How Nyako can be saved — PRESIDENCY

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 62182

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

WORLD CUP DISASTER:

Germany disgraces host, Brazil 7-1

BACK PAGE

Chibok girls in good condition, says Boko Haram Spiritual Leader

8

How Nyako can be saved — PRESIDENCY

BY SONI DANIEL, NORTHERN REGION EDITOR & BEN AGANDE

•Asks him to apologise, withdraw offensive letter •Nyako will rather resign than apologise — Loyalist

•BRT rampage: Our story— Army

•Pg.7

A

BUJA—LAST minute spirited efforts by two former heads of state to stave off the axe of impeachment hanging over the head of embattled Adamawa State Governor, Murtala

Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS:

Jonathan, Nigerians must not abandon Chibok girls •P.19

Her wealth makes me resentful •P.40

Mr & Mrs COUNCIL OF STATE—From left: Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar; former Chairman ING, Chief Ernest Shonekan; former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; former President Shehu Shagari; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; Senate President, Senator David Mark and the Justice Minister, Mohammed Adoke, during the meeting of the National Council of State chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

SAN SLAIN AT REDEMPTION CAMP:

STRIKE: I killed my dad in FG, doctors' meeting anger — Son 6 deadlocked 9

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

—3

4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

COUNCIL OF STATE—From left: Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Theodore Orji (Abia) and Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, discussing during the meeting of the National Council of State chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

How Nyako can be saved — PRESIDENCY Continues from page 1 Nyako, are not yielding fruits.

The two former leaders, Vanguard learnt, went with the governor, who had worked closely with them at different times, to plead with President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday night to save the governor from being disgraced out of office.

It was learnt that at the meeting, the former leaders drew the attention of the presidency to the heightening ethno-religious tension that was building in Adamawa as a result of the move to

oust the governor and the implications for the worsening security crisis in the North-East.

The two former leaders, who were in Abuja ahead of the Council of States meeting, which took place yesterday, reportedly impressed it upon President Jonathan that nothing should be done to escalate the violence in the region.

But a source close to the meeting told Vanguard last night that the President explained to the two leaders that he had no hand in the move to impeach the governor.

A source close to the president said the presi-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Malcolm Forbes said: ‘The biggest mistake people make in life is not trying to make a living at what they enjoy.’ As a result, they simply endure their working lives instead of making the most of it.

They live for the weekends. They try to hang on until retirement. That’s a shame, because your chance of success is directly proportional to the degree of pleasure you derive from what you do.’

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us — Socrates When you’re truly at your edge, do not take unnecessary risks. You’re already at your edge so there is no need to compound it. As you approach the edge, pay attention to your body and mind. Are you going too far? Do you feel fatigued? Ask yourself if you’re really committed to this level of edginess. If you’re not, pull back. At this point, pushing yourself to keep going is just ego creation and is harmful to the self. Beware of artificial pride keeping you on the edge. Do you know you should pull back but you’re too proud to do so? Is fear keeping you frozen on the edge? Leave Out Expectations!

Likewise, make sure that going to your edge is not something you’re doing to feed your ego. You don’t go to your edge in order to get a certain outcome, because lots of time when we’re at the edge, the outcome isn’t what we expected.

dent upbraided Nyako for the insults he heaped on him in an offensive letter the governor wrote two months ago to his northern states counterparts, accusing the president of committing genocide in the north in the name of fighting Boko Haram.

But apparently to appease the former leaders, the Presidency was said to have told them that Nyako must first withdraw the inciting letter he wrote to the northern governors early this year and publicly apologise to Jonathan and Nigerians as a condition for intervening in the impeachment process.

However, an unrepentant Nyako was said to have stood his ground that he would rather go down than recant on the contents of the said letter, which sparked outrage when it was made public.

A source close to Nyako confirmed, yesterday, that the peace parley was deadlocked as a result of the governor’s refusal to disown the controversial letter and apologise to Jonathan.

“At that point, the governor is willing to step down rather than recant the content of the letter in question,” a loyalist of Nyako told Vanguard.

“It is true that the meeting got deadlocked at that point but another round of discussions was slated for Tuesday night (last night) but we cannot say whether the outcome will change anything,” the governor’s friend added.

Royal fathers meet to save Nyako In the meantime, the eight first class tradi-

tional rulers in Adamawa met at the palace of the Lamido of Adamawa for hours, yesterday, in a bid to ward off impeachment of the governor.

