no regret voting en masse for their party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. “As a zone, the South East delivered all their votes to the PDP and we are proud to do so,’’ the party said.

In attendance at the meeting were Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, Minister of State for Defence, Col. Augustine Akobundu (retd); Senator Hope Uzodinma, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Gil Nnaji, the host, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, among others.

They, therefore, used the opportunity to thank all members of the PDP, including the governors, stakeholders and the people of the zone, for working tirelessly and voting massively for

the party during the last elections and urged them to remain loyal and do the same on Saturday.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the closed door-meeting, the group’s spokesman who is also the National Vice Chairman of PDP South East, Col. Augustine Akobundu (retd), said they were

resolute in remaining in the party and not contemplating defecting to other political parties.

His words: “Everything that we need to do to deliver the goodies that our people deserve in the zone, we can bring through a very solid platform of negotiation. ‘’We voted for a party that

integrated us into the mainstream of Nigerian politics, elected/ appointed our people into strategic offices, and addressed some of our major infrastructural challenges. So, we took a principled position and accept full responsibility for our political choices.”

BRIEFING: From left, Dr. Kehinde Daniel,Past Chairman, Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, APHPN, Mrs. Ovy Ohioze; Head, Business Operations, Sanofi Pasteur, Dr. Doyin Odubanjo; Chairman, APHPN, Dr. Kubie Layeni-Adeyemo; Director, Occupational Staff, Health Services, Lagos State, and Dr. Tomi Odugbemi, at the briefing of APHPN, in conjuction with Sanofi Pasteur, on The World Health Day, with the theme, 'Food Safety From Farm to Plate; Make Food Safe in Lagos,' yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

Election observers allege discrepancies in Anambra polls

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA — THE Coalition of INEC accredited election observers for 2015 general elections in Anambra State yesterday released the reports for the March 28, 2015, general elections, saying there were noticeable discrepancies between results declared at the

polling units and the collation centers.

According to the report, the development highlighted the weakness of the collation process, which gave room for manipulation.

Leader of the group, Mr. Chris Azor, who read the report to reporters in Awka, said the election observers had

recommended that votes cast in the polling units be crosschecked to tally with results posted at the collation centers.

Azor said: “Due to the observed irregularities and malpractices, culminating in the mutilation of recoded result and outright falsification of figures, thereby awarding fictitious

‘Buhari has brought hope, confidence to unborn generations’

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HE ASSISTANT National Secretary of Buhari Progressives Change Support Group, BPCSG, Chief Abiodun Owoeye, yesterday, congratulated the President-elect, Maj-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) on his victory at the last presidential election, describing his emergence as one that had brought hope and confidence to unborn generations in the country.

Owoeye, who spoke at a special jubilation session held in honour of Buhari at GreenLand Garden, Asokoro in Abuja, said he was proud of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who fielded Buhari as well as proud of being a Nigerian and a Yoruba.

Also congratulating the President-elect were Chairman of C M Y K

the Group, Hon. Bisi Oyoosun; Board of Trustees member, Chief Dele Ogunsakin, as well as thousands of national, state and local government executives and members of the group.

The group also said Buhari’s

emergence is a victory over unwarranted arrests, killings, intimidation and name-calling of its members across the country, thereby soliciting for creative ideas that will enhance a new dawn in Nigeria.

ballots to the wrong person, we call for immediate review of the declared results and subsequent declaration of the authentic winners.

“While we fully support the transition from manual to biometric accreditation of voters introduced by INEC, we are however concerned by reports of challenges with the accreditation process, resulting in the suspension of the use of card readers and reversal to manual accreditation.

“This failure has undermined the full benefit anticipated by the use of biometric technology and imposed unnecessary hardship on Nigerians. We call on INEC to make clear what guidelines will govern the accreditation process during the 11 April polls."

APGA faction blames Obiano, Umeh for poll failure

By Enyim Enyin

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NITSHA—FACTIONAL national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Maxi Okwu, yesterday blamed the natonal chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, and the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Willie Obiano, for the electoral misfortune of the party in penultimate Saturday’s presidential and National

Assembly poll.

In Anambra State, the party only got two federal constituencies in Anambra North senatorial zone, the home of Governor Obiano Addressing reporters in Awka, Okwu said the defeat of APGA in the 36 states of the federation was self-inflicted, on grounds that there was no MOU with PDP to ensure a free and fair election.

He said: ‘’If we had got the judgment from the Supreme

Court before the election, declaring me as the National Chairman of APGA, the party would have not endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan without signing an MOU. ‘’The endorsement of Jonathan without a signed MOU was nonsensical because the PDP made sure that APGA candidates for the National Assembly were not voted for after we had voted for Jonathan.’’

Ohanaeze condemns continued Boko Haram killings

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA — Ohanaeze Ndigbo yesterday condemned the continued killing of Nigerians in the North by Boko Haram insurgents, even after the success of the conduct of the presidential elections, urging President Goodluck Jonathan to intensify the plan of action aimed at wiping out the sect.

In a statement in Awka, Anambra State, the deputy president of Ohanaeze Youth Wing, Comrade Arthur Obiorah, urged the President not to allow the insurgents regain any of the territories already recovered from the group by the Nigerian military.

He described as unfortunate a situation whereby lives and property of Nigerians were being wasted on a daily basis, hoping that the incoming administration would do something urgent to end the activities of the insurgents permanently.

...drags Oba Akiolu to Human Rights Commission

By Innocent Anaba

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S REACTIONS continues to trail the threat by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu to drown Igbo in Lagos if they failed to vote his candidate, Akinwumi Ambode, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Saturday ’s governorship elections in the state, Igbo groups in Lagos have dragged the Oba to the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC. Ohanaeze-Ndigbo Lagos and Igbo Justice Congress in petition to the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Prof.

Bem Angwe, called for the intervention of the Commission to forestal the threat by Oba Akiolu.

The petition by Innocent Arinze for Ohaneze Ndigbo and Arinze Ugwu for Igbo Justice Congress, said “The entire Igbo in Lagos State seeks your intervention to forestall the threat by HRM Oba Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos to drown all Ndigbo in Lagos State inside the Lagoon if they failed to vote his candidate, Ambode of the APC Lagos.

16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 — 17

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HIS weekend, Nigerians return to the polls to choose governors for most of our states, as well as legislators for state Houses of Assembly. The governor is a very important position because governors affect the lives of millions of Nigerians in our states.

Where governors are genuinely committed to the best interest of their people, positive transformative developments can be achieved in states. In the past few years, here in Northern Nigeria, I attest to the remarkable developments that Kano, Jigawa and Katsina, to mention a few states, experienced.

This has nothing to do with the political parties that Governors Kwankwaso, Sule Lamido or Shehu Shema belonged to. They are leaving development legacies, not hidden behind dubious pretenses, where public money was used to build projects but then said to belong to a dubious “private sector”.

That is the experience in Kwara State, for example, since 2003.

There, governance is an elaborate charade, resembling a monumental pyramid scheme.

The more people saw, the less they understood the hegemony of fraud, controlled by a pitiless and fraudulent hegemony!

Wish list: As we vote this weekend, I have my gubernatorial wish list. I hope Borno State re-elects Kashim Shettima for a second term.

Shettima is one of the most level headed and committed governors in Nigeria today. He came to power in one of the most difficult phases in Borno history, with the tragedy of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Central issue of governance Yet, he has always kept his eye on the ball, knowing that in the long run, the central issue of governance is the welfare of the people. Shettima made tremendous strides which can only flower now that the Boko Haram insurgency is being degraded.

When Shettima earns his second term, against the background of the consolidating peace in Borno, he will certainly work with greater commitment to ensure development in communities that must be rehabilitated in the postinsurgency process. Kashim Settima is at the top of my gubernatorial wish list for success this week.

I live in Kaduna, and have tremendous attachment to the city, for its place in Northern Nigerian history. Kaduna has suffered a frightening regression and underdevelopment, especially in the past four years, because of the incompetence of the outgoing government. This is why I root for Nasir El-Rufai to win this weekend’s election to become governor.

I have no doubts in my mind that El-Rufai will provide leadership to transform our city, Kaduna, and the state in general.

Kaduna deserves a leadership of knowledge, commitment and modernisation, which Nasir ElC M Y K

Governor Kashim Shettima and my gubernatorial wish list Rufai can offer, and I really look forward to his success this weekend.

If Buhari makes the mistake of backing the wrong individual for this position, it will impact negatively on the possibility of change!

I recently told Aminu Tambuwal that I would return home to Sokoto to attend his inauguration as the next Sokoto State governor.

Tambuwal is another individual with whom I have a very long relationship. A man of tremendous leadership acumen and a unique ability to harness the knowhow of others to achieve set goals, I think Tambuwal will be a good governor for Sokoto. It will be an opportunity for a younger man, with a background of cosmopolitan sophistication, to provide leadership for development that will resonate with the increasingly educated young people who make up the

majority of the people of Sokoto.

Masari as governor: Similarly, I look forward to Aminu Bello Masari finally getting opportunity to become governor of Katsina State. Masari is as modest, responsible and as

committed as one can see. Our relationship dates back to his days as Speaker, House of Representatives. He is a genuine patriot who has worked hard to get to the point he has arrived today.

In the same vein, I am rooting for Dr. Ganduje to win his election in Kano, in order to build upon the foundation laid so remarkably

by Governor Kwankwaso. The final person on my gubernatorial wish list is Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow, who is contesting to become Adamawa State governor.

I hope that he succeeds in his effort.

This is my subjective wishlist, because at the end of the day, politics is ultimately about interest: personal and social. I have stayed within terrains I am familiar with, in Northern Nigeria. If we get it right in one corner of Nigeria, it becomes a statement for good governance all over Nigeria!

Buhari and Senate Presidency IT is clear that General Muhammadu Buhari’s hand is being forced so early in the jostle for the position of Senate President.

In the past week, there has been an elaborate spin in Nigerian newspapers about different candidates for the position. Those spinning stories

about a certain individual showed their hands too early, underlining a worrying and disruptive over ambition.

I hope to return fully to this issue,in a week or two. If Buhari makes the mistake of backing the wrong individual for this position, it will impact negatively on the possibility of change!

Old order changeth: Those we won't miss

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EMOCRACY is a remarkable way of organising human society. It throws up often, unlikely individuals into the public and social spaces of society. A most poignant example is President Goodluck Jonathan. In 2011, he touched the emotions of millions of Nigerians with the genuine propaganda line that he went to school shoeless.

It resonated with a lot of people who saw Dr Jonathan as just like the folk next door. He harvested millions of votes but used the next four years wasting the goodwill of many of those who voted a “shoeless boy ” from the backwaters of Otuoke as their president.

Four years down the line, the table turned; emotions became decisively against the man who celebrated his modest origins, but in power, became captive of a cabal who made him forget where he came from. The man turned the acquisition of new business jets into an expensive presidential diversion.

He found out much later, that his deliberate effort at manipulating the fault lines of religion, ethnicity and regionalism could not save him.

He was voted out of power!

The past few years in our democratising Nigeria, threw up many characters,who were in our faces, most of the time, for the worst possible reasons. In the long run, they became some of the “crimes” for which Nigerians punished Jonathan. Old man E.K. Clark heads my cast of characters in the Nigerian theatre of the politically absurd. The selfstyled Ijaw leader carefully cultivated himself into a presidential elderly Rottweiler.

He confronted whoever dared to cross his ‘godson’, President Jonathan. He dominated the scene amongst an unofficial presidential ‘defence force’. We were both Delegates at the 2014 National Conference, and even there, he carried on, as if he had presidential imprimatur for whatever verbiage he spewed.

He was eternally handing out his call cards to many people, but especially women, who were probably looking for all types of favour they believed EK Clark could secure for them. Chief Clark’s brusqueness with other Nigerians contributed so much to alienating President Jonathan from many people. He forgot too late in the day, that an election was going to come. In the end, he helped ensure that his ‘godson’ lost! It is a new era. We will not miss Chief EK Clark when he disappears from our social space.

Colonial-era policeman: Chief Tony Anenih, the wily old, colonial-era policeman and political dinosaur, enjoyed the halo of being addressed as Fixerin-Chief of the Nigerian political

Chief Clark’s brusqueness with other Nigerians contributed so much to alienating President Jonathan from many people

scene. His house was the ultimate Mecca for the flotsam and jetsam of political society. He enjoyed the attention and maximally exploited the myth he was surrounded with. A man who never ever won an election, but was stupendously rich and with a typically colonial police cunning; Tony Anenih, is a recurrent decimal from the Second Republic through to the June 12 era. He is best remembered as the party chairman who allegedly traded off Chief MKO Abiola’s June 12, 1993 mandate. By 1999, he returned with vengeance to political reckoning, and like a cat with nine lives, was disgraced and rehabilitated severally, until President Jonathan lost his reelection bid. Chief Anenih has expended all his cat’s nine lives.

He HAS to vacate the scene. We won’t miss him.

Corridors of power Then there is Jerry Gana. Good old Jerry Gana, Nigeria’s AGIPin-Chief! He has a unique place in the Nigerian political system, as the SOLE HOLDER of the Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) to the corridors of power. He has served and has been dumped like a bag of potatoes and reappointed by EVERY regime, from the days of military dictatorship till the ill-fated Jonathan administration. Jerry Gana has politically expired. He would be obliged to vacate the scene. We will not miss the past master at exploiting religious identity to stay politically relevant.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was eventually sacked by Obasanjo in her first incarnation in the

Nigerian public space. We thought we had been rid of one of the most reactionary individuals ever to happen, like an accident, on our public space.

But President Jonathan, who always felt he must kowtow to imperialism, went back to Washington to beg the most archetypal intellectual in the service of imperialism, OkonjoIweala, to return as Finance Minister and a new egomassaging addendum was even added to fit Ngozi’s larger-thanlife ego: Coordinating Minister of the Economy. She lapped it up, while strutting around as if she was God’s only gift to Nigeria.

Controversies and all, OkonjoIweala will have to vacate our political space, without doubt, back to the imperialist redoubt where she was plucked from. We won’t miss Ngozi!

Certainly we will not miss Diezani Alison-Madueke.

President Jonathan’s Minister of Petroleum Resources became one of the most unpopular faces of the government. She removed heads of NNPC at will, for as long as she was through with those poor folks or when they would not stand her overbearing arrogance.

She was so special and thought the position she held was eternal, that she even organised the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill, around her position as minister. But everything ends!

In recent days, pictures have emerged online of Diezani allegedly arriving, dressed like a Northern Nigerian housewife, at General Abudusalami Abubakar’s residence in Minna.

The regime of private jets and expensive designer bags seems to have ended. Diezani is gone!

We won’t miss her.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 WE are in the final hurdles of the 2015 elections. They are, however, as important as the presidential and National Assembly polls held on March 28. Elections to offices in the States affect our people more, but the skewed politics of looking up to Abuja for everything, sometimes tend to deemphasise the importance of the States.

Governors have vast powers that they can abuse if they are not checked. Saturday’s elections deal with States. Governors would be elected, with legislators who should oversee their work. We complain loudly about our unaddressed concerns.

Complaints about politicians cut across political parties. Quality candidates, in sufficient numbers, are regrettably low.

Most candidates bear the baggage of their predecessor, who press them to run, or have been drawn to the races for reasons that are not about the people. While we are supposed to vote for candidates with character and credentials, other considerations mitigate against adequate scrutiny of our future leaders. We have paid direly for the oversight since 1999. We would pay the same price again, unless we

2015 Final Hurdles are determined to vote for candidates who can address the numerous issues in our States.

Nigerians’ dissatisfaction with our current political system stems from two points, the near total neglect of the welfare of the people and the aversion of public office holders to accountability. The joint impact results in frustrations with almost all governments throughout Nigeria.

Issues vary from State to State, but they converge on the security and welfare of the people, a point that is so central to our wellbeing that the Constitution in Section 14 2 (b) captured it succinctly. According to the section, “ The security and welfare of the

people shall be the primary purpose of government ”. Our country would be different if the elected are those who care about the people. There are such people; it is up to voters to find them.

An equally ignored aspect of that section is the provision for peoples’ participation in government. Section 14 2 (c), which states, “The participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution ”.

Thuggery regulates campaigns, ensuring exclusion of peaceloving people from important aspects of the political process.

At the critical juncture of dwindling resources, it is important the choices we make on Saturday reflect concerns for redeeming Nigeria from further decline.

Unfortunately, the quality of the campaigns has only been high in the media materials.

The ideas did not crystalise on issues, and concrete steps to address them.

It is important that voters freely give their mandates to leaders who would secure Nigerians beyond current concerns. The process cannot succeed without peace.

OPINION Nasarawa: A vote for equity and ability

By Collins Obibi

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HE governorship election in Nasarawa State on Saturday presents an interesting scenario. It perhaps will be one of the toughest in the country and may be shaped by the same factors easily accepted to have determined the outcome of the just concluded presidential elections.

As campaigns are being wound up, it has become clear that it is going to be a straight fight between the incumbent governor Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al Makura of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and two other candidates, former Information Minister, Labaran Maku flying the flag of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Alhaji Yusuf Agabi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Al Makura who is concluding his first term aspires to take a second shot, while Agabi believes the PDP must return to the Shendam Road Government House where the party had called the shots for twelve years before Al Makura its former member crossed over to another party to clinch the seat. Both candidates are from the South senatorial zone which like the West has produced governors of the state for two terms of eight years each in the 16 years period of the return of democracy in the country.

Maku, vociferous as ever, drums it to the ear of everyone who cares to listen that justice and equity demand that his zone Nasarawa North should produce the next governor. This he claims is the principal

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reason he quit the PDP after the party’s primaries, aside a deep seated conviction that he has the requisite credentials for the task and had worked sacrificially to maintain the party in the past four years. This position is justified in line with the just concluded elections that produced a president from the North in keeping with the rotational option which Nigerians accept to entrench equity and justice, the corollary of peace and even development.

Since the return of democratic rule in 1999, Nasarawa has had three governors namely Dr. Abdullahi Adamu (Sartin Yakin Keffi) from Nasarawa West (Kefi axis and surrounding local government areas) 1999 -2007 and from the Nasarawa South (Lafia and adjoining local government areas) Alhaji Aliu Akwe Doma (2007 – 2011) and Al Makura (2011 to date). Nasarawa North (Akwanga, Eggon and Wamba councils) is yet to occupy the post.

For Maku in particular and indeed all the other candidates, the postponement of the elections for six weeks has helped to bolster

Maku drums it to the ear of everyone who cares to listen that justice and equity demand that his zone produce the next governor

their campaigns. The few weeks period between the conclusion of the primaries and the election as previously scheduled proved insufficient to engage in meaningful campaigns, more so for Maku who left a party that was easily his trade name to another party relatively unfamiliar in the state.

Barely three months after, it is fascinating to see how APGA has become a household name in Nasarawa and is now among the top contending parties in the Saturday elections just because of the entrance of one man.

In the campaigns, besides zoning, three other issues are easily dominant namely security, infrastructural development and economic emancipation. It has been an interesting scenario watching each of the candidates show grasp of them.

Infrastructural and economic development is key in every election discourse and indeed governance in virtually all clime. Nasarawa no doubt is in a haste for development in all areas.

One of the newest states created in the country in 1996, the state has contended with poor revenue base amidst infrastructural, human capital and social needs. Internally generated revenue has been a source of concern and its share of the statutory allocation barely scratches the challenges. The first civilian administration laid a solid foundation which yearns to be built upon as seen in education, health, rural roads construction, housing and other areas.

Anyone who aspires to lead the state must

have an articulated programme on how to harness the revenue potential of the state and administer it in the areas that will impact most in the development of the state.

Maku by experience and character appear most suited for this onerous task. His manifesto is the best.

On security Nasarawa is a special case rivaled by a very few states in the country.

In the past four years there have been serious security breaches that have tremendously threatened the good neighbourliness of the diverse groups in the state. So many lives have been lost including security men and properties destroyed. Some of the displaced persons are yet to return to their homes for fear of more attacks.

The other candidates believe that Al Makura has not done enough to check mate these skirmishes. In fact, that he has even fuelled them through his government’s programmes and activities. The state often witness communal clashes and conflagrations which pose serious challenges to governments at all levels. This has been the pattern since the creation of the state.

When the candidates met last weekend at the Mada Day celebrations, expectedly the issue of security was brought to the fore particularly as it affects this weekend’s elections. They embraced one another and spoke on the need to call their supporters to order to respect the will of the people at the polls. Indeed like Maku said at the cultural event, the political ambition of the candidates is not worth the blood of any person. Words on the marble. *Mr. Obibi, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9 9,, 2015— 19

Oba Akiolu’s expensive gaffe W

HEN, at first, I heard that the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, had threatened to drown any Igbo person who does not vote for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, I did not believe it. It was simply inconceivable for the occupant of what is seen as the paramount royal stool of Lagos, the nation’s former political capital which is now its economic capital and melting pot, to say such an unfortunate thing. The Lagos traditional stool is certainly one of the most prestigious cultural institutions, not only in Nigeria but West Africa. And as the economy grows and Lagos becomes one of the largest cities in the world, the prestige can only grow.

But as things turned out, it became evident that the Oba did make the gaffe, even though a palace statement tried to blunt its effect by wrapping the words with the mystery of traditional garb. If you want to know the potential danger such a reckless statement can spark in our soci-

ety which is demon-crazed by ethnic and religious sentiments, just go online and see for yourself!

This outburst is totally antithetical to the current mood of the nation defined by President Goodluck Jonathan’s sportsmanly concession of defeat to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, after the presidential election.

Jonathan’s noble gesture killed the explosive tension that enveloped the country and saved the lives of thousands of possible post-electoral violence victims across the land. This is a great example in Waziri Ibrahim’s “politics without bitterness”.

Oba Akiolu’s dangerous sabrerattling and barefaced attempt to intimidate millions of Igbos in Lagos fell far short of expectations of a king who should be a father to all who reside in Lagos.

Where will we all be if other equally entitled royal fathers in the state, such as the Menu Toyi of Badagry, Olu of Ikeja, Ayangburen of Ikorodu and others join in unbridled, confrontational partisan politics that

pits people of different ethnic groups in their domains against one another? Who can possibly benefit from such?

Let me remind the respected royal father that many Igbos share his so-called love for Ambode and prefer the continuation of the Ahmed Bola Tinubu political legacies in Lagos. But there are others who, just like other Lagos residents, prefer change, and therefore would rather want Mr Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to climb into the coveted seat of Governor of Lagos. It is their constitutionally guaranteed right to choose whom they will elect come Saturday, April 11, 2015.

They will do so, irrespective of effete intimidation and harassment from any quarters.

When this election is lost and won, nothing will happen to anybody. Why should it? Choice is not crime. But should anything happen to anybody due to their constitutionally guaranteed democratic choice, the law

The Igbos and other groups who are in Lagos have contributed in large measure in making the city-state what it is; they are stakeholders in Lagos

Life after the big storm Even more important than winning the election is governing the nation.

That is the test of a political party; the acid final test.

