Kano Boils As Sanusi Emerges Emir

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62161

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MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014

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Jonathan fighting a lost battle — APC >14

Kano boils as Sanusi emerges Emir

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

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•Anti-Sanusi protesters take to Kano streets •Fashola, Amosun, Ahmed hail new Emir

ANO—VIOLENT protests, yesterday, greeted the announcement of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as the 14th Emir of Kano. The throne became vacant last week

Friday following the death of the former Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

Making the announcement, the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Rabiu Zakariya, said: “I have the honour Continues on Page 4

NIGER DELTA SEARCHLIGHT, an

eight-page Vanguard pullout which mirrors news in the rural areas of the South South geopolitical zone, debuts tomorrow. —Editor

Mr & Mrs

File photo of The newEmir of Kano and the protesters, yesterday.

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POCKET CARTOON

VISIT—Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State (middle); with members of Niger Delta Peoples Forum,Borno State Chapter, when the members paid the Governor a solidarity visit on Friday in Maiduguri. Photo: Government House, Maiduguri.

Kano boils as Sanusi emerges Emir Continues from page 1 to announce that after a careful study of the Kingmakers' selection and advice, we have chosen the former CBN Governor, and the Dan’Majen Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano”.

The Secretary to the state Government was flanked by the four Kano kingmakers that included the Sarkin Bai, Sarki Dawaki Mai’Tuta, the Madakin Kano and Makaman Kano.

The new emir, Alhaji Sanisu Lamido Sanusi defeated the trio of his uncle, and senior coun-

sellor of the Kano Emirate council, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, the late emir’s eldest son, and Chiroma Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero, and Alhaji Tijjani Hashim for the exalted stool.

Violent protest trails Sanusi’s appointment as Emir Reacting to the emergence of the former CBN governor as the new Emir of Kano few minutes after his name was announced, hundreds of irate youths, yesterday, took over major streets in the ancient city protesting Sanusi’s choice. The Protesters who carried

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.... Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand...’

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail — Napoleon Hill

N

APOLEON Hill, in one of his famous books made a distinction between people. And he said the difference between people who are able to live a fully functioning life and to attract riches and wellness and happiness and abundance and prosperity into their lives is that the people who do that have something that he called a “burning desire.”

And a burning desire is very different than just, “Oh, I’d really like to do well, I’d like to have my book do well, I’d like to have this music that I’m writing do well, I’d like people to know about it,” and so on.

A burning desire is much deeper, it’s like having an inner candle flame that, no matter what goes before you, it doesn’t even flicker. And this is something that you can experience if you believe in yourself.

There are so many people, who don’t give enough, and maybe just a little more effort would have made a difference – they have a desire but they don’t have the willingness and the fearlessness and the determination to follow through with their dreams.

tree branches, sticks and some dangerous weapons, chanted war songs demanding a reversal of Sanusi’s choice.

The protesters were shouting “ Bamaso Bamaso” which means “we don’t want” around the emir ’s palace and environs as motorists scampered for safety during the ensuing pandemonium.

It was learnt that the protests started at the emir’s palace by people suspected to be sympathetic to late Bayero’s son who were already celebrating a rumoured appointment of the Chiroman Kano.

The youths made bonfire along major highways and on major streets. The protest later spread to Fagge area of the metropolis as well as quarters like Kuramawa, Soron Dinki, Kofar Nassarawa, Gwale and Chrianchi.

However, a combined team of soldiers and policemen chased away the protesters from major streets, while Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s residence was heavily guarded, while troops have been deployed to guard government buildings in the city.

Commenting on the development, the Police image maker in the city, Mahaji Musa Majia told Vanguard that ‘“ we have security challenges, but I can assure you that we are on top of the situation”.

Fashola, Amosun hail new Emir Meanwhile, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, said that the emergence of Mallam Sanusi as the

new Emir of Kano, would further cement the bond between the people of Kano and other citizens of the country.

Fashola in a congratulatory message signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, wished Sanusi long and fruitful reign as he assumed office as the 14th Emir.

The governor said that the election was a deserving feat for the former CBN helmsman.

According to Fashola, “the new Emir’s tenure as CBN Governor officially ended two days before the former Emir, Alhaji (Dr.) Ado Bayero passed on after 50 years on the throne.

“His assumption of the throne is, in a way, “keeping a date with destiny” because he has, for a long time, wished it as his next assignment after leaving the CBN job.

Fashola said: “I hoped that his emergence would further cement the long standing bond between the people of Kano and their brothers and sisters in Lagos and

across the country with whom, they have been living in peace and harmonious relationship.”

Fashola noted that Sanusi endeared himself to the Nigerian public for his brilliance, courage, professionalism and tact during his tenure as the CBN governor.

He stated that his tenure as CBN governor was very eventful and quite useful to moving the country forward.

Praying that the reign of the new Emir would bring lasting peace and progress to the country, the Governor wished him long life and congratulated the people of the ancient City, the Governor and the government of Kano and Nigerians generally for making the right choice.

Also, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has congratulated the new Emir of Kano. Amosun, hailed the choice of the banker and erstwhile governor of the CBN, who he said would bring his wealth of experience to bear in the appointment.

In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Olufunmilayo Wakama, Amosun urged the Emir-Elect to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor by bringing fur-

ther development to the Emirate and the State as a whole.

“As an accomplished technocrat, I believe the new Emir will use his influence to foster peace and attract more development to the emirate and indeed the State,” the governor said.

He expressed happiness at the choice of the new Emir and prayed Almighty Allah to grant him the wisdom and understanding to discharge the functions of the exalted and revered office.

Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed also congratulated the new Emir of Kano Governor Ahmed in a congratulatory message said the emergence of the former Governor of the CBN as the new Emir of Kano was a positive development for the traditional institution in Nigeria.

Governor Ahmed was optimistic that the new Emir will bring his wealth of experience to bear in sustaining the eminence of Kano in Commerce and other sectors in Nigeria and West Africa.

He prayed Allah to give the new Emir long life and good health in his new position.

See more stories on Pages 7 & 8.

LCCI bemoans slow impact of power sector reforms

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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AGOS—THE La gos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has expressed concern over the epileptic power situation in the country and lamented the slow impact of the power sector reform programme on power supply.

The LCCI, in a communiqué issued after its Council meeting, signed by its Director General, Mr. Muda Yusuf, emphasized the need for the Federal Government to effectively manage expectations of the populace and provide support to investors in the sector to enable them tackle the current challenges.

“This has become necessary because of the strategic nature of the power sector in the economy,” the LCCI Council maintained.

Yusuf said the progress so far in the power sector reform was acknowledged by the Council, but the weak links in the power delivery chain should be identified and fixed.

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Police nab driver who stole boss' car

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE —DETECTIVES in Ondo State have arrested the driver of a university lecturer, one Taye Ajayi, for allegedly organising the theft of his boss car worth about N3 million.

The lecturer, Dr Okunola James, is of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, Ondo State.

Taye was arrested in Lagos State after the car, with number plate, MUS 328 BZ, was stolen from where it was parked in Akure.

Report had it that the driver, who drove the owner and family members to the church on Sunday, also ran some errands same day and on Monday.

He was alleged to have parked the car and submitted the keys to the don on Monday only to return around 9 pm and took the car to an unknown destination.

The university don was said to have noticed that the car was missing the following day which prompted him to report at the Okuta Elerinla police division.

Police detectives reportedly tracked down the vehicle at Ajebamidele after Ore town with the suspect behind the wheels.

It was subsequently demobilised but the driver, being familiar with the security gadgets of the car, manipulated it and drove on.

Police detectives, on getting to where the car was demobilised, did not find it there.

They became suspicious that the thief must be an insider and the vehicle was tracked down again but before the suspect could move it, he was arrested at Bode Thomas Street in Lagos.

The driver was reportedly caught with the car while trying to restart it.

‘Soldiers’ injure scores, vandalise vehicles in Ijebu-Ode

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — PANDE MONIUM broke out, yesterday, in Lagos motor park in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State when some people in military uniform unleashed terror on the people and also vandalised several vehicles.

According to an eye witness, the soldiers invaded the park using three Hilux vans and unleashed mayhem on everyone at sight.

They reportedly beat, slapped and macheted people including passengers and transport officials at the park.

The source further said that passers-by were not spared as some of them were given the beating of their lives.

Vanguard gathered that some affected residents were going for their places of worship and had to scamper for safety as the soldiers reportedly shot sporadically into the air.

One of the transport union officials at the park, Rotimi Okunowo, who witnessed the incident, said it was the refusal of a soldier to pay his transport fare that led to the fracas.

According to Okunowo, a soldier who was in mufti was asked by the bus conductor, identified as Demola Dosunmu, to identity himself but he refused. This led to an altercation between the two who subsequently engaged each other in fisticuffs.

The soldier was reported to have disembarked from the bus, took a stroll down to a corner, tore his clothes and made a telephone call to his colleagues, who later invaded the park in about three Hilux vans to un-

Palm of one of the victims and a vandalised vehicle. leash mayhem.

At least 20 vehicles were vandalised while valuables like handsets, cash and others were roportedly snatched.

Vanguard gathered that the soldiers were said to be the se-

curity team protecting pipelines in and around Ijebu-Ode axis.

He said: “What happened was that one of the soldiers, who was in a mufti, came to the park around 6.30 a.m. and when he got there, he claimed he was a

Gang-rape of 19-year-old girl: Police launch man-hunt for suspects

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE & ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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AGOS — THE recent case of gang-rape of a 19-yearold girl by her former boyfriend and four others in Ijanikin area of Lagos has caused Police High Command to launch a man-hunt for hoodlums in the area with a view to fishing out the culprits.

Police sources hinted that the Area Commander, ACP Osung Ekpo and the Ijanikin Divisional Police Officer, Ikegwuonu Obinna Chidozie have embarked on series of operations aimed at rounding up

the hoodlums that terrorise the area.

The victim was gang-raped when she visited the boyfriend's wife that just delivered a baby.

Worse still, she further alleged that she was forced to invite her younger sister to the scene where she was also molested and manhandled by the gang. To compound her plight, she alleged that the gang recorded the act in a video with their phones.

The victim further stated that after she and her sister were rescued by a soldier living in

A

BEOKUTA — THE Ogun State Police Command, yesterday, said the anti-robbery team attached to Mowe Division of the state Police Command engaged a gang of robbers in a gun battle at Redemption Youth Camp along Lagos/Ibadan expressway leaving one of them dead.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement said the robbers had snatched a Toyota Sienna bus with number plate LAGOS LSD 339 CH at gun point

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the compound, the case was subsequently reported to the Police, which rounded up the suspects.

She, however, regretted that she had to withdraw the case for fear of being attacked again by the cultists.

In her reaction, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, told Vanguard that the police will never compromise over such issue and will go to any length to bring the culprits to book. "I assure you that by the time investigations are concluded, you will see the result," she stated.

Police arrest 9 over robbery, car-snatching in Benue

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI — THE Benue State Police Command, weekend, arrested a nine-man robbery and car snatching syndicate in Gboko Local Government Area of the state and recovered 10 rifles.

Briefing newsmen on the arrest, the command’s Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Superintendent of Police, SP, Daniel Ezeala, who stood in for the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adama Audu, said officers of the command also recovered three cars from the gang.

According to Ezeala, "mid last month, the Benue State Police Command received a distress call from the duo of Messrs Kevin Terhemba and Fanen Uza, all of Gboko town, that some armed men in a Toyata Corolla car robbed and shot them in their

....kill one suspected robber in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

'staff' and would not pay.

“When asked to identify himself, he engaged one of the boys in fracas and within a jiffy, he left the scene only to return with about 20 men with dangerous weapons like cutlasses, guns and broken bottles.

“They beat the boy, Ademola Dosunmu, and took him away. As if that was not enough, they vandalised many vehicles in the park and pursued many people into adjourning streets.

“The government should help us to caution these people. You need to see how they beat Ademola blue black and macheted him in many places.

Contacted on the telephone, the Army Public Relations Officer, 35 Field Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Mr. Adamu Ngulde, said he could not comment on the matter because he was yet to be briefed by the army authorities in Ijebu Ode.

near the camp.

According to him, the robbers had shot and injured the owner of the car (names withheld) who resides at Aguda area of Lagos State, before snatching the vehicle. The robbers’ gun shots attracted the policemen on duty near the scene who gave them a hot chase.

He said: “The robbers were over-powered by the policemen and were propelled to abandon the vehicle before they fled into the nearby bush with bullet wounds.

“The Police team embarked on a search around the scene and discovered the corpse of one of the fatally injured robbers with bullet wounds. The injured owner has been taken to the hospital by the Police for proper treatment.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikemefuna Okoye, has linked this success to proactive measures put in place by the command and the commitment of officers and men of the command towards having effective policing of the state particularly on highways.

“He has, however, directed the

Area Commander, Sagamu Area Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole who controls the area, to work with the Divisional Police Officers in charge of Sagamu ,Mowe and Ibafo, whose jurisdictions cut across the expressway, to intensify efforts in getting the fleeing robbers and other ones who terrorise motorists on this expressway arrested without delay.

“The Commissioner of Police also assured the general public of adequate protection of lives and property all over Ogun State.”

homes.

“It was reported that Terhemba was waylaid at the entrance of his house and his Honda car with number plate, AKD 778 CH, snatched.

“The armed men also took away his cellphones worth N160,000, and other valuables after inflicting deep injury on his head with the gun butt.

“The said armed men later went to the home of Fanen Uza, shot him on the palm before collecting N120,000 and his Honda Sports Utility Vehicle from him.”

Ezeala said the matter was later investigated by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad which led to the arrest of Mr. Fanen Hon, who allegedly confessed to the crime with eight others including a lady.

He said the command in its investigations further recovered six AK- 47 rifles with 58 rounds of live ammunition, one pump action rifle, phones, electronics and a power generating set.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014—7

SANUSI: Did All Progressives Congress do it?

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

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ID the All Progressives Congress, APC, push for the emergence of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano?

Suggestions to that effect were rife yesterday because of the heavy presence of chieftains of the party in Kano, following the death of Emir Ado Bayero.

Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano State, who joined the party last November, Vanguard learnt, came under serious pressure from the APC chieftains who stayed over after the burial of the late emir.

Yesterday, senior party officials were jubilant over the emergence of a renowned critic of President Goodluck Jonathan as the traditional ruler of the city with the highest number of votes in Northern Nigeria.

“It is a welcome development,” a member of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party said yesterday, on the condition of anonymity pending an official party reaction by party spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The deputy national secretary of the party, Mallam Nasir elRufai was ecstatic yesterday tweeting “SLS (Sanusi Lamido Sanusi) is the Emir of Kano.

Jonathanians can go jump into the lagoon.”

Party, ANPP. The delegation reportedly came into Kano late on Saturday and remained till Sanusi was announced as emir by Governor Kwankwanso, yesterday.

The delegation, according to sources, met privately with Kwankwanso and subsequently with the former CBN governor.

Before the private meeting

with Governor Kwankwanso, Tinubu, during a courtesy call on the Kano governor in his office, said that his delegation was in Kano to commiserate with the government and people of the state, adding that “Nigeria has lost a bridge builder,” in the person of the late Bayero.

Shortly after the courtesy call, the governor ushered them into his private office

where they held a marathon meeting that supposedly culminated in the announcement of Sanusi as the new emir.

As CBN gov

Though the new Emir of Kano had in the past claimed to be apolitical, his last minute actions as CBN governor, and notably, the allegation of a missing N49 billion from oil

El-Rufai on social media

El-Rufai, noting the faux pas

by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, earlier in the day when it released a statement congratulating a son of the late emir as successor, had disparaged PDP on his Facebook page.

He wrote: “The PDP, out of fear and hatred of my brother SLS (Sanusi Lamido Sanusi) began circulating the falsehood that someone else had been appointed Emir of Kano.

“Then they congratulated the Emir that had not been selected by the constituted authority.

“Earlier, they had enlisted several PDP sympathisertraditional rulers to put pressure on Governor Kwankawaso to discourage him from selecting SLS, who was recommended on merit among the aspirants by the kingmakers.”

Regional influence

Besides being the traditional ruler of the town with the highest number of votes, the Kano emirate also wields major influence over the Northern region and across the country.

Sanusi as emir is not expected to project the interest of President Goodluck Jonathan who removed him from office as CBN governor four months before the expiration of his term.

‘APC delegate’

The APC delegation in Kano was said to have mounted pressure on Governor Kwankwanso in favour of Mallam Sanusi.

The delegation was led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and included the 2011 presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Senators Bukola Saraki and Danjuma Goje, Governors Rotimi Amaechi, Aliyu Wamakko and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Rivers, Sokoto and Kwara states, respectively, former national chairman of the new Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, and erstwhile national chairman of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples

receipts, pricked the Jonathan administration.

When he returned to Nigeria from Niger Republic where he went to represent Nigeria at a regional meeting of central bank governors, Sanusi was received in Lagos by the deputy national secretary of APC, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.

Sanusi, who maintains a home in Lagos and has fraternised with the Lagos political class since his school days in the nation’s former commercial capital, also has strong relations with some members of the APC national executive, including Mallam El-Rufai.

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the new Emir of Kano.

... EMIR OF KANO: A dream come true

BY OMOH GABRIEL & MICHAEL EBOH

M

ALLAM Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had said at different fora that his life ambition is to become the Emir of Kano. His selection as the emir has fulfilled his life dream.

Background

Born on July 31, 1961, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria was appointed on June 3, 2009 and suspended from office

by President Goodluck Jonathan on February 20, 2014 after the Financial Reporting Council accused him of financial recklessness.

Sanusi had alleged that a $20 billion was unremitted into the federation account by the Nigeria National

Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. He is a career banker, ranking Fulani nobleman, and a respected Islamic scholar.

The global financial intelligence magazine, The Banker, published by the Financial Times, has conferred on Sanusi two awards: the Global Award for Central Bank Governor of the Year and Central Bank Governor of the Year for Africa. The TIME magazine also listed Sanusi in its TIMES 100 list of most influential people of 2011.

In 1985 Sanusi joined Icon Limited (Merchant Bankers), a subsidiary of Morgan Guaranty Trust Bank of New York, and Baring Brothers of London. He moved to the United Bank for Africa, UBA, Plc in 1997 in the Credit and Risk Management Division, rising to the position of a

General Manager.

In September 2005, he joined the Board of First Bank of Nigeria as an Executive Director in charge of Risk and Management Control, and was appointed Group Managing Director (CEO) in January 2009.

He was also the Chairman, Kakawa Discount House and sat on the Board of FBN Bank (UK) Limited.

Sanusi is recognised in the banking industry for his contribution towards developing a risk management culture in Nigerian banking. Sanusi was the first northerner to be appointed CEO in First Bank’s history of more than a century.

Governor of CBN

Late President Umaru Yar’Adua nominated Sanusi

as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on June 1, 2009 and his appointment was confirmed by the Senate on June 3, in the middle of a global financial crisis.

Analysts believed that Sanusi’s tempered mien would serve as a counterpoise to the more aloof disposition of his predecessor, Charles Chukwuma Soludo. Based on his past record, it seemed probable that as governor of the central bank he would impose stricter controls.