Although the details of the royal fathers’ meeting were not made known, a reliable source confirmed that it was still part of the move by the kingmakers, who exercise a lot of influence in the state, to make members of the House of Assembly to see reason and soft-pedal on their decision to remove the governor.

The source hinted that some key lawmakers from the state were expected to meet with Nyako and some political heavyweights from the state in Abuja last night to brainstorm on the best way out of the political logjam.

The meeting, it was learnt, became imperative following the decision of the governor to resign his position since it had become clear to him that neither the lawmakers nor the judiciary was ready to follow due process in prosecuting his impeachment.

The governor reportedly told close associates that following undue pressure on the Acting Chief Judge, Ambrose Mammadi by vested interests, to reverse himself on his earlier judgement that he should be served notice of impeachment before being tried, he had come to the conclusion that he was being persecuted.

"The governor is of the view that since it is clear that both the Acting CJ and the House of Assembly are determined not to follow due process in removing him, it would be better for him to resign

rather than wait for such impunity to throw the state into chaos,” a close aide of the governor hinted last night.

The governor is said to be planning to hand over the reins of power to his Deputy, Bala Ngilari, who remained in the PDP when he moved over to APC last year. The Presidency is said to be in support of the Deputy Governor taking over from Nyako because of his unwavering loyalty and support to the PDP. But the decision by Nyako to hand over to Ngilari has rattled the Speaker, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who hails from the same local government with Ngilari.

Initially, the permutation by Fintiri was that by removing Nyako and Ngilari, he would be elevated to the post of the governor but the PDP and the Presidency appear to be in favour of removing the governor and retaining his deputy.

If Ngilari is spared by the panel, it means that the Speaker will step down from his exalted position and become an ordinary member of the House of Assembly, since the speaker and governor cannot come from the same Madagali LGA of the state.

Nyako at Council of State meeting The embattled governor, however, made a surprise appearance at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa this morning to attend a meeting of the National Council of State.

He was the cynosure of all eyes as his colleagues and cameramen rushed to capture his presence.

Governor Nyako appeared unruffled as he moved round to exchange banters with his colleagues and other presidential aides, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim.

Panel yet to secure venue for meeting

Meanwhile, the sevenman panel constituted by

the Adamawa State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ambrose Mammadi to investigate Governor Nyako and his deputy, Bala Ngilari for alleged gross misconduct ran into a hitch, yesterday, as the panel was unable to secure a venue for its sitting.

Vanguard findings revealed that the J & J Hotel Villa, where the panel held its first sitting sent the panel packing, complaining that the heavy presence of security operatives had scared away customers from the hotel.

The clerk of the Adamawa House of Assembly, who was negotiating venue for the panel‘s sitting was helpless as other hotels he visited equally turned down his request for the use of their premises.

The panel, it was gathered, moved to the NLC club, where the state chairman of the NLC tactically declined, claiming to be performing the lesser Hajj (Umrah) in Saudi Arabia.

The panel’s next port of call was the Adamawa State NUJ press centre, where there were divergent opinions from the leadership on whether or not to give out the conference hall of the centre.

A former national officer of the NUJ, who was alleged to be in the fore front negotiating the usage of NUJ centre was alleged to have even made contact with the North East zonal leadership of the union on the need to compel Adamawa council leadership to release the centre to the panel.

The division within the Adamawa NUJ leadership led to an emergency state executive council meeting, where majority of the members kicked against the use of the NUJ centre for the panel sitting.

It was gathered that the Clerk of the Assembly had earlier deposited N170,000 for the NUJ centre which was later returned after the state executive council of the NUJ rejected the usage of the centre.

The panel was yet to get another venue for its sitting at press time.

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

Visually impaired nabbed for defiling minor

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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AGOS—THE Police in La gos State are currently investigating a visually impaired middle-aged man, identified as Kingsley Anyanwu for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl (names withheld).

Vanguard gathered that the incident occurred at the residence of the suspect, 32, Mosalasi Street, Maza-Maza bus stop on Friday, June 20, when Kingsley Anyanwu sexually abused the victim by forcefully having canal knowledge of her inside his bedroom, thereby inflicting serious bruises on the victim's private part.

It was learnt that the victim started residing with the family early January this year in a three-bedroom apartment after she was introduced to Kingsley's sister, Maurine, a staff of one of the new generation banks located at Oba Akran.