When the tumult and the shouting die; When the bands are gone and the lights are dimmed; There is the stark reality of responsibility. —Adlai Stevenson (1900-1965)

E

VIDENTLY, we have just gone through the most keenly contested presidential election in the troubled history of this nation. At no time has the ruling class been so desperate to carve up the citizenry along the primordial lines of ethnicity and religion.

This was the first time that a viable opposition party slugged it out with the ruling party.

Hitherto, it was a behemoth ruling party riding roughshod over minor, often regional, parties too infinitesimal to make any impact.

This election also witnessed the greatest pursuit of peace. We saw the signing of one accord after the other. Yet, the level of mud raked up by the electioneering campaigns was unprecedented. The reputation of the two leading candidates took so much bashing that in the foreseeable future, both men will struggle really hard at damage control measures to repair the dents on their names.

This was the first time that an incumbent government in Nigeria was beaten at an election; it conceded defeat; and is willing to relinquish power. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s earlier reference to “Jonathan wants to Gbagbo us” was an ugly reminder of former President Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast who kept postponing the election till such a time when he felt he would win. When he still went in for the election, he was defeated but he refused to leave office. This had the character of Nigerian craftsmanship but President Goodluck Jonathan has finally proved bookmakers wrong.

Hitherto, defeated presidential candidates C M Y K

proceeded to the tribunals posthaste. But in the case of the 2015 contest, the prospects of the losing parties approaching the tribunals are very slim.

Nigeria has now joined the league of African countries where lame ducks are willing to concede defeat and relinquish power. In April 1991, President Matthew Kereku of the Republic of Benin was defeated by Nicephore Soglo. Also in 1991, President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia lost to Frederick Chiluba.

Last September, Michael Suta of Zambia defeated Rupia Banda who had spent 20 years in office. Africa is on the move, slowly but steadily.

There is a negative trend developing in Nigeria. The Presidential Debates are still so poorly organised that some candidates shun them, thus creating the wrong impression of an inverse relationship between the willingness to debate and the eventual outcome of the elections – those willing to debate don’t win the elections. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari who shunned the debates won the elections; while Chief Olu Falae and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who, out of enthusiasm for the debates, fell slightly short of going to drag their opponents into the debate grounds lost at the polls. There is something fundamentally wrong with those debates!

Now that the storm is over, let all hands be on deck!

One thing is clear: service delivery, not sloganeering, is the antidote for true success

knows where to start.

Both Agbaje and Ambode are Lagos indigenes. The Oba has a duty to “bless” both of them and encourage them to play according to civilised rules of the game, even though, as a free citizen, he will have his own preferred candidate. I don’t care whether Ambode or Agbaje wins. Both are good materials to run the state. And I am pretty sure that if it turns out that Agbaje wins the election, Oba Akiolu will be one of the first to go and pledge his loyalty.

The election of Saturday April 11, 2015 is not about the “will” of any Oba. The Oba himself has only vote he can be sure where it will go. Nobody has any right to impose his will on others in a democracy, and nobody is bound to honour such imposition.

Democracy is about persuasion, not intimidation. The truth is that if there is any major breakdown of law and order in a city like Lagos, no one, not even the Oba, will be safe. Then, the law enforcement agencies will intervene. Those who think they can cow other ethnic groups through threats of violence will discover that their efforts were in vain.

The truth is that Lagos is home to all Nigerians and even foreigners alike. There is absolutely nothing anyone can do about it. Whether you are an indigene or settler, we are all bound by the same constitutional rights which are inalienable. That Igbos and other groups are asserting their democratic rights and clout in Lagos is nothing new. That has been the character of Lagos politics even before Nigeria was amal-

gamated.

We are all in Lagos because it was once our Federal Capital and our commonwealth. If Calabar had been retained as the capital of Nigeria, we would probably be there instead of Lagos. Are we not all in Abuja today? These are cities built up with the wealth of the nation, especially the oil wealth of the former Eastern Region (now South East and South-South).

The Igbos and other groups who are in Lagos have contributed in large measure in making the city-state what it is. They are stakeholders in Lagos, even though some mischievously interpret this to mean they are trying to “claim” Lagos, whatever that means.

Even if some Igbos have now been elected to represent parts of Lagos in the National Assembly, there is nothing new or strange in that. Democracy is a game of numbers, and Igbos regularly won election in Lagos even before the civil war. There is nothing bad about a Nigerian winning election in the part of the country where he resides. It is a sign of development.

We keep reminding Nigerians that before the war, non-Igbos regularly won elections in Igboland. The first Lord Mayor of Enugu, Alhaji Umaru Altine (who hailed from Sokoto) was elected in 1952 and served meritoriously for seven years. The late Sir Udo Udoma, an Ibibio and Chief Margaret Ekpo, an Efik, were strong in Aba politics in their prime.

Nigerians should release the tightly sprung ethnic stress in their bodies and give themselves the opportunity to live longer.

In the more advanced democracies, the Presidential Debates are so well organised that candidates earnestly look forward to them. In those climes, elections are won and lost at the debates. They are that important.

Ordinarily, romance is improved after a big fight. Again, anything is fair in war, love and politics. This means that after the bitter exchanges during the campaigns, people must be prepared to forge new frontiers and move ahead. When the sore is healed, the pain is forgotten. Undeniably, what the election has given us is the President of the nation, not of a political party.

One is therefore disturbed to hear some Nigerians threatening to proceed on self-exile just because their party lost at the election. Chief Bode George falls into this category. Hear him: “I‘ll surely go on exile. At 70, what will I be doing here?”

Going by the lessons of history, Senator Uche Chukwumeji is today a living legend.

He was one of the outstanding spokesmen on the Biafran side during the civil war. As soon as the war was over, he and many other people of goodwill on that side banished all feelings of chagrin and disappointment and quickly reintegrated into the normal Nigerian life.

In essence, a recuperating Nigeria can easily sharpen the fighting spirit of eminent citizens like Bode George and direct them to most constructive ends. Except those intent on continuing to throw stones, no one should “check out of Nigeria” because of a temporary setback.

One good example

In his burning desire to contribute his quota in the emerging order, General Charles Airhiavbere has just switched from the PDP to the APC. This is how to remain solid rather than chicken out. Only the guilty run when no one pursues. Yes, winners must jubilate. We have, however, maintained that they must exercise some restraint. After all, no amount of jubilation can develop Nigeria. The task of developing Nigeria requires earnest, patriotic and ceaseless work from all Nigerians irrespective of party affiliation or religious and ethnic differences.

Together, we must face our common enemies – unemployment, bad roads, extreme poverty in the midst of plenty, insecurity, health and educational institutions that are virtually comatose, infrastructural deficiencies and the rest.

If Nigeria is not going to continue in the spirit of that man who wanted to go into the snail-rearing business but all he had was a snail without the shell, every institution must live up to expectation. For instance, a police force that exists for the sole purpose of obeying the master’s voice without regard to the constitutionally-assigned responsibility of protecting the lives and property of the citizenry is not worth the salt. And a judiciary that thrives on the aphorism of “why pay a lawyer when you can buy a judge?” has strayed away from the path of development.

Now that the storm is over, let all hands be on deck! One thing is clear: service delivery, not sloganeering, is the antidote for true success.

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

We lack investment promotional materials —Ambassador

From left: Toyin Sanni, Group Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Plc; Phillips Oduoza, Group Managing Director, United Bank for Nigeria (UBA), and Bola Onadele Koko, MD/CEO, FMDQ OTC Plc, during the FMDQ bond listing ceremony for the N30.5 billion UBA bond listed on FMDQ platform in LaPHOTO: gos.

AKEEM SALAU

By Franklin Alli

N

IGERIA’S Ambassador to Senegal and Mauritania, Mrs. Katyen Jackden, has said the Embassy in Dakar lacks materials for use in promoting the country’s investment and tourism potential.

She disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists on challenges of marketing Nigeria’s investments potential.

“Let me say that my work can be made easier if I am assisted to make Nigeria much visible in Senegal.

Before, we used to have publications to share with people who come here to make enquiry about this and that in Nigeria.

This day, we don’t have publications to share. We do write to the Ministry of Tourism and Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NEPC, but we don’t get feedback. There is limit to what you can do once you are outside the country.

“Again, if our own media is too critical of our country, and we forget that these things are actually read outside the country. If we paint ourselves as good people, people will see us as good people; if we paint ourselves bad, people will see us as bad people,” said the Ambassador.

On trade volume between Nigeria and Senegal, she stated “Although, we are not able to quantify the trade figure, I would say it is in favour of Senegal because Nigerians come here to buy Senegalese products, especially textile and fashion products.

“A lot of Nigerians come here every week to buy items and take them home and apart from that, the main thing that we sell to Senegal is oil but now that Senegal has discovered its own oil, I wondered what is going to happen next.

“Therefore, I can say that trade is mostly at informal level. We are trying to see how the business community can come together and form NigeriaSenegal Chambers of Commerce to further improve trade ties.”

Regarding the number of Nigerians living in the 14 million population and the attitudes of Senegalese toward Nigerians, the Ambassador said: “We are a little bit more than ten thousand Nigerians but we have only five thousand registered in the Embassy.

The Senegalese are very hospitable to foreigners.

“You know in every community, there are bad eggs, but generally, I would say the Senegalese are very hospitable toward Nigerians. There are mixed marriages between Nigerians and Senegalese. So it thinks the relationship is good.”

C M Y K

— 21

Shell challenges Exxon dominance with $70bn bid for BG Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to buy smaller rival BG Group for 47 billion pounds, $70.2 billion in the first major energy industry merger in more than a decade, closing the gap on market leader U.S. ExxonMobil after a plunge in prices.

Anglo-Dutch Shell will pay a mix of cash and shares that values each BG share at around 1,350 pence, the companies said. This is a hefty premium of around 52 percent to the 90-day trading average for BG, setting the bar high for any potential counterbid by a company like Exxon, which has said it would also use the oil markets downturn to expand.

The third-biggest oil and gas deal ever by enterprise value will bring Shell assets in Brazil, East Africa, Australia, Kazakhstan and Egypt, including some of the world’s most ambitious liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects. Shell is already the world’s leading LNG company and it would get BG’s capacity in LNG logistics — complex infrastructure that includes terminals, pipelines, specialized tankers, rigs, super coolers, regasification facilities and storage points.

“We are seeing a gasification of energy demand. Shell clearly recognize this,” said Richard Gorry, director at JBC Energy Asia. “That said, Shell is still taking a big gamble because if the price of oil and gas doesn’t go back up in the next 24 months, I would imagine this might put them in a difficult position in terms of cash flow.”

Shell said yesterday the deal would boost its proven oil and gas reserves by 25 percent.

Stitched together by Shell CEO Ben van Beurden and BG Chairman

Andrew Gould, the tie-up comes after oil prices halved since last June, putting a premium on access to proven assets rather than costly exploration.

Record low interest rates have made it easy to raise cheap funding for big corporate deals.

“We have been scanning quite a few opportunities, with BG always being at the top of the list of the prospects to combine with,” Shell’s Van Beurden told a conference call. “We have two very strong portfolios combining globally in deep water and integrated gas”.

With BG, Shell would be the leading foreign oil company in Brazil. Analysts

at investment bank Jefferies said they now expected Shell to surpass Exxon as the world’s largest publicly traded oil and gas producer by 2018, with output of 4.2 million barrels of oil equivalent per day. Global LNG production last year came to 246 million tones per annum. The new Shell-BG group would have 18 percent of global LNG production.

Van Beurden said the presence of two large players in Australia, Brazil and China and the European Union might require a detailed conversation with anti-trust authorities, but was unlikely to lead to forced asset sales.

$139.35

-2.60

$2,824.00

Shell is already the world’s leading LNG company and it would get BG’s capacity in LNG logistics — complex infrastructure that includes terminals, pipelines, specialized tankers, rigs, super coolers, regasification facilities and storage points

13.02

39.00

-0.25

$58.33 -0.77 $52.80 -1.18

B & E DATA CENTRAL NOT FOUND 196 196.5 197

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

291.8048 292.5492 212.66 213.2025 203.6364 204.1558 1.6309 1.635 0.3069 0.3169 272.3859 273.0807 31.6299 31.711 52.2472 52.3804 28.4578 28.5304 271.558 272.2508

CBN Exchange Rate as at 8/4/15

293.2936 213.745 204.6753 1.6392 0.3269 273.7756 31.7921 52.5137 28.603 272.9435

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

Spending wildly is one very fast way to put the operation in a rough spot before it's even had a chance to succeed

,

,

Avoiding pitfalls of rookie entrepreneurs

M

ORE than half of half f f i r s t - t i m e entrepreneurs see their initial business attempts fail.

Sometimes that ends up being unpreventable no matter how many smart moves a business owner makes. But there are certainly steps that rookie entrepreneurs can take to give themselves a better shot at being part of the half that succeeds.

Know your strengths and weaknesses It’s one thing to have an innovative idea and be the person who implements the first steps towards making that vision into a reality. But once your company is an established o

You can't go wrong with paying outside experts to do things that you can't do yourself business, the founder needs to remain intimately involved as the top manager. In doing so, the entrepreneur must be selfaware enough to recognize his or her greatest skills and weaknesses. For example, someone with big-picture vision may not have the desire to handle the day to day of an entire staff. If you know that you won’t have the time or ability to be involved in those routines, you should consider bringing in a co-founder or hire a second in command who will focus on nothing but those things. It’s tempting to want to do everything - after all, it is your business - but if you’re honest with yourself, and what you’re best able to handle, you’ll be much better off in the long run.

Pay attention to your cash Start-up funding tends to come in large doses, often in numbers big enough to make it seem like the cash will never run out. It’s tempting to spend money and assume that your great idea will be so wildly successful that you will recoup investor money as quickly as you received it.

That’s usually not the case. Until the business becomes profitable, every day of the operation is costing money. Be diligent about where your money goes.

Examine each part of the

business and determine what is non-essential at this time.

Spending wildly is one very fast way to put the operation in a rough spot before it’s even had a chance to succeed.

Outsource what you can’t do While it’s important to be responsible in how you allocate your funding, you can’t go wrong with paying outside experts to do things that you can’t do yourself. This is especially true when it comes to attorneys and developers.

Paying a lawyer to renegotiate a bad deal or review contracts after the fact will end up being much more costly in both fees and lost profits than just hiring someone in the beginning to write up proper contracts. The same goes for tech developers - hiring the best people to build an app or platform the right way is better than having to bring someone in to clean up a mess made by a less-expensive person.

Choose your team wisely Maybe your buddy from business school is an incredible marketer. If he is, great. But if there’s someone out there who might be a better fit for what you’re trying to build, your loyalty should be to the company, not your friendship.

As Bill Aulet, managing director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship told Entrepreneur, “Choosing who to hire and work with in a startup is like playing basketball in the schoolyard; you can pick your friends and play for them, but if you want to be good and continue to be on the court, you have to carefully pick your team.”

Time your launch Picking the best time to launch your company is incredibly tricky. Many people will delay their company launch until they feel like everything is perfectly in place - the product, the staff, the marketing, the market fit - as they cost themselves money due to a fear of taking that final big risk. That said, lots of “lean startups’” opt to launch their company armed only with an idea and a prototype. That’s also not a wise move, as there’s no point in being a fully launched business if you don’t have an actual product customers are willing to pay for.

You’ll want to find that sweet spot for a launch. Be ready and polished, but don’t waste time.

BUSINESS NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES (08/04/15) Currency DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

Buying(N)

Central(N)

Selling(N)

196

196.5

197

293.1376 212.8952 203.9118 1.6362 0.3049 270.8628 31.5967 52.2499 28.4896 271.8324

293.8854 213.4383 204.432 1.6404 0.3149 271.5538 31.6778 52.3832 28.5623 272.5259

294.6332 213.9814 204.9521 1.6445 0.3249 272.2448 31.7588 52.5165 28.635 273.2193

Commod Light Crud

Natural G Sugar Coffee Cocoa

Smartphone: Young Nigerian targets Africa dominance A

30 year-old Nigerian, Michael Akindele, is a director and co-founder of SOLO Mobile, an experiencedriven digital content and smartphone company focused on delivering the best content and services on the mobile platform to African consumers at affordable prices.

SOLO Mobile, which was established in Nigeria in 2012, manufactures smartphones priced at $150, bundled with free music of up to 20 million songs licensed from Sony, Universal and Warner. It also recently launched a VideoOn-Demand App available to all Android devices in Nigeria which offers the latest Nollywood and Hollywood movies from global movie studios. Akindele recounted his entrepreneurial journey and explained why he feels SOLO phones will give other smartphones a run for their money.

Background: Born August 29, 1984 in Washington D.C. to Nigerian parents, Akindele at the age of 2 years old moved to Nigeria with his family and spent the next 10 years in Ibadan. At the age of 12, the family returned to the US where he continued his education in Alexandria, Virginia.

After graduating from T.C. Williams High School, he attended George Mason University in Fairfax, VA where he received a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree from the Volgneau School of Engineering with a focus on Computer Science and Information Technology. He also received a minor in Business Administration from George Mason’s School of Management. He started his career as a Technology

Michael Akindele, Co-founder, SOLO Mobile Consultant with Accenture. “I returned to Nigeria January 2007 and was part of a team that developed, produced and distributed the African edition of an 18 week reality show titled The Apprentice Africa that had a strong following in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.”

How it all started In 2010, Akindele started a company called Fusion Mobile, which was short lived. “We were unable to close funding needed to start a company singularly focused on driving Africa’s first mobile device manufacturing and content distribution company.” However, in June 2013, he was approached by Adlevo Capital to partner with a group of experienced mobile telecommunications professional led by Tayo Ogundipe to start a company called SOLO. Ogundipe is an experienced finance executive with extensive

background in the technology and telecommunications sectors working for companies like Ubiquitel, Sony Ericson and HTC. Thus the dream of SOLO was born. “November 22, 2013, we successfully launched a mobile device company that provides experience-driven, end-to-end digital content and services to young adults and adults who are young at heart requiring a mobile device that provides convenient, affordable gateway to the widest range of digital content that is delivered on the go, every at blazing speed to the African consumer.”

Unique features Companies simply compete today in the Smartphone market on hardware specifications.

Prior to 2005, no one saw Apple coming.

Today, Apple consumes over 90 percent of the profit in the Smartphone market. However, to the average emerging market and African consumer an Apple device is out of reach due to its high cost.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 — 23

,

& YOU

dity de

Gas

Change ($) -2.50

% Change -4.63

2.62

-0.06

-2.09

13.05

+0.28

+2.19

135.80

-6.15

-4.33

2,800.00

+15.00

+0.54

The emergence of an open OS driven by Google had brought commoditization to the mobile hardware market. SOLO is an emerging markets play. SOLO is an experience driven device manufacturer with a vision to provide the best content and services to the African and emerging markets consumer at an affordable price that not only delivers tremendous value for money but also enriches their lives.

The foundation of SOLO is built on delivering key value added services in critical enterprise verticals such as education, healthcare and commerce, to mention a few.

Today, SOLO offers affordable smartphones bundled with free music up to 20 million songs licensed from Sony, Universal and Warner.

This innovation was possible because of partners that believe in the SOLO vision. We also recently launched a Video-OnDemand App available to all Android devices in Nigeria offering the latest Nollywood and Hollywood movies from global movie studios such as Disney, Universal Studios and Sony Pictures.

Our go to market strategy was to offer download powered by SOLO HotSpots.

This innovation offers consumers to download movies in 3 – 5 minutes. This by far is the best offering in today ’s market populated by streaming services where data costs are still extremely high. SOLO

SOLO offers affordable smartphones bundled with free music up to 20 million songs licensed from Sony, Universal and Warner

,

How much does your organization value initiatives?

COMMODITIES (08/04/15) Last 51.48

One of the key functions of leaders is to motivate their people to always wear their initiative hats to work

innovates by putting the consumer first and that is the premise SOLO was founded on.

Expansion plans The vision for SOLO is an emerging markets play. Our goal is to expand beyond Nigeria and establish SOLO as an Africa-wide brand offering consumers access to the best content and services on the mobile platform. Furthermore, we will expand to other emerging markets that compliment the SOLO vision.

Manufacturing base The economics for manufacturing our devices today in Africa isn’t possible yet. Today we produce our devices in Asia. In the mid-tolong term we will explore the possibilities of manufacturing our devices locally in Africa.

Biggest challenge The opportunities we’ve created have far outweighs the challenges. We’ve successfully secured some key assets that provide SOLO key value differentiation in today ’s market. However, we face the same challenges all companies face such as the increase in Dollar to Naira exchange and strikes at the port.

Next step We recently launched a cobranded affordable Smartphone with Airtel in Nigeria bundled with our music and movies offering. We will continue to deepen our relationship with Operator partners building on the premise of delivering the best content and services to consumers in emerging markets. The future of delivering these value added services is tremendous in a market where low income earning consumers can benefit on the access to these affordable solutions that enriches their lives. That is the future of SOLO. *Culled from Forbes.com

By ‘Uju Onwuzulike “I have been impressed with the urgency of doing.

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do” Leonardo Da Vinci

M

OST times, the ideas that drive the organizations to greatness may not necessarily come from the top management. As a matter of fact, the power can reside on any one in the organization regardless of his or her title or position.

The problem has been that some organizations have not done so much to encourage their employees in one key area that will actually drive the growth and bring about the anticipated results they yearn for.

That key area is initiative.

The truth of the matter is that any one in an organization that makes use of his or her initiatives can actually turn the organization around for good.

Initiative has been made to be a dormant skill in organizations and yet it has the power to stir growth in organizations even in times of uncertainties. Like Victor Hugo said, initiative is doing the right thing without being told.

Burning desire That means taking actions for the good of your organization without being told is something that has to be made dominant and not dormant. It comes with a high level of commitment and also having a burning desire to do more for your organization.

It is also very important for us to know that initiative is a pivotal element in any kind of growth or teamwork, because when people use their initiatives they bring about a chain reaction in others that leads to true synergy and better results.

Having worked in organizations before becoming a consultant and trainer, I have seen situations where organizations have lost business opportunities or contracts, missed deadlines,

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

Initiative is doing the right thing without being told

finding the root causes. In finding the root causes, we need to ask ourselves the following questions: As a boss or manager, do I feel comfortable when my direct report takes actions or decisions in my absence whether good or bad? Do I reprimand my direct report for mistakes associated with actions taken? Do I view their personal actions or decisions as being inferior or without substance? Do I sometimes or always take my views to be the ultimate? Do I feel that nothing good can come from my subordinates?

Let us assume that a manager out there answered yes to all these questions. The truth is that there is no way someone working under that kind of a manager will ever use his or her initiatives no matter how he or she tries. A lot has to done by leaders and managers to ensure that they encourage their people to always be eager to use their initiatives and creative mind at work.

Creative mind at work

encountered service failures all because someone out there did not use his or her initiative without delay. I have also seen a situation whereby in the absence of the head of a department (who probably was sick) and on the spot decisions that were supposed to be made – that could have prevented the organization from a lawsuit was not made.