In August 2009, Sanusi led the CBN to rescue Afribank, Intercontinental Bank, Union Bank, Oceanic Bank and Finbank by bailing them out with N400 billion and dismissed their chief executives.

Some point to other factors Continues on Page 8

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014

LBS ALUMNI: From left— Enase Okonedo, Dean, Lagos Business School, LBS; Mr. Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State, and Mr. Demola Aladekomo, President, Lagos Business School Alumni Association, LBSAA, at the association's annual President’s dinner in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

... EMIR OF KANO: A dream come true Continues from Page 7 such as religious, ethnic and existing bank records and plans to say he had a hidden agenda.

He said: “We had to move in to send a strong signal that such recklessness on the part of bank executives will no longer be tolerated.”

Sixteen senior bank officials faced charges that included fraud, lending to fake companies, giving loans to companies they had a personal interest in and conspiring with stockbrokers to boost share prices.

In September 2009, he said that 15 of the current 24 Nigerian banks might survive reform in the banking sector.

Sanusi tsunami

In a wide ranging interview with the Financial Times in December 2009, Sanusi defended the extensive reforms that he had initiated since taking office, dubbed by some as the “Sanusi tsunami”.

Some believe that he had a personal vendetta against some of the bank CEOs while others point to proof of mismanagement of funds by some of the CEOs, most notably Cecelia Ibru as justification for the steps he implemented.

He noted that there was no choice but to attack the many powerful and interrelated vested interests that were exploiting the financial system, and expressed his appreciation of support from the Presidency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the finance minister and others.

In January 2010, Sanusi said that banks will only want to give credit to Nigeria’s small and medium enterprises, SMEs, if the government gives adequate attention to the provision of

infrastructure.

In January 2010, Sanusi admitted that since 2005 the Central Bank had not conducted routine examinations of the 14 banks allocated to it under the sharing arrangement with Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC. Abubakar Nagona, President of Integrated Development and Investment Service, IDIS, a venture capital investment company, urged Sanusi to “not be cowed and succumb to undue pressure from operators of the same sector he is striving to bring sanity to.”

At a February 2010 conference on banking in Nigeria, Sanusi described his blueprint for reforming the Nigerian financial system.

He said that it was built around four pillars of enhancing the quality of banks, establishing financial stability, enabling healthy financial sector evolution and ensuring that the financial sector contributes to the real economy.

Talking later that month, Sanusi said that the crash in the

capital market was due to high level of financial illiteracy on the part of Nigerian investors.

The Banker unanimously recognised him as the Central Bank Governor of the Year 2010, citing his radical anti corruption campaign aimed at saving 24 banks on the brink of collapse and pressing for the managers involved in the most blatant cases of corruption to be charged and, in the case of two senior bankers, imprisoned.

Sanusi has spoken at many distinguished events, including Warwick Economics Summit in February 2012, where he spoke about banking reforms in Nigeria and their impact on the economy.

Authority in Sharia

In parallel to his banking career, Sanusi contributed to the debate over Sharia law. In 1997, Sanusi obtained a degree in Sharia and Islamic Studies from the African International University in Khartoum, Sudan.

Writing in the Weekly Trust in September 2000, he noted the

problem of reconciling “belief in the universal and eternal applicability of the Sharia with the need for a wholesale adoption of its historicallyspecific interpretation to meet the requirements of a particular milieu.”

He further said that “even a cursory student of Islamic history knows that all the trappings of gender inequality present in the Muslim society have socio economic and cultural, as opposed to religious roots.”

At a conference in 2000 in Kaduna, Sanusi delivered a lecture on Islamic economics called Institutional Framework of Zakat: Dimension and Implications.

He argued that although collection of zakat is the responsibility of the state, it may be the responsibility of the Nigerian government rather than the emirs in Northern Nigeria.

In July 2001, at a seminar in Abuja, he talked on Basic Needs and Redistributive Justice in Islam – The Panacea

to Poverty in Nigeria.

He took the mainstream position that zakat is an instrument for redistributing income, but argued in favour of giving the role of redistribution to the government.

In October 2002 he published a paper on The Hudhood Punishments in Northern Nigeria: A Muslim Criticism. In July 2003 he presented The Shari’a Debate and the Construction of a ‘Muslim’ Identity in Northern Nigeria: A Critical Perspective at a seminar at the University of Bayreuth.

In August 2003, he presented Democracy, Rights and Islam: Theory, Epistemology and the Quest for Synthesis at an international conference on Sharia Penal and Family Law in Nigeria and in the Muslim World: A Rights Based Approach in Abuja.

There are two underlying themes to Sanusi’s position. First, Islam is concerned with delivering justice and should not be a tool for self-seeking political agendas.

Second, the Wahhabist rhetoric of fundamentalists is counter to genuine Muslim interests. He explains that Sharia is not divine but merely religious, and is neither uniform nor unchanging.

Fuel subsidy issue

Economists have tended to favour the removal of subsidies.

Sanusi cites the high level of corruption engendered by the practice, the inefficiency of subsidising consumption instead of production leading to slower economic growth, and the fact that the government borrows money to finance the subsidy, in effect taxing future generations so that current Nigerians can consume more fuel.

Sanusi, other economists and development practitioners also said the subsidy is heavily biased in favour of the small middle and upper class, who use most of the fuel.

Additionally, some people purchase the subsidised gas in Nigeria to resell it in other West African countries.

On the June 8, 2014, Sanusi was selected to succeed Ado Bayero as the Emir of Kano— a long time dream come true.

SANUSI: The many battles of a gadfly S

ANUSI Lamido, the new Emir of Kano, is currently embroiled in a number of legal tussles, ranging from the suit against him by shareholders of the nationalised banks and the suits he instituted against the Federal Government of Nigeria, over his removal from office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigera, CBN. Before nationalising the banks, he got many bank executives prosecuted and a host of them lost their jobs.

His allegation that $49 billion oil funds which he later scaled down to $20 billion, was missing or not remitted by Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, stoked a fire of controversy in the polity that is yet to be extinquished.

Following his removal, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, advised him to go to court to challenge the constitutionality of his removal.

Days after, Sanusi instituted a suit at a Federal High Court in

Abuja to challenge the powers of President Goodluck Jonathan to suspend him from office.

In the suit he filed through a consortium of lawyers led by Chief Kola Awodein (SAN), Sanusi, told the court that his purported suspension was as a result of some discrepancies he discovered in respect of amounts repatriated to the federation account from the proceed of crude oil sales between January 2012 and July

2013.

Sanusi contended that the President did not approach or obtained the support of the Senate, saying his discussions with several lawmakers including Senator Bukola Saraki, confirmed that the decision to oust him from office was unilaterally taken by the Presidency.

He urged the court to restrain President Goodluck Jonathan Continues on Page 55

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014 —9

LASU fees: Students know fate today

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—THE seven-man Executive Committee set up

by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State to examine the possibility of a downward review of Lagos State University, LASU, new tuition fee, which has pitched the students against the government, will submit its report today The committee, headed by Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, was inaugurated last month by the governor to re-visit the issue of the tuition fee, which has led to a statewide protest by the students and supported by Joint Action Front, JAF, um-

brella body for pro-labour civil society groups in the country.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, had last Thursday, disclosed that the committee would be submitting its report soon.

According to him, the state government would act after the committee submitted its report to Council.

Speaking further, Ibirogba noted that the three-year-old fee regime would be reviewed based on the outcome of the Committee set up by the State Executive Council to handle the issue.

Meantime, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor John

Obafunwa, has debunked claim by the Students through their Student Union Government, SUG that the new fee regime introduced in 2011 has led to high rate of students’ dropout, saying; “The students who drop out did so because of reasons other than the fees.”

According to the statement issued by the Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, Obafunwa said “when the list was checked against the records of the institution, it was discovered that some of the names on the list submitted by the students were those of non students of the in-

stitution while others were those who dropped out because they did not meet the appropriate CGP of the school.”

Reacting, president of the SUG, Mr. Yusuf Nurudeen, challenged the Vice Chancellor to a public debate on the issue saying “Before our protest, we discovered 192 students have dropped out of school because they could not afford the new tuition fee. But when we started the protest, we discovered that over a 1,000 students have left the school because of the new fee.”

MD warns against indiscriminate use of herbal medicines

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COMMISSIONING: Chairman, Curo Ten Nigeria Limited; Mr. Ademola Ademuson; The Managing Director, Toyota Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo; Founder, La Roche Leadership Foundation, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Liaison Officer for the Flag Project; Mr. M. M. Kassim at the commissioning of the second phase of the Flags Project at Kuramo Primary School, Victoria Island Lagos.

We won't return to work—LUTH DOCTORS BYSOLA OGUNDIPE, CHIOMA OBINNA & GABRIEL OLAWALE

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AGOS—STRIKING members of the Association of Resident Doctors, Lagos University Teaching, LUTHARD, weekend insisted that they would not return to work despite the management of the institution meeting one of their core demands.

The doctors demanded that the management released a letter clearly starting the duration of residency training in LUTH. However, the President of LUTH- ARD, Dr. Omojowolo Olubumi, confirmed to Vanguard that the hospital management had released list of resident doctors in some departments that they had earlier complained that had no resident doctors for over three years. .

Investigations by Vanguard showed that patients in dire need

of healthcare might have started boycotting the hospital and seeking care elsewhere.

Findings revealed that the Accident and Emergency ward and critical outpatients departments remained shut , while the few patients who turned up left soon afterwards, noting that there was no point waiting endlessly for services that were not likely to be rendered.

Up till yesterday, new patients were still being turned back.

At the weekend, waiting rooms were deserted. The usually congested clinics were a shadow of the normal days.

All the ancillary services like the pharmacy department, diagnostic laboratories, radiology department, and records among others were all devoid of activities.

An outpatient, Bimpe, booked for surgery over the weekend, told Vanguard she had waited for so long only to be told doctors were on strike, saying “I came all the

Amaechi’s aircraft seized again in Kano

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HE Nigerian Civil Avia tion Authority, NCAA, has reportedly impounded an aircraft that brought Rivers State Governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi to Kano who was on a condolence visit on the death of the former Emir, Ado Bayero.

Kano State Commissioner for State Affairs, Mallam Aminu Abdulsalam disclosed this to the youths who stormed the

Government House on solidarity visit over the appointment of the new emir.

Also on the aircraft that was impounded were Governor Danjuma Goje of Gombe and immediate past Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr Kawa Baraje. It was learnt that the trio had since left Kano by road en route Abuja with heavily armed escorts.

way from Ogun state since Thursday only to be told that the doctors are on strike.”

Bimpe is just one out of thousands who must have suffered the same fate.

Speaking, Olubumi said “They have been able to release list of new residents in all the departments that we listed earlier but we are yet to receive the letter we requested for. We cannot go back to work until the letters stating clearly the duration of residency training in the hospital are made available. By tomorrow, I believe some of the issues will be sorted out. Once we have those letters, we will go back to work and we will continue to negotiate on other issues.”

AGOS—THE Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba, Profressor Akin Osibogun, weekend advised Nigerians against indiscriminate use of herbal mixtures.

Osibogun told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that many herbal mixtures were taken raw and could destroy vital organs in the body.

According to him, “these raw mixtures contain chemicals that have also not been analysed scientifically to determine their dosages. For instance, a very potent medicine that is used for heart conditions, 'Digoxine' is obtained from Lanatal leaves, so it’s obtained from herbs.

“But, we need to do more research to get the acute ingredients from the herbs and separate them from harmful products that are also in those herbs.

And then, we must also determine the exact dosage that is required to help a patient. So, until we have done that research, it is not good to just ask people to be drinking something without dose, without measurement and without quantification.”.

Osibogun said some unanalysed herbs could damage the liver and kidney because the organs work all the time to eradicate the harmful ingredients in the body.

Lagos begins placement test into public schools

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS—LAGOS State government has said henceforth, admission of pupil into its public secondary schools will be through a placement examination to be conducted throughout the state.

Already, the government has set Saturday, July 5 for the placement test for admission into the state public secondary schools for the 2014/15 academic session.

The test will be conducted in 300 centers across the state.

Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye , who disclosed this at an interactive session with parents, teachers and other stakeholders in the education sector, said the essence of the placement test was to test the ability of the pupils to cope with the rigours of academics at the secondary level, train and prepare them on how to sit and write examinations as well as prepare them psychologically for secondary schools’ education.

Oladunjoye, explained that pupils were expected to obtain 50 percent average scores in English and Mathematics in addition to 50 percent cumulative scores in the examinations before they could be considered for admission into public secondary schools.

According to her, the introduction of the personalized Optical Mark Reader, OMR, system would go a long way in eliminating the incidence of examination malpractices as each answer sheet had been personalized for each candidate with his or her passport photograph boldly embolden on the answer sheet.

North'll truncate confab — OKUROUNMU

BY GBENGA OKE

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AGOS—THE ongoing Na tional Conference is bound to fail given the alleged determination of the North to frustrate the process for the purpose of sustaining the status quo, Senator Femi Okurounmu, chairman of the presidential advisory committee, which birthed the confab, has said.

Okurounmu, who said Northern delegates came to the Conference with a single mindset to block changes to the system in the country, said that progressive Nigerians desirous of change

would only achieve their quest for change only through prayers.

Senator Okurounmu spoke at the 2014 annual luncheon, lecture and merit award of Government College Ibadan Old Boys Association, Lagos Branch.

He said: “The military that brought about the 1999 Constitution are all from the core North and they so redirected the states and local governments to favour their people because they assumed that the North will always be in power and so they made the central government very strong and ensured the units are so weak.”

“Since the inception of this conference, three different categories of people have emerged. We have delegates from the SouthWest who are anticipating fundamental changes such as regionalism, substantial devolution of power to regions and zones.

We also have people from the South-South fighting for the issue of resource control and ownership of their resources while the Middle Belt is interested in the completion of Ajaokuta industry but the North came solely to block majority of these recommendations to ensure the status quo is maintained”.

10 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014

NUPENG to tackle oil theft, vandalism, others

LP rates Amosun low on performance ...They are speaking blindly, blankly — APC

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

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IGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has promised to assist the government in tackling the lingering oil theft, bunkering and pipeline vandalism, among other challenges facing Nigeria oil and gas sector.

Speaking weekend through its Marine Equipment and Oil Suppliers, MEOS, branch, the union lamented that oil theft, bunkering and pipeline vandalism had inflicted serious problems on the nation’s economy.

National Chairman, MEOS, BestWay Ose, who spoke during the inauguration of the new MEOS executives in Lagos, said “we will direct our attention to the lingering issues of oil theft, oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Part of our campaign and objectives is to ensure that oil theft and bunkerers are completely eradicated.

We are coming to find solution to problems like oil theft, piracy and vandalism by working closely with the security agencies, giving them necessary information when we notice any careless or suspicious movement in waterways.”

Speaking during the inauguration, NUPENG President, Igwe Achese, said “I am happy that the dream of inaugurating this executives came to pass today and the newly inaugurated executives should know that your members have reasons for joining Marine Equipment and Oil Suppliers Branch and I think some of those reasons are for them to grow in their business."

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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RALLY: From right—Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Board of Trustees chairman, Chief Tony Anenih; Osun State PDP gubernatorial candidate in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore; Vice President Namadi Sambo; national deputy chairman, PDP, Uche Sekondus and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State at the party rally and presentation of flag to Mr Ayo Fayose, in Ekiti on Saturday.

No plan to dump APC — OSOBA ...as Amosun faction inaugurates exco today

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—A former gov ernor of Ogun State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Osoba, weekend said his faction of APC in the state would not dump the party for either the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN or any other political party.

This came as he raised the alarm that the delegates list for the national convention was being doctored to favour some candidates, vowing not to be part of the arrangement.

Chief Osoba, who spoke during a stakeholders’ forum at his Ibara residence, however insisted that the inauguration of a faction loyal to Governor Ibikunle Amosun was no news to him.

According to him, “they said we are going to UPN, we are not going anywhere, and there is no cause for alarm. I want to appeal to you to be calm, resolute, focused and determined. This is a political war. We are not riggers. Those who rigged in the past, where are they today? We do not join party that rigs, we will never be part of rigging. The results were written outside the venue of the congress and they were still adjusting the result up till tomorrow. They are

still changing national delegates, we are not going to be part of the game.

“What I am going to be doing now is closed-door meeting with you. What I say is that I am not going to grant public interview, no more media interview. What we will do now is serious work, series of consultations, united, togetherness because we had been through this many times and we triumphed.”

On the inauguration of Governor Amosun’s faction, Osoba said “you are the original contestants; you are the ones that paid N18.8 million into the account of APC in Abuja. We are the only state that complied fully with the APC guidelines. We have the teller numbers, date of payment, time of payment and location. After collecting the money they still did this to you. I did not support it, blessed be their judgment.

“Even, if they want to return the money, do not collect it. We are not hungry. They said all of you that paid lost the election. Is it possible for someone who did enter for an exam or who never accepted an entrance form to pass an exam? Those who say we should go to court, I said no, we

will not go to court. We are not going to court at all, because, we are responsible party men, because, the party says exhaust all the rights in the constitution, they did not allow us to apply the right before the judgment was delivered.

Meanwhile, the faction loyal to Governor Ibikunle Amosun has fixed today for the inauguration of its state executive.

According to a statement signed by, the factional state chairman of the party, Roqeeb Adeniji the ceremony will hold inside the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.

B E O K U TA — O G U N State Labour Party, LP, weekend rated the ruling All Progressives Party, APC, low on performance, after three years in the saddle.

LP speaking through its governorship aspirant in the 2015 general elections, Gboyega Isiaka, accused the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration of failing to deliver on its electoral promises.

But the governor, speaking through Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the LP was speaking “blindly and blankly.”

Isiaka claimed the governor had failed to fulfill the promises he made on key areas like the education and health sectors.

Speaking while featuring at the “Guest Night Forum” organised by Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ogun State council in Abeokuta, Isiaka said; “The goal of governance is about people, nobody says we should not have good environment but we cannot be doing this without considering its impact on the lives of the people. On education and health for instance; there is a great level of failed policies and lack of vision.

Reacting, Olaniyonu, said contrary to claims by Isiaka, the state government had made significant strides, not only in the education and health sectors, but infrastructure, security and agriculture.

Ondo PDP berates Assembly over by- election the Assembly dominated by mem-

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KURE—THE Peo ples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State weekend berated the state House of Assembly for its alleged failure to inform the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officially for the by-election for the vacant seat of Odigbo constituency.

Chairman of the party in the state, Ebenezer Alabi claimed

bers of the ruling Labour Party, LP, was afraid to inform INEC officially of the conduct of a by-election for fear of being defeated.

The seat became vacant following the death of the former speaker of the Assembly, Samuel Adesina who died on February and later buried on April.

Alabi spoke with reporters after receiving some defectors from All Progressives Congress, APC, and LP.

Osun APC, PDP trade words over campaign strategy

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO—THE ruling All Pro gressives Congress, APC, in Osun State, has warned the main opposition party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against violence as the party flags off its campaign rallies this week.