According to reports, the victim was until the unfortunate incident a housemaid to Kingsley Anyanwu's old mother.

Trouble, however, started after Kingsley's wife went to work. The suspect allegedly asked her to come to his bedroom, supposedly to help him read out a message on his phone.

"Immediately I entered his room, he grabbed me, forcefully removed my pants and raped me," the victim said.

Vanguard gathered that the victim escaped from the house when the suspect allegedly attempted to rape her the second time.

She later ran to a nearby church where she stayed till the next day. Confused and afraid to go back home, she sat by the roadside when the landlord of the house where she was sexually abused saw her and took her back home.

After receiving the beating of her life for running out of the house, the suspect and his sister allegedly returned her to her aunt residing in Ikeja on the pretext that she was wasting food.

Victim aunt's account

"I received a call from Mrs. Maurine on Saturday that they were bringing back my niece because she was wasting food and that she ran out of the house.

"On Sunday, Mrs. Maurine brought her home. When she left, I questioned my niece, it was then she opened up that Uncle Kingsley sexually abused her.

"Immediately I took her to Adeniyi Jones, Primary Healthcare Centre. After medical examination the medical officer confirmed that she was raped. The report confirmed bruises I saw in her private part. The medical officer issued a referral slip to LASUTH."

SAN KILLED BY HIS SON:

I killed my father in anger — Suspect •Apologises to mum, seeks God's forgiveness •Says I'm meant to pay for what I have done go back to Abuja together, then, the incident happened and I am here."

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA— The 21-year-old Tolani Ajayi, who killed his father, Charles Ajayi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, in the Redemption Camp along Lagos/Ibadan expressway last week, has said that he was provoked by his father.

Ajayi, a 300-level student in the Department of History and International Relations, Redeemer's University, RCCG Camp, Ogun State, spoke with Vanguard, yesterday, at the Police Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, where he is being detained over the crime.

Vanguard gathered that the young man was into drugs as he has been caught twice by his school authorities. Actually, a panel is said to have been set up to interrogate him on drugrelated matters before he committed the murder.

The accused, who was reluctant to speak at first, referring to his official statement with the Police on the crime, later opened up, saying he regretted the action.

Apologises to mum

He said he had sent some people to his mother over the matter to beg her for forgiveness and that he had sought forgiveness from God. He said: “I have sent some people to talk to her that I am sorry. I have talked to my sister. My mother is still grieving, I want to give her time. It may be spiritual, so I have asked God for forgiveness.”

Influence of drugs

When asked whether he was under the influence of drugs, Tolani, who confessed that he had been into drugs, said: “I tried those drugs myself. I might have heard it from my friends but I tried them myself."

In his explanation, Tolani who confessed that he actually used a kitchen knife and cut-

How it happened

Tolani Ajayi lass to attack his father during an argument between them, denied being under the influence of the drugs then, saying the action was not planned.

He said: "The incident happened around 1 am when the church community would have been sleeping. It was anger that led me into this. My father just bit me repeatedly with his teeth.

“There was an argument be-

tween us and I stood up to him.

He beat me with a stick and bit me. Just the two of us were at home; my mother was in Abuja."

When asked whether his parents were living together as husband and wife, Ajayi said: “We live in Abuja, I school at Redemption University at the camp. My father came for a programme and we were on break, so, I went to meet him where he lodged. We were meant to

On how it happened, he said his father was the one that first went to the kitchen during the argument and took a wooden spoon to beat him repeatedly.

He said: “My father went to the kitchen and got a stick (wooden spoon) and used it on me repeatedly and I tried to defend myself, then he bit me on my shoulder and I got angry. I used normal small kitchen knife, after I used cutlass to attack him. I regret the action."

Reacting to whether he needs the help of Nigerians, he said: “There is no way Nigerians can help me, I am going to face my judgment. I am meant to pay for what I have done. It is not as if I am ready but it is inevitable. It is something that is going to happen, I am just waiting for it.”

He, however, said he attended the church activities regularly while in school, saying: “I didn’t miss church throughout this semester, I never missed church for once.

It is not about the church.”

Robbers kill one, steal bags of rice in Ibadan

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN — ARMED rob bers, numbering about 25, invaded a market at the new Iyana Agbala community in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State, yesterday, killing a night guard and stealing goods worth millions of naira.

According to information gathered, the dare-devil robbers strangled the guard who reportedly identified some of them.

Over 50 bags of rice were said to have been stolen by the robbers.