That organization has to pay heavily for it. All the events mentioned above arose because people or employees are not being encouraged to use their initiatives or they lack initiatives.

One of the key functions of leaders is to motivate their people to always wear their initiative hats to work. Making an organization to be an initiative driven organization cannot work unless the leaders begin to communicate it and also encourage everyone to live by it.

You might ask, how about those that lack initiatives? The real solution should come from

One of the ways organizations can do this is to begin to recognize and celebrate employees who have used their initiatives at work.

This will send a message to employees that their organizations value and recognize their creative spirits.

Final note: Having employees who can stand on their feet and think for themselves is highly needed in running a high performing organization. This means that making organizations to be an initiative driven organization should be the watch word of leaders and managers.

They have to by all means motivate and encourage everyone in their organizations to have initiatives. When they do that, new ideas and new ways of doing things will emerge and your organization will be better for it.

Call or email us for your views or perspectives.

Email: uju@hainescentre.com Mobile: 09091142093

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 — 25

Cross section of secondary school students in Kaduna inducted as water ambassadors in Nigerian Bottling Company on a tour of the company's waste water treatment plant.

Education: Our expectations from Buhari's govt --- STAKEHOLDERS

By Dayo Adesulu

E

XPECTATIONS are high from stakeholders in the education sector following General Mohammadu Buhari's victory in the March 28, 2015 presidential election by INEC. The President elect, had, during his campaign, promised to restore the past glory of education in Nigeria and instill discipline in all schools.

He said: “The first step to arrest this situation is re-orientation or rebranding. Students should study hard to get their high grades and not through bribery vis-à-vis sorting, or other kinds of examination malpractice

SSANIP blames nonimplementation of CONTISS 15 agreement on strike

and corruption.”

Buhari who promised to establish a functional education system, also vowed to evolve creative solutions to address some of the challenges in the sector.

During his campaign in Abuja, he listed the challenges facing the sector as underfunding, indiscipline, shortage of qualified teachers, corruption and lack of trained teachers.

He lamented that: “Schools can no longer set targets for admission to conform to their facilities due to corrupt practices. The government has the responsibility of safeguarding the rights of its children to sound education and should be vigilant over the ability of the teachers and the standard of teaching.”

He also promised that if elected, free education, free meals in schools, decent accommodation and involvement of teachers in school-related decisions, will be implemented.

Buhari also promised to provide

Pg. 28

Where the Education Minister comes from is immaterial as long as the person possesses what is needed to achieve results in the sector

No hike in LASU fees, Ambode pledges

By Dayo Adesulu

Pg. 26

My govt'll focus more on basic education — Jimi Agbaje

allowances to discharged but unemployed Youth Corps members for 12 months while in the skills and entrepreneurial development programmes.

If the aforementioned promises are to be implemented by the President-Elect, the quality of the would be education minister as suggested by stakeholders

must be holistic to be able to drive the sector.

Speaking on the need to get a round peg in a round hole, Professor Oyesoji Aremu, Department of Guidance & Counselling, University of Ibadan, said: “Like any venture, the philosophy behind governance is for the people to feel the impact. The incoming administration of Gen. Buhari has a lot of expectations the people need to met, within and outside the country.

The Deputy Director Academics (Distance Learning Centre) U.I also pointed out that one big area of expectation from Buhari's administration in education sector. He said: ‘’As the slogan of the party that is bringing him to power depicts, people expect a significant change in education at all levels adding, to drive the change, the General turned Democrat needs to look for the right personality to handle the industry.’’

To this end, he counselled that the Office of the Federal Ministry of Education should be manned by a personality who is seasoned in education, understands the theories of education, and who can drive the theories to achieve results in the industry. Aremu who disclosed that the Continues on page 26

T

HE gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressive Congress APC, in Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has stated that if voted in this Saturday, he will not increase the school fees of Lagos State University LASU. LASU school fees had been reduced by governor Babatunde Fashola administration from N198,750 to N25,000. Ambode who disclosed this during a radio programme at UNILAG on Sunday said: “‘I want to assure all the students of LASU, we would not increase school fees.”

Asked his plan for higher education in Lagos State, the accountant and alumnus of UNILAG who lamented the

deplorable state of higher education in Nigeria noted that it is not in a state which all of us are proud of.

He said what is worrisome now is the quality of graduates Nigerian institutions of higher learning are churning out. According to him, the kind of attention government has been giving to higher education necessitates the low quality of graduates churned out every year. ‘’I am happy we have taken over the centre now, he added.

Speaking in a radio programme anchored by the Chairman, Executive Trainers Limited, Dr Ayodele Ogunsan, Ambode said: ‘’We have a major programme Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

SSANIP on strike over nonimplementation of CONTISS agreement

From left: Dr Ayodele Ogunsan, Chairman, Executive Trainers Limited and Akinwumi Ambode, governorship candidate of APC in Lagos State during his radio programme on higher education in Lagos anchord by Dr Ayodele Ogunsan, an expert in higher education held at UNILAG on Sunday.

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

M

Education: Our expectations from Buhari's govt --- STAKEHOLDERS Continues from page 25 would be minister should be proactive in the art and science of education, added that the personality could either be a politician or a professional as long the person possesses what is needed to achieve results in the industry,’’ he stated.

On his part, former ViceChancellor, University of Education, Ikere Ekiti, Professor Samuel Bandele opined that while chosen minister of education, the APC should look out for a professional educator with enviable track record.

His words: “ The in coming government should search for a professional educator for the post of Minister of Education, preferably a professor, who will be seen as very knowledgeable in the enterprise of education at all levels. It is good for the Nation to think of a person with enviable track record, whether a Politician or not.

"He should not be a controversial political figure that unions can easily place in perspectives and silence during union uprisings. He should possess impeccable leadership traits to coordinate the complex nature of Nigeria Higher Education policies and practices in a near flawless

manner. ‘’Nigeria yearns for a corrupt free society and hence, the prospective minister should be properly investigated to be a clean person in all its ramifications.”

Adding credence to the aforementioned, Anthony Kila, a professor of Strategy and Development averred that to achieve anything meaningful in education the new education minister and indeed the government as a whole, needs to consider education as a

Office of the Federal Ministry of Education should be manned by a personality who is seasoned in education, understands the theories of education, and who can drive the theories to achieve results in the industry

crucial sector in their strategic development plan for the nation.

Kila who is an international director of studies at ECAPS in Cambridge, the European Center of Advanced and Professional Studies said: ‘’The would be minister needs have the courage and vision to see education system in the country as being in a dire condition and in need of a state of emergency.’’

According to him, the minister can be from anywhere as long as he or she can show a clear understanding of the job at hand, he should be appointed.

He, however, warned that pegging the minister to come from a geopolitical zone will be dangerous as it will limit the possibility of getting the very best.

Education, like health, he noted, does not have any preferential geopolitical zone explaining that a sick Nigerian simply needs cure regardless from whom it comes. ‘’A Nigerian pupil simply needs good education from childhood to adulthood, who manages it does not matter, what matters is competence or incompetence." Kila said.

We'll not increase LASU school fees Continues from page 25 for higher education in our manifesto; we will pursue that together with the national government when we win the election on Saturday.

On LASU fees, he reiterated: ‘’If there is anything we must do, we would sit down together and see what can be done, and even review the fees they are paying now. I am a product of a lot of Ivy League schools, I have been to different schools, and I understand and know the kind of standard and quality of education I have been able to

benefit from those schools. ‘’If we say Lagos is a centre of excellence, we must then strive, deliberately, to ensure that whatever it is we are providing in terms of infrastructure, curriculum and content, the students actually benefit, because they are actually the future leaders of this country.

"The truth is that if we don’t start a succession plan from our higher institutions, then we are joking, because it is not about the people who are almost getting to 50 or 60 years and are going away. It is actually

about the younger one whose capacity we really need to start to build and then allow them to take over from us. ‘’I am going to take advantage of my social capital, being in the party as the centre, combined together to allow us use it for the improvement of higher education in Lagos state.’’ Amode said.

With the passion Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan has for higher education in Nigeria, over the years, he had trained vice chancellors, rectors, provosts and top government executives to be more proactive.

EMBERS of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnic, SSANIP, across the country have embarked on an indefinite strike pending the Federal Government honouring the agreement it entered with the union in 2009.

The union said it embarked on the strike following its rejection of the report of a technical committee set up by the Federal Government on the implementation of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Scale (CONTISS 15) which the union alleged was approved by the Federal Government and was being implemented in some institutions before it was stopped.

At a media briefing jointly addressed by Chairman, Yaba College of Technology (YCT) chapter of SSANIP, Comrade Olorunmbe Omopariola and the immediate past National President of the Union, Alhaji Ganiyu Akinleye, the Union said it was embarking on the industrial action it suspended after the Federal Government failed to keep its own side of the agreement they jointly signed in 2013.

Omopariola said the major issue of contention was the

implementation of the CONTISS 15, a policy that has to do with career movement of staff and payment of appropriated allowances which he claimed to be in effect in 2009 but the federal government has reneged since.

He alleged that shortly after the suspension of its industrial action in 2013, the government directed full implementation of the payment across cadres, as part of the terms agreed upon before the suspension of the strike.

He however, noted that shortly after the beginning of the implementation, a directive came to the Rectors of Federal Polytechnics for the suspension of the implementation of the payment, this he said was tested by the union forcing the Federal Government to later withdraw the directive and request for data on the workforce of each polytechnic to know how the implementation would be done.

In the process the Federal government, according to Omopariola, set up two committees, technical and verification committees.

The Verification committee was to verify the claims of each polytechnic.

USAID, Osun poly partner on agriculture

By Gbenga Olarinoye

T

HE United States Agency for International Development, USAID, and Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to commence training, teaching and research programmes in the state polytechnic with the establishment of Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering in the institution.

According to the Media Relations Officer of the Institution, Mr. Tope Abiola, all machineries have been put in place by the institution to commence full academic programmes in Agricultural Science and Engineering.

He said that USAID and Winrock International have expressed full interest to partner with the institution through its ‘Farmer to Farmer Project’, a global programme of the USAID through which agricultural education is given globally.

To this end, an American Professor of Agriculture, Soil and Botanical Science,

Professor William James Zimmerman, was on a visit to the institution to interact with management, the Iree community and Osun State government to ensure success of the programme.

According to Abiola, about 106 acres of land has been acquired by the Polytechnic for the take-off of the programme.

Expressing happiness over the partnership, the State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, promised to support the project with necessary wherewithal.

Aregbesola, who spoke through his Deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, assured the USAID officials that the state government would support the programme in all ways.

He also charged the management of the institution to provide all the necessary logistics that would facilitate the success of the programme, describing the efforts of the institution to partner with Winrock International and USAID as a sterling opportunity which would boost the credentials of the institution nationally and internationally.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 — 27

Expectations in the education sector under Buhari

By Amaka Abayomi

F

OLLOWING the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari at the March 28 polls, concerned educationists and stakeholders have called on the President-elect to make education top priority in his administration, saying no nation can progress without educating her people.

Nigeria’s education sector is currently battling with corruption, inadequate funding, low enrolment of students in basic education as Nigeria houses over 10 million out of school children, low quality of teachers at all levels of education, poor performance of students in public examinations, among others.

During his presidential campaign, Buhari promised that, if elected, his administration would provide free education, one free meal a day to students in primary and secondary schools, decent accommodation and involvement of teachers in schoolrelated decisions, and provision of allowance to discharged but unemployed Youth Corps members who are in the skills and entrepreneurial development programmes, among others.

Entrepreneurial development Also, while receiving a delegation from his home state on a congratulatory visit, the President-elect said, “If you give education to a man or woman, you have empowered them to be productive. There is no better way to empowerment.”

To this end, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) has called on the President-elect to make education his major focus.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria, the National Vice

President (West), Mr. Alfred Jimoh, said that having been a one-time president of the country, Buhari has a better understanding of the needs of the sector and its strategic place in national development.

According to Jimoh, “For a nation to attain its dreams of becoming a top economy as well as be respected among the comity of nations, it must have a sound education sector that will enhance human capital development.

“General Buhari seems to understand the system and that education, among other key sectors, is one of the areas he would strive to turn around, when he takes over the mantle of leadership as there are many challenges bedeviling the sector which needs urgent intervention.

“We actually want a situation where he would quickly convene a meeting of stakeholders in the sector, in order to table all burning issues and come out with lasting solutions. Such meeting will, in no small measure, bring about the desired change that has been long expected in the sector and therefore the long expected national transformation and development attained.”

Calling on the President-elect to address university education by looking into the process of recruiting Vice Chancellors and accreditation of varsity programmes, an Associate Professor of Mathematics, American University of Nigeria, Leonard Karshima Shilgba, said this would reduce instances whereby poor leadership of any enterprise would yield poor outcomes.

Speaking in a separate interview, Shilgba said “Vice Chancellors (university presidents) should be the real CEOs of their varsity in all practical ways, and search for

VCs of federal varsities should attain international prestige and outlook.

“Reputable international hiring agencies must be engaged to recruit VCs of repute, taking into consideration experience and influence in the corporate world, ability to attract funds, and ability to manage human resources.

Appointment of VCs must not be part of rewarding political associates. The status quo is corrupt, and must be stopped.”

For independent scholar and former Dean, Faculty of Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Ladipo Adamolekun, the education sector remains in crisis despite President Goodluck Jonathan's efforts at increasing access to education with the establishment of more varsities.

“What Gen. Buhari should concern himself with is the quality of these varsities and making sure that they are properly equipped and funded for them to perform optimally.

Also, the issue of varsity autonomy should be decided upon and the idea of picking anybody to be in varsities’ councils should discontinue.

“There is no need to establish more public varsities in another decade, rather, efforts should be concentrated on adequately funding and equipping the existing ones to function well.

Also, focus on primary and secondary education should be priority as Nigeria still has over 10 million out of school children, one of the highest in the world.”

Stressing that the reasonable funding available should be monitored for high impact, the President, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Mr. Chibuzor Asomugha, said this would ensure that public education is given its pride of place.

Students urged to look beyond certificates

By Dayo Adesulu

S

TUDENTS of tertiary institutions have been advised to look beyond their educational qualifications and economic situation to make themselves a contributory part of the society rather than being employees who will be at the mercy of entrepreneurs.

Peoshare Nigeria Ltd’s MD/CEO, Olufemi Awoyemi, made this assertion at the Workplace Readiness and Employability Seminar, organised by the University of Lagos Alumni Association, sponsored by Oldmutual Insurance Ltd at Unilag Multi-purpose Hall.

Awoyemi affirmed that a greater percent of Nigerian youths are unemployable because soft skills are lacking and the entrepreneurship drive is not in them.

Soft skill is a term often associated with a person’s Emotional Intelligence Quotient, which is the cluster of personality traits, communication, language, personal habits, friendliness, managing people and leadership that characterize relationships with other people.

According to him: “A greater percent of Nigerian youth are unemployable. In a competitive society like Nigeria, it is key for graduate today, to go beyond the physical profiling test, that is behavioural test. Soft skills are also needed and also the ability to create a value for yourself.

ICAN recounts achievements in 50 years •Examinations never compromised

By Providence Obuh

T

HE Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has recounted some of its achievements in 50 years especially its professional examinations, as it maps out activities to mark its anniversary in September this year.

Some of the contributions made to educational development in the country include: accreditation of 125 tertiary institutions to run full time accounting courses; launch of about N50 million tuition house support fund; doctorial student grant for accounting research foundation; resolve to build about 250 lecture theatres in leading universities in the country; student special project initiative to expand reach to northern states; among others.

Speaking at a press brief in Lagos, President, ICAN, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu, said that the institute has in the last 50 years made enormous contributions to the economic growth and development of the nation, adding that the institute with 250 members at inception in 1965, now boasts of over 39, 000 trained and certified chartered accountants who are engaged in creation of value in all sectors of the economy.

“Since the institute started its examinations in 1970, it is on record that the integrity of its processes has never been compromised, it has never leaked, the standard of its examinations are benchmarked on the international education standards set by the International Accounting Education Standard Board (IAESB)."

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

My govt'll focus more on basic education — Jimi Agbaje

By Esther Onyegbula

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial aspirant, Mr Jimi Agbaje, has assured Lagosians that if elected, his government will focus more on basic primary education.

He disclosed this at the Charloedony School family fun day celebration in Lagos.

He noted that: “In Lagos State more of our children are failing O’ levels, there are more students failing than those that are passing, for that reason government must accept responsibility that there is something wrong with our education. You also find out that government hasn’t paid enough emphasis on primary education, so our children don’t have good foundation so when they get up the ladder they cannot really cope with the world”. This is the reason why government must reemphasize primary education of our children, because that is the real foundation for any child.

“We will also open up technical and vocational education to empower our children with necessary vocational skills that make

•Jimi Agbaje them competitive. The whole new world has taken technical and vocational skills at different levels”.

According to Charloedony School Head, Mrs Gbemi Olowookere, the idea is to have one day every year where the whole family comes together and has fun. It is not just an event for children alone, it is for their parents, cousins, neighbours etc. Parents have the opportunity to network with other parents and exchange ideas.

We operate an open door policy where parents can talk to the teachers of their children

at any time so this enhances their relationship. The children are done with academic work and exams this like an encouragement for a successful session”.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of this parent’s committee, Enitan Jones said we believe that all work and no play makes jack a dull boy and we believe that the eevent helps in terms of social interaction because it is not limited to students alone. It is also a time to reunite with old students who have passed out and this helps to bond with the children. It is a day dedicated to celebrate our children, parents teachers and everyone around us. We make sure that everybody is comfortable, and they really enjoyed themselves.

This year the organisers introduced a mini trade fair. The highlight of the event was a raffle draw where the winner of the raffle draw gets a trip to Dubai. Other winners also received consolation prizes.

The events which was fun filled had various school games, fun, presentations, dancing competition, teachers talent hunt, grandparents dance, family show and tug of war and a raffle draw.

SURE-P: GIS targets 50,000 graduates

By Tare Youdeowei

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HE Graduate Internship Scheme has been designed and introduced as part of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Program (SURE-P) for graduates to be placed in interested and demonstrated viable firms/ organizations where they would be mentored and supported to develop or strengthen core skills with potential to enhance their employability, an officer of Federal Ministry of Finance Abubakar Sani Jega has said.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of a 3-days orientation training for interns and representative of Firms at Uyi Grand Hotel, Benin-city Edo State, Jega who was represented by the National Coordinator of Scheme, Mr Peter Papka, disclosed that the scheme is doggedly determined to achieve the target of enlisting 50, 000 graduates into the programme to improve their employability skills.

Other objectives of the scheme according to Jega include- to provide the interns C M Y K

From left: Okeleye Kehinde, Director of Studies, Molaks High School, Iju Ishaga; Elijah Olu Adewale, former Special Adviser on Education, Lagos State and Yellow House Patron; Mrs Okeleye Temitope, Proprietress, and Mr. Oloke Abidemi, Principal at the inter house sports competition of Molaks Schools, in Lagos. an opportunity to share experiences with other participants, including firm representatives on opportunities and challenges in the workplace as well as to expose interns to opportunities for life after internship.

In his address to the interns, a consultant with SIGADEP Consults, Innocent Moses commended the Federal Government for the initiative while applauding the rich

content of the training which cut across- on work etiquette, personal appreciation and development, improving employability skills and a dose on how to optimize the internship period.

He therefore challenged the Edo State graduates to optimize the opportunity to turn around their fortune.

The training which was executed by SIGADEP consults was concluded on Friday 20th March 2015 at Uyi Grand Hotel and Suite , GRA, Benin City.

Think before enrolling your child in a new university “Bringing Harvard to Nigeria”, Chief Chidolue, VANGUARD. THAT was the way the proprietor of Chelsea University, a private university which is scheduled to resume in 2016 described it. In addition to that wildly exaggerated claim, Chief Chidolue promised to engage the best professors in the world to teach at the new school. Chelsea serves as a metaphor for what we can expect from the proprietors of new universities in their bid to get our kids to enroll as pioneer students. It has always been a risky gamble, it remains so; and will for ever be a tough decision. But, more than ever, given what we now know about private universities in Nigeria, skepticism is the best response to the claims made by Chelsea’s owner – as well as others. Here is why.

Harvard University in the United States, unless the Chelsea boss is talking about another one, has an annual budget larger than those of our five richest states – Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa – put together. It also has an endowment fund larger than that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s External Reserves.

And just in case anybody thinks all these facts were Googled , I can state that I lived in the USA for ten years and spent six of those years in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Harvard is situated. It is stretching exaggeration to the point of falsehood for any individual in Nigeria today, Dangote included, to state that he would start a university that would compete with Harvard. Irrespective of how good Chelsea University, Abuja will be, it has several decades of great strides before it before it can even approach the standards Harvard has achieved today – if ever. I strongly believe that Chief Chidolue had weakened the case for his university with that statement and that is one good reason everyone should exercise caution before committing a kid’s future to it.

But, it is not just Chelsea, in front of which a sign should be It was revealed to placed saying PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS BEWARE. It is me that some virtually all the universities universities would opened in the last five years – borrow equipment but especially the recent ones.

The National University they lack from Commission, NUC, like all government institutions, is not complaisant beyond reproach in the conduct universities, just for of its oversight functions. In the visitors, which fact, it is mostly derelict in its would later be duties. Why? I visited one of the newly returned – leaving a approved universities (name huge deficit in withheld) last year, officially, and again this year, unofficially. teaching facilities The university claims to offer biological sciences as well as chemistry. But, the facilities for teaching science in this university are barely superior to those I saw at Igbobi College, Yaba – a missionary secondary school. Furthermore, having taken elective courses in Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Microbiology and Biochemistry, as an undergraduate in the US, I have some idea of what should be the minimum facilities in a university offering those courses. They don’t exist in the university.

Later, during discussions with a retired university professor, who had gone on those accreditation exercises, it was revealed to me that some universities would borrow equipment they lack from complaisant universities, just for the visitors, which would later be returned – leaving a huge deficit in teaching facilities. At the risk of sounding cynical, the fact remains that Nigerian proprietors of private universities possess two characteristics which make them suspect until proved worthy of trust. They are business people who have invested huge sums in the venture and they want returns on their investments by means fair or foul – usually both. Second, they are Nigerians; and as such, are susceptible to the Nigerian Factor – defined as cutting corners (including bribery) to achieve their objectives. Anyone, forgetting these two basic truths, acts at his own, or, his kid’s peril. Many have suffered the consequences of believing the promoters of the institutions. They have offered their kids as the Guinea Pigs, called Pioneer Students, only to discover that they have committed expensive blunders.

Several reasons account for the problems pioneer students encounter at the new universities. But, permit me to touch on only two.

One, irrespective of their experience, the authorities of the university, both academic and non-academic staff, constitutes a new team. Even if a few came from the same university, the fact remains that they are mostly strangers to each other, come from different cultures and are now charged with forging a new institutional culture.