But the PDP in its reaction said rather than portraying the PDP as a violent party, the APC should watch itself and allow peace to reign during the campaign rallies of the PDP. The APC in a statement by its Director, Bureau of Communications and

Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, admonished the PDP to toe the path of peaceful campaign, which he said the APC adopted during its campaigns in IleIfe and Ikire.

The party said “Please conduct yourselves and your campaign activities in a civilized fashion, devoid of violence and thuggery in the interest of the peace of our state and our people. We expect a minimum standard of responsible conduct from the PDP and its flag bearer during the campaign rallies of the party across the state.”

APC also advised its supporters to

be careful and stay clear of the campaign venues of PDP rallies to avoid being accused of provoking violence at the opponent’s rally, saying “as much as possible our supporters should stay away from the vicinity of PDP rallies until it is all over and safe to move around freely again.”

However, PDP through its state Publicity Secretary, Prince Bola Ajao, said “we have it on good authority that the APC has concluded arrangements to cause violent clash during the PDP campaign rallies in major parts of the state."

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014—11

No plan to stop salaries of judicial staff, says Rivers govt

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Government has described as untrue, allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that the government had ordered stoppage of salaries of judicial staff in the state for the month of May. Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari and the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Mr Tony Okocha in separate comments, said the allegation was not true. The two who responded to text messages sent by our reporter said the PDP lied over the issue.

The PDP had on Friday, raised alarm over alleged move to stop payment of salaries of judicial staff in the state for the month of May

over the state government’s directive to the judicial workers not to take directives from Justice Daisy Okocha, who was ap-

pointed acting Chief Judge of the state by the National Judicial Council, NJC. The party had alleged that

a letter had been written to a new generation bank to hold back the salaries of the said judicial staff.

NDDC'S GIANT STRIDES IN AVIATION TRAINING: From left: Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Senate President; Mr. Kingsley Kuku, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme; Senator James Manager, Chairman, Senate Committee o Niger Delta and Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former Governor of Bayelsa State, during the showcasing of Giant Strides in Aviation Training by the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

....As President’s SSA on Aviation lauds move

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HE Senate plans to enact a local content legislation for the aviation sector to create more job openings for Nigerians.

The move came against the backdrop of dominance of the sector by expatriates, particularly pilots and aircraft engineers, with the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation, Captain Shehu Iyal, describing the Senate’s move as desirable.

Senate President, Senator David Mark, who dropped hint of the local content law at the showcasing of the giant strides in aviation training by the Amnesty Office in Lagos, said the legislation had become necessary, if Nigerian aviators were to take charge of the industry.

At the event, 66 Niger Delta youths, who had acquired commercial pilot license and 61 in aircraft maintenance engineering, all trained in the United Kingdom, South Africa, U.A.E, Jordan and Greece, were presented to the public.

Mark, who was represented by Senator Abdul Ningi said: “We are planning to come up with a local content legislation for the aviation industry, just as we have done for the oil industry. The legislation will make it mandatory for local airlines to employ a certain number of Nigerians before giving jobs to expatriates.”

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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Senate plans local content law for aviation

BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR

Urhobo elders council elects new exco

He said the training of young Nigerians in piloting and aircraft engineering maintenance was important, considering the aging workforce that had dogged the aviation sector for sometime.

He expressed satisfaction with the amnesty programme of the Federal Government and challenged those criticising the programme to come up with facts and not mere allegations.

“We are comfortable with the way this programme is run.

Those who are criticising the programme or misrepresenting facts should come up with verifiable facts or just shut up,” he said.

He assured of the National Assembly’s continued support

for the programme, noting that same was adding value to government.

Expressing the Presidency’s appreciation of the Senate’s plan for a local content law for the aviation sector, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation, Capt. Iyal, noted that no single government in the country had in the past succeeded in producing 66 commercial pilots and 61 aircraft maintenance engineers at the same time.

He said the development will go a long way to address the manpower shortage that had trailed the sector lately.

“Today is, indeed, one of the most important days for

me as an individual. I have been in this industry for over 30 years and I can’t recall any president that has trained 66 pilots and 61 engineers all at once. It is a big plus for the President’s transformation agenda,” Iyal said.

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of the Amnesty Office, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, said the 127 pilots and engineers were part of the 842 youths on Niger Delta impacted community slots, whose selections for the training were based on petitions sent to the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Public Petitions.

INEC denies Bayelsa deputy gov permanent voters card though, his name and other permanent voters card was

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—THERE was drama at the Nembe 1 constituency of Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, following the failure of the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to produce and hand over the permanent voters card to the deputy governor of the state, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd).

Rear Admiral Jonah, who arrived his polling unit with his temporary voters card and scores of aides, including Government House press crew, was shocked when he was told his

not available.

The INEC ad hoc staff, it was learnt, were unable to explain to the deputy governor why his permanent voters card could not be issued to him.

Media aide to the deputy governor, Mr. Ebi Evinson, in a statement, said that his boss, Rear Admiral Jonah, was shocked that he arrived his polling unit at Nembe to obtain his permanent voter’s card, but could not do so because his card was not available.

According to the aide, “He could not obtain the permanent voters card even

details were found in the voter register.”

He quoted the deputy governor as calling on INEC to put in place, adequate logistics to ensure that every eligible voter gets his or her voter ’s card in order to vote in next year’s general elections.

The deputy governor also called on Bayelsans to take advantage of the exercise by coming out to get their voter ’s card and encouraged those that have not registered at all to get registered at the appropriate time in order to participate in next year ’s general elections.

HE Urhobo Elders and Leaders Council, UELC, has elected a new executive to run the affairs of the council for the next three years.

The 11-member executive, led by Chief Cyprain Onephrojire, emerged at a a meeting of the joint factions of the council to consolidate and tackle burning issues affecting the Urhobos both it the state and at federal levels.

Speaking on behalf of the new executive council, Dr. Onephrojire promised that they will do their best to move the Urhobo nation to greatness, particularly to defend the interest of Urhobo sons and daughters at state and federal levels.

He emphasised that the UELC must not be perceived as competing with the Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU, but should be seen as complementing the efforts of the national Urhobo body.

He said that all hands should be on deck to free the Urhobo from their present position of oppression and deprivation.

Others elected include Chief Omokor Evwaraye, 1st Vice Chairman; Chief Napoleon Okobia (rtd), 2nd Vice Chairman; Chief Thompson Atumah, 3rd Vice Chairman; Chief V. O. Ukusare Patron and Dr. David Ejenobo, Secretary General.

CWFI holds confab

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HE Christian Women Fellowship International, CWFI, holds its third annual Ladies in Waiting conference at the Civic Centre, Lagos, tomorrow.

A statement by National Coordinator, CWFI, Reverend Anwuli Okafor, said Archbishop of Church of God Mission International and President-General of CWFI, Margaret Benson-Idahosa, will be ministering.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014

Economy'll grow by 15% with adequate power—Avuru

Adeboye intercedes for Chibok schoolgirls

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BY SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA

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ORRIED by the continued captivity of over 200 Chibok schoolgirls in the hands of Islamic militant group, Boko Haram, General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Friday night, worshippers at the June Holy Ghost service at the Redemption Camp to intercede and proclaim liberty for the innocent captives.

Leading the intercessory prayers, Pastor Adeboye asked God to intervene and ensure the safe release of the abducted girls, saying: “Father, you know where our daughters are. God, please release them. We are in one accord on this.

God, release them and Lord God Almighty confuse, scatter and destroy every enemy of Nigeria.”

He urged Nigerians not to lose hope on the country, noting that the country will soon overcome her current challenges.

He said God’s promises and prophecies concerning Nigeria will come to pass, pointing out that God’s help is on the way for the giant of Africa.

Pastor Adeboye, who at the beginning of the year said Nigeria’s destiny will be determined this year, further noted that notwithstanding various insecurity challenges confronting the country, God’s prophecy concerning Nigeria will be fulfilled in 2014 and not 2015 as being speculated.

He said: “At the beginning of this year, God asked us to fast for 100 days, that the destiny of this country will be determined this year and the last time we did 100 days in RCCG was 18 years ago. We did the 100 days and when we started experiencing different issues in Nigeria,

by May, I was beginning to ask God what was going on and by then the theme came, Help is on then way and I know God will intervene in our situation.”

PUBLIC LECTURE: Prof. Amos Utuama, Delta State Deputy Governor (left) and Prof. G. G. Darah, guest lecturer, during a public lecture to mark the third anniversary of the 5th Assembly, in Asaba. Photo: Nath Onojake.

Female suicide bomber kills self, two others in Gombe

BY SONI DANIEL, Northern Region Editor; NDAHI MARAMA & BALA AJIYA

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ARELY three days after an explosion rocked the Gombe State governor’s residence, a female suicide bomber, yesterday, detonated a bomb that killed her and two others near the 301 Artillery Regiment.

Witnesses said the attacker mistakenly detonated her weapon before reaching the real target, thereby killing a soldier and another person near the army barracks, which is referred to as Quarter Guard by the locals.

The incident, which occurred around midday, while some churches were still in session, caused panic in the state capital, where the barracks is located.

“The bomber, who disguised as a visitor on a motorcycle, detonated the bomb and blew herself up,” an eyewitness said.

Another eyewitness said that the death toll from the attack could be more since many victims, including soldiers, were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

“We saw soldiers packing bodies after the loud blast but we were too scared to go near, as the place was immediately cordoned off,” a local trader said.

However, the Senior Media Adviser to the Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Mansur Lawal, told Vanguard on telephone that normalcy had since returned to the state capital and that the people were not under threat as the military personnel were on hand to do their job.

He said: “The people of Gombe

are going about their normal attacked more than four towns activities and are not in panand villages in Gwoza Local ic as a result of the bomb Government Area of Borno blast, which the soldiers have State. already contained.”

Some elders of the Gwoza Director of Defence Inforborder communities said yesmation, Major-General terday in Maiduguri that “the Chris Olukolade, also conkillings and torching of our firmed the attack at the milihouses continued in some of tary facility in Gombe, which the villages up till Sunday he said claimed the life of a morning,” soldier and wounded anothIt was also learnt that the er. border villages with CamOlukolade, however, said eroon were still under siege that normal activities had

by Boko Haram gunmen, insince resumed at the army cluded Gava, Agapalawa, barracks.

Chikideh, Dushwale, Ngoshe “Intelligence deduced from and Ashgashiya. credible information earlier received on this plot confirms the vigilance of some members of the public,” Olukolade said.

It will be recalled that on Wednesday night an explosion had hit the residence of Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, killing two soldiers and injuring four others.

The state government then claimed that the explosion came from a stationary armoured tank, which had been over exposed to heat and that it was nothing to worry about.

However, the latest attack by a suicide bomber believed to be a suspected Boko Haram agent, suggests that the terrorists have extended their campaign to Gombe, which was earlier considered a safe haven.

In the five-year-old campaign by the Boko Haram sect to Islamise Nigeria, not many of its attacks were launched in Gombe until lately.

No group has claimed responsibility for the latest assault on the state.

Meanwhile, Boko Haram terrorists continued to lay siege to border villages in Borno State as the death toll in last week's attacks has increased to 108.

Several villagers were reportedly killed when the Boko Haram insurgents

HE Chief Executive Officer of SEPLAT, Mr. Austin Avuru, weekend, said that the “Nigerian economy which is presently growing at 7 percent will leapfrog to 15 percent per annum if we get the power situation right.”

He spoke in Monte Carlo, France, where he participated as a finalist in the Ernst and Young World Entrepreneur of the year 2014. Avuru was named winner in the Master Category for the Nigeria and West African sub-region on November 9, 2013.

He also spoke about the emergence of Seplat as the leading indigenous oil and gas player. He said: “For 50 years, the oil and gas industry in Nigeria was dominated by multinationals. If it was that easy, it wouldn’t have been a 50-year dominance. In the past 20 years, there have been several regulatory attempts to introduce indigenous participation. It didn’t work. It looks easy because we walked in, did a landmark transaction, led the way and we have shown how it can be done, built a world class company, took it to the stock exchange and raised half a billion dollars.

“It looks easy because we did it right. One of the most difficult industries to operate in is the oil and gas industry."

Vanguard, MONDAY,JUNE 9, 2014 — 13

AUN, API hold peace, devt confab in Yola

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OLA—A peace and development conference, which aims to chart new paths to increased access to education, better security, and youth employment, kicks off at the American University of Nigeria, AUN, Yola, Adamawa State, on Wednesday, June 11, 2014.

The 1st AUN-API International Peace & D e v e l o p m e n t Conference is being promoted by the Adamawa Peacemakers Initiative, API. This is an organisation of community, religious, and business leaders partnering with AUN in peace building and educational development in the conflict region.

The conference will be drawing over 100 participants from civil society groups, security organisations, academia, and other key stakeholder groups.

Several major highlights of the conference will be the presentation of certificates to 260 young women and men who recently graduated from the University ’s free ICT (Information and Communications Technology) training programme for at-risk youth in Adamawa State.

Since its inception, the programme has provided training to more than 2,000 local youth.

In addition, the conference participants will hold a town hall meeting with 50 local youth to discuss their needs and concerns, and visit the local village of Bole to meet with internally displaced people and distribute food and other items to them.

Abia govt, IPMAN allege sabotage of petroleum products' supply to state

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—ABIA State Government and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, have accused Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC, and Indorama Eleme Petro-Chemical of sabotaging supply of petroleum products to the state.

They alleged that the two companies connived to perpetrate constant power outage to the NNPC Refinery at Eleme, which in turn affected supply of petroleum products to Aba depot.

At a joint press briefing by Abia State Commissioner for Petroleum and Solid Minerals’ Development, Chief Don Ubani, and IPMAN executive, led by Simple Nwankpa, the duo alleged that the two companies had developed the habit of shifting blames over whose duty it was to supply power to NNPC refinery to enable it pump products to Aba depot.

They also alleged that the sabotage of the two companies had frustrated the test-run of Enugu depot, which had been lying fallow for years.

According to Nwankpa, water to test-run Enugu depot is available but no power to carry out the test allegedly because of the blame game of the two Port Harcourt companies.

“We are worried over the sabotage that is being deliberately and craftily perpetrated against petroleum products delivery in Abia State by both Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company and Indorama Eleme Petro-Chemical Ltd, Port Harcourt.

“Petroleum products meant for Abia State have ceased getting to the state because of the constant power outage in the refinery at Eleme due to the attitude of workers at Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company and Indorama ElemePetro-Chemical,” the duo alleged.

They called on the Federal Government to wade into the matter and call the two companies to order, saying their action was an act of economic sabotage that had caused lots of frustration, marginalisation and deprivation against consumers in Abia State.”

From left: Vice Chairman, Governing Board, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State, Mr. Tony Odiadi, Chairman, Tertiary Education Trustfund (Tetfund), Dr. Musa Babayo, and former Aviation Minister, Mrs. Stella Oduah, during the foundation stone laying of Aviation School of the Polytechnic, at Atani, Ogbaru Local Government, Anambra State, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Ihedioha slams Okorocha over sacking of monarchs

O

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WERRI—DEPUTY Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has described Governor Rochas Okorocha’s withdrawal of certificates of recognition and staff of office to Eze Cletus I. Ilomuanya and Eze Cosmas Onyeneke, as an utter disregard to the rule of law and due process.

He also considered it an affront on the custom and heritage of the people, who the royal fathers embodied.

Ihedioha noted that extant and

relevant statutes clearly stipulated the procedure and conditions for the withdrawal of certificates of recognition of traditional rulers in the state.

His words:“Sadly, none of the conditions stipulated by law, including fair hearing, which is

the basic foundation of jurisprudence, had been met in this instance.”

While recalling that he had seldom commented on the manner Okorocha administered the state, Ihedioha, however, said

it had become increasingly clear that the administration had continued to engage in actions that were anathema to good governance, peaceful coexistence, rule of law and due process.

Training of pilots, engineers 'll curb dearth of manpower —FG pilots, 61 engineers graduating

BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR

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AGOS—THE federal government said weekend that ongoing training of aircraft pilots and engineers would address the manpower gap in the nation’s aviation industry.

Shortage of manpower had been a major challenge for airline operators in the country, prompting them to rely on expatriate staff, who are more expensive to maintain and whose employment increase cost of operation.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation, Capt.

Shehu Iyal, who made the observation in an interview in Lagos, on the sideline of the showcasing of 127 Niger Delta youths, comprising 66 pilots and 61 engineers, trained as

commercial pilots and engineers by the Amnesty Office, said what was important now was to create job opportunities for them to counter domination of the industry by foreigners.

He said the industry had not, in a long while, witnessed the large number of pilots and engineers trained at the same time.

He said: “I have seen a bigger number being sent for training; Kano sent 100 to Jordan for training, but what I mean was the large number graduating at the same time.

“Besides the military, no civil organisation has been able to graduate this number of pilots or even the Federal Government of Nigeria. it didn’t even happen during the days of the defunct Nigeria Airways. “To have 66

at the same time; I think this is phenomenal. It is something that has to be celebrated. This is something we as Nigerians should be proud of and we should be proud of these young Nigerians.

“This is going to bridge the manpower gap for the successive generation.”

On the National Assembly’s plan to legislate a local content law for the industry, Capt. Iyal said: “That will be excellent. In fact, I can go further than that.

In places like Malaysia, Indonesia they have specific rules and regulations whereby any operator that comes in must employ a citizen of that country as a co-pilot or trainee engineer to understudy the expatriate pilot or engineer."

14— Vanguard , MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014

NIMASA launches satelite surveillance ...rescues Ghanaian vessel

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AGOS—THE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has launched its satellite surveillance system, which, in conjunction with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force, successfully rescued Ghanaian Fishing Vessel, Marine 711 from suspected hijackers on Thursday, June 5, 2014.

The Ghanaian registered vessel was reportedly hijacked off the coast of Ghana and sailed across Togo and Benin Republic to Nigerian waters when the Embassy of the Republic of Korea contacted the Agency to help rescue the vessel, which is owned by its national. The Ghanaian Fisheries Authority and the operators of the Fishing Vessel joined in requesting NIMASA to bring the incident to a logical conclusion.

In a swift operation coordinated by Capt.

Warredi Enisuoh, NIMASA’s Director of Shipping Development, the Agency’s newly built satellite surveillance system with Cloud Penetrating Radar capabilities was brought to bear and the incident was resolved within six hours.

NIMASA team, working with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force, which used air and sea patrols, quickly put up a response and reception plan which led to the hijackers abandoning their mission and fleeing.

The new 24-hour Surveillance Centre has the capability to detect boats, ships and objects of predefined crosssection floating on water.

This includes any aircraft that ditches and remains on the surface during satellite overflight. Its abilities further includes but not limited to setting range rings and restricted areas for which when penetrated by an intruder, the system gives an alarm, thereby alerting the operator/watchkeeper.

BY INNOCENT ANABA &

WOLE MOSADOMI

A

BUJA—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday condemned the siege on newspapers across the country by security agencies, warning that the Goodluck Jonathan administration, by tampering with press freedom, had taken on a battle it could not win.