An eyewitness said when the robbers came, they unleashed terror on residents of the area to the extent that night guards on duty ran for cover. But, one of them, who was identified as Isiaka Adeleke, was unlucky as the robbers reportedly caught him and strangled him to death.

It was further gathered that the robbers also carted away 50 bags of rice, provisions, cash and other valuables.

Some policemen from the Egbeda Police Division later came to remove the corpse of the guard.

The recent attack, according to a source, was one of several

robbery attacks suffered by residents in the last three weeks.

In one of such attacks, no fewer than five landlords were reportedly injured at Aritete community.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor, confirmed the incident, adding that the robbers broke into shops and not a market.

She said the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Indabawa, had detailed the state Criminal Investigation Department to uncover those behind the crime.

Court discharges man who stole N3,000 from lover

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AFIA— A GRADE 1 Area Court in Aso Pada, Mararaba, Monday, discharged a labourer, Thomas Abu, 29, of Aso Pada, Mararaba who was charged for stealing the sum of N3,000.

The judge, Albert Maga, struck out the case and discharged the accused after the prosecutor, Cpl Friday Enumaje, told the court that he could not locate the complainant.

"This is a case of theft brought

by the Commissioner of Police; the prosecution has failed to produce any witness in the matter as they could not locate the complainant.

"I hereby invoke Section 165 of the Criminal Procedure Code to strike out the matter and discharge the accused for want of diligent prosecution," the judge said.

Maga advised Abu to stop committing crime and be close

to God. Abu was arraigned on May 20 for theft.

Enumaje told the court that Comfort James of same address as the accused lodged a complaint against the accused, her boyfriend, at the Aso Pada Police Station on May 13.

He said the accused stole the money when he visited James in her house on May 11.

He said: "She went out to buy some fish and tomatoes at a

nearby shop and the accused took N3,000 from her purse that was on the bed without her consent."

The prosecutor said Abu was arrested later with the said amount.

Abu pleaded guilty to the charge, saying it was the handiwork of the devil, saying: "I don't know why I did it; I think it is the handiwork of the devil.

Please forgive me, I will never do it again."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014 — 7

BRT RAMPAGE:

Army states own side of story, flays Soyinka L

BY EVELYN USMAN

AGOS— THE Army authori ties, yesterday, in Lagos, said the Lance Corporal who was knocked down and killed by a BRT bus along Ikorodu Road last Friday, was not riding motorbike on the BRT lane as widely reported.

Rather, the deceased, according to the Army, was crushed to death on the normal lane plied by other motorists, maintaining also that soldiers were not responsible for the damage done to BRT buses but hoodlums who hijacked the situation.

This is just as the Nigerian Army has taken a swipe at Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, over a statement credited to him describing the Army as ‘mad,’ while reacting to the incident at a public function last week.

Army flays Soyinka

The army in a statement made available to Vanguard and signed by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Omale Ochagwuba, said: "In a situation where a respected elder statesman will stand up in a public function and based on hear-say call a respected professional organisation like the Nigerian Army which is one of the major pillars of democracy and fighting to keep the country together as mad, is unfortunate and unbecoming.

"In less than a week, he has made two careless offensive statements.

At times, he seems to speak before weighing the consequences of his statement.

"The Nigerian Army is a professional force which is law-abiding like any other citizen. The military is a highly disciplined organisation which also takes necessary steps to see that its erring members are brought to book at any time the need arises to enforce discipline."

buses was the handiwork of hoodlums who seized the opportunity of the tragic situation to vent their anger on the buses for reasons best known to them.

"We know the peculiar nature of Lagos where miscreants always take advantage of situations like this to cause havoc.

"In a situation like this, people are bound to wrongfully accuse soldiers because they were seen around the offending bus which was not even attacked.

With careful analysis of the incident, one will observe that the BRT buses vandalised were far removed from the scene of the accident.

Soldiers wrongly accused

"It is pertinent to once more

remind the good people of Lagos that the BRT bus in question that killed the soldier and triggered the tragic consequences was neither vandalised nor burnt.

"It was same soldiers who are being wrongfully accused of burning buses and causing mayhem, which is not true, that secured the BRT bus and protected it from hoodlums before it was later towed into the barracks for safety and also prevented the hoodlums from causing further mayhem on the road and cleared the route for traffic to flow.

"We have pictures of the bus at the scene of the accident and while it was being towed away to safety. The bus in question has since been released to the

BRT management.