That would not occur in one day; not even in several years.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 — 29

C M Y K

30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

SUCCESS RECIPE WITH UDEME ARCHIBONG successrecipe2009@gmail.com www.worldlightbearesint.com 08035095243

52 blind MTNF scholarship beneficiaries graduate

By Dayo Adesulu

O

VER 50 blind students who benefited from the MTN Foundation Scholarship for Blind Students have graduated from the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo State.

The graduands were awarded the scholarship after successfully undergoing the selection exercise conducted across the country. The scholarship covered tuition and book allowances for one year, and was renewable after maintaining a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.5.

The MTN Foundation Scholarship Scheme for Blind Students is aimed at providing academic scholarship annually to eligible blind students in accredited public tertiary institution across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

Currently in its fourth phase, MTNF has awarded scholarships to 451 new and returning awardees. Under the scheme, each beneficiary receives

scholarship worth N200, 000 annually.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, The Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, represented by Akinolu Oludiran, MTN’s Regional Trade Marketing Manager, South-West, commended the students for their resilience. He reserved special praise for beneficiaries who received the scholarship more than once. He charged the graduates to take advantage of the training they had received as they pursue other goals in life.

“We enhanced Phase Three of the scheme by including an employability training, which will prepare the beneficiaries for the labour market on graduation. The workshop content included, contemporary ICT skills, JAWS Software training, motivational talks and employment opportunities for blind students,” said Oludiran.

A beneficiary, Oluwatoyosi Lawal, thanked the Foundation

The key to change (2) for enabling him and his fellow awardees to complete his studies.

According to Lawal, the scholarship availed him the opportunity to compete favourably with his sighted mates.

Akinwale Goodluck, Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, commended the beneficiaries for the zeal they showed all through the programme. “Education is pivotal to the growth and development of any nation and everyone deserves equal access to it. The challenges against qualitative education in the country affect all categories of students,” said Goodluck, adding: “This is why the MTN Foundation expanded its scholarship scheme to accommodate one more category of students: the blind. With the inclusion of employability and digital training, we believe they have been empowered to contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of the country.”

NBC introduces Water Conservation Clubs in secondary schools

By Tare Youdeowei

T

HE Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), a member of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Group and bottler of Coca-Cola brands in Nigeria, is committed to setting up Water Conservation Clubs in select secondary schools across the country to further drive its water stewardship programme.

Mr. Uzo Odenigbo, Head, Public Affairs and Communications of NBC made this revelation in his message to participants at the company’s events in Owerri and Kaduna to mark the United Nation’s World Water Day. NBC organized an awareness programme for over 200 students from 10 select public secondary schools, in its production facilities in Owerri and Kaduna to commemorate the event under the theme, “Water for Sustainable Development”. In addition, the students embarked on a guided tour of the Company’s water treatment and Effluent Treatment Plants to understudy water conservation initiatives of NBC with a view to replicating same in their schools and communities.

According to Mr. Odenigbo, the annual World Water Day presents a platform for NBC to enlist water ambassadors in its communities who will partner with the Company in propagating the message of safe water practices. He said that NBC was fully committed to

Secondary school students in Owerri on a tour of a waste water treatment plant at Nigerian Bottling Company. sustainable partnerships and integrated approaches to solving water problems in its communities under its water stewardship programme, adding that the task of conserving finite natural resources such as water is everybody’s responsibility.

While acknowledging that water forms a significant part of NBC’s operations, the Head of Public Affairs and Communications enumerated the Company ’s water conservation initiatives to include: installation of Waste Water Treatment Plants in all its bottling plants across the country to ensure only water that can sustain aquatic and plant life is released back to the environment; increased focus on improving access to safe drinking water in over 20 communities through the provision of boreholes and water storage facilities, benefitting

about 300,000 persons across the country and reducing the company’s water use ratio from 5.15 in 2008 to 2.42 in 2014.

“This year, we have gone a step further to ensure the sustainability of our awareness campaign on safe water practices with the students, by encouraging and supporting them to start Water Conservation Clubs in their schools”, he added.

On a similar note, Mr. Ben Langat, Managing Director of NBC while speaking on the company’s activities to mark this year’s events, said: “The Water Conservation Clubs will further provide volunteering opportunities for our colleagues to donate their time and expertise to aid knowledge transfer on safe water practices among students in a sustainable way.”

Y

OU are who you are, what you are, where you are today because of the daily decisions you made in the past.

Moreover, the quality of your future hinges on the quality of your daily decisions you make in the present. But although we are bombarded with choices every moment of our lives, there still remains a few decisions of which we have no control.

We cannot choose our background or who our parents are, but we can choose what we become in our lives. We cannot choose our physical attributes, but we can choose and shape our personality. We cannot choose our nationality or race, but we can choose our sphere of influence. We have never been able to choose our temperament or our talents, but we can choose to develop them into a masterpiece. We cannot choose people’s opinion of us, but we can choose the opinion we have of ourselves. Neither can we choose people’s attitude toward us, but we can choose how we respond to them. We could not choose our upbringing, but we can certainly choose our upshot.

We cannot choose what the weather will be, but we can choose our feelings about the day. We may not be able to choose all our circumstances or conditions, but we can choose what we can do about them. We are able to choose our actions, but we are not free to choose the consequences of those actions. And all in all, our choices determine our chances in life.

Our life is a product of our choices. Our genetic composition or hereditary traits, our upbringing and childhood experiences, environmental influences, people and circumstances of life undoubtedly influence us; but these factors do not determine the outcome of our lives. We are not a product of our condition or conditioning, but rather we are a product of our choices.

Within you lies the power to change your life.

Many people have the notion that if only their spouse will

The first step to change is to choose to take absolute responsibility for your life change or their boss will change or the condition of their lives will change etc that their lives will change for the better.

However, the revealing truth is, when you change, everything around you changes. Until you improve yourself, your circumstances will not improve. Until you work on yourself nothing will work in your life.

The first step to change is to choose to take absolute responsibility for your life. When you play the blame game you lose control of your life and you become crippled of the ability to effect positive changes in your life. Acknowledge that your present state of life is a product of series of decisions you made in the past. Probably the need for survival, a sense of security, self-esteem, love, self-expression, intellectual fulfillment and spiritual fulfillment have influenced the choices that have made you what you are and have brought you to where you are presently. You need to take ownership of the present state of your life.

The second step toward positive change is to choose to live by a higher standard. You must decide on what you stand for.

Remember, when you do not stand for something you will fall for anything. Write down all the things you would no longer accept in your life, all the things you would no longer tolerate, and all the things that you aspire to becoming. It is very critical to decide on the kind of person you want to be in order to accomplish the results you are committed to. You must write down your values in their order of importance. And you must choose not to lower your standard or compromise those values.

Remember, your values govern your behavior and lead you to your ultimate destiny. And when you value correct, timeless and self-evident principles that govern success and imbibe those principles into your nature you become unstoppable on your success journey.

Another critical step towards change is to change your limiting beliefs about yourself, your capability and opportunity, life and your world. Remember, beliefs create reality irrespective of its validity or falsity. Your beliefs become self-fulfilling prophecy. Adopt beliefs that will propel you to soar to the peak of success. When you get out of the box and live on the edge, your impact will span through the ages.

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M

ajor General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) victory at the March 28 presidential poll has added a novel chapter to the study individual’s dogged determination an unyielding strength of character.

Like the American noble prize winner novelist Ernest Hemingway, wrote in his novel The old man and the sea A man may be down but not out, he may be defeated but not destroyed.

Indeed,Buhari has exhibited a rare spirit of perseverance and resilence typical of long distance political runners.Between 2003 when he forayed into partisan politics, Buhari had been down three times.On each occasion,he had risen with a stronger resolve and an abiding will power never to give up. He had lost three presidential contests consecutively in 2003-2011.

Repeated defeats Like former American president Abraham Lincoln and immediate past Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade. Buhari’s consistency despite repeated defeats has paid off. While Lincoln, a lawyer lost 5 nomination bids into the congress before he was later elected as American president in 1864,Wade, also a lawyer was white-washed four times in a roll before he was elected senegal president in 2000 at the age of 74.

Although not a lawyer, Buhari believes in the principle of the rule of law, rather than the unconventional approach, he had challenged the victory of his opponents to the supreme court and accepted the verdicts, in favour of former president Olusegun Obasanjo (2003), late President Umoru Musa Yar’Adua (2007) and president Good Luck Jonathan (2011).

In chronicling contemporary political history,Lincoln example is somewhat far removed,but Wade’s is more familiar as senegal is geographically situated within westAfrican sub-region as Nigeria.

In the build up to the March 28 presidential election, Buhari’s age was a major campaign issue especially in the camp of his opponent,People’s Democratic Party PDP. The arrow head of what observers regarded as hate campaign taken beyond

•Abraham Lincon

•Abdoulaye Wade

Buhari, like Abraham Lincoln, Abdoulaye Wade

By Dayo Benson acceptable limits was Ekiti state governor Ayo Fayose,who insisted that at 73 Buhari is too old to rule Nigeria. He even made some fatal predictions on the fate that may likely befall Buhari citing precedents of previous leaders from the same North-west zone.But the question is what as age got to do with it considering wade’s example.

Both african leaders share some things in common. The duo are six-footers with firm physique and they are of islamic faith. After four unsuccessful attempts, Abdoulaye Wade was first elected as president in 2000 - ushering in much-needed political change.

On his part,Buhari has clinched the Nigerian presidency at the fourth attempt 30 years after he was overthrown as a military head of state in a putsch. The president-elect has also come with a message of change especially at a time when the country is experiencing economic misfortune.

Apart of his legal profession Wade, who is also an economist, had been the main opposition leader for almost 30 years,

fighting against the one-party system in place since the country’s independence from France.

Senegal’s independence-era leader and poet Leopold Sedar Senghor nicknamed him “The Hare”, an animal known in traditional Senegalese folklore for its

cunning.

Buhari has also been an opposition figure since he had the first shot at the presidency 12 years ago.

According to official records, Wade was born in 1926 in Kebemer, about 150km (95 miles) north of the capital, Dakar. But some say his real birth date was several years earlier.

In the case of Buhari,Governor Fayose had insisted in the heat of his smear campaign that Buhari’s actual age is more than the official 73.Arrested and jailed several times.One of Wade’s campaign promises was a huge plan to develop Senegal.

After completing secondary school in Senegal, he was awarded a scholarship to study in France, where he met his wife.

After returning home, Wade created the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS).

After four unsuccessful attempts, Abdoulaye Coalition to challenge Wade was first elected as president The PDS joined forces with in 2000 - ushering in several other opposition parties to form a coalition to challenge much-needed the ruling Socialist Party political change (PS).Defending democracy and a

Lawyers are responsible for cases —Pg 35 delay in courts — Dabiri Presidential election: The —Pg 37 winners, the losers C M Y K

•Mohammadu Buhari

free-market economy, the coalition was named “Sopi”, a word meaning change in Wolof, the country’s most widely spoken l a n g u a g e .

Considered a shrewd politician and very good speaker.

In February 2000, the Sopi coalition finally prevailed.For the first time in Nigeria,it was the coalition of opposition political parties(ACN,CPC,ANPP and a

faction of APGA)that formed the All Progressive Congress APC which routed the ruling PDP with a marging of over 2.5million votes in the presidential poll.

Wade was elected president with about 60% of the votes and the crucial support of another opposition leader, Mustapha Niasse - who had come third in the election and was rewarded with the post of prime minister.The president affectionately known by his supporters as “Gorgui” or old man embarked on a wide ranging modernisation programme building schools, health facilities, improving access to drinking water and launching an ambitious agricultural programme.

He also diversified Senegal’s financial partners, moving away from a dependency on France and striking agreements with countries such as China and Dubai.But what Wade’s supporters praise as his vision and statesmanship, his critics see as a tendency towards megalomania or autocracy.

He was also one of the prime movers behind the New Economic Partnership for Africa (Nepad) - a vision of transforming Africa which resulted in endless speeches and meetings around the continent but little else.

Corruption and nepotism at the top are cited among the most serious problems in Senegal.

Popularly called Sei Baba (Hail Father )by his timid supporters across the country,a lot is expected from Buhari who has said he could not change the past but that he could change the future.

The greatest challenge he has to overcome as he assumes office on may 29 is insecurity.He has also promised to fight corruption and change the fortune of the country, which is currently at a low ebb.

36—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

Lawyers are responsible for cases delay in courts — Dabiri Chief Abiodun Dabiri was called to the Nigerian Bar over three decades ago. A former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos branch, he was also a member of the National Disciplinary Committee of NBA, in this interview, he spoke on expectations, from the in coming president, possible fresh constitution amendments, mode of appointing judges and other related issues Excerpts:

By Onozure Dania

W

HAT are your expectations from the President elect after he assumes office on May 29?

What I want is a peaceful atmosphere, we want food, we want security, youth unemployment issue must be tackled, we want light because no economy can grow without energy.

But these are very tall orders.

Nigeria has money; we don’t have business with poverty if our resources are well managed. Look at the issue of minimum wage, you pass a law to give N20,000 to workers as minimum wage, how do you expect an average worker to survive with that compare to the way the National Assembly members are earning making millions every month, you find out that there is a great disparity.

Do you think there are any reasons for PDP to go to the Election Tribunal?

No. I think for the first time in this country, I have seen a credible and transparent election. All this ghost voters do not exist again with this Permanent Voters Card (PVC).

Before now, we use to have places where there are incredible numbers of voters and lots of discrepancies, but this PVC has eradicated all these with the help of the biometric process. No more over voting, over-registration

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

because of the PVC processes and all the rest. Look at the numbers of voters compare to what we use to have when the system was so corrupt that somebody can vote five or more times. Now with the results of this election, it is clear that people can not say, we are tired of this person, we want that person.

Do you envisage a fresh constitution amendment by the in coming administration?

The process of changing constitution is very cumbersome and the elected president has a lot to do. He has not promised anything, but when he gets there he will see the rots that need to be cleared first because the whole place need some surgical operation.

Surgical operation He has won election, but to me, I don’t know where he will start from. Obama made lots of promises, but when he got there he was to some extent overwhelmed by the rot left behind by George Bush. I wish Buhari case will not be like that anyway.

Are you okay with the mode of appointing Judges?

Honestly, you raised a very good question. I think in appointing Judges, preference should be given to integrity. To appoint a judge, you need to ask questions, verify facts about

•Chief Abiodun Dabiri

the individual but you know in this part of our society, for instance, if someone asked me about you now there is possibility that I would not disclose certain fact about you, I will not want to block your

The lawyers contribute to all these kinds of development and the point is that they don’t take advice, it is what they want that they will do

chances. This is our culture and attitude and it will definitely come to play. Unlike in the Western world, where a child would tell you; oh my father is a thief and even call in police to arrest him, in this part of the world, nobody will want to do that.

What do you think is responsible for cases of 10 years and even above still pending in High Court and Supreme Court?

You see justice delayed is justice denied. We lawyers contribute a lot to this, take for instance the case of Alamieyeseigha, who was charged with certain offences, the lawyer started by challenging the charges and it had taken over seven years and the Supreme Court was annoyed. The lawyers contribute to all these kinds of development and the point is

that they don’t take advice. It is what they want that they will do.

Some Lawyers are clamoring for the abolition of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as a senior Lawyer, what is your opinion on this?

I don’t see anything bad in awarding privileges to members of the bar what people are complaining about is the method, there is nothing wrong in the award you have to apply for it, but to me I am not interested, I just want to be known and addressed as a lawyer and not necessary an attachment to my name. You see a lot of young lawyers today who don’t know much about the law been conferred with SAN not on the basis of merit but because they are connected.

You know in this our country, we don’t follow the rules in

Continues on page 38

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Prof. Joseph Abugu launches two new academic and practice textbooks

African Bar sets 8-point agenda for Buhari

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

T

HE African Bar Association, ABA, has identified eight critical areas that the new government under the leadership of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari must address when he takes the rein of power in Nigeria.

In a statement by its President, Hannibal Uwaifo , the ABA also pledged its support for the incoming government “in the bid to deepen democratic values and ensure improved economic fortune for the citizenry.”

Top on the list of the issues, according to ABA is official corruption, which the association advised Buhari to decisively deal with by “setting up a code of conduct of government affairs and handling of public funds for public officials.”

The body also urged Buhari to review salaries of public officials “to reflect the poor purse of Nigeria and to make more finances available for social services.” The statement read in part: “Deliberately welfare policy must be put in place as a

priority to cater for the vulnerable and less endowed in Nigeria. Unemployment of our youths must be tackled decisively. ”The rule of law must be strictly adhered to and extrajudicial activities of the security agencies must be checked and severely punished. ”True independence of the judiciary must be ensured and wrongdoings promptly and satisfactorily investigated and punished. ”Government and social services must be improved to deliberately bridge the gap between the zeal and determined quest to conduct a credible election exhibited

by INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega and his team is very commendable and exemplary. ”Free enterprise must be encouraged though deliberate government policies and programmes, especially agricultural technology and small and medium scale business.”

In conclusion, AFBA also advocated robust foreign policies, while calling for a greater move towards African integration.

Non appreciation of democratic principles, Nigeria’s biggest problem

By Innocent Anaba

F

ORMER President of Nigerian Bar As sociation, NBA, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, has blamed the underdevelopment of Nigeria on the inability of both the leadership and followership to comprehend democratic principles such as due process, rule of law, good governance accountability and others beyond mere rhetoric and semantics.

Daudu, the keynote Speaker at the opening ceremony of the 2015, Annual law week of the Eket branch of the NBA, Akwa Ibom State, spoke on the topic: “The rule of law, democracy I Nigeria and good governance-matters arising.”

He said: “The truth is that the topic is brought about by a very strong desire to understand why as a nation with such great talents and resources, Nigeria is not playing in the same league with its peers.

We should be playing in the Premier league, but we are in conference or at best division IV. “Unfortunately in all departments, the indices that a developing nation should be adjudged by do not add up for us. Our greatest assets, which are our teeming population and our diversity, have become for us a disadvantage brought about by greed and mistrust.

Greed and mistrust This has affected us in every sphere of department, infrastructural and human.

Your branch of the NBA and indeed all discerning Nigerians know that we are where we should be”.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of NB Eket branch, Mr. Akpadiaha Ebitu thanked everybody who made out time to attend the programme. Mr. Akpadiaha said: “This year’s Bar week is unique as we have decided to hold a public lecture in honor of one of our own, distinguished Senator Effiong Bob, the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Benin, our great benefactor.

“Present the Branch Bar Journal after several postponements and very importantly, we will be having a fund raising for our Multi million Naira Bar Centre which

still requires about 80 million naira to bring the magnificent edifice which is presently at the roofing level to completion. “Our special thanks go to Go. Godswill Obot Akpabio who in 2013 gave the branch a take-off grant for this project and we are hoping that in his characteristic manner assist the branch to bring this architectural masterpiece to reality.

The Bar week will be rounded off on Friday, the 20th of March 2015, with a Dinner where some very distinguished personalities will be honored by the Banch.

The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom state, Justice Idongesit Ntem Isua Hon Justice Joy Unwana, Past-Secretary of the Branch, The Founder of Heritage Polytechnic Eket , Emmanuel Ekott, Mr. Scoot Tommy.

Daudu said: “ We are poor when we are in an ocean of plenty. The people and even those who loot the nation’s assets are in poverty and bankruptcy of resources and ideas. “What then is responsible for this state of affairs? Some have blamed it on our understanding of the concept of democracy, while some have ascribed it to absence of credible leadership.

Some and indeed including the writer think that it is a failure of fellowOur greatest ship.

“This theory is assets, not new, it was first propounded to my which are in the our teeming knowledge year 2001, fellowpopulation ship have failed at every level starting and our from the family, to diversity, the community, and finally at the nahave betional level. The come for us Rule of law is cera disadvan- tainly one of them.

That is why it is still tage necessary to explain these conbrought cepts at every opabout by portunity that we have to discuss greed and them.

mistrust

The public presentation of Prof. Joseph Abugu law books (Principles of corporate law in Nigeria and Company Securities: Law and practice- 2nd Edition) in Lagos. Photo by Bartholomew Madukwe.

Prof. Joseph Abugu and wife, Mrs Philomena.

Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye; Dr. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN; Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, and other legal practitioners and law teachers of University of Lagos, Akoka.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, and retired Supreme Court Justice, Mr. George Olusola Oguntade.

Former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ogun State , Mr Akin Osinbajo (right) and other legal practitioners.

A cross-section of participants.

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Anambra House election: The votes must count this time governorship

By James Eze

T

HOUSANDS of voters who endured the scorching sun and malfunctioning card-readers to cast their votes in penultimate week’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in Anambra State are still reeling from the shock of the dubious results announced by INEC at the end of the exercise. In what could easily pass for a faint reminder of the Hobbesian Days of the old Anambra, the people watched, helpless as the state Resident Electoral Commissioner announced what has been widely condemned as voodoo results that have no bearing with the actual votes cast in the various polling booths and cheekily handed victory to all PDP candidates, some of who never even ran any serious campaign before the elections.

From Umuerum to Ihiala and from Ogbaru to Amansea, the sense of outrage is the same.

Ndi Anambra are shell-shocked.

They are deeply gobsmacked by what they consider the greatest electoral heist in recent memory.

The prevailing sense of revulsion stems from the fact that even the most political ignoramus in Anambra State can testify that as far as the actual votes cast at the polling booths are concerned, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won almost all the seats in contest. The sense of wonder, therefore, came from the final results declared by INEC.

Electoral exercise Ndi Anambra are still bewildered at what may have happened at the collation stage of the electoral exercise where they believe that the mandates they had graciously handed to their preferred APGA candidates in order to finally give gravitas to the party in the state were thwarted and dubiously allocated to PDP candidates. Giving words to the people’s collective outrage, Chief Arthur Nwandu, a respected opinion leader in Anaocha Local Government Area described the show of force

by PDP elements during the elections as bizarre and unacceptable. Narrating what he saw in his locality, Chief Nwandu said he witnessed some gangster-like PDP agents struggling to wrestle the collated results in the Council Area from the returning officers.

They were led by one of the PDP senatorial candidates. He recalled, “After a while, the candidate stepped out and made a phone call and in no time at all, soldiers and

election in Anambra State when APGA won and the PDP elements hijacked the poll results and awarded victory to themselves.

“I can assure you that the PDP candidates lost woefully in this election and we are going to prove to them that Anambra State is not a guinea pig that anyone can use to test the efficacy of their drugs. Those mandates given to APGA candidates will be recovered. It is a huge shame that the Map of government of Anambra State Nigeria should empower a young policemen arrived the scene woman of 42 years of age with and began to beat people up. the police and the army to They beat up the deputy ravage Anambra State in the chairman of the local name of national politics. It is a government and bundled him huge shame. We are into a van and carried him away going to reverse this!” he with the result sheets. They were bellowed. escorted by an armed personnel Chief Umeh, a veteran of carrier as if we were in a war. many electoral legal battles is This thing is unacceptable in already spoiling for another modern Nigeria. It should not bout of legal kamikaze war with be allowed to happen. We say some erstwhile allies who have no to this kind of politics in followed political expediency to Anambra State. We reject it in the other side of the divide. totality!” he thundered!