This is just as security agents continued its clamp down on newspapers’ distribution yesterday in Minna, Niger State.

Meanwhile, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has faulted the confiscation of newspapers in some parts of the country meant for circulation on the highway by soldiers, saying it was a threat to duty of the media to inform.

Nigerians condemn action

While Nigerians continue to condemn the attack on the media and confiscation of newspaper, some soldiers numbering up to 10, stormed the distribution centre of national dailies in Minna, Niger State, and prevented the distribution and sale of some national dailies.

The soldiers were said to have arrived the distribution centre as early as 7a.m., fully armed in a military pickup van They carried out a search of all newspapers on arrival and only allowed the papers to be circulated to out stations after being certified they were not those labelled to be “contraband.”

Those allowed to be on stand included Vanguard, Tribune, Sun, Union, ThisDay, Guardian and Sunday NewsWatch. The newspapers that were not allowed to be circulated were the Nation, Leadership and Daily Trust.

The soldiers left the distribution centre at about 2p.m.

Agbakoba speaks

Agbakoba in condemning the actions of the soldiers, said: “It is a major breach to the rights to free of speech and to impact information. There is no reason why this should happen in our society. It is a major travesty of justice and a major interference in the duty of the media to do their job without fear and molestation.

“I only hope that who ever gave the order has a very good excuse, but there can really be no excuse for such an impunity. It is intolerable for the military to behave the way they did. It is not acceptable in a civilised society, its not acceptable in a democracy or civil society. Let us hope they have a good reason, but like I have repeated, there can be no excuse for the brazen act of

INDUCTION: Executive Director, Institute for Government Research and Leadership Technology, IFGRLT, Ambassador Moses Essien, Professor of Building, University of Jos, Prof. Akidoyeni and Deputy Chairman-in-Council, IFGRLT, Prof. John Akanya, during the institute's induction in Abuja.

SIEGE ON NEWSPAPERS: Jonathan is fighting a battle he can't win —APC ...more newspapers seized in Minna ...as Agbakoba faults soldiers' action impunity carried out by the soldiers. We are waiting to hear what they will say. ” APC in a statement in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the President failed to learn the lessons of history that the Nigerian media could neither be intimidated nor suppressed by anyone, and that all those who tried to do so in the past lived to regret their actions.

War on media

It wondered why a government that is being asked to diligently prosecute the war on terror was instead, vehemently waging a war on the media and using the security agencies to interfere with the country’s democracy. ‘’Had the government pursued the insurgents who are killing and maiming Nigerians with the same vigour with which it had descended on the media, the war against terror would have been long over,’’ APC said, wondering what kind of weapons that the small newspaper distribution vans could be used to ferry that cannot be conveyed by other, bigger vehicles that move around the country undisturbed.

APC slams action

The party described as disingenuous and ridiculous the explanation that an intelligence alert was responsible for the shameful and unacceptable clampdown on the media, and the platitude that the Jonathan Administration holds the media

in high esteem. ‘’Even if one believes the Administration’s babble that President Jonathan holds the media in high esteem, how can that be justified by the indignities being meted out to the media under his watch?

How does the so-called intelligence report justify the arrest of media workers, detention of distribution vans and the impounding of newspapers? How does it justify the restriction of newspaper circulation? How does it justify an administration’s efforts to tamper with fundamental rights guaranteed by the nation’s constitution?

Attempt to stifle freedom of speech

‘’With the clampdown on the media, the Jonathan administration has opened a new but dangerous flank in its war against Nigerians. First. It was an attempt to stifle the freedom of assembly and the freedom of speech when a Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu, tried but failed to ban peaceful protests in Abuja. The outcry against the obviouslyorchestrated ban on peaceful protests had barely died down when the government moved to stifle press freedom. But it is a lost battle,’’ APC said.

The party said a government that had failed to provide security for its citizens, 12,000 of whom had died in the hands of Boko Haram since 2009, and a government that has

pauperised its citizens rather than empower them, was suddenly acting like someone pumped with steroids and wasting its artificial energy on tackling the media, simply because it did not like its fierce independence and highly professional disposition. ‘’President Jonathan gave a hint of what’s to come when he blamed the media for overreporting Boko Haram, forgetting that the media is only a mirror of the society. Our advice to the President is to immediately call a halt to the war on the media which his administration has launched because it is one battle he cannot and will not win,’’ it said.

NPAN, NGE condemn action

Meantime, the Newspapers’ Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN, as well as the Nigerian Guild of Editors had condemned the clamp down on newspapers’ distribution by security agents.

In its reaction, NPAN argued that “we do not believe that given the already tense situation in the country, the government or any agency acting in its name will engage in acts that can only stifle free speech and encourage rumours to fester.”

The Guild in a statement by its president, Mr. Femi Adesina warned that “for the military which already has its hands full to open another flank of battle against the media is indefensible”, adding that “it is a throwback to the days of military repression which we thought we had long put behind us as a country.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014—15

ADO BAYERO: CONDOLENCE VISITS

Governor Kwankwaso of Kano State (left) and Senator Jibril Aminu.

From left: Former Governors of Kwara State, Senator Muhammed Shaaba Lafiagi, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki; former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, during a condolence visit to Kano State Government House over the death of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau (rtd) (right) and Governor Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano.

From left: Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State; former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau and a son of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.

Governor Sa'idu Dakin Gari of Kebbi State (right) condoling Governor Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano.

Elder statesman, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, Danmasanin Kano (left) at the Kano Government House for a condolence visit.

Chairman, Northern State Governors' Forum and Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu (right) condoling Gov. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano.

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014 THERE is more to the military’s clamp down on newspapers than it disclosed in an obviously hurried statement that failed to notice the contradictions in the defence it provided. According to Defence Headquarters, newspaper circulation vans were stopped based on security reports that they were to be used to ferry bombs from the North East to other parts of the country.

Which newspaper is published in the North East? Which of the seized newspaper vans was coming from the North East? Have newspapers become explosives?

The military should not use “security reports” to create more confusion.

It acted with impunity and the authorities should have better explanations for the latest abbreviation of the operations of the press. Soldiers, at various points they stopped newspaper vans, acted as people out to disrupt

Newspapers – Latest Explosives the businesses of the media.

They ordered off-loading of the newspapers in the rain, left them there for hours after seeing nothing incriminating in the vans.

We expected the vans would have been allowed to continue with their business after the searches.

They were delayed beyond reason, unless they were checking if the explosives could be imported on the spot.

How could a 13-hour detention of newspapers vans be justified by suspicion that they bore explosives? What was the purpose of keeping them after no explosives were found? Were the newspapers already guilty before

BY DELE COLE

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HEN the G8 leaders met in Northern Ireland on 17 – 18 June 2013 to discuss tax, trade and transparency, we believed it necessary for them to consider how these issues can serve as the platforms to address the problem of oil theft in the Niger Delta, which in 2008 the G8 leaders meeting in Japan had promised to help President Shehu Yar’adua. Only a global partnership between the International community, the Nigerian Government and Local communities can end oil theft.

To this end they must *Investigate the global trade in stolen Nigerian crude oil, from the ships used to transport it to the money used to pay for it. *Engage International experts from different sectors to discuss the development and implementation of technological and other solutions that can be employed in combating oil theft. *Support the efforts of the Nigerian Government to secure its territorial waters and so prevent the unhindered movement of the vessels used to transport stolen crude. *Engage the local community to fight this evil.

Stolen Nigerian crude oil is transported on internationally registered vessels, sold to International buyers, processed

by International oil refineries and paid for using International bank accounts. The environmental impact of the trade and associated illegal oil refineries that process it in the creeks of the Niger Delta is devastating. A region already regarded as an environmental tragedy is being further degraded and efforts to rehabilitate the region cannot proceed until this illicit trade is contained.

Global Financial Initiative (GFI) in its study claimed that it aimed to “unpack the opaque”. Oil theft was reaching unprecedented levels by 2013. It was undermining the economy of Nigeria and jeopardising the integrity of the state. This situation demanded the most serious attention of Government and the global community committed to Nigeria’s well being The most recent study claims that the average artisanal refinery operator consumes 10,000 barrels per day of stolen crude. The stolen crude taken by vessels to off shore tankers amount to 336000, barrels. Digital Globe, a satellite

Oil

the arrest of their vans? Who would pay for their losses? Who gave the nebulous orders Defence Headquarters so poorly explained?

The act was deliberate. Its continuation for a second day leaves the intention of the military to several interpretations, one of which is its discomfort with the media’s coverage of the security operations in the North East, especially, its insipid management of information on the operations.

Silence from the Presidency fuels impressions that the military was acting on its behalf, using security as cover to harass newspapers. It is appalling for a

OPINION theft

imaging company, found that there were over 500 refinery sites in Nigeria with a through put of 19,000 – 24,000 barrels per day.

GFI synthesizing all these sources estimate that in 2013 total artesenal oil was between 179, 255 and 214,887 barrels per day. Attitudes to oil theft are hardening among the oil producing communities. The GFI also looked into the question of who owns the oil and attitudes of Niger Deltans to oil ownership.

The local communities, that is people who live in the Niger Delta, or live near an oil well – believe, perhaps erroneously or falsely, that, the oil belongs to them and that it is being stolen by outsiders right under their noses.

They believe that they are the “owners” and are oppressed and deprived by “outsiders” because of oil and furthermore that so long as the present situation persists “the owners” that is themselves and their communities, will never be developed, they will never rest or be left alone and “Salvation” will only come after the oil has been exhausted, their farms and fishing villages despoiled beyond redemption.

They also regard the International Oil Companies as Criminals“How can a criminal company do something right”?

They have come to see oil as a curse, not a blessing; their people are suffering; they have no roads, hospitals, electricity.

Their plan is to stop further exploitation but meanwhile, if only temporarily, must steal as much of their own oil as they could.

“We shall rise up and destroy their facilities.” They cry because the companies and the Government are deceivers, corrupt and not fair. The companies assist the Government to destroy their community through a policy of divide and rule.

Nigeria has over taken all oil producing countries in oil Theft activity – Nigeria loses more than US$10 billion annually to increasingly rapacious oil thieves from an increasingly reluctant administration to stop the theft.

There is no end to calls for this trade to stop; Government

democratic government to align against the press, contrary to the Constitution it swore to defend.

Section 22 of the Constitution states, “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people”.

The Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN, must go beyond condemning the harassment. It is an assault on rights of individuals to free speech; it is also a breach of the media’s constitutional rights to hold governments accountable to the people.

NPAN should seek legal interpretation and applications of Section 22, in addition to pressing for compensations. We should not beg for our rights, when we do, we diminish them.

has taken the matter to the United Nations, to the G8, to the EU – African partnership – but no one seems willing to do anything about it, because, some claim, they detect an apparent lack of political will on the part of the Government.

It is true that committees have been set up; US$1 billion has been set aside to fight it. As it is, nothing or little seems to be happening.

Recent studies have produced alarmly frightening statistics. The growth of capacity of oil vessels not in the primary oil sea routes – their numbers are amazingly large.

There are huge discrepancies between what Nigeria says it sells to US and India and what US and India say they import from Nigeria. In 2012 both report more imports than Nigerian records indicate. In the US the discrepancy is 191,000 barrels, India- it is 22, 400 barrels indicating that exports were all either under reported due to deliverance of unregistered tanker or topping up at loading stations.

The availability of satellite imagery of artisanal oil refineries in Nigeria and their spatial distribution; the values attached to this and maps of the clusters of illegal refineries in Niger Delta taken from satellites are all part of the latest study on oil theft.

Together these studies paint a dismal picture that ought to scare Nigeria from slumber to action. There is available now in Nigerian waters, according to satellite imagery, enough vessel capacity to take every drop of oil Nigeria produces daily. What does this say about our security?

2013 was the worst year – US$10 billion; 2014 is predicted to be even worse.

Finally the Niger Delta remains the most polluted geographical area in the world – more oil spills – several times worse than EXXON Valdes and BP’s Gulf spill. Sadly, due to a number of factors – including Government ineptitude, indifference and impotence, also due to unaccountability of the oil operators and outright chicanery of some individuals in the oil producing communities – oil theft and consequential pollution, no clean up will take place, theft will increase and Government will prove to be helpless. Those who hope that Niger Delta will continue to be the golden goose to feed an irresponsible and unresponsive Nigeria are in for a rude shock. *Dr. Cole, a former ambassador,wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014—49

50—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014

Insecurity: We need new thinking — Prof. Mimiko advocated and sent a memo to the Committee on National Security on it but I am not sure it was favourably treated.

I hope that I will still be allowed in the plenary to push a motion a motion to see how the delegates will see it. That is from point of view but I know that severally, delegates have spoken to me that this is something they will like to support.

Do you support the recommendation by a committee for the creation of only one additional state and that in the Southeast?

Well, as a political scientist, I don’t really see the need for any state in the context in which resources are dwindling, in the context in which all the states we have are virtually insolvent, in a state in which we use so much money for statecraft rather than to development, I am not a big enthusiast of state creation.

PROFESSOR Femi Mimiko, is the Vice hancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University,Akungba, Ondo State. He is also one of the three nominees of the Ondo State government in the ongoing National Conference. In this interview he rebuffed insinuations that the insurgency fueled by the Boko Haram Islamic sect is a result of the failures of the federal administration saying it is the result of bad governance over the years. He also ventilated his ideas on how the federal system could be better operated. Excerpts:

A

RE you satisfied with the recommendation of the Committee on Devolution of Powers that the status quo be maintained at 13% for derivation?

I thought it would have been a good thing to increase that percentage beyond 13%, if not for any reason, the shared magnitude of the economic and ecological damage attendant upon the crude oil extractive industry.

Now for me, the argument of whether they are spending what they get appropriately or not is not really an argument. If a particular incumbent is not doing that today, another may do better tomorrow, but I think basically, it will be fair to allow more funds to go into that region because of the consequence of the extractive regime that is in place.

Extractive regime And so if we get to plenary, it will not be out of place for a delegate like me to support a higher figure and I think that is the direction that we should take.

So, would you say you are disappointed by the decision of the committee on this issue?

No, it is not a question of disappointment because I know as a political scientist that democracy is a negotiated thing.

It is also a game of give and take.

If you have an argument that is resounding enough, from persuasive you would be able to get others to buy your perspective, so it is not a question of disappointment.

I guess I would be disappointed if for instance, we don’t accomplish the degree of devolution of powers from the centre to the federating units, if we don’t accomplish the degree of devolution of resources from the central government to the state government.

I would be disappointed if for instance we don’t get the

federating units to be able to set up and administer their own police systems in the light of the very, very challenging security situation we face.

I would be disappointed if for instance, at the end of the day, delegates vote to retain local government in the constitution which for me doesn’t make sense in any way.

Are you okay with the decision of the Committe on Security to reject calls for the establishment of state police?

Absolutely not, I think it will be a monumental error if we deny the need for state police and the arguments are so compelling.

Number one, the nature of the security challenge we face should suggest to us that we need a new thinking in terms of our security architecture.

Number two, policing is about intelligence gathering and sharing. A situation in which we deploy police officers that know nothing about their communities, they simply will not be in the position to carry out intelligence well and when you don’t have intelligence, you can’t have effective policing.

University police Number three, the trend across the world is to have community police, local police and even university police. Even universities in America have their own police formations. Nigeria, for me is perhaps the only federal republic that has a single police structure, I don’t know of any that has something that is completely comparable to Nigeria. It is also necessary for us to know that the state governments today do a lot in terms of funding of this federal police that we have, so if they are able to fund this federal police so much, you cannot argue that they don’t have resources to fund their own police.

I have also argued that it is important to take into cognizant the fears of those who are

Priority attention

•Mimiko: Policing is about intelligence gathering and sharing

opposed to this project.

People have said that they could be misused in the electoral process, I remember I argued when the Southern Leaders Summit held in Calabar a few months ago that we can set up very rigorous eligibility criteria if you will, that for instance will not allow state police to be involved in elections.

You can make a framework in place that will determine the top number that you must have. You could say no state police formation should recruit more than ten thousand officers. It is also possible to put control over the weaponry system that they will acquire so that at any point in time, they will not be able to stand as a threat or a challenge to the federal police. Can you imagine the impact it will make on the employment situation for instance, if every state now has the approval to recruit ten thousand men to the state police?

That will be ten thousand in 36 places immediately; you know what that will imply in terms of mopping up people from the employment market.

So these are some of the

arguments. And so for me, it would be a monumental error if at the end of the day we rise as a conference without recommending pointedly the need for us to have state police.

I am sure you know that they have even advocated the right to keep and bear arms because I

,

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

If people push the idea that additional state should be created for the South East, you can count on me that I will not vote against it. But I don’t think that should be something that should be our priority attention.

But you don’t see the need for it?

I don’t see the need for an additional state. Talking of the federal structure in which you have very weak 36 states, there is no way the federal; the central government would not have overbearing influence on time.

Policing is about intelligence gathering and sharing, a situation in which deploy police officers that know nothing about their communities, they simply will not be in the position to carry out intelligence well

believe that the security situation we have today is such that every Nigerian that is responsible, that attained the level of education, that has a verifiable means of livelihood has the right to keep and bear arm for self protection.

I believe a situation in which they all have weapons except the ones kept by the security forces, all the weapons out there are in the hands of criminals, put true people like us who have chosen to be on the right side of the law at a disadvantage.

So this is one thing I have

,

Well, anything that will move us closely in the direction of federalism is what I support, anything that will take us in the direction of centralism which has proven to be disastrous for this country I would not support it.

What is your take on the escalated insurgency by Boko Haram and the foreign intervention in Nigeria?

I think what is going on in the North East is quite unfortunate.

It is a manifestation of several years of governmental neglect if Continues on page 51

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014—51

Who believes Bamidele’s blueprint?

Ekiti 2014:

THE Labour Party, candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, Opeyemi Bamidele, a member of the House of Representatives and former two term commissioner in Lagos State laid down his plans and prospects when he presented his manifesto last Wednesday. Are they realistic?

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR AND GBENGA ARIBIYI

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ABOUR Party candidate, Opeyemi Bamidele in the opinion of some may have been very gracious in his words of commendation for Governor Kayode Fayemi when he said that the governor may have done his best for the state.

“I concede to the fact that Governor Fayemi has done his best for Ekiti people. But the best one can do under any circumstance, is his best. So, based on the extent of his understanding, experience and exposure, I want to say he has done his best,” Bamidele said as he offered himself to take the state to greater heights.

Bamidele spoke at the presentation of his manifesto in Ado Ekiti last Wednesday.

Speaking at the well attended ceremony, in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Bamidele pledged to engender unprecedented economic growth and development in all if elected as governor.

“The reason why I am in this race to take over from Governor Fayemi in the June 21 election is simply because I know I can do much better.

“Today marks a turning point in the history of this state,” Bamidele spoke at the unveiling of the manifesto that witnessed a large gathering of stakeholders including the chairman of the C M Y K

Elders’ Forum in Labour Party, Prof. Joseph Oluwasanmi, the state party chairman, Barr. Akin Omole among many other distinguished personalities.