"The question begging for answer now is: why is the bus itself that killed the soldier which was already in soldiers hands not vandalised or burnt? Is it not logical that, it should have been the first target of their anger as alleged?

"These are hard times for Nigerians and all hands should be on the deck to bring peace to the country rather than inflame passion. The Lagos State Government, which is supposed to be the most aggrieved party, did not jump into conclusions. The Lagos State Government said they are investigating. That is a matured way of handling situation rather than reacting on public opinion."

Man nabbed with 1.370kg of cocaine at Lagos airport

BY DANIEL ETEGHE & EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS — OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), yesterday, arrested a 34-yearold drug suspect with 1.370 kilogrammes of whitish powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The suspect, Mr. Nriagwu Augustine Ifeanyi, was apprehended during the screening of passengers on a Turkish Airline flight at the departure hall of the airport.

Speaking on the arrest, NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar,

Nriagwu Augustine Ifeanyi noted that the suspect hid the drug and packed them in two parcels inside a laptop bag.

Umar noted that if the suspect had not been arrested at the airport, he would have proceeded to South Sudan upon arrival at Turkey.

He said: "The suspect was found with two parcels of cocaine industrially hidden by the sides of his laptop bag. He was detected on his way to Turkey from where he would have proceeded to South Sudan. The drug tested positive for cocaine and weighed 1.370kg."

Meanwhile, Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that the agency would continue to engage in both drug supply and demand reduction activities towards making the country drug-free.

How the soldier was killed

To set the records straight, Ochagwuba explained that: "On July 4, a Lance Corporal of Nigerian Army, who was on his way to the office on Ikorodu Road around Obanikoro area between 6:30 and 6:45am, was knocked down and killed by a BRT bus with number plate KSF 995 XJ. "It is pertinent to state here that the late soldier was riding a power bike approved by the state government and he was neither riding inside a BRT lane nor was the BRT bus that killed him driving inside the BRT lane.

"The innocent law-abiding soldier was killed on the normal lane being plied by everybody as against what is being alleged by some sections of the media. The soldier was hit from the rear and killed instantly.

"As stated earlier in our release, the mayhem visited on the BRT

National Emergency Management Agency, Gombe Operations Officer, Hajiya Zainab Umar (middle) supervising the cooking of meals for displaced persons at a camp in Jalingo, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Gunmen storm UNILAG, shoot student

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AGOS — TRAGEDY struck at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, on Monday as an undergraduate of the institution was shot in the head by some gunmen.

Vanguard gathered that the victim, known simply as Sapara, was found lying on his face at King Jaja Hall of the university by fellow students in the pool of his blood early Monday morning.

The student, who is in the Department of Philosophy, was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba.

Our source indicated that attempts to track down the suspected gunmen failed.

Sapara, according to the institution's Dean, Students' Affairs, Professor Olukayode Amund, was responding to treatment in the hospital.

He also confirmed the shooting but said the root cause of the attack was yet to be unraveled.

Man docked for assaulting LASTMA official

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS— A 32-year-old man, Ahmed Adediran, has been arraigned before an Ikeja magistrate's court over alleged assault of one Anaye David, an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA. The accused was said to have unlawfully assaulted David while armed with a bottle and a stick at Mile 12, Lagos.

According to the charge, MIK/B/139/2014, the accused commited the said offence with others already charged to Magistrate Court 2 on Charge No. MIK/B/117/ 2014.

However, when the charge was read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty.

Police prosecutor, ASP Nnamonu Ibekwe, informed the court that the offence was punishable under Section 17 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum. She ordered that the sureties must be blood relations.

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

Reps in rowdy session over President's power to deploy soldiers

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA— PROCEEDINGS in the House of Representatives were rowdy yesterday over arguments on powers of the President to deploy the country’s military during elections.

Arguments arose during debates on a bill seeking to further amend the Electoral Act, No. 6 of 2010.

Their Senate counterparts had last week Thursday passed a similar bill.

The House Deputy Leader, Leo Ogor (Delta/PDP) and the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Albert Sam Tsokwa (Taraba/PDP) insisted that the power of the President to deploy troops was backed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 8 of the Armed

Forces Act. According to Tsokwa, the Armed Forces Act particularly gave the President and a proxy, powers to deploy troops for “operational use”.

This position drew a harsh response from the House Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos/APC).