Chief Nwandu is not alone in Political this season of fermenting expediency discontent. The APGA Senatorial candidate for Living true to his reputation, Anambra State Central, Chief Umeh reminded his new Victor Umeh, could not put a political foes of his antecedents, firm cork on his own rage. saying; “I am Chief Victor Battling unsuccessfully to keep Umeh, I have been leading bitterness away from his voice, Anambra State and Igbo people Chief Umeh compared what in the struggle for selfhappened in the March 28, definition. I assure them that 2015 elections to what within weeks and months they happened in the 2003 will begin to count their losses.

I want to assure you that the dubious victory of the PDP in the National Assembly Elections of last Saturday shall not stand!

Their victory cannot be sustained.”

Earlier in his state wide broadcast on the elections, the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, had deployed a strong language to condemn the travesty that was the March 28, 2015 elections in Anambra State. In a voice laden with emotion, Governor Obiano had declared, “I must condemn in strong terms, the brazen return of brigandage and lawlessness displayed in the last elections by PDP stalwarts in Anambra State who hijacked the electoral process at the collation stages and came up with spurious figures as the final results of the elections.

Fellow citizens, I want to assure you that the dubious victory of the PDP in the National Assembly Elections of last Saturday shall not stand! We have assembled the necessary documentary and material evidence that will expose the bare-faced lies of the PDP and retrieve the mandate that you

graciously gave to all APGA candidates from the law courts,” he assured, urging Ndi Anambra not to lose hope.

Now, the thing about the Anambra elections is that it has all the makings of an infuriating democratic farce. The open show of federal power by some PDP figures in the state was simply rankling. And what with the reported mob-like invasion of Idemili by a serving federal minister to ensure that his sibling won the election in the area. But even so, all these are mere skirmishes when one considers the fact that the electoral tempest that struck Anambra State in the last elections actually came to a head when two people were gunned down in Ihiala.

So, if Ndi Anambra are shell-

shocked, it is understandable.

They are shell-shocked because it seems like dejavu all over again. All of a sudden, they are seeing the same recklessness, the same barbarism that pockmark the days of the locust…the days when PDP held sway in Anambra State and put the dreams and hopes of a most illustrious people on hold for a very long time. And after recovering from the shock, they have finally resolved that whatever it takes, they would hold INEC and the regulatory authorities responsible for anything that sets Anambra State back into the dark, airless nights from which APGA government has released them, giving everyone the chance to breathe again!

•Eze, Special Adviser Media to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, writes from Awka

MD Yusuf – A guardian angel just departed Nigeria TRIB UTE TRIBUTE

By Oluremi Obasanjo

T

HE death of Alhaji Mohammed Dikko Yusuf on the first day of this month should have been a silly April Fool’s day prank for me. But alas it wasn’t.

For many, the death of MD would have been another attestation of the mortality of man. But to me, MD Yusuf was not just another man who had attained high position in Nigerian governance.

In the time of the most difficult personal challenges that came my way in the seventies, MD sprung up around my children and I like a guardian angel.

There were few one could run to who could provide a bulwark against the torments of the heart and body that became my lot in the midst the abuses I suffered in the seventies when he was Nigeria’s top policeman.

As the Inspector General of Police, he worked with then Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed to provide succour to us because it was the right thing to do.

MD’s gallant defence of my emotional and human rights was to be further displayed to the surprise of most Nigerians in the nineties when he defied all

M.D. Yusuf

odds to stand against the political aspirations of the military rulers when he stood for the presidential elections.

Many Nigerians at that time would have asked where MD got his spirit of boldness from? Till today, I still wonder from where this former Police boss got his unusual boldness. I really cannot know. All I can recall now is the recoil and cringe that I saw in him at the first sight of injustice to men and women of all tribes and religions.

At the height of the domestic violence and persecution I suffered, I regularly saw those cringes as he responded to alleviate our devastating situation.

Devastating situation His words and acts of encouragement easily dismissed the assumption that some in my position would have believed that all men who attain power abuse it.

MD Yusuf was there for us at the critical time in my life when justice and due process needed to be applied and not power and opportunity.

I hope his family are comforted in the legacy of good works he left behind as a kind hearted and truly detribalized Nigerian. He was a blessing to me and I am sure to many others he came across. His loss to Nigeria is unquantifiable.

Heaven has indeed gained an angel while earth has lost a sweet soul. May his soul rest in peace.

Mrs. Oluremi Obasanjo lives in Lagos, Nigeria

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

Burning of over 200 case files:

2015 Presidential election: A promise kept

Cleric petitions God zUndertakes spiritual cleansing of Enugu High Court

I

By Chinenyeh Ozor, Nsukka

T came as a rude shock to many because to them it was inconceivable that anyone could contemplate the act of burning of over 200 case files in an Enugu High Court sitting in Nsukka judicial division. However, all they could offer in response were mere condemnations without action. But that is not the case with renowned Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Dr. Obayi Paul Obinna Martins of the Oku’ nerere Adoration Ministry. He has since sent a petition to God to unravel the circumstances surrounding the burning of the case files, while invoking God’s punitive anger on the unknown arsonists.

Fr. Obayi who stormed the High Court while in session told the sitting judge, Justice Fidelis Ngwu, *Justice Fidelis Ngwu(left) and Rev. Fr. Obayi Paul Obinna Martins that his mission was to cleanse the court by casting out the demons He noted that there is need for adthat have made the place their haunt in January 2014 another invasion of the equate security of the court, saying as well as offer prayers of protection chambers led to the burglary proofs bemore policemen should, as a matter for the judge against those hellbent ing destroyed and files taken away. of necessity, be deployed to guard the on truncating his commitment to disVanguard Metro investigations recourt premises and judges resipensing justice according to the dicvealed that the recent invasion that redences, while urging fellow clerics tates of the law without fear or fasulted in over 200 case files being burnt to offer prayers for the spiritual provour. He assured that having was the most devastating although files tection of the court and its workers. stepped into the hallowed chambers of already decided cases were the most It would be recalled that the halof the court, the perpetrators of the affected. Only the few files the Judge lowed chambers of the court presided crime would never go scot free. took home with him were spared or esover by Justice Fidelis Ngwu has The unannounced arrival of the caped the arsonists fury. been invaded three times within one revered Catholic priest came as a Investigations further revealed that year of his posting from Obollo- Afor pleasant surprise to Justice Ngwu judges in Enugu State work under judicial division to Nsukka in 2013 as he adjourned the proceedings of what observers consider as inhuman by unknown persons allegedly the court for few minutes to welcome conditions. They don’t have security searching for exhibit files and other his eminent guest. operatives guarding their homes, a situconfidential documents. In Decemation attributed to politicians hijacking ber 2013, the chambers was broken Soul winning security details meant for judges who into and exhibit files carted away and programmes cannot afford the cost of hiring security men to guard them. Similarly, investiThis reception was considered in gating police officers, IPOs, are not order because the priest had over the given any incentive to go court to tesyears achieved fame as an authority tify which is why witnesses in criminal in family/household deliverance and matters are usually threatened as if soul-winning programmes in they are accomplices. Also prison inIgboland. He is reputed to have ofmates and criminals are not regularly ten dared where other men of God brought to court as the officers of Nifear to tread in a bid to set free those geria Prisons complain lack of logistics held in bondage by stubborn deito convey them to court. ties.

Investigations also revealed that While at the the scene of the inciprison inmates contribute money before dent, he condemned the action of the they are taken to court because the arsonists but praised Justice Ngwu prison officers are handicapped. But if Fr. Obayi who for being upright and not yielding a sitting judge strikes out a case of stormed the High to the temptation of bribery. He felony, rape or murder people often see added that it was for this reason that this as arising from lack of diligent prosCourt while in sesinfidels wanted to implicate him by ecution and issue a petition accusing sion told Justice setting ablaze the files, adding that the judge of having been bought over. following the radical, warfare prayer They forget that judges can only perFidelis Ngwu that he had offered, the judge would cerform if they are properly motivated to his mission was to tainly be vindicated. dispense justice.

According to him: “No prayer goes cleanse the court by In Enugu State some judges sit in in vain, every prayer has effective three divisions: Justice Onovo sits in casting out the deresult. The legal institution knows the Nsukka and Enugu- Ezike; Justice mons that have worth of Justice Ngwu which is why Ngwu sits in Nsukka and Enugu Ezike; he has been serving in his domain while Justice Afam Nwobiodo sits at made the place over the years as a High Court Enugu and Orji –River judicial divitheir haunt Judge.” sions.

By Ebele Orakpo

“G

REAT Nigerian people have spoken! We needed change and we have it,” said Ade, a commuter in the CMS-bound commuter bus last Wednesday.

“Yes, at long last! We have the leader we have all yearned for,” said Tutu.

“Abeg stop the lies. You and I know the election was anything but free and fair. It was rigged,” said Rita.

“Rigged? How? ,” asked Ade. “To be honest, this is the freest and fairest election I have witnessed,” he added.

Replied Rita: “Rigged through PVC distribution.

Many people were deliberately disenfranchised in the South, especially in Lagos. Some were refused PVCs because of their perceived party affiliation. Some were even called and asked the candidate they would vote for and once they mentioned what the callers want to hear, they were asked to come and pick up their PVCs. It was sickening. So what do you call that? Free and fair ko, bound and dark ni?”

“Of course, in every new thing, we should expect some challenges. Despite the hiccups, I must give it to Professor Jega for conducting a free and fair election,” insisted Ade. “Oh please spare me.

Don’t be hypocritical.

GEJ is a noble Let’s be truthful for man; he is the once. The election was flawed, period!” said hero in all of Rita. this; a complete “I think we should let sleeping dog lie. We gentleman should all emulate our whose name amiable President Goodluck Jonathan. will be written He is a great guy,” in gold when counselled Audu.

“Indeed, GEJ is a the story of noble man. He is the Nigeria is writhero in all of this. A ten complete gentleman whose name will be written in gold when the story of Nigeria is written.

History will judge him kindly. The first president to lose election and congratulate his opponent,” said Tom. “Exactly my thoughts! The guy is a peaceful man.

He said it over and over again that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian and he demonstrated it,” said Rita.

“Yes ooo. I am very sure that if the result had been the other way round, that President Jonathan won, all hell would have been let loose and blood of innocent Nigerians would have been flowing on the streets once again,” said Tom. “Hmm, I honestly shudder to think of what would have happened.

“You people are so unfair to the President-elect. Your hatred of the man shows. You mean to tell me that if he had lost in a free and fair election, he would not have congratulated GEJ? That cannot be true. The only thing the man hates is election rigging,” said Tutu.

“Right. But you know quite well that elections are only free and fair in Nigeria if you win. So if APC had lost, it wouldn’t have been free and fair. But here is a sitting President that would have used the power of incumbency to win the election but he refused to do so. Despite the glaring irregularities in the process, he accepted the result and congratulated his opponent so that peace will reign. That is commendable,” said Rita.

“Let’s us join hands with the incoming government to move our nation forward. GMB has promised to crush insurgency, stop corruption, give us 24/7 power supply, give our children in public schools one meal per day, give N5,000 per month to unemployed graduates and so many other good things. May God help us,” prayed Audu.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015—41

Plots on the Plateau

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

PRESIDENTIAL POLLS RESULTS

PLATEAU APC 429, 140 PDP 549, 615

J

OS - AS the headquarters of many Christian evangelistic missions it was not surprising that the outgoing governor of the state, Mr. Jonah Jang was repeatedly alleged to have claimed that God would decide his choice of a successor.

However, when Jang’s Man Friday, Senator Gyang Pwjok emerged many critics were quick to claim that Jang may have played god.

It is as such not surprising that Jang’s associates, including Mr. Moses Nathaniel, the director-general of the Jang Campaign Organisation these days likes to remind people that God decides who to crown at a time He desires. In that wise, Mr. Nathaniel’s counsel to political stakeholders is not to look at this weekend’s election as a do or die affair.

“Plateau people must take a cue from Mr. President Jonathan by exercising the spirit of sportsmanship even in defeat irrespective of our ambition bearing in mind that God decides whom to crown at a time He desires,” the man of God in politics asserted.

However, several are not waiting for God as the Jang crowd would want. In fact, they are revolting leading to what some now see as a conspiracy directed against Jang and Pwjok.

Two of the governorship candidates standing for this weekend’s election have now stepped down in favour of the more favoured opposition candidate, Simon Lalong of the All Progressives Congress,

APC. Those who stepped down were the Labour Party, LP candidate, Amb. Bagudu Hirse and the Mega Party candidate, Mrs. Elizabeth Yirse.

Speaking at a joint press briefing, Amb. Hirse and Mrs. Yirse said the decision was for the good of the state and based on the need for geopolitical balancing. It was the view of both former candidates that the decision of Mr. Jang to project

Many rivers to cross in Oyo

However, the rebellion is not total as Pwjok continues to get support on his own

By Ola Ajayi

T

HIS weekend’s contest n Oyo State would set a record in the country. Unlike many other states of the country where the All Progressives Congress, APC is in battle with only the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the scenario in Oyo State is a five horse race involving three other parties in the governorship and state legislative elections.

It is also marked by another uniqueness: It is the only race where three former senators are in active combat and only state where two former governors are in contention to return to office.

The PDP’s governorship candidate challenging the APC’s incumbent office holder, Senator Abiola Ajimobi is the former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin. Another former senator, Rasheed Ladoja is also bidding on the platform of Accord, while yet another i

PRESIDENTIAL POLLS RESULTS

OYO APC PDP

Pwjok from the same ethnic Berom and northern senatorial zone as himself was a slap on many other ethnic groups in the state.

“There has been a deliberate attempt to re-write the history of Plateau state. It will be foolhardy for any politician to see the strong wind of change blowing across the country and going against it,” Hirse said as he stepped down for Lalong who is from the south, the region that has not produced a governor for the state since the Second Republic.

Also, a group of aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party, PDP members in Plateau State known as Reformed Peoples Democratic Party has urged party members to turn their back on Pwjok this Saturday.

The group comprising aggrieved PDP elders and stakeholders stated in a press statement signed by Amb. Ibrahim Kasai and Dalyop Choji claimed that voting Pwajok will amount to the promotion of nepotism, tribalism and imposition.

The statement reads, “As we prepare for the Governorship and State Assembly elections scheduled for the 11th, April, 2015, we urge our members to shine their eyes and say no to the candidature of GNS Pwajok, who is a product of nepotism, tribalism and imposition.

528,620 303,376

former governor of the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala is fighting on the platform of Labour Party. The business mogul, Seye Makinde who is contesting on the platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP could well be said to be the only one of the five that is not a former this or that.

All the candidates for the governorship and House of Assembly are making last

minute efforts to convince the voters ahead of the polls. The APC which easily swam to victory in the presidential and National Assembly polls penultimate Saturday, is bound to face stiffer challenge this weekend.

Besides winning the majority of the votes in the presidential election, the APC also won all three Senate seats and clinched 12 of the 14

Continues on page 42

“This is to resist any attempt to sacrifice our diversity on the cheap altar ego of any demagogue. The strength of our unity is in our diversity and we must use our votes to defend it.”

Lalong’s momentum has also been boosted by the endorsement from the forum of former members of the State House of Assembly in the state.

Briefing journalists after a closed door meeting with members of the group, the leader of the Forum, Maimako Bello stated that the support was based on the performances of the APC gubernatorial candidate during his tenure as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

However, the rebellion is not total as Pwjok continues to get support on his own.

The group, Information for

Democracy and Development, IDD one of the numerous groups backing the PDP candidate say he stands a better chance to win next Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Plateau State based on a survey conducted by it.

A statement signed by its Coordinator, Joshua Yahaya, in a state-wide survey affirmed that Pwajok with acceptability and approval ratings of more than 70% showing him as the man to beat this weekend.

Mr. Clinton Garuba, Executive Assistant to Governor Jang, in his opinion affirmed that the gang-up of the APC with other parties will fail as the PDP is deeply rooted in the State and no Party can uproot the PDP in the state.

“The APC as a party has not told Plateau people what it has in store for them; they have only struggled to whip up sentiments built on sectionalism, divisiveness and related issues with a view to winning some sympathy. As a drowning Party filled with PDP’s yesterday men whose pursuit of selfish and personal interest could not find accommodation in the PDP, it is only a matter of time before their greed will manifest.”

Battle for supremacy As the battle for supremacy continues, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has been urged to remain an unbiased umpire and should not be seen to be partisan as alleged by the State APC Chairman, Mr. Latep Dabang who said the PDP was collaborating with the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Godwin Kwanga to rig the election in favour of the PDP. Dabang, who accused the State REC of fraternizing with Governor Jang and the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Pwajok also stated his party has received reports that “some INEC sensitive materials such as the results sheets are being hawked to our opponents who have taken custody of same with a view to facilitating the planned rigging.

“We have uncovered a grand design aimed at using the INEC ad hoc staff especially Youth Corpers to demobilize the card readers meant for the elections and the plan to engage the use of thugs to snatch and if possible destroy the card readers.”

Meanwhile, a group, Coalition of Plateau Professionals, CPP has urged INEC in the state to adhere strictly to the rules guiding the conduct of elections as anything short of that will not augur well for democracy in the Continues on page 42

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

Aba 'll soon feel Ikpeazu’s impact — Igwe

Plots on the Plateau

Prince Chris Igwe is chief executive officer of Mainland Oil and Gas Company Limited. He is one of the backers of Dr. Okeize Ikpeazu’s aspiration for the governorship of Abia State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In this interview he projects reasons for his support. Excerpts:

W

hy are you supporting Ikpeazu for the governorship?

Ikpeazu has the experience, he has the proven integrity having worked as a lecturer and Abia will profit from having someone who is very well educated as governor. In terms of experience, he has served in various capacities in the university community and in government. He has been a local government chairman and even in Aba that we are trying to rebuild Aba, no one else is better positioned to reposition Aba as he understands the issues with the city more than another other candidate.

The programme he has for Aba is better than that of any other candidate Ikpeazu has that vision for Abia and Aba and that is one of the major reasons for my support for his candidature.

What are the main Challenge he could face.

The challenges of infrastructure, you know

most of the infrastructure especially in Aba have been broken down. He will also face the challenge of bringing Abians together to come home and invest.

However, listening to him campaign, I am confident that he is capable of meeting those challenges and overcoming them.

He lived in Aba, he served in Aba, so he understands Aba more than all these other candidates living outside. So, I am quite sure that he has the capacity and

Ikpeazu has the experience, he has the proven integrity having worked as a lecturer and Abia will profit from having someone who is very well educated as governor

he has the ability to address those challenges and I am quite sure he is the best to address those challenges.

He has the ability and the capacity to face it. Okezie has only one house and it is in Aba and that tells you the degree to which he is attached to the place. The moment we build Aba, the other sides will just come up.

Once we build Aba every other part of Abia will feel the impact.

If not Ikpeazu who would you have supported.

I am not supporting any other one. I am not looking elsewhere since I have seen the solution to all the problems. He is very humble and it takes a man of his capacity to address the issues at hand.

I am supporting him and no other person. My support for him is absolute.

•Igwe

Continues from page 41 state.

The group warned that irregularities that characterised the Plateau North Senatorial election conducted 10 days ago should not be repeated or the outcome of elections will be rejected if INEC refuses to adhere to the rules guiding the conduct of elections.

The group’s spokesman, Kevin Nedim after reviewing the last elections and its expectations in the April 11 elections added the group is out against bad governance alleging it is aware that some dubious politicians are collaborating with bad elements in the State INEC office to subvert the wishes of the people.

No matter the intrigues, the prayer on ordinary citizens’ lips is that peace should prevail in the state during and after the polls.

Many rivers to cross in Oyo Continues from page 41 federal constituencies, leaving one apiece for the PDP and Labour.

This weekend, voters would be more sparing for the opposition parties in the state especially Labour and SDP. Accord’s miserly performance this time has been attributed to the alleged imposition of candidates by the party leadership and the backlash from voters over the open endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the presidential election.

Speculations that swept the state at the last minute that party leader, Rasheed Ladoja had signed an agreement with Jonathan, revolted many members who not only turned back from voting for the party, but also worked against the interest of the party.

The poor showing of the party two weeks ago has now led the party and its state level candidates to embark on house-to-house, community-

to-community campaign armed with prototype of ballot papers to educate their supporters where to thumbprint during the election.

Ladoja is the toast of most workers in the state especially the teachers who remember the promptness with which their salaries were paid while he was governor between 2003 and 2006. The PDP in the state is still dazed with its failure two weeks ago and there are fears that if nothing dramatic happens this weekend it could go into oblivion.

From the look of things, the party will need a divine intervention to prevent it from falling headlong into the precipice. Its influence is waning every minute that passes.

Labour Party could spring a surprise with Alao-Akala as its flag bearer even if he is regularly taunted with allegations that he will go back to his former party if he wins the state and the suspicion became stronger when he openly campaigned for President Jonathan. But,

Akala still has much influence in the state especially his Ogbomoso axis and other parts of the state.

Remarkable impact The SDP’s Engr. Seyi

Besides, Governor Ajimobi, had to listen to voice of reason when criticisms greeted some of his administration’s policies

Makinde made some remarkable impact in the National Assembly election even though it could not win any of the seats. The party is expected to produce some legislators in the state legislature. Many people believe it is a party of the future.

The APC led by Governor Abiola Ajimobi is itself still basking in the euphoria of its victory in the presidential and National Assembly election. People did not rate the party high until the results were released. Many people keep saying the party benefited largely from the illiteracy of most voters who just kept thumb printing APC not knowing all the ballot papers were not meant for General Buhari alone.

Besides, Governor Ajimobi, had to listen to voice of reason when criticisms greeted some of his administration’s policies.

He applied caution and coupled with the employment of 5,300 teachers and his urban renewal

programmes, the party is still holding the aces in the state.

The peace that has reigned in the state in the last four years is working like a magic for the party.

Though, its administration is tainted with so many allegations of inflation of contract money, unpaid pensions and gratuities of primary school teachers, many people still see it as a ‘better evil’ among others. The bandwagon effect of the defections that followed the victory of the party at the presidential election across the country is likely to work in the favour of the governor and the other candidates.

His eloquence and prompt responses to allegations have also been a good tool for him.

It seems there is no other candidate who can rub shoulder with him when it comes to talking.

Above all, Gen. Buhari is being expected in the state anytime from now to canvass votes for him like he did in Lagos yesterday (Tuesday) and this would go a long way in

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015—43

Abia: No longer at ease

By Anayo Okoli

PRESIDENTIAL POLLS RESULTS

U

MUAHIA- AS Abians go to the polls this Saturday to elect their governor and the 24 members of the State House of Assembly, the contest is clearly between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the recently enhanced opposition, All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA. The All Progressives Congress, APC which has secured victory in the presidential and National Assembly elections two weeks ago, is ironically not in strong contention here, even if it has candidates for the election just like the Progressive People Alliance.