Before he unveiled his manifesto, Oluwasanmi made a speech during which he urged the people of the state not to compromise their voting right by voting for a wrong candidate.

According to him, every effort must be made by the electorate to prevent those without dignity and honour from assuming the governorship seat in the forthcoming election.

what he claimed as the The Challenges Ahead of building a New Democratic Ekiti State, the Way Forward: Ekiti Charter of Prosperity, Building a New Ekiti: Reinventing the art of Governance through Economic Development.

Concluding, the candidate in an address said: “Our aspiration is to create a new, united, prosperous, peaceful and virile Ekiti State where the lofty dreams nurtured by its founding fathers and for which they worked so hard for its creation almost two decades ago could come to reality.

Atmosphere of new understanding We are persuaded that the attainment of these laudable goals lies in the enactment of an atmosphere of new understanding, new vision, new determination and a new spirit that requires the genuine integration and enduring input of all stakeholders in the collective rebirth of our dear State.”

“Sector by sector, I have outlined the policies and programmes by which my team and I solemnly seek to intervene and make a marked difference in the living standards of our people. Through this blueprint, we are offering Ekiti people a statement of promise that if given the governorship mandate, we will not only ensure that all the human and material resources with which Ekiti is endowed are scientifically and prudently harnessed, we will also ensure that more opportunities are created where every citizen will have equal access to a chance for wealth creation. This is based on the motto of the Labour Party, ‘’Equal opportunity and justice for all’’.

“On this premise, I, most earnestly, enjoin all wellmeaning sons and daughters of Ekiti State, home and abroad, to repose their faith in this solemn assurance of a new, united, peaceful and prosperous Ekiti and join their hands together with us to re-invent governance, engender freedom and democratic ethos, create jobs,

,

•Bamidele: LP is a party with difference

Oluwasanmi, who served as commissioner for health under the Otunba Niyi Adebayo-led government, stated that “Ekiti is known to be Land of Honour and Dignity and we have to live by this.

We should not allow those who cannot spell the names of their parties correctly or those who are not worth being elected chairmen and are parading themselves as governorship candidates from taking over the reign of leadership in our land”.

Prof Oluwasanmi urged the Ekiti populace to prevent poll riggers from having their ways during the election, saying the LP members must vote and be vigilant during the election.

The LP Chairman in the State, Barr Akin Omole, said Bamidele’s blueprint will rescue the state out of the present frustration which according to him the All Progressives Congress has brought to Ekiti.

“LP is a party with difference because we have been matching forward in ideas . We are in this State to bring to fore a progressive change. We have witnessed a lot of provocations, but we are steadfast in the struggle.

“With this manifesto, we have signed a contract with our people and by the grace of God this will be implemented to the letters to bring the expected changes in the lives of our people”.

The manifesto packaged in 12 chapters with an epilogue is a blueprint on the candidate’s plans for the state begins with Bamidele’s vision and plans for Ekiti and details among others

Sector by sector, I have outlined the policies and programmes by which my team and I solemnly seek to intervene and make a marked difference in the living standards of our people

“Ekiti Charter of Prosperity, more than any previous blueprint on Ekiti growth and development, emphasizes the need for every citizen of Ekiti to see himself or herself as a moral agent for the urgent rescue and elevation of our dear State from the valley of abject poverty, political instability, mutual hatred, misplacement of values and priorities as well as the endemic crisis of leadership, which has been the bane of Ekiti in the last decade. We are poised to place Ekiti on a higher pedestal where it will become the cynosure of all eyes, the pride of Nigeria and the envy of the modern world.”

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eradicate poverty, build infrastructure, sustain businesses, secure lives and properties, re-enact the essence and value of peaceful coexistence among (Ekitikete) and restore the lost glories, hope, faith and confidence of our people whose heart had been broken by failure of leadership. I am convince that broken heart can be healed.”

“I, therefore, pledge to dedicate my talents, my time, my resources and my unusual wealth of political, legal and administrative experience in ensuring that these lofty goals are realized, to the utmost salvation and prosperity of Ekiti people.”

Insecurity: We need new thinking — Mimiko Continues from page 50 you will. That is why for me, what you are seeing is not the consequence two or three years of neglect, but a cumulation and a critique of governance in Nigeria.

I am not talking of the current government; I am talking of things that have piled up for several years. And therefore, when people seek to blame the incumbent president, I think they are being in mere disservice.

I also do believe that the military; the Nigerian Armed Forces are doing a great job and I think the responsible thing to do is to support them. It is not to

criticize them, to abuse them, to drag them in the pool of politics; partisan politics, I don’t think that is what they deserve.

In other jurisdictions soldiers are celebrated, especially when they are in very difficult situation like.

Difficult situation I also endorsed completely, the decision of government to invite support from abroad, that is the right thing to do, there is no nation that is strong enough to stand alone, not even the United States of America.

That is why a country as compelling as the US still shares intelligence information and so, those who are criticising the president for seeking foreign assistance just missed the mark.

Are they suggesting that Nigeria is so big and so powerful, so formidable that it does not need support? I think it is just a share sophistry on the part of such people.

So by and large, I think broadly, the leadership is doing well. For instance, I have spoken against the penchant of politicians to see this as an opportunity to take political advantage.

When a nation is in such a difficult situation, what leaders do

is to band together, there is a need for a new level of bonding.

In some climes; in some jurisdictions, everybody will come into the government of national unity for all of us to join hands to tackle that national challenge, thereafter, you can go your different ways and begin your partisan enterprise.

But when a nation is at war, which is what Nigeria is; Nigeria is effectively at war, when a nation is at war, you don’t go out calling the president’s name, abusing soldiers that are laying down their lives. These are not things that are done in more appropriate climes.

52—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014

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HE Abia State Government has decided to reabsorb most of the non-indigenes it disengaged from its civil service about three years ago. When it took the decision to “back load” or “transfer” the services of the workers to their states of origin in 2011, there was a great uproar, especially in the social and traditional media, with the Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji being called names.

Of course, the government proffered reasons for taking the action. According to it, the new minimum wage which organised Labour forced down the throats of state governments dramatically shot the wage bill of the state beyond its capacity to cope. It came at a time when a lot of Igbos

Abia: happy ending to a bitter saga indigenes, especially in the commercial and industrial city of Aba, where non-indigenes are major stakeholders. The problem assumed political dimensions as the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, started tiptoeing from the All Progressives Grand

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Aba is an international city of commerce and industry. Aba is the heart of Igboland and the commercial muscle of Abia State, but it is not tailor-made for Abia indigenes alone

were returning from the North over terror attacks, and the Abia State Government had a duty to accommodate some of its returnee indigenes in its workforce.

The state was faced with the choice of either downsizing the workforce or falling behind in payment of workers. It was at this juncture that someone in the system remembered that some years ago, some states in the South East zone, particularly Imo State which used to coexist with Abia in the Old Imo State before it was split in 1991, had unceremoniously sent workers of Abia origin packing. Years later, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, without prior notice or consultation with his Abia State counterpart, suddenly stopped paying the pension of workers of Abia origin who retired in the Imo Civil Service. The Abia State Government had quietly reabsorbed its displaced indigenes and taken up the pension burden of its retired indigenes abandoned by Imo State. The “back loading” generated tension between the government of Abia State and non-

political ambition and occupy his new position as governors’ chairman without reversing the policies. After all, he was appointed even while the “back loading” was in full force. Besides, the population of nonindigenes in the Abia Central Senatorial Zone where he will contest for the Senate is too insignificant to stop him if the people want him to go and represent them. I am of the firm belief that Governor Orji listened to wise counsel, and since the finances of the state can now accommodate the recall of the non-indigenes, he decided to act in good faith.

I call it a happy ending for a couple of reasons. The whole indigene-settler dichotomy syndrome in country is sickening.

It is symptomatic of a nation that is seriously ill and in need of general psychological overhaul.

Why should a Nigerian be discriminated against in any part of his country based on the circumstances of his birth and origins? Why should an Igbo person be a “non-indigene” in any part of Igboland, even if the anomaly can be excused on ethnic or regional or religious basis? Why should the Imo State Government stop paying the pensions of Abia indigenes who served and retired in Imo State?

Why is the Imo aspect of the problem being conveniently ignored? Why is it only the (albeit wrongful) retaliation that is being highlighted? And why are people withholding commendations when the Abia State Government reverses itself? Why are people not hounding the Imo State Government and others in the South East to emulate the good gesture of Governor Orji and correct the wicked acts they committed against fellow Igbos in their own states? Is it not instructive that the “war against non-indigenes” in the South East is being targeted at fellow Igbos

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Alliance (APGA), the party that put him in power to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okorocha has never hidden his ambition to add Abia to his political empire. He capitalised on the sore feelings generated by the “back loading” in the Abia civil service. Each time Governor Orji made an appearance in Aba he was roundly booed by well organised cells of pro-Rochas groups of non-indigenes. The height of it was when the body of the late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was brought to the Aba Stadium for final honours. After the governor was subjected to humiliating boos by organised groups in the arena, he went back to Umuahia and recharged his Ochendo Organisation. The booing eventually died down, but the tension remained, and so did the war of nerves between the Abia and Imo state governments.

They had frequent verbal shootouts in the media. Imo opened a new front in the quarrel, closing down the loading bays of the Abia Line Network (ALN) transport company in Owerri,

citing the need to restore the Owerri master-plan. It provided no alternative outlet. Abia retaliated by closing all operational bays of the Imo Transport Company (ITC) in Aba and Umuahia. On October 12th 2013, the Abia State Government clamped down on a reception to honour Okorocha at the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, by the proRochas “rescue missionaries” saying it was a ploy to stage an illegal campaign by the APC. With the standoff between the sister states at a stalemate, the question became: who blinks first? Rochas was not even attending the South East Governors’ Forum, so there was no common ground for arbitration.

Governor Orji unilaterally decided to hang his war drums.

He decided to reabsorb the sacked non-indigenes.

Apparently, the internally generated revenue of the state has grown from about N150 million to a point where the state government is now targeting one billion per month. Leakages, according to its officials, have been blocked and digital methods have now cut down corruption that had diverted funds to private pockets. The state not only decided to recall the nonindigenes, it has also de-frozen employment in its civil service.

Governor Orji’s critics insist, however, that he is bringing back the workers because he has now been elected as the Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum.

Besides, he is now eyeing the senate. The truth, though, is that he can still carry on with his

OPINION immense infrastructural transformation of the Edo guber ticket as political carrot State by the Comrade Governor, who believed

BY NOSAKHARE OSARODION COULDN'T contain my laughter as I watched an interview session on a local television station in Benin City, where a man said he was promised the ticket to become the next governor of Edo State.

The man, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, onetime Secretary to the Government of Mr. Lucky Igbinedion and major contributor to the failure of that government was guest of the local television station and he gave reasons why he dumped his former party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ize-Iyamu’s decamping to the PDP and his reasons for doing so were clear manifestations of political jobber who can’t be entrusted with a serious assignment that requires integrity.

Going through my records recently, I stumbled on a paper delivered, just last year, at the anniversary of Edo Political Forum in Benin City by Ize-Iyamu. In the said paper entitled “Political Governance in Edo State: 1999 – till date” he admitted his failure and the failure of the Government in which he was SSG when he said “Internally

I

Generated Revenue, for example, which today, thanks to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s government is over a billion naira a month, was then around 27 million naira a month.”

He continued: “Another serious challenge to the administration was the ruling party itself. The Peoples Democratic Party that produced the Governor of the State between 1999 and 2007 had no manifesto, blueprint or plan for governance and in Edo State was actually personified by one lead character that was literally worshipped as the owner and giver of political power. The pressure and subtle threat from the godfather and his supporters were excessive and distractive in the process of project planning and execution, as well as management of the resources of the State.... Definitely, the Governor did not have the combative and no nonsense posture of the incumbent Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who with his progressive mentality as an activist, also had to contend with the godfatherism syndrome and ruthlessly dismantled their structure.”

He went further to state “I thank God for the

in the philosophy of the Grace Group, bought into it and courageously elevated that philosophy to the mantra of one-man-one-vote that has made the godfathers become irrelevant. It is that courage, and conviction to pursue the public good that have bonded the Comrade and I, and accounted for my elevation to the position of National ViceChairman (South-South zone) of the Action Congress of Nigeria, the progressive platform for the development of our state. I am presently a member of the National Merger Committee of ACN, ANPP, CPC, APGA and DPP that is working towards the registration of a new national political party called the All Progressives Congress (APC) which we believe would be able to defeat the ruling PDP and rescue Nigeria from its present state of decay.”Now just a few months after, IzeIyamu’s song has suddenly changed. In a recent interview, Ize-Iyamu said “from what we have seen, it is clear that the PDP is not a one-man party. It is a party that has clearly defined rules and regulations; a party that is well structured, organized and has a better platform for us to be able to engage ourselves

of the former East Central State, while those from elsewhere are not affected? It does not make any sense, no matter how you look at it.

Secondly, let me reiterate that it is futile to reduce a city like Aba to an ethnic or state enclave. Aba is an international city of commerce and industry. Aba is the heart of Igboland and the commercial muscle of Abia State, but it is not tailor-made for Abia indigenes alone. It is built in Ngwa land, but not a rental property of Ngwa people as Ikwerres reduced Port Harcourt to after the civil war and the Abandoned Property saga. The greatness of Aba lies in its diversity as the place to go and display your business acumen and manufacturing dexterity, irrespective of where you come from. Aba has no mineral resources like Port Harcourt, which is an oil-fed city.

Aba’s greatness is based on its human capacity and ingenuity. It is an intelligence-based economy.

Therefore, it is likely to outlast cities like Port Harcourt, which are mainly dependent on extractive, renteering freeloads. Once the extractive industry dries up, the city may die unless it transits from extractive to renewable, superior human capacity-driven prosperity. Every intelligencedriven economy must open up to all comers – Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, the various Minorities, and foreigners. Everybody comes with something unique. That is the story of Aba, as well as other progressive cities like Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Jos and also Port Harcourt (especially before the civil war).

While we should chorus Governor Orji’s pledge that this ugly episode must never rear its ugly head again, we must also prevail on Imo State to follow the good example of Abia. It must pay the arrears of pensions to those it terminated years ago. As the right hand washes the left hand, the left hand must also wash the right hand. That is an old Igbo wise saying. Let us stop hurting one another in Nigeria. It makes all of us losers.

and get the dividends of democracy to our people.”

The question on everyone’s lips is why did this Pastor suddenly make a volte-face, change his song and decamp from the APC in the middle of the party’s congresses? What is new in the PDP that it is suddenly a well-structured and organized party?

The answer is not far-fetched. Ize-Iyamu merely used the APC Congress as a cover to justify his decamping from the party.

The pastor is sulking because the man who promised him candy (governor) is backing out.

He is miffed that the Governor who promised to hand him the governorship seat on a platter of gold was apparently having a change of heart. He had thought that having been promised the Governorship ticket, there would be no need for congresses or harmonization of slots between himself and the other leaders in his local government.

The truth is that Ize-Iyamu overestimates his political value.

He put his popularity to test during the APC congresses in Orhiomwon and lost twice. He also underestimated the political consciousness in Edo State and the astute memory of the people. *Mr. Osarodion, a public affairs analyst, wrote from benin city, Edo State.

—53 Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014—

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HE goose and the gander are indeed lucky birds. So also are the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND and the Boko Haram insurgents; especially so for the Boko Haram insurgents who took up arms against their fatherland, but are being considered for forgiveness of sins because the Federal Government thinks it is the best way to go to have peace and unity in the land.

It does not matter that innocent blood was shed by the two groups, women defiled, and misery callously distributed to innocent souls; but peace we must have at all cost. It is only logical to conclude that though men may forgive these heinous crimes of bloodshed, the Owner of the souls that were wasted-the Almighty God- will ask for an account of them. And if these criminals do not make amends with God, they will rot in hell.

But we must thank President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for waving this generous olive branch to the insurgents, just as his predecessor and himself did to the Niger Delta militants a few years ago. The ball is in the court of the Boko Haram insurgents to either accept or reject this offer.

I am not interested in the needless controversy that has been introduced into the proposition

by the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Reuben Abati, to the effect that the President has not granted amnesty to the insurgents as purportedly claimed by the Minister of Youth Affairs, Boni Haruna.

But here are excerpts of what President Jonathan said: “My government, while pursuing security measures, will explore all options, including readiness to accept unconditional renunciation of violence by insurgents, and to ensure their deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration into the broader society.... I have instructed our security forces to launch a full-scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorism on our soil. I have also authorised the security forces to use any means necessary under the law to ensure that this is done.” To me, the message of the President is clear and simple: my government is ready to grant you amnesty if you renounce, unconditionally, violence.

Shedding further light on the possible amnesty or forgiveness at a youth forum in Abuja to mark this year’s Democracy Day, Youth Development Minister, Boni Haruna, had said: “A series of integration programmes have been lined up for members of the sect who surrender their arms and embrace peace. Let me use this opportunity, on behalf of the Federal Government, to call on

It is only logical to conclude that though men may forgive these heinous crimes of bloodshed, the Almighty God will ask for an account of them; and if these criminals do not make amends with God, they will rot in hell

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members of the Boko Haram sect to embrace the government’s gesture and key into the amnesty programme.” The minister’s position did not confirm that amnesty had been granted but that the option was open to the insurgents to embrace. So, why has the controversy reared its head?

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nough of the distractive controversy! Jonathan used the occasion to shore up the morale of the nation’s security forces. He said: “Despite the challenges we face, we must commend our security forces.

We must not forget their gallantry and successes in liberating nations and in peacekeeping, from Liberia to Sierra Leone, Congo, Sudan,

Chibok: Terrorism's new face

BY DOKI JEFF

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HE 21st century is a period of the novel and unexpected. It is also a period of new risks delivered with new means and potentially more devastating consequences.

For example, the greatest international event of the new century and, of course, the one that bookmarks its first phase was the attack on America’s symbol of prestige by the terrorist group known as al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001.

Terrorism is the use of random violence, especially killing force, with the intent of creating fear in a population (especially civilians) with the devout hope that the fear so created will advance a political objective. The aim of the terrorist is to coerce or instill fear through the use of propaganda.

The attack on America, for example, was clearly motivated not just by the desire to kill civilians but also by the drive to maximise the propaganda value of the attack. Besides, globalisation has also significantly transformed armed groups and terrorists into a major strategic security threat because it has heightened their organisational effectiveness, their lethality and ability to operate on a truly world-wide scale.

But historically speaking, terrorism operates and thrives in three basic contexts namely: (a) as a tool to crush populations into submission ( as used by the dictatorship under Robespierre(1793-1794) during the French Revolution ), (b) as a tool for extremist outsiders against representative regimes( this was alQaeda’s major reason for attacking America on 9/11/2001), and (c) as a tool of guerilla warfare(consider the on-going insurgency between the guerillas and American troops in Iraq).

The obvious implication of all these examples is that the abduction of innocent and harmless teenage girls in a government secondary school by the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria is completely out of the context of terrorism and is an addition of the novel to the C M Y K

tactics of terrorism. This dastardly act raises a number of questions: What are the motives of the Boko Haram sect? Is the abduction of the weaker sex an act brave enough to advance its objective? Does the group intend to add gender issues to its own tactics or it simply wants to extend its long line of human rights abuses with sexual violence and abuse? All these issues constitute the new face and tactics of terrorism in Nigeria.