Efforts by the presiding Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, to douse the situation failed as Ogor and

Gbajabiamila continued to trade harsh words over the matter.

While acknowledging that the constitution allows the President to deploy the military, Gbajabiamila insisted that the powers were not “absolute”.

He stated that the President can only exercise such powers subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.

AVIATION:

COMMISSIONING:

Bullet-proof cars yet to be returned —MINISTER

From left— Chief Operating Officer, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, BASL, Ms. Adebisi Awoniyi; Director, Consumer Protection Directorate, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Malam Adamu Abdullahi; Managing Director, Karamba Marketing Solutions Limited, Dr. Daniel Young; and Chief Executive Officer, BASL, Mr. Christophe Penninck, at the inauguration of the multimillion naira escalators by BASL at the Murtala Muhammed Airport II, Lagos, yesterday.

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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B U J A — SUPERVISING Minister of Aviation, Mr. Samuel Ortom, yesterday, said his ministry had not returned the BMW bullet-proof cars as due process needed to be properly followed.

Also, the House Committee on Aviation raised concerns over the unutilised $500 million loan allegedly obtained by the aviation authorities.

Ortom, who appeared before members of the Mrs Nkiruka Onyejiocha-led committee yesterday, explained that President Goodluck Jonathan and other stakeholders have the final say on the controversial cars.

Fielding questions from reporters at the Assembly complex yesterday, he said: “Before we comply, we have to carry the President and other stakeholders along.

“We cannot just carry the bullet-proof cars and dump them at Coscharis. There are documents to be filled, there are processes to follow.

“As soon as we complete the arrangements, we will take the cars back. Due process needed to be adequately followed in matters of this nature.”

The House had, last year, indicted Ortom’s predecessor, Princess Stella Oduah, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA's purchase of two armoured cars at N255 million.

The bill under debate seeks to ensure a level playing field for all participants in the electoral process. It also seeks to ensure a more transparent process of conducting elections.

Samson Osagie (Edo/APC), who supported the bill, urged the House to address abuses in the issue of substitution of candidates after primaries or in the event of death or withdrawal of a candidate.

Chibok schoolgirls in good condition, says Boko Haram spiritual leader

BY SONI DANIEL, Northern Region Editor, with Agency report

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BUJA— A man claiming to be a “Boko Haram’s spiritual teacher” has told the BBC World Service radio that the hundreds of girls abducted in Chibok on April 15 are “feeding very well” and in “good state of health.”

The man, who had his voice disguised in the interview, also said that although most of the Christians among the girls had been converted to Islam, those who objected were not forced.

However, he reiterated the sect’s previous position that unless the Federal Government frees members of the sect imprisoned in government facilities, the Chibok schoolgirls would not be released.

He said: “I joined the group in 2004. We are pushing for a Sharia state.

We want the Nigerian government to release our members. If they release our members today, we will release the girls tomorrow.

You will see all of them as

Abubakar Shekau, our leader, promised the media.

“Those who agreed to convert to Islam have been converted and those who refused have been left alone.

There is no forced conversion in Islam.

“Allah commands us to treat everyone equally. We are not discriminating against them; we treat all of them equally.

They all are healthy. They feed well.

“Under Islam, killing women and children is not acceptable. But if they are fighting you, then you must fight them. But if they do not attack you, you leave them. We only go after those who give information to our enemy.”

The report of the positive condition of the girls comes a day after coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mike Omeri, said the abducted girls were close to regaining their freedom, as security agents have been obtaining useful information from the arrested chief intelligence officer of Boko Haram.

Jonathan faults critics

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has

zAs Jonathan blasts critics lambasted those criticising him and his administration for not doing enough to rescue the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls.

Jonathan’s defence is contained in a statement by Presidential Spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, to the Washington Post.

In the 187 word article, Abati claimed that contrary to the allegation that President Jonathan was not doing enough to confront the Boko Haram threat and rescue the schoolgirls, Nigeria was aggressively confronting the insurgents with a view to bringing back the girls.

Jonathan’s response followed a July 3 editorial by the Washington Post, accusing him of little effort to bring back the missing girls.

Abati said while Jonathan was working quietly to rescue the girls, it was wrong to accuse him of not doing enough in that regard.

He said the strategy being adopted by Jonathan was to ensure that the girls’ lives were not put at risk.

He wrote: “The claim that the President has a “do nothing” attitude toward rescuing the girls is no different than what was written about President Obama’s decision not to disclose his efforts to seize and arrest the alleged ringleader of the 2012 terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans — until he did just that.