APGA was not a threat in the state until recently and the results of the federal elections has shown that the PDP is for the first time fighting for survival since the temporary aberration raised by Orji Kalu’s PPA in 2007.

Though APGA was declared winner of only the Aba Federal Constituency in the National Assembly election, it is, however, strongly laying claims to be the authentic winner of the three Senatorial seats, and the other seven House of Representative seats.

From the campaigns, it is glaring that what APC and PDP are doing at the centre is what APGA and PDP are doing in Abia State in terms of seeing each other as major threats.

ABIA APC PDP

On the streets the popularity of the party is overwhelming but whether that overflows into voting strength is another thing.

The ruling PDP has Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as it governorship candidate while APGA has Dr. Alex Otti, the immediate past group Managing Director of Diamond Bank as its candidate. The APC

13,394 368, 303

has Chief Nyerere Anyim, said to be a protégée of Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, as it candidate and PPA has Chief Chikwe Udensi as its candidate.

Dr. Otti, a former governorship aspirant in PDP left the party shortly before the party ’s primary election and pitched tent with APGA which offered him the ticket and he has since turned the party into a thorn in the flesh of the ruling PDP, but whether his effort will see the party take over Abia remains to be seen on Saturday.

Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, a former appointee of the State Government as deputy general manager of the state environmental agency in-charge of Aba, won the PDP primaries, amidst huge grumbling by other aspirants who accused the

Theodore Orji administration of sponsoring and backing him. He is, however, not a new comer in politics having been a Local Government chairman and held other political appointments. His greatest boost is coming from Abia South where the PDP zoned the office of governor to. The campaign has made that a campaign issue, saying the area has never produced a governor of the state since creation 23 years ago.

However, coincidentally, most of the contending parties, PDP, APC and APGA candidates are of Ngwa extraction. While PDP and APC candidates are from

Obingwa Council in Abia South, Otti of APGA is of Ngwa extraction but from Abia Central which was why he was screened out by his former party PDP, leading to his defection to APGA. But the PDP campaign has made Otti’s origin a major campaign issue.

Born and bred in Ngwaland, Otti had earlier settled in Arochukwu in Abia North, the home of his grandfather.

With its growing popularity, APGA has also made serious inroad in the Ukwa area where it anchored its structure around Chief Chris Nkwonta who contested for the Senate and is laying claim to victory given to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. So in free and fair elections, APGA will give PDP a very good run in Ukwa area.

Euphoria of victory

From the campaigns, it is glaring that what APC and PDP are doing at the centre is what APGA and PDP are doing in Abia State in terms of seeing each other as major threats

Though APC is not very strong in the State for now, its candidate Chinnye Anyim, being from the same Council area as PDP candidate and with the euphoria of its victory at the national level, may divide the votes in the area seen as the most populous voting area.

One thing is certain; the battle is a fierce one between PDP and APGA. Again, if the votes of the electorate count on Saturday, irrespective of the party that wins, Abia may no longer parade a 24-PDP member House of Assembly.

From every indication there will be a House with more than one party.

Sok oto: Why Tambuwal will prevail — Imam Soko Malam Imam Imam is the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. In this interview, he speaks on the chances of his boss in the forthcoming governorship polls and gives an insight into Tambuwal’s stewardship of the Green Chamber since 2011.

W

HAT are Speaker Tambuwal’s chances against a formidable political opponent like Senator Abdallah Wali who is backed by former Governor Bafarawa in the forthcoming governorship election in Sokoto State?

You are journalists and you have closely followed the trend of events in all states of the federation. As things stand at the moment, Tambuwal is head and shoulder above other contestants.

The politicians you mentioned are people with pedigree in the eyes of a few power brokers in Abuja, namely, those at the Aso Rock Villa. When it comes to real support among the people of Sokoto, they are paper weight.

In what ways do you think the Presidential election held on March 28 will have any bearing on the governorship contest?

I believe it will have much

bearing because in states that have close numbers between the two leading parties in the last election, we expect it to swing to the APC because of Muhammadu Buhari’s emergence as President-elect. If in the immediate past before you considered some states too close to call, by now, expect such states

The Speaker has said repeatedly that his plan is embedded or closely related with that of Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko

to go the way of APC. Similarly, many states will want to align themselves with the party in power at the federal level, as such they will double their efforts to ensure APC wins and line up with the winning team at the Centre.

What are Tambuwal’s plans for the people of Sokoto?

The Speaker has said repeatedly that his plan is embedded or closely related with that of Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.

However, he has also made it clear that agriculture will form the backbone of all things he will do in the state. We plan to introduce mechanised farming in all parts of the state while the harvesting of some selected cash crops will be given priority attention so as to boost employment generation and cash flow into the state.

Closely related to that is the area of education. The Speaker has spoken passionately about tech-

•Tambuwal nical education and the need to change curriculum to reflect today’s reality. Technical education will be given a boost so as to give all students the necessary training to be self reliant.

This plan will also ensure that mid-level manpower is provided in all parts of the state and be-

yond which government and the private sector can call upon anytime the need arises. Other areas like youth empowerment, health care delivery, infrastructure development, social welfare among other critical areas, will as well receive adequate attention.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

Marital relationships linked to mortality, high blood pressure risk

By Chioma Obinna

S

CIENTISTS have again discovered how marital relationship affects couples’ health. While other studies have shown that stress and negative marital quality can influence mortality and blood pressure, there has not been research that discussed how it might affect married couples over time.

With systolic blood pressure as a gauge, researchers assessed whether an individual’s blood pressure is influenced by their own as well as their partner’s reports of chronic stress and whether there are gender differences in these patterns.

The findings published in the Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences titled, “Stress and Negative Relationship Quality among Older Couples: Implications for Blood Pressure”, addressed several questions including; does chronic stress predict blood pressure?

Does the association between chronic stress and blood pressure vary between husbands and wives? Does negative relationship quality predict blood pressure?

• Relationship between couples also affect their health.

Other questions addressed includes; does the association between negative relationship quality and blood pressure vary by gender? Does negative marital quality moderate the stress-blood pressure link? And does the moderating effect of negative marital quality differ for wives and husbands? The findings however supported previous

research that asserts stress and relationship quality has both direct and moderating effects on the cardiovascular system.

The study also indicated that it is important to consider the couple as a whole rather than the individual when examining marriage and health.

Most importantly, the study revealed that wives’ stress has

important implications for husbands’ blood pressure, particularly in more negative relationships. Specifically looking at the effects of negative relationship quality, the researchers found that effects weren’t recognised when examining individuals but there were when examining interactions between both members of couple.

Reacting to the study, the lead author Kira S. Birditt said:“We were particularly excited about these findings because they show that the effects of stress and negative relationship quality are truly dyadic in nature.”

“An individuals’ physiology is closely linked with not only his or her own experiences but the experiences and perceptions of their spouses. We were particularly fascinated that husbands were more sensitive to wives’ stress than the reverse especially given all of the work indicating that wives are more affected by the marital tie.

“We speculate that this finding may result from husband’s greater reliance on wives for support which may not be provided when wives are more stressed.”

Higher purpose in life tied to better brain health

P

EOPLE with a high sense of purpose in life have a lower risk of stroke, according to new research.

Purpose in life is protective against multiple adverse health outcomes in older age, said lead study author Lei Yu, an assistant professor of neurological sciences at Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

For their study, published in the journal Stroke, Yu and his team analyzed autopsy results on 453 older adults who had been enrolled in the Rush Memory and Aging Project. All participants underwent annual physical and psychological evaluations, including a standard assessment of purpose in life, and were followed till death at an average age of 90.

At autopsy, 154 individuals had macroscopic infarctions and 128 had "microinfarcts" .

Purpose in life was judged on a five-point scale with higher scores indicating a greater purpose. The average score was 3.5. With every one-point increase in the score measuring purpose, the likelihood of having one or more macroscopic infarctions decreased by about 50 percent.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERORIAL)

H

ELLO Mr Edochie, I just read your column on the challenges of containing prostitution. It was quite enlightening and unexpected. I think part of what makes a person a prostitute is the number of people they sleep with and that is a problem – Eloka Thanks for your response Eloka but the war on prostitution is not even about multiple sexual partners.

The laws and societal opinion on prostitution were simply designed to oppress women. For as long as a woman has sex for free, the male run society has no problems with that. If she charges, then she is a prostitute. Men just don’t want to pay for sex. They want total control. This is about dominance. Many of us wouldn’t understand this because we bought into this propaganda centuries ago. Unfortunately, sex is valuable and nothing valuable in this world is free.

Wives and girlfriends don’t have sex for free either.

They all expect and demand to be taken care of in a variety of ways. Prostitution laws simply bully women because I see no difference between men sleeping around and women doing the exact same thing. A man can have any number of women and marry as many as he wants. Women just cannot do the same.

Bret Michaels, the American lead singer of the band Poison once confessed to having slept with a thousand women. Yet he remains a celebrity and nobody has ever called him a whore. No woman will make that sort of confession and still have a career. I am not in support of promiscuity. I just believe that the laws should be fair to all genders – Uche I enjoy your column but I have never heard you write about lingerie. Us women are interested in that too. I am looking for Crotchless underwear. Do you happen to have that? Vicky Yes Vicky we do have lots of that. I rarely write about them because the names are usually very long and hard to remember. But yes we have the Red Eye Lash Open Crotch Cheeky Underwear, the Crotchless Pearl Black Panty, Cut it Out Crotchless Panty and

even the Edible Crotchless Gummy Panties. And there are others too. Crotchless underwear are really good for vaginal health – Uche My wife says that I am not romantic. When I want sex, I just go straight for the action. I don’t know what else I am supposed to do. I need tips – Bright Being romantic is quite simple. Keep telling her nice things, be nice and helpful around the house, take her out and buy her nice things occasionally. If you are not in the mood for any of this, fake it. Women need to be adored and we must play along. Game packs can also give you more romance and foreplay ideas. If you are interested, then call and ask for Intimates Dare Game, Choose Your Pleasure, Bedroom Commands Game or Cosmo’s Kinky Sex Games – Uche Shortly after I turned 56, I started struggling in bed. Sometimes I get erections and sometimes I don’t.

A friend told me you can help – John It’s okay. This is what happens to men as they get older. You can still have a functional sex life. It is just that you will now be needing help from supplements.

Ask for Magic Mike supplement. It will give you three days of powerful erections on demand and improve your stamina too. Alternatively, you can get the X Again Platinum Enhancer which costs more but gives hard erections, delays premature ejaculation and enlarges the penis. One capsule of X Again Platinum Enhancer Works for as long as five days – Uche I want to thank you. I bought the Expert Sex DVD and it helped my love life - Chris You are welcome.The names of the people here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of the above novelties and treatments can call us on 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. We deliver to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015—45

Rivers PDP faults APC's call for redeployment of state REC T

HE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State has condemned the protest by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abuja, saying that the call for the redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Mrs. Gesila Khan, was a deceit.

State Chairman of the party, Mr. Felix Obuah, in a statement by his media aide, described the protest as laughable and called on Nigerians not to be swayed by it.

He said that the protest lacked substance, adding that it was another plot by the APC to scuttle the April 11 elections in Rivers State, knowing that it stood no chance of winning the polls.

He added that the APC was looking for a REC who will play according to their biddings, having failed in their numerous attempts to persuade the present INEC boss in the state to write election results in favour of the APC. The party disclosed that information available to it

Urhobo youths reaffirm support for Emerhor

By Perez Brisibe

U

GHELLI—AHEAD of Saturday ’s governorship and state House of Assembly elections in Delta State, Urhobo youths under the umbrella body of Urhobo National Youth Council, UNYC, have reaffirmed their support for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor The group, at the meeting of representatives of the 24 Urhobo kingdoms, yesterday, said that with the change of political structure at the federal level, it was only proper for Urhobo and Delta State in general to align with the political party in government come May 29.

Spokesperson of UNYC, Mr. Aghogho Orotomah, said: “This is not the time to play politics of opposition, coupled with the fact that Delta State has never been in opposition with the ruling party.

“We should place tribal sentiments aside and vote Emerhor as governor of Delta State come April 11.”

suggests that the APC was pressuring its President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to persuade INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, to redeploy the Rivers INEC Commissioner, Gesilia Khan.

“This desperation shows that

the APC is not on ground in Rivers State and is merely seeking a short cut to win the elections.

“We call on Rivers people to go about their normal businesses, bearing in mind that the end of their

oppression in the hands of the APC-led government in Rivers State is but a few days to April 11, 2015,” he said.

The PDP challenged the APC to come out and face the electorate on Saturday to prove its popularity.

‘Jonathan’s statesmanship silenced prophets of doom'

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women leader from G b a r a m a t u Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, Chief Vero Tangbowei, has said that President Goodluck Jonathan’s concession of defeat in the presidential election has silenced prophets of doom who thought that the election would snowball into crisis and subsequent disintegration of Nigeria.

Speaking to newsmen, she pointed out that Mr President would not for any reason waste his people’s lives and drag the country into unnecessary war where posterity will not forgive him and his people.

DELTA GOV POLL: Activist warns against rigging DEFECTION: From left: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; former Governor Oserheimen Osunbor and Mr. Anselm Ojezua, Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, during the defection of the former governor to the APC, in Edo State, yesterday.

PRESIDENTIAL POLL: PDP chieftain congratulates Buhari, Jonathan

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APELE—AN elder statesman and Second Republic Secretary of Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, Chief Fred Sohwo has congratulated the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, on his victory at the just concluded presidential election.

He described the victory as an evolution of entrenched democratic culture which is good for the future of Nigeria.

The elder statesman also congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat at the right time, remarking that the action of the president saved the country from imminent crisis.

Speaking with newsmen at his country home in Sapele, Delta State, the former Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, maintained that the presidentelect, Gen. Buhari and the incumbent president, Dr. Jonathan deserved to be congratulated because the atmosphere that brought about change of leadership was cordial.

He said that if that cordiality was maintained it would engender peace throughout the country, before and after the handing over, noting that the

action of President Jonathan has brought dignity to the entire process of the election.

The elder statesman, however, advised Buhari to be

magnanimous in victory and bring out his wealth of experience to bear in his leadership of the country.

It’s Anioma time to produce Delta gov, says Itsekiri group

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By Emma Amaize

ARRI—THE Itsekiri Progress Club, IPC, Warri, Delta State, has said that it was the turn of Delta North senatorial district (Anioma) to produce the next governor of the state and urged the people of Delta Central (Urhobo) and South senatorial districts to vote the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, in Saturday’s poll.

The group, in a statement by its Secretary, Austin Oborogbeyi, said it was in the interest of equity, fairness and justice in the state for power to shift to Delta North.

IPC congratulated the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on his victory and admonished him to ensure strict adherence to and enforcement of the rule of law in the governance of the country.

It also commended President

Goodluck Jonathan for not only conducting a free, fair, credible election, but also for his spirit of sportsmanship and statesmanship in conceding defeat and congratulating Gen Buhari for winning the March 28, 2015 poll.

A

N activist in the Niger Delta, Chief Michael Johnny, has warned that the electorate in Delta State will resist attempts by any political party to rig this Saturday's governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

Johnny, who spoke yesterday in Warri, said: “The era of writing election results and imposing rulers on the people of Delta State is over. On Saturday, Deltans will come out to vote for their choice candidates.”

He also advised youths in the state, particularly those from the oil producing communities to protect oil facilities in their areas, adding “We should not destroy oil facilities in our communities which actually belong to us for any reason whatsoever."

Pondi clinches Burutu federal constituency seat

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HE result of the National Assembly elections for Burutu federal constituency has been declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, with the former Burutu legislative arm leader, Mr. Julius Pondi of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, clinching the ticket.

The INEC Returning Officer, Dr. Thaddeus Nwaoha, who declared the result in Burutu, announced Pondi of the PDP winner having polled 65,381

votes; Mr. Solomon Yerimeme of the All Progressives Congress, APC, polled 487 votes while Mamezi Borugho of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, polled two votes.

Pondi, a former Leader of Burutu Local Government Legislative Arm in his reaction to his victory, thanked the people of Burutu for voting enmasse for the PDP and promised to give the area effective and robust representation.

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

Okorocha sets up c'ttee on threat against Igbo in Lagos

Enugu govt faults JUSUN strike

By Francis Igata

By Chidi Nkwopara

E

O

NUGU State government has described as false and malicious the reason Judicial Staff Union of Nigerian, JUSUN, gave for embarking on an indefinite strike.

JUSUN had, last Thursday, called out its members on an indefinite strike, claiming that the state government had not complied with the judgement/order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which granted financial autonomy and independence to the judiciary in Enugu State.

Attorney General of Enugu State and Commissioner of Justice, Anthony Animas, said yesterday: “The position of JUSUN is false and malicious.

“What the judgement sought is to allocate recurrent funds to the judiciary directly.

“We signed the agreement, but JUSUN has failed to furnish the Accountant General of the state with a nominated bank account where the money will be paid into.”

WERRI—AS the death threat allegedly issued

by Oba Rilwanu Akiolu against Ndigbo in Lagos continues to reverberate across the country, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has commissioned royal fathers to investigate it.

Okorocha, who expressed anger over the threat, directed that the committee, led by Eze Samuel Ohiri, to leave immediately for Lagos.

Okorocha said: “Eze Ohiri and members of his committee are to leave for Lagos immediately, to meet with the Oba to enable them have one-on-one discussion over the said threat by the traditional ruler and extract some commitments from him.

“Although the traditional ruler was reported to have denied the report, it should not be enough to accept that denial without traditional rulers from the South-East meeting with him to discuss the controversy and work out the way forward, to ensure that the long-existing cordial relationship between the Igbo in Lagos and their host community remain untainted.

“When the traditional rulers

get to Lagos and hear from the Oba directly, they would look at the entire issue and know what to tell the Oba or

ESPITE the close margin between All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections in Lagos State, Senator Gbenga Ashafa has emphatically declared that the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, will poll

the highest number of votes with a wide margin on Saturday.

Ashafa, who is also the Senator-elect for the Lagos East senatorial district, following a successful reelection for a second term on March 28, further analyzed the current political landscape and how the gubernatorial

By Innocent Anaba

T

HE United Democratic Party, UDP and one of its candidates have dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before a Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, over the listing of its candidate in the wrong state Constituency for the upcoming April 11 election into Anambra State House of Assembly.

In the suit, by their lawyer, Mr. Chijioke Emeka, both the aggrieved political party and its candidate, Mrs. Angela Nnaneme, are seeking an order compelling the INEC to list the party and its candidate

for Anaocha II State Constituency.

According to the plaintiffs, UDP filed all the required forms and submitted them with a list in all of which Mrs. Nnaneme was presented as the party ’s candidate for Anaocha II state constituency.

Surprisingly, INEC listed her for Anaocha I state constituency in its January 2015 list.

This prompted her to write a petition to INEC for correction, and the petition was stamped received by INEC in Awka.

Notwithstanding the petition, when INEC

e are not exactly surprised. On the contrary, we thank the oba for the unfortunate threat that reveals deep rooted animosity to Igbo people.

We also thank him for helping us make up our collective minds on how to cast our votes. Mr Patrick Anozie- Self Employed C M Y K

published a reviewed list in March, the error was not corrected as the candidate remained listed in the wrong constituency.

In her affidavit in support of the suit, Mrs. Nnaneme averred that after submitting her papers for Anaocha II, she had mobilized her campaign and carried on with selling her candidature to the people of Anaocha II, only to realize that the INEC had excluded her from the election.

She, therefore, prayed the court to compel INEC to redress the wrong, so she could be included.

Although INEC has been served with the processes, no date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.

Aregbesola assures Ife monarchs of devt projects

G

OVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, yesterday, assured Obas and people of Ife North and South local government areas that in his second term

elections would play out.

He expressed confidence in the chances of the APC, adding that the party ’s political machinery on ground in Lagos State was fit enough to return the party to Alausa seat of power on April 11.

Ashafa noted that APC deserved to win the governorship election in Lagos.

in office, his government would execute significant new developments in the area as a mark of appreciation for their loyalty and support since the struggle in 2007 to turn things around in the state.

Aregbesola made the pledge when he held series of strategic meetings with the leadership of the area, and at the campaign rally for Saturday’s elections.

At both gatherings, the governor emphasized that new developments will be sited at Ipetumodu, Asipa and Edunabon.

He promised the Apetumodu of Ipetunmodu,

Oba James Adegoke, and his chiefs that a new mega school would be built in the headquarters of Ife-North local government, while the old ones will be upgraded.

He said following their firm support for APC throughout the period of struggle to reclaim the “stolen mandate,” the people “deserved every development project that will be brought to their area.”

He urged them to vote “en masse for all APC candidates, on Saturday to guarantee total commitment to our policies and programmes and ensure continuity of the positive development which we (APC) started four years ago.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

W

host community, and that limiting the attendant actions to comments on the pages of newspaper will not resolve the issue.

He urged the Igbo in Lagos to remain calm.

Party sues INEC over wrong listing in Anambra

Ambode’s victory assured by Buhari’s election—ASHAFA

D

what to demand from him before travelling back to Owerri.”

He added that no serious Igbo or Yoruba man would like trouble to exist between the Igbo and the Oba of their

On alleged Lagos monarch's threat

T

he statement represents one of the lowest moments in our national life. I am even more saddened by the fact that some people seek to explain and justify this statement.

There is no justification for it. Mr Ralph NwokeLawyer

I

am waiting to hear the reactions of the human rights groups and civil societies in Nigeria as it relates to statements made by the Oba of Lagos since they claim to be non partisan. . Why will a traditional ruler delve into political arena? Miss Chimezie Ezembu- Worker

T

hat is not the best thing.

The best thing is to join our fellow country men in making Nigeria a good country for our children, if not for us. It is time for Igbos to take their stand and demand that Nigeria be a nation of law and order that protects every citizen. Mr Sam Eleanya- Worker

P

olitics in Nigeria is becoming a tribal and ethnic consensus. It is no longer a game of ideology and principles. Sometimes, I wonder why we worship this set of unpatriotic Nigerians. Igbo cannot tolerate this nonsense any more. Miss Lizzy PopsonStudent

T

his is an insult of the highest order to Igbos, they should stop developing Yorubaland and Hausaland and come back home and develop Igboland. Igbo will vote for whoever they want to vote for this Saturday. Mr Chibuzor Marvelly- Deck Cadet

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015—47

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 20158

49— Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

By Leke Adeseri, South West Regional Editor, Soni Daniel & Gbenga Ariyibi

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BUJA—A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday refused to halt the impeachment proceeding being spearheaded by the 19 All Progressives Congress, APC, members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly against Governor Ayodele Fayose, and his deputy, Kolapo Olusola.

The impeachment proceeding notice is said to have been served on the governor and his deputy by the 19 All Progressives Congress, APC, members who have been at loggerheads with the governor since he came on board last October.

Although Fayose has been working with only seven members of the PDP in the House, the APC lawmakers, which the governor does not recognise, returned to the state this week with an impeachment notice, prompting the closure of the House of Assembly by security agents.