In the world in which we inhabit today, religion is no longer the purview of theologians and misguided adherents but a major contributor to the lethality of armed groups and terrorists because members of armed groups use religious power to achieve their goals. The Boko Haram sect in Nigeria based in the North Eastern part of the country was founded in 2002 and the group seeks primarily to establish a strict Islamic law in most of the semi-desert areas of West and Central Africa with spiritual headquarters in Maiduguri.

Its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, was captured and killed some time ago but the group has become more powerful and vicious under the leadership of its new leader Abubakar Shekau.

In very broad terms, the sect forbids Western education and it has a strong habit of attacking and bombing churches, government institutions, mosques, police and army formations.

Before his death, the erstwhile leader of the group, Yusuf, had stated emphatically (in a BBC interview) that ‘ anything contrary to Islamic teaching on earth should be rejected’ and that the group was going to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that it changes the current education system in Africa and uproot democracy in the continent. Although, one can identify the objectives of the group, it is left to be said that in pursuing its objectives the group’s actions sharply contrast the teachings of Islam.

The principle of Peace (Salam) which is of primary centrality in Islam, and from which the religion largely derives its name, has been denigrated to cynicism, hate, violence, human

Mali, Guinea-Bissau and many places in Africa and beyond. Our forces have paid the supreme price in several places at several times. It is now 57 days since the horrifying abduction of the college girls of Chibok. I share the deep pain and anxiety of their parents and guardians and I assure them once again that government will continue to do everything possible to bring our daughters home.

“I have assured you that Nigeria will be safe again, and that these thugs will be driven away, it will not happen overnight, but we will spare no effort to achieve this goal. It is a sad fact that as I address you today, all the gains of the past 15 years of democratic governance in our country are threatened by the presence of international terrorism on our shores. Our dear country, Nigeria is facing a new challenge. A war has been unleashed on us. Extremist foreign elements, collaborating with some of our misguided citizens, are focused on an attempt to bring down our country and the democracy and freedom we cherish and celebrate today.”

It was under former Army General and democratically elected government of President Olusegun Obasanjo that MEND first reared its ugly head. Before the infamous group, other forms of threats to the national security had cropped up, but the former President had decisively and quickly dealt with them almost decimating the entire towns. Odi in Bayelsa State was the first victim. Zaki Biam in Benue State

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BY JOHNSON MOMODU

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Boko Haram: Exploring the amnesty option

Terrorists, as we know them, don’t abduct harmless,innocent girls; we hope the international community will help to bring back our girls; nothing less than that will be adequate

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suffering and genocide. In other words, in its attempt to purify Islam of Western influences the sect has only succeeded in employing Islam not to support life but death; not to support peace but to perpetuate war. The consolation is that the Muslim faithful, including the Sultan of Sokoto, have unambiguously condemned and criticised the activities of the sect in ringing tones.

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hile the abduction of the young school girls has become an issue of international concern it, has at the same time, drawn attention to the plight of the African woman in conflict situations. For one thing, the majority of those affected by armed conflict (including refugees and internally displaced persons, IDPs), are usually women and children. For another, in Nigeria, our country, the Boko Haram sect has successfully exploited the nation’s already-weakened security to its advantage .Perhaps, the truth may be that the Nigerian Army cannot combat terrorism either because the last time the country purchased military hardware was in 1983, or the Army chiefs have become conflict entrepreneurs.

This line of thinking is anchored on the fact that, recently, there has been symptoms of mutiny and gross insubordination within the ranks of the Nigerian Army, including allegations of its complicity with the Boko Haram sect. Yet, in the usual Nigerian style, no arrests have been made or culprits publicly named or punished to serve as deterrence. The

was another, with the military going after one of its own, General Victor Malu. He was not at home, but the soldiers made sure they left an indelible mark for him to remember they visited.

When Malu tried to whip up sentiments over the more than necessary onslaught, he was reminded of his own role in the decimation of Odi as Army Chief under the same Obasanjo. It was the same method that the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua attempted with Boko Haram that failed and snowballed into this raging inferno that Jonathan is employing every strategy to deal with.

We know that left with men like Senate President, David Mark, there would have been a full scale war by now, and how that would turn out will be nobody’s guess. It is not only legislators that are talking more than tough to gain political capital. Some gorgeously dressed women have not been left out, especially a former Minister of Education who would prefer to make noise in Abuja rather than go to the Boko Haram enclave in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states. She and some of her co-travelers, including that failed House of Representatives member from Kogi State, like to flaunt their credentials as human rights activists while the insurgents and their sponsors wait for them in Maiduguri, Damaturu, and Yola.

*Mr. Momodu, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

irony here is that in the 21st century, the Nigerian Air Force cannot boast of one reconnaissance aircraft.

But more worrisome is the fact that the abduction of the young girls is a method that is not only cruel but also intrinsically awful. In the same vein, the abduction of the girls is not just painful, it is also right-violating. The act constitutes a disgusting disregard for the humanity of the girls abducted.

The abduction also raises a number of moral questions: What about their bodily integrity?

If the young girls could be converted to Islam ( and there is every reason to believe so) is it not possible that they could also have been defiled?

Is it not a violation of their rights and entitlements, even as young girls, to choose their own sex partner(s)?

Many more difficult questions could be asked. What is clear for now is that a whole generation is being eroded away in our country because the young girls are equally mothers, not to their future children alone but to their entire communities and the nation at large. In a recent video tape, Shekau threatened that he will sell the abducted girls into slavery. A more recent video tape showed the girls clad in jilbab chanting Arabic verses from the Koran, a sure sign that they are converts to the Islamic faith.

At the same time Shekau is insisting that he will not release the girls until the FGN freed all Boko Haram members detained by the Nigerian government.

The attacks by the armed group are so frighteningly many and the sect has killed more than 9000 Nigerian citizens since 2009. There is this fear that the sect may even truncate our 15 years old democracy. This argument is borne out of the fact that if the Army Generals cannot overcome the sect they may turn their guns in anger to mow down the politicians just to save their faces.

The sect has visited Nigeria with a terribly new face because terrorists as we know them don’t abduct harmless,innocent girls. We hope the international community will help to bring back our girls. Nothing less than that will be adequate. *Dr. Jeff is a senior lecturer with the University of Jos.

54 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9 , 2014

El-Sisi takes over as Egypt’s president A

BDEL Fattah el-Sisi has promised to “care for the interests of the people” and build a stronger Egypt as he was sworn in as the country’s new president.

The former army chief took the oath of office at the Constitutional Court in a suburb south of the Egyptian capital Cairo, the same venue where Mohamed Morsi, the president who he deposed, was sworn in two years ago.

“I swear by almighty God to preserve the republican system, and to respect the constitution and the law and to care for the interests of the people; and to preserve the independence of the nation and its territorial integrity,” Sisi said.

“We will solve the problems of the past and build an Egypt of the future.” Sisi is the fifth Egyptian president to come from the army’s ranks. The ceremony also marked the first time one president handed power to the next, although Adly Mansour, the former interim president, was appointed by Sisi.

Sunday was declared a national holiday and tight security was enforced by the police and military throughout Cairo. “Cairo has announced a state of emergency across its institutions, and no breaks will be taken today and on Sunday,” Ahmed Sakr, the deputy governor of Cairo, said on

Saturday.

Sisi was declared the country’s president last week after winning 96.6 percent of the presidential vote, beating the only other contender, Hamdeen Sabahi, who won 3.09 percent. Several regional heads of state were

among those who attended the ceremony.

Fawaz Gerges, a professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, said that a strong president would be welcomed by many Egyptians who are tired of the upheaval of the last four years.

•El-Sisi

Bergdahl family receives death threat T HE family of US Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has received death threats after his release from five years of Taliban captivity, according to US authorities.

Bergdahl has faced criticism amid claims he abandoned his post in Afghanistan before

being captured, having asked his commanding officer if he would be punished for walking off his base.

The soldier ’s hometown of Hailey, Idaho, where the 28year-old’s parents Bob and Jani live, has been swamped with hate mail and angry telephone calls.

It would have been offensive and incomprehensible to consciously leave an

American behind.

John Kerry, US secretary of state.

William Facer, a spokesman for the FBI, said on Saturday that the agency continued to monitor the situation and took each threat seriously.

On Wednesday, Hailey, which has a population of 8,000, cancelled plans for a welcome-home parade, citing security concerns over the

prospect of big crowds both for and against the soldier.

Bergdahl’s freedom was secured last week by a swap deal for five high-profile Taliban members, who were released from the prison in Guantanamo Bay. He was filmed several times by his Taliban captors, in some instances making statements about his opposition to the war.

Pope Francis leads Israeli, Palestinian prayer for peace

T

HE

Israeli

and

Palestinian presidents have begun an unprecedented meeting

with Pope Francis to pray together in the hope that the gesture will relaunch the peace talks.

Francis will lead

Missing Malaysia jet : Fundraising drive launched by relatives of some passengers

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fund-raising drive has been launched by relatives of some passengers on the missing Malaysian plane to seek information on flight MH370.

The campaign, spearheaded by an Australian businessman, aims to raise at least $5m (£2.9m) “to encourage a whistleblower to come forward”.

Flight MH370 went missing on 8 March as it flew from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Officials say they are reviewing search data, having failed to find any trace of the plane so far.

They continue to survey the sea floor and are bringing in specialist equipment, Using satellite data,

officials have concluded that the airliner, which had 239 people on board, ended its journey in the Indian Ocean, north-west of the Australian city of Perth.

A submersible robot carried out an extensive search of the area in the Indian Ocean where acoustic signals had been detected, but could not locate the plane’s flight recorders.

There is no explanation for the plane’s disappearance. The “Reward MH370” project is being co-ordinated by Ethan Hunt, an Australian who lives in Hong Kong but has no connection with any of the missing plane passengers.

prayers on Sunday at the Vatican with Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres in a gesture aimed at fostering dialogue.

“This prayer meeting will not be for mediation or to find solutions. We are just meeting up to pray.

Then everyone goes home,” Francis said after issuing the invitations during a pilgrimage to the Middle East last month.

Francis said it would be “crazy ” to expect any Vatican mediation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Despite insisting that he had no wish to meddle in politics, Francis, on his second day of a visit to the Holy Land, called for Palestinians and Israelis to work together, saying a breakdown in talks was “unacceptable”.

The prayers from the world’s three main monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, will focus on three themes: “creation”, “invocation for forgiveness” and “invocation for peace”.

—55 Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014—

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The many battles of a gadfly Continues from Page 8

the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police, from giving effect to his purported suspension from office as the CBN Governor, pending the determination of his suit.

Besides, he begged the court to make an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from obstructing, distur-bing, stopping or preven-ting him, in any manner whatsoever, from performing the functions of his office as the governor of CBN and enjoying in full the statutory powers and privileges attached to the office.

Nationalised banks sue

While at that, sharehol-ders of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc dragged Sanusi before a Federal High Court, also in Abuja, accusing him of complicity in an alleged N50 billion fraud.

In a suit they entered through their lawyer, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), the plaintiffs, including Abdullahi M. Sani, Adaeze Onwuegbusi and Chijioke Ezeikpe, alleged that Sanusi, as the CBN governor, acted contrary to the provisions of sections 12, 32, 35 and 39 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, Cap B4 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, by deliberately falsifying the actual financial state of affairs/solvency of Intercontinental Bank Plc and subsequently sold it to his cronies for N50 billion.

Aside Sanusi, others joined as defendants in the suit were the CBN and the Security & Exchange Commission.

They are praying the court to, among other things, determine whether Sanusi, “did not act fraudulently in waiving/writing off N16.2 billion owed by Mr. AigAigboje Imokhuede and Mr. Herbert Wigwe, the Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director of Access Bank and N8.9 billion owed by Senator Bukola Saraki and other sums so owed, all totalling over N40 billion, in a bid to enable the said Access Bank Plc to fraudulently purchase Intercontinental Bank Plc for N50 billion only.”

56—V anguard 56—Vanguard anguard,, MONDAY, JUNE 9 , 2014

THE SOUTH SOUTH POSITION:

TableCi: C(i): HEADS REVENUE Table HEADS OFOF REVENUE

A stitch in time saves nine (2) Today we publish the concluding part of the second batch of the South South's reaction to the "Key Issues before the Northern delegates to the 2014 National Conference," issued by the North.

BY AYAKEME WHISKY

T

HE only non-oil revenue source accruing to the federation account is Value Added Tax (VAT), which proportionate contribution was 26 per cent in 2009, 20 per cent in 2011 and 24.4 per cent in 2012. It must be stated that even the VAT for which northern states receive larger chunk because of the introduction of very elementary and unjustifiable indices for horizontal distribution of a revenue is sourced from mainly Lagos State in Southern Nigeria.

From Table B below which is self explanatory, it is evident that no Northern state has been contributing to the federation account since proceeds from oil and gas became predominant source of federally collectable revenue from early 1960s. Even the claims that the North was funding the machinery of government with groundnut and cotton exports before the oil was discov-

nuts and tin, the predominant export items by Northern Nigeria. Similarly, in 1914 Northern Nigeria exports earned a cumulative sum of about GBP1,442,783 compared to GBP1,829,964 earned as revenue by Southern Nigeria. Where, therefore, is the source of the claim that Northern Nigeria provided funding for the machinery of government of Nigeria before oil was discovered? As a matter of unblemished historical fact, it is on record that the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates was essentially to unburden the British government (treasury) of the perennial financial deficits of the North which was borne by the Colonial administration for the South to shoulder. There was no mincing of words about that as the Colonial Secretary, Lord Harcourt attempted to justify the amalgamation before the British parliament.

With all these glaring and undisputable facts, it is confound-

,

Justice and equity is not only when equals are treated equally; it is indeed when labour and sacrifices are honoured and respected in equitable manner

ered is a fathom assertion (see Table C i & ii below). Table B shows very clearly that Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara states contributed nothing to the distributable pool and yet receives so much from the federation account. This has been the pattern of docile dependence since 1913 and 1914 (see Table C(i)(ii).

And so if the benevolence and magnanimity of the Southern states had ensured the economic sustenance and survival of the Northern states all these years since our amalgamation, is insult the best form of reward? We wish to note that belligerence has no positive reward.

Positive reward It can be clearly seen that whereas Southern Nigeria was able to generate GBP2,668,197 the total revenue generated by Northern Nigeria on what could be qualified as recurrent receipts is only GBP794,310. On specific export revenue, Table C(ii) indicate that the major export items of cocoa, timber and palm oil produced by Southern Nigeria gave a cumulative sum of GBP2,117,910 in 1913 as against the sum of GBP1,099581 for cotton lint, hides and skins, ground-

,

ing that a supposed Northern intellectuals rather than appeal to the conscience of the people of the South to think of collaborative strategies to move the country forward to assume the vaunting temerity and affront indulge scandalously indefensible claims in their so-called Northern agenda to incite indiscernible minds. If the intent was to blackmail and cow the people of the South to submission, we wish to state categorically that they have not only failed in their attempt to do so but also be reminded that for only collecting monies generated from the South without corresponding contributions they remain debtors to the people of the South.

Alleged excess receipts by the south south states: It has always been a sour point of contentious claims that the South South states receive more than proportionate share from the federation account. Such claims are rooted in the derivation quotient of the revenue receipts by oil producing states. The controversy itself is so vexatious as it reminds the oppressed minorities of the South South of our chequered history as a people that had long been despised, subjugated and neglected over the years.

It is simply a case of “what is good for me is not good for”. We have sufficiently showed earlier

1913 Southern Nigeria

Licences and Internal Revenue 18,012 29,281 Fees of Court, etc 74,168 65,029 Customs 1,772,619 ..

Marine 32,129 ..

Railway 632,130 ..

Interest 109,544 ..

General Tax ..

545,902 Post and Telegraphs 18,651 11,566 Rent of Government Property 3,265 3,832 Miscellaneous 7,519 2,700 Non-recurrent 160 ..

Imperial Grant-In-Aid ..

136,000 Total GBP 2,668,197 Source: Annual Colonial Report No. 874 for 1914, page No. 4 Table Cii:

Northern Nigeria

Total

47,293 139,197 1,772,619 32,129 632,130 109,544 545,902 30,217 7,097 10,219 160 136,000 GBP794,310 3,462,507

of total federally collect1913 1914 able revenue £ £ respectively Cocoa 157,480 171,751 in 2012, JigaCotton Lint 159.223 50,791 wa, Kaduna, Hides and Skins 197,214 505,785 Kano, KatsiGround-Nuts 174,716 179,219 na and SokoTin 568,428 706,988 to states reTimber 106,050 86, 522 Palm Oil 1,854,384 1,571,691 ceive 1.0 per cent, 1.1 per Source: Annual Colonial Report No. 874 for 1914 cent, 1.6 per that up to 1968, the derivation cent, 1.2 per cent and 0.9 per cent from the total federally collectprinciple was applied based on able revenue respectively in 2012 50 per cent; indeed it was producing regions paying tax to the without contributing a dime. It federal government. Because a must be emphasized that these group of people ascribe to them- oil producing states bear the exselves “lordship” and the right cruciating brunt of vastly devasto perpetual hegemonic rule, tated environment and ecology, and because of their long occu- barren infrastructure as well as pation of power through the bar- the complete desecration of their rel of the gun that conferred on traditionally known means of livethem the authority to enact ex- lihood. How revenue to oil propropriatory laws that transferred ducing states. Whereas states a people’s right to property own- like Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta ership their hirelings could con- and Rivers States contributed tinue to throw salvos without approximately 30 per cent, 19 per cent, 22 per cent and 22 per cent thinking through.

However, we notice from Table respectively to total oil revenue D below that such claims are far the proportional value of what from truth. We deliberately select- they received in real terms was ed the core Northern states of about 7 per cent. So how can Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto someone accuse these states of and Kaduna for comparison with being insensitive in their demand for increased allocation to the South South states. derivation principle?

In real terms, therefore, the oil Minimum producing states and other revcompensation enue baskets of Southern NigeWhile regarding the 13 per cent ria have been the perpetual losderivation as minimum compen- ers in this big time game of besation for the rights of the peo- ing “brothers keepers” who have ple of the South-South states to continued to show vaunted inresource ownership and, there- gratitude and hatred for their love fore, it cannot be regarded as stat- and care. It perhaps needs reutory earning, our Table D shows peating that nobody in this counthat, for instance, in 2012 the try is born a second fiddle. It is non-revenue contributing states an error of judgment for any like Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Soko- group of people to claim that they to and Kaduna states received have superior claim to “being proportionately higher revenue Nigerians” than others. It is this than the oil producing states of attitude of aristocratic assumption the South-South like Akwa Ibom, in a multi-ethnic, multicultural Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Rivers heterogeneously complex society that could prompt one to think States.

It indicates that these states that that an age old practice of fiscal contribute nothing to the federa- federalism could be thrown tion account receive higher pro- aboard because it doesn’t favour portionate share from the total him.