But the governor’s bid to stop the impeachment through an interim injunction did not go through as the court rejected their prayers contained in an ex parte application seeking interim injunction to set aside the impeachment notice served on them and halt further moves to remove them from office.

The court, however, granted prayers contained in the ex parte application relating to service of the court processes on the defendants.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed ordered the defendants in the suit, including the APC factional Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin, and the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, to appear in court on April 16.

The court ordered the defendants to appear in court to show cause why the order of interim injunction being sought by the plaintiffs halting the impeachment proceedings should not be granted.

Other defendants in the suit are, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The plaintiffs in the suit are the Speaker of the House of Assembly (described as being occupied by the Peoples Democratic Party factional Speaker, Dele Olugbemi); Ekiti State House of Assembly, Fayose and Olusola.

Counsel for the plaintiffs, Mr. Ahmed Raji, had sought the interim injunction halting the impeachment moves through an ex parte application dated and filed on April 7, 2015.

He had urged the court to grant the interim injunction setting aside the impeachment notice already served on the governor and the deputy and also restraining the defendants from taking any further steps in the impeachment moves.

The lawyer argued that the act

by Omirin to issue an impeachment notice and serve same on the governor and the deputy governor as Speaker of the House of Assembly amounted to impersonating the incumbent

C M Y K

EKITI CRISIS: Mother of late 32-year-Old Temitope Olaiya, Mrs Apeke Modupe Olaiya and his pregnant wife, Yinka Olaiya in Ado Ekiti, yesterday. Photo: Dare Fasube.

Judge declines to stop impeachment proceedings against Fayose zFragile peace in Ekiti as security agents seal Assembly zFayose petitions IGP, others over slain protester Speaker.

Security men seal Ekiti Assembly

Peace of the graveyard, where no one seems to know what will happen next is being experienced in Ekiti State after three days of rage over an attempted bid by the 19 All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmakers in Ekiti State House of Assembly to impeach the governor, Mr Ayo Fayose.

However, armed security operatives are still keeping watch over the State House of Assembly.

They were made up of both officials of the Department of State Service, DSS, as well as regular and mobile policemen who barricaded all the entrances leading to the complex, with Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, stationed at strategic locations Also yesterday, the governor petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba and the Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Prof. Ben Angwe over the alleged killing of one Modupe Temitope Olaiya in Efon-Alaaye on Tuesday.

Fayose petitions IGP, others

The face-off between members of the 19 All Progressive Congress, APC, lawmakers in Ekiti State House of Assembly and the state governor,Mr Ayo Fayose

yesterday took a new turn as the governor has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba and the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC,, Prof. Bem Angwe, over the killing of Modupe Temitope Olaiya in Efon-Alaaye on Wednesday Olaiya was allegedly shot dead by yet to be identified person at Itawure, near Efon Alaye Wednesday during a commotion when the APC lawmakers were prevented from entering the state by the soldiers.

In a statement by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Fayose called the attention of the duo to the ugly development and urged them to commence a full scale investigation with a view of bringing the culprits to book The petition personally signed

by Fayose was titled; “Murder of Mr Modupe Temitope Olaiya; call for investigation and prosecution of culprits.”

It read; “I write to call your attention to the murder of Mr ModupeTemitope Olaya, in Efon-Alaaye junction, Ekiti State yesterday.

“Modupe Olaiya was said to be going about his lawful business peacefully when gun shots were fired at him and other people at Efon-Alaaye junction by rampaging All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmakers, who were coming to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital in two

unmarked Toyota buses.

“The APC lawmakers were escorted by some fully armed mobile policemen, who I later discovered were brought from MOPOL 20 in Lagos State.

“Some of the mobile policemen alleged to have been identified are as follows: Sgt. Oyelakin Zacchaeus (F/No 386073) Cpl. Adewuya Clement (F/No 396903) Cpl James Ogunji (F/No 386976) Cpl Ebute Michael (F/No 343469) Cpl. Ibrahim Zock (F/No 235510).

“To my surprise, instead of the police arresting the lawmakers, they were allowed to return to Oshogbo, Osun State where they came from.

“As I write, the entire EfonAlaaye community is tense, with the people expecting justice to prevail on the gruesome murder of Modupe Olaiya.

“It is therefore on this note, and most importantly, the need to restore the confidence of the people in the police that I implore that you use your good offices to order a thorough investigation into the murder.

“It is also important that the involvement of the above listed mobile policemen is ascertained as they were not from Ekiti State and were not deployed to escort the lawmakers to the state by the Ekiti State Police Command.

“Thanking you for your anticipated prompt action.”

He is trying to implicate one of us —Omirin In his reaction Omirin through Olujobi said: ‘’Governor Ayodele Fayose yesterday invited to the

Government House the mother and other family members of Efon casualty felled by alleged soldiers’ bullets in Efon to implicate the member of the House of Assembly representing Efon-Alaaye, Hon. Folorunso Ogundele. ‘’In a carefully choreographed drama, Fayose called journalists, both print and electronic, to cover the spectacle. The journalists were in the Government House apparently unaware that they were being invited to help in deceiving Nigerians. ‘’We have confirmed that Fayose gave the woman huge sums of money and asked her to start crying, rolling on the floor with persistent mentioning of Honourable Ogundele as the one who shot the boy. ‘’The woman was crying and rolling on the floor when journalists were herded to the scene. ‘’In reality, the deceased, Modupe Olaiya, was actually killed by security agents while thugs armed with guns and other dangerous weapons massed up at the Itawure security check-point violently protesting to block the route through which the 19 APC lawmakers were coming to AdoEkiti. ‘’Residents of Efon-Alaaye have confirmed that the incident happened long before the lawmakers arrived the checkpoint when the thugs became unruly shooting at the security agents. ‘’In the exchange of gunfires, Modupe was felled and taken to the morgue. His body was later shown to residents by government officials alleging that Ogundele, who was no where near the scene, was implicated. ‘’The lawmakers were not even aware of the incident because they were still far away from the spot when the incident happened. So, it will be mischievous if the lawmakers are linked with the incident. ‘’Nigerians should recall that Ekiti State High Court once dismissed Fayose as incorrigible liar and peddler of mischief.

Nigerians should therefore note the deceit involved in this show of shame. Is it the deceased that should visit the governor in his office or the governor that should visit the woman to sympathize with her in her house? ‘’This is another propaganda typical of Fayose’s mischief to get at the opposition. What Fayose is doing is to stoke crisis that will lead to the arrest of Honourable Ogundele so that he will not be around on Saturday for the House of Assembly poll in which the man is seeking re-election. ‘’This is another stunt from a man who trades and trafficks in lies and mischief as essential instrument of governance,’’ According to reports, the APC lawmakers who were coming from Osun State were prevented from entering the state by the gun trotting soldiers who mounted road block at Itawure junction, Efon Alaye on Tuesday.

There is no clear evidence that the lawmakers have returned back to the state.

50 —VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 9 , 2015

IS releases 216 Yazidi captives I

SLAMIC State mili tants have released more than 200 members of the Yazidi religious community being held in northern Iraq, Kurdish security officials have said.

Most of the 216 prisoners were in poor health and bore signs of abuse, General Hiwa Abdullah told the Associated Press.

About 40 children were among those freed, while the rest were elderly.IS had attacked the Yazidis in Iraq last year, killing and abducting thousands.

Some of the captives told Reuters they had been held in the IS stronghold of Tel Afar most of the time, but in the days leading up to their release, they were

Yazidi families await help near the Iraqi city of Kirkuk after being freed by the Islamic State group in its first mass release in January moved from one town to another.

A Reuters reporter at the scene said many of the prisoners were too exhausted and disoriented to speak.

Meanwhile, Iraqi troops have said they are gaining ground in a fresh offensive against IS in the western province of Anbar.

Military sources said the insurgents were trading mortar fire with government forces in the Sijariya area, east of the region’s capital Ramadi, where IS has been dominant.

An air strike by a USled coalition is reported to have hit militants who were trying to flee by boat on a river.

Iranian establishment may face risk if nuclear deal fails

F

AILURE to finalize a framework agreement between Iran and the six major powers aimed at curbing the country’s sen-

sitive nuclear work could profoundly destabilize the Islamic Republic, analysts and politicians have said.

Iranians’ hopes of end-

German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier, European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarifat, Russian Deputy Political Director Alexey Karpov and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond during the nuclear talks at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne recently.

ing their international isolation have risen so high since the accord that failure to finalize it would generate levels of dismay that could hurt the authorities, even if the West was portrayed as the guilty party, analysts say.

“Finally it is over. The isolation is over. The economic hardship is over.

(President Hassan) Rouhani kept his promises,” said university student Mina Derakhshande, who was among a cheering crowd on Friday.

“Failure of the talks will be end of the world for us Iranians. I cannot tolerate it.”

Managing popular expectations will be more difficult in Iran now, said Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington.

Nearly half of European jihadists in Syria, Iraq are French

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EARLY half of Euro pean jihadists known to have travelled to territory held by the extremist Islamic State group are French, a report by the country’s upper house Senate revealed Wednesday.

Just over 1,430 French people have made their way to Iraq and Syria, representing 47 percent of jihadists from Europe that

are known and accounted for, Senator Jean-Pierre Sueur, who spearheaded a parliamentary probe into jihadist networks, told reporters.

According to Sueur, French domestic intelligence services are currently monitoring more than 3,000 people suspected of being involved in one way or another in Syrian networks — a 24-

percent increase since November last year.

Some 85 French nationals are thought to have died in IS-held zones while two are being held in Syria, the report said.

Of particular concern to intelligence services, some 200 have left to come back to France, prompting fears they may stage attacks mirroring the January 7-9 shooting spree that left 17 dead.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 — 51

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52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015—53

C&S plans 3-wk burial service for late Fakeye

By Bose Adebayo & Ebun Sessou

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VISIT: Delegation of Igbo traditional rulers, during a visit to Yoruba traditional rulers of Lagos, to defuse the allegation of hate comment by Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos, at Amuwo Odofin Local Govenment Council, Festac, yesterday.

FG, state govts leave huge debts for in-coming President, govs

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

F

EDERAL AND state governments have accumulated a total external debt of $9.711 billion as at the end of December 31, 2014.

Debt statistics released by the Debt Management Office, DMO, showed that the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory accumulated a debt stock of $3.265 billion, while the Federal Government incurred a total of $6.445 billion.

A break-down of the debt showed that $3.146 billion owed by states were borrowed from multilateral institutions, while $118.9 million were bilateral loans.

In the case of the Federal Government, $3.652 billion

We'll release report on Chibok girls soon —FG

By Caleb Ayansina

A

BUJA — Federal Government, yesterday, promised to release a comprehensive report on the rescuing operation of the Chibok girls, abducted nearly one year ago.

On 14 April, over 200 female students were kidnapped from Government Secondary School in

the town of Chibok in Borno State,

by Boko Haram, an Islamic Jihadist and terrorist organisation based in the North East of Nigeria.

Following speculations that they cannot be found again, the government said search for the Chilbok girls was still on course.

Coordinator of National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, who stated this during a briefing on the security situation

in the country, in Abuja, insisted that all hope on rescuing of the girls was not lost.

He admonished Nigerians to be hopeful as recovery of the captured towns and villages by Boko Haram were still on-going.

Omeri said: “The research for Chibok girls continues and that is why even with capture of Bama and the rest, security and military have never relent, and until it is concluded.

I’ve no reason to defect to APC, says Mark

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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B U J A — S E N AT E President, David Mark, yesterday, ruled out the possibility of defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC, which will have the majority members in the 8th Senate, saying that he had no reason to jump ship.

There had been speculations that the Senate President and his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, were contemplating dumping the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for APC, so as to remain relevant in the leadership of the National Assembly.

About 24 hours after the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, vowed to remain with the PDP, despite the fact it will be in the minority in the Senate to commence June this year, Senator Mark said even if every other person left the PDP, he would still be the last person to do that.

Speaking at the Church Service to Mark his 67th birthday at St.

Mulumba’s Catholic Church, Apo, in Abuja, Senator Mark said: “I have no reason to jump ship. I will not leave the PDP, I will be the last man standing for the PDP. The party gave me the platform to be where I am today.

“I will stay in the PDP to contribute my quota to the rebuilding and restructuring of the party. This is democracy.

Winners emerge and the losers go back to the drawing board and rejuvenate.

“The outcome of the presidential election in favour of APC is the will of God and majority of Nigerians. We, in the PDP have accepted the result.

“Those drifting to the APC now are fair weather friends of the PDP. They are seeking new green areas. When the PDP bounces back, they will want to return.

“I believe in PDP manifestos .

I will work hard to bring the party back on track. What is important is that we have established democracy in Nigeria.”

Speaking on the occasion, the Senate Leader, Victor NdomaEgba, SAN, eulogised the

Senate President for the wisdom he had used to pilot the affairs of the National Assembly, adding that his continued contributions to socio-economic and political development of the country could not be undermined.

were loans sourced from multilateral institutions, while a total of $2.793 billion were loans obtained from China Export Import Bank and the funds the Federal Government raised from Eurobond.

According to the DMO, the Federal Government had a stock of $9.711 billion in external debt and another N7. 9 trillion domestic debt as at the end of December, 2014.

The DMO said, however, that the Federal Government debt was sustainable as its debt sustainability analysis showed that the debt/GDP ration was only 2.4 per cent.

The external debt profile of the states showed that Lagos State had the highest with a profile of $1.087 billion, followed by Kaduna State with a total of $234 million. Cross River State followed closely with an external debt profile of $131.469 million.

Other states with relatively large external debt are Edo -$123 million, Ogun -$109million, Bauchi -$87million, Enugu -$62 million, Katsina -$78million, Osun -$67 million and Oyo State -$72 million.

We’re humbled by Jonathan’s defeat —Muazu …vows Nigerians will see new PDP

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BUJA —STILL trying to recover from the defeat suffered by his party in the Presidential and National Assembly elections last week, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, has admitted that the party was humbled by the loss.

The defeat notwithstanding, Muazu, who is fondly nicknamed ‘the Game Changer’ by his party faithful, has assured Nigerians that the PDP will be reformed to meet the expectations of its members and Nigerians.

According to the chairman,

the ruling party has learnt lessons from its defeat and will never again let Nigerians down when it bounces back to power.

The chairman’s position was contained in a series of tweets he posted on his twitter handle #AM. In one of the posts, Muazu said: “We are humbled by March 28 decision of many Nigerians and we will never again let you down. We will reform our party.

“We have learnt some very useful lessons with the March 28 elections and we want to assure Nigerians you will see a new PDP."

HE REMAINS of the General Leader of the Cherubim & Seraphim Movement, Ayo Nio, Prophet Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye, will be laid to rest on April 17 in his hometown in Imesi-Ile, Obokun North Central in Osun State.

A three-week burial activities lined up to celebrate the life and times of late Fakeye, JP, include a Service of Song which kicked off on Tuesday, April 7 to run through April 14 at George the Martyr, Borough High Street, South East London and other C&S Movement worldwide.

Other activities include a Commendation Service on April 14 at the Onikan Stadium, while a wakekeep service will be held on April 15, in Imesi Ile, his hometown as well as all night songs ministration the same day.

On April 17, burial service will be held in Imesi-Ile followed by interment in the same place, while outing service will take place at Methodist Church in Imesi-Ile as well as entertainment of guests.

Speaking on other events, Secretary General C&S District, Apostle George Ogunleye, told newsmen that on April 26, appreciation, special thanksgiving, concurrent outing services will be held within and outside Nigeria.

He said the three-week activities is to appreciate and honour the life of the late prophet who served the church and the country selflessly and in humility.

According to him: “We are starting an historic event in the annal of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church and the entire Christendom.

“Prophet Fakeye worked tirelessly to restore and maintain the dignity of the C&S Church worldwide.

He was a strong Seraphic leader of the 21st century church and a significant prophetic voice to nations.

“He led uncountable souls to Christ via his relentless passion for evangelism and humble nature.

"He communicated God’s word with such indescribable, sharp, prophetic insight that helped shape the destiny of many people.”

54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

Delta North backs Okowa

From left— Deacon Kehinde Olubowale, groom's father; Mrs Helen Ekunkunbor, bride's mother; the couple, Mr. Adekunle Olubowale and his wife, former Miss Mayomi Ekunkunbor; Mrs Kehinde Olubowale, groom's mother and Mr. Sunny Ekunkunbor, bride's father, at the couple's traditional wedding in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

Peace more important than victory, says Dagogo-Jack

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CHIEFTAIN of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and former governorship aspirant Engr. Reynolds DagogoJack, has spoken against the increasing violence in Rivers State elections, warning it had implications for the economy and the safety of the people.

The former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power, said peace in Rivers State was more important than winning Saturday ’s governorship and state assembly elections.

He said he was “compelled by the forces of good conscience, peace and our shared destiny to call on all political actors and their leaders to be peaceful and respect the sanctity of human life in their conduct before, during and after the voting processes.”

He appealed to the youths “to firmly resist any attempts by politicians to recruit them as bandits; to reject being armed illegally for the purpose of interfering with the peaceful conduct of the elections and forcefully subverting the right of the people to express their choice at the ballot box.”

The grand patron of the Rivers Peace Restoration Agenda, urged Rivers people “to use this once in a lifetime opportunity to redirect the course of our politics, which bears directly on our development, so that all our people can begin to enjoy the benefits of a state as richly blessed as ours.”

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Peterside divides INC

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— IT was a dramatic scene, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as the eastern leadership of Ijaw National Congress, INC, attempted to adopt the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Dakuku Peterside, as its candidate.

National President of the body, Chief Boma Ibiforibo, was addressing newsmen on the decision of the eastern region to adopt Peterside, when other chieftains of the body started shouting that the adoption was not a collective decision.

Ibiforibo said: “In light of this and in line with the timehonoured principle of power rotation, INC, Easter Zone, the authentic voice of Ijaw people, Ijaw elders and leaders, has endorsed Peterside of APC as the preferred, most viable and qualified candidate of all.

“We urge all Ijaw people in Rivers State and appeal to our Rivers brethren in the upland parts of the state to cast your votes for Peterside.”

Martins Amapipi and

Anthony Ibiforu were among those that rejected Ibiforibo's pronouncement.

Amapipi said: “The INC President is not in touch with the people. The endorsement of Peterside is a kangaroo arrangement because as enlightened Ijaw men, we are not in support of Peterside.

“We will not support anybody that worked against our son, President Goodluck Jonathan.

We are bruised emotionally.

“Jonathan is the best performing President, but he is from the minority and was edged out. We will continue to identify with Jonathan and work for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.” Ibiforu said: “We cannot support Dakuku because he did not protect our interest as Ijaw people when he was a commissioner.”

Claims of poll manipulation in C’River laughable— DUKE

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INISTER for Tourism, Culture and Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, has debunked claims by opposition parties in Cross River State that the presidential and National Assembly elections were manipulated to favour Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Duke said the party’s victory was not unexpected given that the state had been a solid PDP state since 1999, with the state recording impressive growth under the leadership of the party.

He advised the opposition to stop their delusion, as nobody who knows the political history of the state was taking their claims seriously.

He said: “People understand that the allegation is at variance with the political environment in the state.

“So they should not insist on discrediting what is clearly the will of the people.

“It is an aberration to have the kind of following PDP has and be accused of election manipulation.”

Agbor community endorses Okowa

By Kelechi Azubuike

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GBOR community in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State has endorsed the governorship aspiration of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

A statement by the PresidentGeneral, Gen. Nick Agbogun (retd), said the Agbor Community Organization subscribes wholly to the principle of power shift and rotation in Delta State in addition to the towering profile of the PDP candidate and, therefore, implored voters to queue behind Okowa, for the governorship election.

He said: “Our choice of representatives should be informed by antecedents of selfless service to the community and council and promotion of good governance characterized by prosperity for all, rather than prosperity for only the representatives and their acolytes.

“As a community that upholds merit and effective grassroots representation, the electorate should sift the grains from the chaff, just as the lagging candidates have been advised to let our community be represented by our best, irrespective of party affiliations.

“The political parties and their supporters should shun violence and all antidemocratic tendencies.”

HEAD of Saturday’s governorship elections nationwide, leaders of Delta North have endorsed Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to win the election.

Arising from a stakeholders meeting in Asaba, the traditional rulers in the nine local government areas that make up Delta North and President Generals of town unions in the area resolved to stand behind Okowa and his running mate Mr. Kingsley Otuaro.

The meeting came against the background of the apprehensions created by the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in the March 28 Presidential election.

The President of Anioma Congress, umbrella body for stakeholders in Delta North, Sir Benjamin Elue, said the people of Delta North have no fear that Okowa will emerge winner.

...Oghara Forum, too

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GHARA Elite Forum has endorsed Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate as the next governor of the state.

A statement by Mr. Tony Omene, President General, and Olorogun Henry Ofa, Chairman, Board of Trustees, said the forum, made up of professionals and notable politicians, is a stakeholder in the Delta project and believes Senator Okowa has the drive Delta needs to reach enviable heights.

The forum's members also went round Oghara and every part of Ethiope West Local Government Area campaigning, educating and distributing pro-Okowa hand bills to voters.

Itsekiri group congratulates Buhari

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TSEKIRI Legacy Rebirth, ILR, a socio-cultural group, has congratulated president-elect, Gen Muhhamadu Buhari (retd) and his vice, Professor Yemi Osibanjo “for a battle well fought and a victory well deserved.”

A statement by the group’s Chairman, Dr. Alex Ideh, said: “The same

congratulations go to All Progressives Congress and all Senators and House of Representatives, elected on its platform.

“We are delighted that the smear campaigns inflicted on you and some APC leaders did not find favour with Nigerians, who identified with your towering image anchored on transparency and incorruptibility.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 —55

Court restrains Multichoice from increasing tariff

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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AGOS—A Federal High Court in lkoyi has granted an order of interim injunction restraining Multichoice from enforcing its planned increase in cost of the different classes of viewing of its Pay TV, DSTV. Granting the order, the presiding judge, Justice C. J. Aneke, asked parties to maintain status quo in support of the motion ex parte with an affidavit of urgency sworn to by the plaintiffs.

The order read: “That an order of interim injunction is hereby granted to the parties to maintain the status quo restraining the 1st defendant (Multichoice/DSTV) from giving effect or enforcing its planned increase in cost of the different classes of viewing or programmes bouquet, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“That an order is hereby granted certifying the plaintiffs’ claim as a class action for themselves as individual subscribers, other corporate subscribers, distributors and retailers of the 1st defendants’ services.

“That an order is hereby granted restraining any other person whether individual or corporate from instituting any other action

as may be related to the action against the defendant to prevent multiplicity of lawsuits pursuant to the appointment of the plaintiffs in the class action but may instead opt in or out of this action.”

The suit was filed by Adebayo Osasuyi and Oluyinka Oyeniji, DSTV subscribers/customers.

In the suit (FHC/L/CS/404/ 2015), the plaintiffs urged the court to order the second

defendant, the National Broadcasting Commission, to implement Pay Per View where subscribers choose the programmes they want and pay as they watch, which is being implemented in some other parts of the world.

It will be recalled that Multichoice, owners of DStv and GOtv, had announced a 20 per cent price increase for all its satellite pay TV bouquets in

Nigeria to take effect from April 1, 2015.

Multichoice claimed that the annual price increase, usually in line with inflation, is necessary for it to continue offering the best in local and international entertainment to its subscribers.

The matter was adjourned to April 16, 2015 for hearing of the motion on notice for injunction.

MEETING: From left: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President-elect, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Gbolahan Daodu, Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, during Gov. Fashola and Prof. Osinbajo's, Town Hall meeting with teachers in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

POLLS: Fashola urges residents to embrace continuity

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By Olasunkanmi Akoni

AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, urged the electorate to vote for their well being, security, prosperity and protection of their future which the All Progressives Congress, APC, stands for as they turn out enmasse this Saturday to cast their votes to chose the next governor and members of the state House of Assembly.

The governor who made the call during a state-wide broadcast to the people of the state also urged Lagosians not to be swayed by the opposition party on ethnic or religious politics with their survival.

He said: ”You will be choosing candidates and a party that you will entrust your lives to. Think hard, think clearly, think deeply.

Ask yourselves a few questions.

“Who has shown a better record and example of protecting and securing you between the political parties?

“Which party has responsibility for providing electricity for you, and which one is taking up the responsibility to light up your streets and communities at night?

Which of them cares more about your children and their safety?

“Indeed ask yourself; which of the parties threatened you with thugs on that sad Monday of

March 16 and which is seeking to protect you by supporting the police; with patrol vehicles, fuel and other equipment?”

He explained that at this point of decision taking it was expedient the Lagos electorate asked themselves the last time

they saw the Federal Fire Service in the state, saying the officers of the Lagos State Fire Service had since taken over their role admirably.

Osinbajo promises free tertiary education for teachers next administration is sworn in lamented that “one of the basic

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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AGOS—VICE Presidentelect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said teachers in the country’s public schools will get free tertiary education when the

on May 29, this year.

Osinbajo disclosed this during a consultative meeting with Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and members of Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT in Ikeja.

The vice president-elect

problems confronting education in the country was lackoftrainingforteachersespecially those in the public schools.”

He noted that continuous education for teachers is one of the core programmes of the next administration.

S-West Niger Delta Congress backs Ambode

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AGOS—THE South west Niger Delta Congress, an association of indigenes and non indigenes spread accross the local governments and Riverine areas of Lagos State have thrown its support behind the governorship aspiration of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode.

In a statement issued by its Coordinator, Comrade George Utomhim, the group said it has presented and distributed campaign materials such as face caps, T-shirts, e.t.c to APC supporters in drumming support for Ambode’s victory in the polls.

He stated that the group has

fully mobilized its members to troop out to cast their votes on Saturday for Ambode.

His words: “What Lagos and Lagocians need now is continuity and steadfastness in programmes and policies of

governance to ensure maximum benefits to indegenes and non indegenes resident in Lagos.

“Lagos needs a leader like Ambode who had been tested and trusted."

Shun workers' retrenchment advocates, Labour urges Buhari

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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AGOS—THE Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, has urged the President-elect, MajorGeneral Muhammadu Buhari, not to listen to misguided activists and failed experts who have started to advise him to retrench civil servants when he assumes office.

In a statement in Lagos yesterday, Secretary-General of ASCSN, Comrade Alade Lawal, expressed surprise that an incoming government that pledged to create employment opportunities for millions of Nigerians as one of its cardinal programmes was already being urged to retrench workers under the guise that the civil service was “over-bloated.”

The union pointed out that as at today, Nigeria’s population was estimated at 160 million while the staff strength in the core civil service was about 100,000 (0.06% of the country ’s population).

Lagos AD adopts Agbaje

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By Dapo Akinrefon

AGOS—AHEAD of Saturday’s governorship election in Lagos State, the state chapter of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, said it has adopted the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Jimi Agbaje for the poll, stating that it is time for change in the state.

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos yesterday, the state chairman of the party, Mr. Kola Ajayi, stated that the party arrived at the decision during its state executive council meeting, noting that it is joining force with the PDP in the interest of the state, adding the track record and personality of Agbaje is the panache for a better Lagos being envisioned.

OGUN GOV RACE: LP obtains stay of execution

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—THE Labour Party in Ogun State said it has obtained a stay of execution against a court judgement that proclaimed a former Commissioner of Information, Sina Kawonise as the authentic governorship

candidate of the party in the state.

The party executive in the state disowned Kawonise, saying his name never appeared in the list of the governorship candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission,

INEC. Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta , both the state chairman and secretary, Bode Simeon and Sunday Oginni respectively, said there was never a time when the party nominated Kawonise as its flag bearer in the state.

56 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 — 57

58 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 9 , 2015

Aid agencies ready for Yemeni refugee influx in Horn of Africa

Pressure mounts on Kenya’s president after university massacre

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OLITICAL pres sure mounted on Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday with scathing editorials and growing anger at a seven hour delay in the deployment of a special forces unit that eventually ended the bloody siege at Garissa University last week.

The al Qaeda-aligned al Shabaab group has now killed more than 400 people in Kenya since President Uhuru Kenyatta took office in April 2013, denting the east African nation’s image abroad and severely damaging its vital tourism industry.

The pre-dawn attack on the college, 200 km (120 miles) from the Somali border, came a day after Kenyatta berated Britain and Australia for issuing travel advisories, saying their security warnings were “not genuine”.

However, Kenyan me-

dia, some of them owned

by Kenyatta’s family, are becoming increasingly critical of the president and government efforts to stop future attacks, draw-

ing comparisons to al Shabaab’s assault on Nairobi’s Westgate mall, where the Islamists killed 67 people during a four day siege in 2013.

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University students in a demonstration condemning the gunmen attack at the Garissa University campus, in the Kenyan coastal port city of Mombasa yesterday.

Mugabe lambasts West on visit to S/Africa “The five countries we are not interfered Mugabe told reporters.

IMBABWEAN there who are permawith by outsiders and we “We don’t think we are President Robert nent members... control become masters of ourMugabe yesterday selves in Africa,” getting a fair deal at the the entire system.”

United Nations. launched a wide-ranging attack on Western colonisation in Africa and recent intervention in the Arab world, as he made his first state visit to South Africa in 21 years.

The veteran leader, 91, seized the opportunity of a televised press conference with President Jacob Zuma in Pretoria to lambast the United Nations Security Council, the United States and former colonial power Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe (centre) is greeted by South African Britain.

“We want a political Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Siyabonga Cwele as he arrives at the Waterkloof Air Force base in Pretoria on April 7, 2015 environment in which

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EFUGEES from war-torn Yemen fleeing intense airstrikes were arriving in the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti, aid agencies said yesterday , warning of a possible large influx ahead.

While a total of 238 refugees from Yemen have registered in Djibouti in recent weeks, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said, preparations were being made for many more.

“UNHCR and the Djiboutian authorities are expecting a big influx, but the extent is still unclear at the moment,” Frederic Van Hamme, from UNHCR Djibouti said.

The movement of refugees from Yemen to Djibouti and Somalia reverses a decades-old trend whereby Somalis have sought safety from decades of war in Yemen.

“The situation in Yemen is very violent and the people there are suffering,”.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 — 59

Senator Kamardeen Akin Odunsi

Change of govt ‘ll happen in Ogun like it happened in Abuja — Odunsi THE governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in Ogun State, Senator Kamardeen Akin Odunsi in an interview, expressed confidence that he has been designed to take over the power from the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun during the Saturday governorship election.

Odunsi said the same thing that happened to the outgoing President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan at the presidential poll would happen to the incumbent because people of the state want change.

He also appealed to the governor to concede defeat if he lost the election like President Jonathan.

DAUD OLATUNJI was there for Vanguard. Excerpts:

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OW confident are you in the coming governorship election?

By the grace of God, we believe we have worked very hard and we believe that the people are ready to work with us and all things being equal, we are looking forward to a very peaceful election.

What do you think should be the priority of government for people of this state in this election?

I think the priority of the people of this state should be economic empowerment one of which is rural integration. The rural areas are being abandoned by the present administration. The over concentration on the Urban-Renewal Programmes are being done at the neglect of the rural communities and if you know that about 70 per cent of the people of this state are rural dwellers, they have been abandoned by this present administration.

The so-called Urban Renewal Programmes are done at the detriment of people, many houses have been damaged, so many businesses have folded up and a lot of those people whose houses were pulled down have lost their lives due to shock and the inadequate or low compensation. Many small scale business owners whose business have been damaged are today walking about without any means to business, so, it brought quite an untold hardship to the people, what we are trying to do is to bring back the confidence in the people, to re-empower our people and ensure that we implement programmes that leads to the economic emancipation of the people.

Some of your party members, especially Senators and members of House of Representatives have lost their seats at the last national assembly elections, don’t you think that would affect the chances of your party at the coming election?

That is absolutely not correct, my party was not on the ballot. This last election could be described as a referendum. It was a battle between continuity and change and the people rejected the concept of continuity , the people believed the administration at the center has not performed and we can all see that, it was a rejection of the Jonathan administration and because the national assembly election was held simultaneously with the presidential election, people decided that it should be either the change represented by the broom (All Progressives Congress), or continuity represented by the umbrella (Peoples Democratic Party) and in the process, many went for change and many thumb-printed the broom (APC) but this next election is not going to be like the last one, it is a state election.

If you are to talk about the change that played out at the national level here, people are tired of the maladministration of this present government. The battle ahead is between change and continuity, majority of Ogun State residents want pure and simple change and the best change option is the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

What is your advice for the people of the state?

I’ll encourage the people to peacefully go about the election in a simple manner. My advice also for them is to shine their faces from people who want to win this election at all cost, for them, it is a door-die affair but for us and our members, we will be on the alert to succeed the way we plan. I pray that the election go peacefully like the last one and I advice those who are threatening fire and brimstone to accept defeat just like the Jonathan administration accepted defeat when the time comes.

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

AFCON 2017: Eagles to battle Pharaohs, Chad, Tanzania T

HE Super Eagles have been drawn alongside Egypt in a tough qualification group for AFCON 2017.

All the fears of Nigeria not making it to two AFCONs in a row will now be amplified after being put in a group with seven-times winners of the tournament. The Super Eagles have won it three times with their latest victory coming in 2013.

There has, however, been a backlash after Stephen Keshi’s side did not make it to the event in 2015 and have struggled with form recently.

The Super Eagles two other oponents in Group G will be Tanzania and Chad. Only the winners of each group will make it to the tournament in Gabon with the two best runners-up also making the cut.

DUTY CALL ••• Super Eagles midfielder, Stephen Ukoh on duty for Nigeria during their friendly match against Uganda in Uyo.

Supporters club congratulates Buhari

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HE Nigerian F o o t b a l l Supporters Club has congratulated the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari over his success in last month’s Presidential election.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday, President General(World wide) of the club, Dr Rafiu Ladipo said Buhari’s emergence as Nigeria’s next President was not only historic but also “significant”, particularly, as the support for his candidacy cut across the length and breadth of the country.

“It is our hope that the President-elect would use this tremendous goodwill shown by Nigerians in developing sports which is a critical sector in the polity,” Ladipo said.

He enjoined the President-elect to reignite his charm, charisma and support for sport just as he did when Nigeria became the first African country to lift a FIFA trophy in 1985.

“We recall with pride the

•Ladipo contributions of General Buhari to Nigeria’s success story in the 1985 FIFA U17 tournament and believe that he can do it again as a civilian president.”

Ladipo also spared a thought for President Goodluck Jonathan whom he described as “the hero of our time,” for his contributions to the development of sports in the country. “President Jonathan’s support for sports was legendary and we will never forget him.”

Lawal, Babangida, Akwegbu predict tough Ghanaian ref for AFCON campaign for Eagles knows how to play football.

Falcons, Mali clash •We’ll qualify for Gabon 2017 – Amokachi assures “We can’t afford to play

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HE road to the 2017 AFCON will be rough for Nigeria as they will battle the Pharaohs of Egypt, Chad and Tanzania in Group G for a place at the 2017 AFCON to be staged by Gabon in 2017.

Only the eventual group leaders are guaranteed automatic qualification for Gabon.

They open the qualifying campaign in the second week of June at home against Chad.

Gabon Continues from BP Algeria and Ghana.

It will be the second time as hosts for the country, which is located on the west coast of Africa, having previously shared duties with Equatorial Guinea.

Original hosts Libya, where a civil war has halted football, withdrew last year from staging the tournament.

Gabon will use four venues for the 16-team tournament, which will be played in January and February.

They will be in Libreville and Franceville, which were used in 2012, plus Port Gentil and Oyem where the stadiums will be ready in 14 months, Gabon Football Federation officials said.

All three candidate countries made presentations to the Caf executive committee on Wednesday before the ballot was taken. Caf did not make details of the voting immediately available.

Also on Wednesday, Caf conducted the draw for the qualifiers, which included Morocco and Tunisia.

Morocco had been banned from taking part in the next two editions of the tournament after they did not host the 2015 event but were reinstated after winning their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Tunisia avoided a ban after apologising to Caf for accusing the governing body of bias.

Egypt have won the tournament a record seven times, but they have failed to qualify for the last three editions.

They have clashed with Nigeria 17 times at full international level with the Pharaohs winning six and drawing six of these meetings. Egypt beat the Eagles 3-2 in their last clash in April 2012.

“Egypt will always be a great team. They have had their problems partly because of the political situation affecting the country. They appear to be overcoming these problems and will push Nigeria for top spot,” said former Eagles star Garba Lawal.

“Both Tanzania and Chad will not be pushovers as every country now

for one of the ‘second-best’ spots. We have to top this group and as such we have to be fully prepared for a battle.”

Nigeria caretaker coach Daniel Amokachi simply said: “By his grace, we will qualify for AFCON 2017 from this group.”

One-time Eagles winger Tijani Babangida further said: “No matter what, Nigeria are ahead of all the teams in our group.

“If the coaches select the best players with good technical inputs, we will definitely qualify.

“Daniel Amokachi is there now as coach, let him and the NFF be on same page so there won’t be problems like we had in the last two friendly matches, where the coach in charge said he didn’t invite the players.'''

Siasia Continues from BP Former Super Eagles’ Head Coach Siasia insisted that if the Zambians could come to Abuja to get a draw, his wards have no option but to go out there and earn a win. He however frowned at the attitude

of Flying Eagles Captain Musa Mohammed who took permission to leave the camp to go and collect his international passport in Lagos and has failed to return to camp.

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HANAIAN referee Joyce Obenewa Appiah will be at the centre when Nigeria’s Senior Women’s Team, Super Falcons, take on their Malian counterparts on Friday for a spot at the Women’s Football Tournament of the 11th All-Africa Games.

Appiah will be assisted by compatriots Emmanuella Aglago, Beatrice Thaud and

Theresa Bremansu who are Assistant Referee 1, Assistant Referee 2 and Reserve Referee respectively.

The Match Commissioner is Pedro Alogo Ondo Abeku, from Equatorial Guinea.

The match is scheduled for Friday, April 10 at the National Stadium, Abuja. Both teams tied 1-1 in the first leg played in Bamako on March 21.

Uzoenyi on road to recovery

•Uzoenyi

M

AMELODI Sundowns’ Nigerian midfielder Ejike Uzoenyi has begun light training as he prepares to make a return for the South African side.

Uzoenyi, who was the star of CHAN 2014 and was a member of the

Super Eagles team that travelled to the World Cup, has not been part of the Nigerian squad since Brazil.

The midfielder ’s Sundowns career has so far been put on halt due injury. He played for Enugu Rangers last year and joined the Pretoria club after impressing in South Africa when they hosted the African Nations Championship.

Uzoenyi has only managed to make one start for Sundowns, although he has come off the bench four times, before picking up a groin injury.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 — 61

Dortmund response pleases Klopp

B

ORUSSIA Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp saluted his players after they bounced back from their loss to Bayern Munich with victory over Hoffenheim to reach the DFB-Pokal semi-finals.

Sebastian Kehl scored a stunning extra-time winner to lift Dortmund past Hoffenheim 3-2 at Signal Iduna Park - three days

•Klopp

after Klopp’s men loss 10 to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

Dortmund - last season’s beaten finalists - took a 19th-minute lead via Neven Subotic but the home side were pegged back by Roberto Firmino and Kevin Volland.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalised 12 minutes into the second half before Kehl stepped up with the match-winner in the 107th minute.

Klopp was pleased with how Dortmund responded following Sunday’s defeat at the hands of the German champions, while he also singled out Kehl.

“We were a tad better than the result suggests. It was an extremely intense match. We played well without having clear chances in the final third,” Klopp said afterwards.

F/Eagles captain ‘vanishes’ from U-23 Camp F

•Mohammed

Bellerin to replace Alves at Barca H

ECTOR Bellerin has enjoyed a superb breakthrough year at Arsenal this season, so much so that he is already being tipped for a move back to La Liga leaders Barcelona.

The 20-year-old right back left the Catalan giants four years ago as he pursued a faster route to first-team football, eventually opting for Arsenal in the Premier League.

But now, it seems Barca fans are keen for the Spaniard to return to the Nou Camp as they voted the youth international as their preferred choice to replace Dani Alves

LYING Eagles captain Musa Mohammed has ‘ vanished’ from the Nigeria U23 camp in Abuja and has travelled abroad for trials without Samson Siasia’s permission.

The right-back had been impressive for the Dream Team VI in training but left the camp last Friday after he took permission from the coach, Samson Siasia, with the excuse that he was going to Lagos to collect his international passport from the German embassy.

But the 18-year old has travelled abroad for trials and is yet to make any contact with the team since he left on Friday.

“Musa Mohammed vanished from the camp on Friday. He told us he was going to Lagos to collect his international passport from the German embassy but we are yet to see or hear

anything from him,” the team’s spokesperson, Timi Ebikagboro confirmed.

M o h a m m e d , alongside Dele Alampasu, Mustapha Abdullahi, Taiwo Awoniyi and Bernard Bulbwa were invited to the Nigerian U23’s shortly after they won the Africa Youth Championship in Senegal.

Alampasu, Awoniyi, Mustapha and Mohammed joined immediately, but Bulbwa had to travel to sign for Tunisian club, Esperance, and only joined the team last week.

But Mohammed has now left the team, and will not be part of the All Africa Games qualifier against Zambia this weekend in Lusaka, which the Dream Team must win or play out a score draw to be guaranteed a place at the All Africa Games.

should the Brazilian leave the club.

In a poll carried out by Spanish publication ‘Sport’, Bellerin carries 12 per cent of the vote, with Glen Johnson also included with a mere two per cent.

A move would see him follow the route of Cesc Fabregas, who also left Barca before ever playing a first-team game.

However, it seems supporters would be happier if Alves stayed, with 62 per cent voting in favour of a contract renewal. The 31-yearold’s current deal expires at the end of the season, with PSG and Manchester United potential suitors.

BLOCKED: Arsenal defender Bellerin stops Liverpool forward Sterling in an EPL match. Arsenal won 4-1.

Van Persie fit for Manchester derby

M •Van Persie C M Y K

ANCHESTER United have been boosted by Robin van Persie’s return to training, with the striker having not featured for the club since February’s 2-1 win over Swansea City.

Van Persie played the entirety of that victory, but left the Liberty Stadium in a protective boot and has missed every game since.

Manager Louis van Gaal suggested last week

that his compatriot would not be fit for Sunday’s derby against Manchester City, although his improved fitness will likely serve as a fillip regardless.

Van Persie tweeted on

Wednesday: “Back to training with the group today. Was a great session. Happy to be fit and able to play again.

Looking forward to my next game!”

62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 — 63

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

Gabon to host 2017 Africa Cup of Nations G

ABON have been chosen to host the 2017 Africa Cup of

AFCON 2017: Eagles to battle Pharaohs, Chad, Tanzania Page 60 AFCON 2017: The full draw

•Musa

Lawal, Babangida, Akwegbu predict tough AFCON campaign for Eagles — Page 60

Group A Tunisia, Togo, Liberia, Djibouti Group B DR Congo, Angola, Central Africa Republic, Madagascar Group C Mali, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, South Sudan Group D Burkina Faso, Uganda, Botswana, Comoros Group E Zambia, Congo, Kenya, Guinea Bissau Group F Cape Verde, Morocco, Libya, Sao Tome Group G Nigeria, Egypt, Tanzania, Chad Group H Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda, Mauritius Group I Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Gabon Group J Algeria, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Seychelles Group K Senegal, Niger, Nambia, Burundi Group L Guinea, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland Group M Cameroon, South Africa, Gambia, Mauritania

Nations finals.

The 2012 co-hosts won a vote by the Confederation of African

Football’s executive committee in Cairo on Wednesday ahead of Continues on Page 60

F/Eagles captain 'bolts'from Siasia's camp — Page 61 Siasia: We’re condemned to win in Zambia

H

EAD Coach of h e U-23 National Team, Samson Siasia has declared that even though the battle of Lusaka will be an herculean task, his wards are condemned to win so as to book their ticket to the Men’s Football tournament of the 11th All-Africa Games.

Coach Siasia said this before releasing the list of 18 players selected for the huge game at the National Heroes Stadium, Lusaka on Sunday. The team will travel on Thursday.

Continues on Page 60 t

•MISSING IN ACTION — Mohammed

•Siasia

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Account-book (6) 5 Thaw (4) 8 Relaxed (5) 9 Curve (3) 10 Rotate (4) 11 Elderly (4) 12 Expiate (5) 13 Terrible (6) 16 Dregs (4) 18 Discharge (4) 20 Consumed (3) 22 Fixed (3) 23 Tear (3) 24 Rank (4) 25 Cut (4) 28 Cows (6) 30 Sorcery (5) 32 Warmth (4) 33 Sun-bathe (4) 34 Relatives (3) 35 Located (5) 36 Record (4) 37 Posture (6)

DOWN 1 Hate (6) 2 Deck (8) 3 Involve (6) 4 Unrealistic (9) 5 Wander (7) 6 Border (4) 7 Neat (4) 8 Epoch (3) 14 Delineated (9) 15 Mouthful (3) 17 Fish (3) 19 Wrong (8) 20 Point (3) 21 Unpredictable (7) 26 Parcel (6) 27 Sitting (6) 29 Hut (4) 30 Gather (4) 31 Rotter (3

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Odium 9, Couple 10, Suffer 11, Dried 12, Eros 15, Menu 17, Deserve 20, Rod 21, Ended 23, Item 25, Taxi 26, Renew 28, Cup 30, Receded 33, Real 35, Dude 36, Crisp 38, Clique 39, Elicit 40, Tally.

DOWN: 1, Acted 2, Kudos 3, Old 4, Derive 5, Used 6, Mud 7, Offer 8, Proud 13, Retinue 14, Sewer 16, Noticed 18, Enter 19, Met 22, Dated 24, Men 27, Weasel 28, Crack 29, Panic 31, Dunce 32, Death 34, Area 36, Cut 37, Ply.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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