Justice and equity is not only federally collectable revenue than the states that produce the when equals are treated equalbulk of wealth for the country to ly; it is indeed when labour and share. Whereas, for example, sacrifices are honoured and restates like Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, spected in equitable manner. In Delta, Edo and Rivers receive 1.2 other words, it is only when sharper cent, 0.5 per cent, 1.2 per ing takes into cognizance all our cent, 0.8 per cent and 1.6 per cent contributions to make available

the resource being shared that we can say there is equity and justice. It can be seen from Table H above how the states in Northern Nigeria have received far more than they ever contributed especially with their over-bloated local government areas (LGAs). When the Table H is analyzed alongside Table B, the Northern Nigeria states and their proteges should remain perpetually grateful to the oil producing states, rather than insulting us.

The indispensability of tax based revenue allocation: Nigeria, since the inception of regionalism under the administration of Sir Arthur Richard in 1946 had practiced tax based fiscal federalism. The practice allowed the federating regions to each grow and develop at its own pace, while also supporting the critical need for balanced national development. It was the reason why the Western regional government of the late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo recorded landmark achievements for the people. Fiscal federalism encourages creativity and the exploration of innate competences and ability.

Innate competences It was the several benefits inherent that informed its inclusion in both the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Because the founding fathers of this country were altruistic, they acted for the good of the people. Today, the legacies of late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the then Premier of Northern Nigeria and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, his counterpart in Western Nigeria can speak for them, even in the future. They could do what they did because they were independently managing their resources. Nobody depended upon another. Federalism, fiscal federalism was practiced at its best.

This country is fully resource endowed. There is no part of Nigeria where natural resources are not in abundance. But because of the commonwealth provided by the revenue from a wasting asset like oil and gas, nobody cares about exploring such resources to be part of the commonwealth. May be it is a Continues on page 57

V anguard anguard,, MONDAY, JUNE 9 , 2014—57 VERTICAL ALLOCATION: Producing States (to pay 50% tax to federation account) 50% Distributable Po o l 50% Horizontal Allocation: Federal Government 20% of 50% States 60% of 50% Economic Development Fund 15% of 50% Federal Capital Territory 1.5% of 50% Ecological Fund 1.5% of 50% Research and Development Fund 2% of 50% Proceeds from Produce, VAT and Duties Vertical Allocation: Produce: State of Origin 100% Duties Federal Government 60% Distributable Po o l 40% VAT : State of Origin 50% Distributable Po o l 50% Horizontal Allocation (Proceeds from VAT and Duties) Federal Government 20% of 50% States 60% of 50% Economic Development Fund 15% of 50% Federal Capital Territory 1.5% of 50% Ecological Fund 1.5% of 50% Research and Development Fund 2% of 50%

Continues from page 56 grand design. There is nowhere in the world where strategic considerations are not given to the replacement of a wasting asset like oil and gas for the benefit of those who own the resource. The models of federalism Nigerian copied rather to exploit and milk the people, they enthrone practices for their future self sustenance. Nigeria appears always to be counted on the part of those who exploit the tyranny of number to oppress, deprive and deny minorities of what is naturally theirs.

God has a purpose for positioning the people of the Niger Delta in a difficult, swampy and low land terrain where the cost of infrastructure construction quadruples the cost of construction in the dry upland. It is the reason why since over 50 years of independence and the continuous financial support from oil mineral proceeds, the heart of the Niger Delta has the inglorious record of the fewest number of federal roads. The only main artery linking the Niger Delta states, the East-West-Warri-Port HarcourtUyo-Calabar road remains a far cry from completion. Without mincing words, we know without doubt that no Nigerian would commit itself to developing the South-South except by ourselves.

Insolence and arrogance As earlier said there is no part of Nigeria that is not endowed with natural resources. Yet, despite the several billions of naira devoted to its exploration the lure of free money has consistently dampened commitment and zeal in that regard. A regime of fiscal federalism where every resource owner pays appropriate tax to fund the running of the federal government will possibly engender a desiradum for internal revenue generation. A critical look at the Table J below should instructively encourage every state to be inward looking. Every state is not only a natural resource basket but potentially wealthy state. That is how much God loves us; we tend to undermine and reject God’s love for us because of our oppressive style of repressing the hapless minorities.

Even if those whose penchant for insolence and arrogance did not know or pretend not to know, kindly know forthwith that you have what it takes to stand on your own without depending on proceeds from oil and gas. Let it be our collective duty to contribute to fund the federal government; it cannot continue to be the responsibility of Southern Nigerian states alone. Based on the foregoing, it is the position of South South that this “beggar syndrome” whereby every state

runs to Abuja to beg for survival must stop. That practice is antithetic to the practice of federalism. If the authors of the Northern agenda think that is a practicable, acceptable mode of governance, we wish to state clearly that such practice is not in sync with democratic federalism. Accordingly, we wish to state our minimum position in the following tax based revenue allocation formula: The unpatriotic calls for the scrapping of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Niger Delta Development Commission: We have been severally entertained with voices of opposition from the North calling for the scrapping of the Ministry of Niger Delta and the Niger Delta Development Commission, institutions put in place to develop the long neglected Niger Delta area. These unpatriotic, wicked and self-serving calls evidently are products of lack of knowledge of our political history and an attempt to promote ethnic jingoism.

Ethnic jingoism It is important that, as underfunded as these institutions are, which has crippled their capacity to deliver on their mandate, we put in perspectives the fundamental essence of their existence. The Niger Delta Region, being the third largest wetlands in the world, and the largest in Africa has 70,000 square kilometres with four different ecological zones. The region is blessed

by God to be producing crude oil/ gas, beginning with Oloibiri in the present Bayelsa State since 1956, which has become the economic live wire of Nigeria since its boom in 1970. Oil and gas revenue contributes about 80 per cent of Nigeria’s total earnings, and 95 per cent of export earnings.

The ecology of the region is swampy, criss-crossed by rivers and creeks that makes development difficult. Hence, the regional government of Eastern Nigeria did not do anything to promote its development. This led

to the agitation by the Chiefs and Leaders of the Rivers Province, led by late Chief (Dr.) Harold Dappa-Biriye, the patriarch of the Niger Delta and doyen of state creation in Nigeria, to demand for the creation of Rivers State effective 1953, a political development paradigm as governments in the hinterland of Enugu, Kaduna or Lagos would not understand the deltaic ecology of the region and develop it.

The agitation formed the main agenda for the 1957 Lancaster House Conference in London where Harold Dappa-Biriye presented the position of the Ijaws, in particular, and Niger Delta, in general.

The fears were so well articulated that the British Colonial Secretary of State appointed the Henry Willink to chair a Commission on September 26, 1957.

Nigerians are not alien to the economic devastation occasioned by the activities of Ijaw youths in the Niger Delta from 2006 to 2009, leading to the proclamation of Amnesty offer by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in October, 2009. The recourse to arms to demand economic and social justice from Nigeria’s ruling class culminated in the plummeting of the country’s oil production capacity to 600,000 bpd in 2009 from 2.6 million bpd in 2006.

Amnesty programme The Amnesty programme as well as the creation of the Niger Delta Ministry were, therefore, an informed choice between providing palliatives to an aggrieved long neglected people who were fighting for economic justice and permitting a failure of the Nigerian state. We, therefore, find it extremely absurd and insensitive when Northerners, in their desperate attempt at seeking means of enhanced free revenue, without a sense of history demand for the abrogation of these intervention institutions.

The danger in prying at another man, however, is that it gives room for self exposition. The people of the South have never openly probed into the several billions

of petro-naira bureaucratically crafted institutions to benefit the North in the name of bridging cost, for the movement of petroleum products. While the Northern states have continued to enjoy petroleum products at controlled price because of the effect of bridging which the Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF) offsets, oil producing communities in the hinterland of the Niger Delta pay three times the cost of fuel per litre.

We note from Tables M and N that the North West zone alone received over N119 billion naira from the PEF for the funding of ostentatious consumption without impacting on the economic lives of the ordinary people, with revenues from oil and gas; while the South South, the producers of the resource had a paltry N5.7 billion.What went to the North

,

A stitch in time saves nine

portunity to address the myriad of challenges that have fuelled the age-long bickering that tend to tear the country apart, so that people can sit together to talk to resolve their differences and strengthen our bond of unity.

And we do not think that can be achieved with an air of intransigence and belligerence which some delegates, especially from the North tend to exhibit.

Unfortunately, these delegates appear predisposed to the “aristocrat-proletariat” or better put, “master-servant” garb in their comments and actions. They are fixated in their primordial opinions of mastership bequeathed to them by their forbears and never realized that “change” is the only permanent thing in life. The change Nigerians seek is to transform our country to a truly federal state where federalism

,

Our minimum position is that Nigeria must be a truly federal state where the principles of federalism and fiscal federalism are practiced West alone amount to over 22 per cent of the total releases to develop the entire Niger Delta region (including Abia, Imo and Ondo states) for the corresponding period 2010 to 2013. Is this the economic justice and equity the Northern apostles of balanced national development are advocating?

When the institutional operations are lopsidedly balanced in their favour, as perpetual parasites, they do not only endorse it as being progressively germane but also work collectively to protect it. Hence, there was not a single Northern voice that protested the myopic, ethnocentric maladministration of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) by General Muhammadu Buhari when he was chairman. Till date, the Petroleum Development Trust Fund (PDTF), an offspring of PTF, has become a veritable channel to empower only Northern youths to acquire education abroad. Regrettably, the entire funding is coming from the despised South-South oil and gas wealth.

Conclusion: Let all delegates be reminded that President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, in response to the several decades of agitation conveyed this conference to offer Nigerians the op-

principles are practiced to the letter. And that comes with the untainted practice of fiscal federalism.

As a people our minimum position is that Nigeria must be a truly federal state where the principles of federalism and fiscal federalism are practiced; where all resource producing states shall have unimpeded right to its ownership, control and management and pay appropriate taxes to the Federal Government. We cannot and shall not accept the grave economic injustice of 13 per cent foisted on us by the Military engineered 1999 Constitution. Nigeria must go back to the basics of the 1960/1963 Constitutions in our fiscal operations.

Even the import of the provisions of Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which had been severally reported as a compromise, contemplates an upward review hence it says “being not less than 13 per cent.” This presupposes intermittent increase over time. Therefore it will be in the interest of all Nigerians that our brothers from the North hearken to the voice of reason and avoid being bellicose as we collectively build a new Nigeria. A stitch in time saves nine.

58—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014

•Scene of the clash between APC and PDP supporters in Ado-Ekiti

APC, PDP clash: One person killed, others injured

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI AND DAPO AKINREFON

A

N exercise by the APC to sweep out the footmarks of President Goodluck Jonathan and those that followed him to last Saturday's PDP rally in Ado-Ekiti was cut short yesterday by violence between supporters of the two parties.

At least one man died in the fracas between the supporters of the two parties with both the PDP and the APC remarkably, claiming the deceased as a supporter of each party.

Trouble, started yesterday when members of the APC trooped out as early as 8 am to embark on what they described as a ‘sensitization rally’.

They were armed with brooms, the symbol of their party, with which they used in cleaning the streets of the supposed footprints of the president and his entourage after the PDP rally of last Saturday.

In the process, they had an encounter with members of the PDP at Ijigbo Round-about, where cudgels, axes, machetes and other dangerous weapons were freely used.

In the ensuing melee, a yet to be identified middle aged man, who was at the back of a motorcycle during the time, was hit with a bullet on the head.

Subsequently, the police and other security agencies swiftly moved in to curtail the situation.

Eight persons have so far been arrested.

Information about the ugly development was said to have

reached the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who in turn personally visited the scene of the incident.

The governor and the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Felix Uyanna were said to have engaged themselves in a hot argument after the incident.

APC, PDP trade blames

The APC and PDP leaders yesterday shifted blame on the doorsteps of one another as the aggressor.

Chairman of the state APC, Chief Jide Awe, while addressing the press, blamed the clash on the alleged bias of the Police against his party.

He also accused the State

Mobile Police Commander, Mr. Gabriel Selenkere of allegedly using live ammunition which killed a loyal member of his party.

Awe further alleged that the Commander personally fired tear gas canisters at the governor, Dr Fayemi, after he rushed to the scene of the incident when briefed by his party.

He called on the InspectorGeneral of Police to effect the immediate transfer of the duo out of the state within the next 24 hours or be ready for the consequences.

But the state chairman of the PDP, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe faulted APC’s claim, saying it was indeed the APC members who provoked the clash. According to him, APC members embarked on a rally in the town (and) provoked the violence by attacking a motorcyclist, who was carrying a passenger that wore a T-shirt with Ayo Fayose’s inscription.• The PDP chairman claimed that shortly after the motorcyclist’s passenger was killed, his killers quickly removed the Ayo Fayose T-shirt on him and replaced it with an APC T-shirt in order to suggest that it was one of their members that was killed by PDP. Police reacts In its reaction, the Police Command absolved itself from the alleged shoot out.

In a statement by the Police

Sambo meets Ekiti PDP members

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

V

ICE PRESIDENT Namadi Sambo last Saturday met senior chieftains of the PDP after last Saturday's gubernatorial flagoff in Ado-Ekiti. It was an opportunity for the party to share ideas on how the prosecution of the gubernatorial campaign could be better achieved. It was also an opportunity for the vicepresident to fully reconcile the candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose and the aggrieved aspirants who lost

out in the gubernatorial primary.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting which took place at the Pathfinder Hotel, Ado-Ekiti, the state chairman of the party, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe and the party secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko said the meeting centered on matters relating to the progress of the party.

The PDP chairman said Sambo told party members to rally round the party’s candidate, Mr. Fayose and ensure his victory at the poll.

He said the Vice President

assured that the Presidency would provide logistics that would make the victory of Fayose achievable.

Besides, he said Sambo advised party members against being provoked by any political party into resorting to self help.

Sambo was said to have used the occasion to meet with all aggrieved PDP aspirants that contested against Fayose, with an assurance that their demands would be met.

Public Relations Officer, Mr Victor Babayemi, the police said when the APC was carrying on the exercise to sweep off the footprints of PDP members that they had an encounter with PDP members during which dangerous weapons were freely used.

Babayemi explained that the Police Commissioner, Mr. Uyanna and the state Director of State Security Service had earlier warned the governor, Dr Fayemi not to visit the scene of the clash which according to him, he ignored.

•Considering the situation on ground, the Commissioner of Police and the state Director of SSS reached out to the governor through his ADC and Chief Security Detail not to visit the scene until the situation has been brought under control.

However, the advice was not heeded.• Normalcy restored Meanwhile, normalcy has returned to the troubled area while anti-riot Policemen and other security agencies patrolled the town to prevent a break down of law and order.

Remain focused, Ekiti LP tells CP

T

HE Ekiti State Labour Party has called on the Commissioner of Police in the state to remain focused on making the forthcoming gubernatorial election peaceful, hitch-free and credible.

In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Mrs Bolanle Olatunde-Bruce, the party commended the State Command in ensuring peace and stability in the state.

It said we enjoin the State Police Commissioner and his men not to be distracted by the antics of the masters of rig and roast but remain focused on making the forthcoming gubernatorial election peaceful, hitch-free and credible.

Fayose 'll win poll— Alkali

BY HENRY UMORU

T

HE newly appointed Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali has expressed optimism that the potential victory of the PDP candidate, Ayo Fayose would help the party retake the Southwest.

Speaking with journalists weekend, the Political Adviser stressed that the PDP victory would be done through free

and fair means.

Professor Alkali,a one time National Publicity Secretary of the PDP explained that this was the main reason why President Jonathan personally led the team to the Ekiti rally.

“You can see with the large turn out of party supporters who abandoned their normal activities to show solidarity for our party and its candidate ahead of the election, this is a warning signal to the APC.” “Their end has finally come,

there will be no escape route for them this time around. PDP is set to reclaim all the states in the zone and we will start from Ekiti.

We are not boasting, we are all over the states campaigning to the electorate and they are telling us that they are tired of being in the opposition, they want to join the main stream politics.

They are marvelled with the revolutions and transformations going on the PDP controlled States,” Alkali said.

•Bamidele

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014 —59

Obasanjo, Fashola, NAFDAC, others eulogise Akunyili

BY BY SOLA OGUNDIPE, EMMANUEL AZIKEN, CHIOMA OBINNA, OLASUNKANMI AKONI, DAYO JOHNSON & DAUD OLATUNJI

L

AGOS—EULOGIES continued to pour in for the late Professor Dora Akunyili, former Minister of Information and Communications, and erstwhile Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, who succumbed to cancer in an Indian hospital on Saturday.

One of the latest reactions to news of her death came from former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who described her death as a great loss to the country.

Obasanjo, in his condolence message, described Akunyili’s death as the passage of one of the jewels in his administration.

He said Akunyili made a great change in the country’s health sector, with her successful crusade against fake drugs.

Obasanjo said: “The death of Akunyili is a passage of one of the jewels in the glamour of my administration.

‘A great loss’

He added: “It is a great loss for this country, which needs men and women of Akunyili’s high integrity, industry, patriotism and honesty.

“There are two things involved. One is to search for the person. Men and women of such standing abound. Secondly, after the search we have to tap them, motivate them and ensure that they are well directed.”

The former President said Akunyili was a workaholic member of his administration, adding that he sincerely appreciated her service.

He said: “Her life made a great change in one specific area— fake drugs. She was there, everywhere, to fight the fake drug war, which could have been fatal is she had not taken the bull by the horn.”

Senator Anyanwu

Senator Chris Anyanwu said: “The news of Dora’s death came to me as a very rude shock. Here was a brilliant woman, full of life and vigour and ever ready to go.

“She appeared as a thunderbolt in the Nigerian public service scene in 2001 when she was appointed the DirectorGeneral of NAFDAC, which hitherto was grossly ineffective and almost moribund.

“She drove her convictions and professionalism with such a passion that within a short while, Nigerians became very conscious of quality of drugs and foods offered to them.

“Fake manufacturers also came to the hard reality that it was no longer business as usual as Dora made the climate very hot for them to operate in.”

NAFDAC DG

To Dr. Paul Orhii, “it is with great shock but with total submission to the will of God that I received the sad news of the death of Professor Akunyili.

“She was a woman who loved Nigeria deeply and dedicated her entire life up till the very last minute to the service of this great nation.

“Even as we mourn her untimely demise, we celebrate her life and pray that Almighty God will grant her soul eternal rest in peace and also grant the

family and her loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

A different breed— FASHOLA

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State described the deceased as an outstanding woman who showed Nigeria that she was a different breed.

In a condolence letter to the family of the deceased, Fashola noted that through her dedication and uprightness, Akunyili saved tens of thousands of lives of Nigerians and the country would forever be grateful to her for the war she waged and won against the manufacture and sale of fake drugs in Nigeria.

He said: “Even till the weeks preceding her death, Mrs. Akunyili continued to show her passion for service to the nation by serving as a delegate at the National Conference.”

We lost a patriot— MIMIKO

Reacting, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State said that death had robbed Nigeria of an illustrious and patriotic citizen in the person of Akunyili.

A statement by Mimiko’s Chief Press Secretary, Eni Akinsola, said: “In her service as the Director General of NAFDAC, Akunyili distinguished herself as a diligent, dedicated and dogged public servant, restored sanity into the system and set a new standard in food and drug administration and control, such that has been difficult for her successors to surpass.

“In her capacity as Information Minister, she also proved her outstanding prowess to the world as a true patriot and an outstanding image maker of the nation. We can only pray that Dora’s soul finds deserved repose in the bossom of the Lord.”

She was a regulator’s regulator— AKINTAYO

President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mr. Olumide Akintayo, described the late Akunyili as “a regulator’s regulator”.

He said: “Dora Akunyili will go down in history as a consummate and passionate regulator who brought NAFDAC to limelight. She made NAFDAC a household name. She is the very epitome of commitment and diligence in regulatory affairs.

“She believed in being right for the right things. Her life must be an inspiration to the younger generation. She left giant footprints in the sands of time. I wish her family fortitude to bear the loss.”

President of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Kayode Obembe, said Akunyili’s death was highly regrettable.

He said: “She was a committed patriot, a relentless crusader fighting against evils of fake and adulterated drugs, and a tactful politician. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”

Immediate past President, Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, and Vice President, Commonwealth Medical Association. Dr. Osahon Enabulele, described the death as a great loss to Nigeria.

He said: “I personally feel extremely pained at her loss, particularly having had the opportunity to work closely with her.

She was a truly patriotic and selfless Nigerian.”

60 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014 — 61

62 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014

S

USA defeat and other friendly matches

,

ATURDAY, I happened to watch Nigeria match on AIT. My family was asleep. Silence all around me as the Eagles took to the offensive. Needed to share this rejuvenation with someone. Yes, I said to myself, this, was our World Cup team.

The joy was shortlived. USA took control and dominated the match. In the absence of a Nigerian midfield, the defense was as porous as porous can be. The American attacking quartet of Altidore, Dempsey, Beasley and Bradley tore through us at will.

Goalkeeper Enyeama, God bless him.

Nigeria will then appear momentarily through Moses and Emenike, only to lose the ball for another American onslaught.

It reminded me of the famous election head count of Atiku .... Atiku .... Jonathan …. Jonathan ….

Jonathan.... Jonathan …. Jonathan …. Jonathan ….

Atiku …. Jonathan …. Jonathan …. Jonathan ….

Jonathan …. Jonathan …. Jokes aside, there was no mistaken the superiority of the Americans on the night as Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore deservedly put them one goal ahead with a simple tap in after the defence had been ripped apart.

The second half took the pattern of the first as the Nigerians came out in full force, probing and passing, trying to hoist the flag, but as witnessed in the first half, it was shortlived. It was the Americans all the way. But for the heroics of Enyeama, the goal tally would have hit five.

They were rewarded when Altidore rounded Yobo neat to release a belter that Enyeama could do nothing about. Consolation came in the way of a Moses well taken penalty. He ran into a beautifully placed pass by Emenike, skillfully sidestepped a defender, only for another to bring him down.

Penalty. He rose to masterfully slot home.

The last words that followed me to bed were those of the commentator that the US were going to the World Cup riding on the confidence of three friendly match victories out of three.

I have been trying very hard to justify that friendly matches though pointers to the future do not determine same

,

Did I really sleep? I must have, because I dreamt that we played three World Cup first round matches, drew two and lost one. With two points out of a possible nine, we were home bound. Then I remembered that Scotland, Greece and USA were not in our World Cup group, and I heaved a sigh of relief.

I then decided to look at friendlies from a global point of view, where friendlies though very important as signposts to the future do not always tell the day.

First stop, Italy, potential World Cup winners. Since Italy qualified for the World Cup with two matches to spare, they have gone seven matches without a win. The last two results against Ireland (0-0 ) and Luxembourg (1-1) do not seem to worry coach Cesare Prandelli and his four time winners,...so we are told.

England drew 2-2 with Ecuador and could only hold a ten man Honduras to a goalless draw. France

played 1-1 with Paraguay and the great Germans drew 2-2 with Cameroun, while Greece held Portugal to another 0-0 scoreline. With the arsenal at the disposition of Spain, you would have expected them to score more than David Villa’s brace against El Salvador.

Maybe I should focus on our group opponents. Iran playing Angola with Nigeria in mind came out with a credible 1-1 draw.

Argentina are second best overall odds to win the World Cup and big betting favourites to top the group.

For friendly they invited Trinidad and Tobago (?) and won 3-0 through goals by Palacio, Mascherano and Rodriguez.

Next they took on Slovenia and Messi was a second half substitute scorer who guaranteed a 2-0 scoreline.

Bosnia and Herzegovina lost to Egypt, beat Mexico 1-0 and Cote Divoire 2-1 with Edin Dzeko scoring a brace, the second a first time hit from about 22 metres.

A strikers delight!

Bosnia, since August 2012 has played 19 matches, won 14, drew 1 lost 4, scoring 40 goals and conceding 15.

In brief, Nigeria’s preparation as we run into the World Cup has been far from convincing and I have been trying, very hard to justify that friendly matches though pointers to the future do not determine same.

Coach Stephen Keshi and his technical crew must now be in a good position to assess their wards and take decisions as to the tactics and players most likely to execute those tactics against the three teams in our group.

In doing so, we cannot afford to lose sight of the fact that Iran has an experienced coach, that Bosnia is also about Ibisevic, Misimovic, Pjanic, Hajrovic and Stoke Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic…and that Argentina are world beaters, any day.

The minutes tick……..the heart beats…..D-Day approaches. Good luck Nigeria.

See you next week.

Klinsmann: How we clipped Eagles wings Oboabona: Why we fell to USA J N URGEN Klinsmann promised a soccer revolution. Instead, he’s giving the United States a chance to succeed.

The Americans wrapped up their World Cup prep matches with Saturday’s 2-1 triumph over Nigeria in Jacksonville, Florida, and aside from Jozy Altidore’s return to form with both U.S. goals, most notable was how Klinsmann is using his midfield to compact the field, cut off the opponent’s attack, and then go forward from deep.

It’s a tactic that might prod the Yanks out of a difficult group and into the knockout stage in Brazil. That would make for a successful World Cup, regardless of what follows.

Michael Bradley, whose wonderful pass set up Altidore’s second goal, was exceptional at the top of Klinsmann’s midfield diamond, and Kyle Beckerman —

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widely seen as the “bench” holding midfielder when the roster was announced — expertly cleaned things up underneath. But the key might be Jermaine Jones, who is being employed as a destroyer on the right side but does so much more. His pass started things off on the first goal.

It gave the U.S. command against Nigeria, the opponent meant to

•Klinsmann prepare Klinsmann’s boys for their June 16 opener against Ghana, despite a slow start marked by struggles

keeping hold of the ball.

“We felt, in the Turkey game, that they were able to get into some dangerous spots on us. Our focus this week was to get everybody behind the ball,” Beckerman, Real Salt Lake’s captain, told reporters after the game.

“We are playing against good teams, and they are going to have some possession, but if we keep them from being dangerous, then their possession doesn’t mean anything.

2014 FIFA World Cup: Centenary Lottery Promo rewards Nigerians with cars, cash

A

S part of Nigeria’s centenary celebration, the Centenary Committee has commenced a special 2014 FIFA World Cup Lottery Promo to reward soccer enthusiasts, sports lovers and the entire populace with exciting prizes, including cash and

brand new cars.

In a statement issued in Lagos, the committee announced that it has signed an agreement with OSMI, the company that has the sole right from FIFA to market the 2014 World Cup in Nigeria, to implement a full world cup promo.

The Centenary Committee also disclosed that the promo would be operated by SECURE Electronic Technology Plc (SET), on all GSM networks in the country. However, kick off is on the Airtel network only for now.

Other networks will be coming on board later.

IGERIA defender Godfrey Oboabona is disappointed by the two goals conceded by the Super Eagles in their 1-2 loss to the USA and blames it on lack of communication.

Jozy Altidore was left unmarked to tap in from close-range for the first, then held off the challenge of Yobo to whip in a second.

“I think it was a lack of communication that led to the two goals,” the defender told KickOffNigeria.com.

“Because these are the kind of goals that for the last two years I have not seen us concede those kinds of goals.

“I am not the kind of player that criticizes another player because everybody makes mistakes and nobody is perfect but I think we will have to work and communicate well.”

The loss snapped an eight-game unbeaten

streak for the Super Eagles, and Oboabona was naturally disappointed, but says the lessons have to be learnt.

“I’m a bit disappointed but not too disappointed because the major purpose of being here is to identify our weaknesses.

“It is better we lose today than get to the World Cup and lose. I think everybody has to learn from this.

“Individually, we have to fight, we have to work hard. When we lose the ball, we have to come back. We are not putting as much seriousness or commitment as we used to do before.

“But I believe from this game, from the next training, we will have to talk to ourselves so we know what we have to do.”

The team return to training on Sunday evening in Jacksonville.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014 — 63

USA defeat good for Eagles — Ladipo, Itemuagbor •Abigo now banks on surprise element

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

D

R. Rafiu Ladipo, President General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club and Mike Itemuagbor of Pamodzi Sports Marketing reached same conclusion after Super Eagles 2-1 defeat

by USA Saturday night.

“The defeat was good for the Eagles.”

Eagles lacked grit and showed no promise in the friendly against Scotland and by the end of their crash to USA many Nigerians who banked on them to take Nigeria to the semifinal of the World Cup began to lose hope on the team.

Ladipo and Itemuagbor were not among those who have lost hope on the team although they were sad over the defeat.

However, they preferred to take the defeat differently.

“I’m not happy but I think this defeat is good for the team. I think that it will make them wake up. They have to learn from the mistakes they made,” Ladipo said in Auchi after the interment of PA Pius Itemuagbor in Okpekpe at the weekend. Inspector General of Police MD Abubaka and Governor

Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State were among the dignitaries who paid their last respect to the father of Mike Itemuagbor.

“They allowed Altidore (scorer of USA’s two goals) a lot of space,” Ladipo analysed, adding “the defenders and midfielders would now see more reason to play as a unit in order not to allow so much room to opponents. I think the defeat will make them get more serious and the coaches should be able to correct the errors the two friendly matches exposed.”

Itemuagbor put his this way: “Another draw after the one against Scotland would have probably kept them in good mood. Now, they know that they are yet to arrive. This defeat is good for the team. They have no choice than to be fighters when the World Cup begins.”

Ladipo regretted that Elderson Chiejile is out of the World Cup following injury.

“It is sad because he is a fine player whose play during the last Nations Cup helped Nigeria win the cup.”

Godwin Abigo, the Chairman of Warri Wolves and ardent follower of Eagles, probably for patriotic

Eagles Continues from BP round of the World Cup,” a top source informed AfricanFootball.com Nigeria will already earn more than $9 million for qualification and participation in the first round of the 2014 World Cup and they will get more if they reach the knockout stages of the competition.

For the World Cup warm-ups against Scotland, Greece and USA, each player received an appearance fee of $3,000.

Fellow World Cup finalists Ghana are on an appearance fee of $75,000-a-man for the 23 players who made the final cut to Brazil 2014.

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It would be recalled that a row over such a fee derailed the Super Eagles at the 1998 World Cup in France as players and officials were locked in lengthy meetings to resolve the impasse.

Most recently, another pay row almost caused the country to miss out on the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, before the Presidency intervened to avoid an international embarrassment.

This has led to the introduction of a code of conduct for the Eagles.

The squad are due in Sao Paolo, Brazil tomorrow.

US forward Clint Dempsey tries a shot during the friendly reasons, would not say seen so far. I don’t see the he had lost hope in the team living up to team. But his remarks expectation. They had no gave him out as spark in any department. somebody who would only The only star we had was be surprised if the Eagles Vincent Enyeama. And if only one player is the star do well in Brazil.

“There was nothing, in a team what happens absolutely nothing to write is better imagined. Let’s home about after the two hope they surprise us,” friendly matches we have Abigo said.

Ubani Continues from BP tireless he would be in search of good stories. It was more than that. Tony who spoke further, said: “Onochie, I’m not joking. I’ll not sleep in Brazil. I’m going with coffee, kola nuts and bitter kola. And I’ll marry my laptop. These will be my weapons for the battle against sleep.

Why should I sleep when Brazil, the home of football is hosting the World Cup? Why should I sleep when Nigeria is playing in the tournament and many Nigerians, rightly or wrongly, believe that their Eagles will reach the semifinal, their performance in the friendly matches notwithstanding? Why should I sleep when I know the pressure you guys will have at home to produce the best sports pages in Nigeria?

I’ll not sleep, I promise you. It is my pledge to our country. Let them forget Boko Haram and face our pages and get succour. Our stories will provide succour to Nigerians, I promise.”

Ubani was passionate about the coverage of the World Cup in Brazil.

And this will reflect on our pages although Onochie pleaded with

him to catch some sleep and avoid breaking down. Ubani dismissed Onochie’s fears, reassuring that he will be in Brazil to serve the readers the best of stories. He will report hard news, soft news, human interest stories, behind-the-scene stories, flicks, good and bad stories and will make the Eagles his focal point.

“It therefore pays the Eagles to remain in the tournament and get reported by us. If they crash out early, they will be forgotten easily, if they keep winning, they will remain not only our favourites but heroes of Nigeria. It pays them to be so adjudged.”

Tony leaves this night and while stepping out of the newsroom yesterday tersely said in Portuguese “ você vai ouvir de mim.

Obrigado.”

Translated in English, it simply means “You’ll hear from me, thank you.”

Need we say more about what you will be reading on these pages from the World Cup? Stay with us for the BEST stories from Brazil. Journey mercy, Tony Nwokeoma Ubani, the Maradona of Nigerian media.

Murray appoints Mauresmo as new coach

A

NDY Murray has appointed Amélie Mauresmo as his new coach, replacing Ivan Lendl who quit three months ago. It is a gamble and will attract much interest. Mauresmo, a former world No1 who won Wimbledon and the Australian Open, will be one of just a handful of women coaching men on the ATP Tour, but Murray thinks she will bring the sort of expertise he is looking for to augment the team that has been with him for several years.

Announcing the appointment on the eve of the French Open final between Rafael Nadal

•Murray and Novak Djokovic, the Wimbledon champion said Mauresmo will work “initially for the grass court season, starting at Queen’s”.

Sharapova claims 5th Grand Slam

T

EN years after bursting onto the scene by winning Wimbledon as a 17-year-old, the Russian superstar has finally won her fifth Grand Slam title. On Saturday at Roland Garros, Sharapova took out 22-year-old Simona Halep in an epic three-hour encounter, 6-4, 6-7, 6-4.

With this tenacious victory, Sharapova earned her second French Open

•Sharapova

title and continued to move her way up in the list of all-time greats.

This win moved her ahead of Kim Clijsters on the list of most Grand Slam titles in the Open Era and leaves her tied with Martina Hingis in 11th place. She is two majors behind Venus Williams, Justine Henin and Evonne Goolagong on the list, but she’s the only one of that group with a win at every major. ”This is the toughest grand slam final I’ve ever played. All respect to Simona, I thought she played an unbelievable match today,” she said.

“I never thought seven, eight years ago I would win more Roland Garros’ when I was 27 than any other grand slams. It’s a dream come true and it means so much. I’m so emotional right now I can’t even talk.”

Nadal Continues from BP Grand Slam total to 14.

The victory also means he will remain world number one ahead of Djokovic.

It is the third year in a row that Nadal has ended Djokovic’s hopes of winning the one Grand Slam title he lacks, with the Serb in particular struggling on a stifling Parisian afternoon and

ending with a double fault on match point.

Nadal extended his incredible run at Roland Garros to 66 wins and just one defeat in the last 10 years.

That record looked under threat when he dropped the first set as his usually fearsome forehand let him down, five errors handing Djokovic the initiative.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014

Nadal wins 9th French Open title R

AFAEL Nadal saw off the threat of Novak Djokovic for another year to win his ninth French Open title and a record fifth in succession.

The Spaniard, 28, coped better in hot conditions as he won 3-6 75 6-2 6-4 in three hours and 31 minutes.

Nadal is the first man ever to win a major title nine times, taking his Continues on Page 63

Eagles demand World Cup appearance cash

Ubani makes a pledge as Vanguard leaves for Brazil

I

T has been reveal that Super Eagles players, led by skipper Joseph Yobo and Mikel Obi have met with the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to demand an appearance fee for the World Cup. This is outside the match bonus, which starts at $10,000-a-man for a first round match win, announced for the players for Brazil 2014.

“The players led by Yobo and Mikel met with NFF president Aminu Maigari and some of his officials to demand for their own share of the cash FIFA will pay the country for at least featuring in the first

Continues on Page 63

•Nadal

O

UR Sports Editor, Tony Ubani has made a promise that he sees as a pledge to his country, Nigeria.

“I’ll not sleep in Brazil, I promise you, I’ll not sleep.”

IN VAIN: Super Eagles Victor Moses is marked by a US defender in their friendly, Saturday. Nigeria lost 2-1. PHOTO: AFP

He was speaking to our Group Sports Editor, Onochie Anibeze who is currently holding forth as our Saturday Editor.

Onochie had taken that to mean how nosy and

Continues on Page 63

USA defeat good for Eagles — Ladipo, Itemuagbor — Pg.63 QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Cut (5) 7 Nimbus (4) 8 Speaker (6) 9 Taut (5) 11 Youth (3) 13 Wand (3) 15 Pitcher (4) 16 Droop (3) 18 Equipment (4) 19 Blame (7) 20 Sea-foam (4) 22 Heap (4) 23 Keenly (7) 25 Regretted (4) 27 Nothing (3) 28 Present (4) 30 Finish (3) 31 Performed (3) 33 Drain (5) 36 Dedicate (6) 37 Gemstone (4) 38 Hurled (5)

DOWN 1 Parrot (5) 2 Drunkard (3) 3 Vehicle (3) 4 Fish-eggs (3) 5 Rug (3) 6 Beverage (5) 10 Smack (4) 11 Relaxation (7) 12 Ordained (7) 13 Declined (7) 14 Oozed (7) 16 Number (5) 17 Grid-iron (5) 18 Deity (3) 21 Whim (3) 24 Ascend (4) 26 Beneath (5) 29 Emulate (5) 32 Shy (3) 33 Fixed (3) 34 Fighting (3) 35 Argument (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Panic 5, Gather 8, Nasal 10, Chaste 11, Eyed 14, Nation 15, Trusted 18, Pen 19, Rep 21, Read 23, Debit 24, Stem 27, Due 29, Rag 31, Treason 32, Pooled 34, Site 35, Eluded 38, Adder 39, Extended 40, Tenor.

DOWN: 2, Ash 3, Insist 4, Cat 5, Glen 6, Teeter 7, Ruined 9, Severed 12, Yap 13, Dine 16, Rift 17, Debut 20, Pierced 22, Also 24, Supple 25, Eros 26, Malice 28, Mature 30, Get 33, Dead 36, Let 37, Ego.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

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