“Mr. Jonathan won’t put the lives of these girls at risk by publicly revealing details of the recovery operation for the sake of satisfying his critics.

“Even before the abductions, the President was engaged in international intelligence sharing involving West Africa, Europe and the United States, and he had also launched the Counter Terrorism Centre in Nigeria.

“He has been working intensely on the very challenging situation posed by Boko Haram since assuming office, including declaring a state of emergency in May 2013 in the three most affected northern states.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014—9

STRIKE: FG, doctors fail to reach agreement

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE, CHIOMA OBINNA, VICTORIA OJEME, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, GABRIEL OLAWALE & BOSE OYELOHUNNU

committee had held an emergency meeting with the national executive of NMA on how to resolve the dispute.

Speaking to Vanguard in a

telephone chat, the Chairman, Lagos State chapter of NMA, Dr. Francis Faduyile, said although government had almost met all the demands, they could not take the risk of

going back to avoid a repeat of the strike in future.

Meanwhile, President, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, Dr. Steven

Oluwole, has warned that the restraint and caution of MDCAN should not be used to malign junior doctors to accept ‘suffering and smiling’ attitude.

E

XPECTATION of an early end to the indefinite nationwide doctors’ strike was dashed yesterday, following failure of the Federal Government and the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, to reach an amicable agreement, as the Senate waded into the face-off.

At an emergency delegates meeting held at the instance of NMA on Monday, a holistic review of the circulars and resolutions earlier reached between it and the Federal Government did not provide any solution.

The meeting, which dragged into the early hours yesterday, had in attendance NMA delegates from the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital territory, FCT, and the Federal Government negotiation team, led by the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health.

Giving an update of the outcome of the meeting yesterday, Chukwu, who was in Lagos for the foundation laying of the West African College of Surgeons secretariat, told Vanguard that the doctors resolved not to return to work until their outstanding demands were met.

Chukwu, who stressed that government was addressing their issues, most of which he said can be addressed through the usually administrative mechanisms, said: “I am told that they have reduced it to three demands.”

Worried by the ongoing doctors’ strike, the Senate yesterday said it had waded into the face-off, even as Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, appealed to the leadership of NMA to call off the strike in the interest of the people, while efforts were being made to meet their demands.

Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, said: “I would like to appeal to the striking doctors on behalf of the Senate to please consider going back to work because as long as they are on strike, the casualty will usually be the patients who are innocent of whatever agreement they had with government.”

Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, had drawn the attention of the Senate to the strike and that some members of his

INSPECTION:

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State (middle) and other government officials inspecting drainage at Baboko Market, Ilorin, yesterday.

Dikko buried, as widow cries foul

BY HENRY UMORU & LUKA BINNIYAT

J

ENNY Hafsat Dikko, the British-born widow of late Alhaji Umaru Dikko, former Minister of Transport during the Shehu Shagari’s administration, yesterday, accused the Nigerian and British governments of conniving to take the body of her husband out of London without her knowledge.

This was even as the former federal Commissioner for Information and South South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, said he had been badly hit by the death of Alhaji Dikko.

Mrs Dikko, who arrived Kaduna with the two children she had for the late politician shortly after his corpse had left for Zaria, said she had agreed with Dikko that his remains be buried wherever he died.

Shortly after the corpse left, there was a drama. She wept profusely with the two children, complaining that both governments tricked her and brought the corpse back to Nigeria.

Jenny, however, said she boarded the next available flight when she discovered

what happened, which was why she could get to Kaduna before the burial.

Ambassador Aminu Wali, believed to be the closest friend of late Dikko, pacified the woman, took her and the children into his jeep and drove them to Zaria to be part of the remaining burial rites.

Zaria by 11:30a.m.

Only eight vehicles escorted Dikko’s corpse on its 65 kilometre journey to its final resting place.

At Zaria, Dikko burial rites took place at the Palace of the Emir of Zaria, observed by sizeable crowd amid tight security.

Burial

Roll call

The body of late Dikko was eventually buried at the Baan Zazzau burial ground in Zaria at about 2.30p.m. after the Janniazah (Muslim burial rites), with only very few dignitaries present.

The body of the former minister had earlier arrived his Kaduna around 8:30a.m. yesterday, in a dark ambulance owned by Convinniance Undertakers, from the Abuja International Airport.

He was shrouded in white and laid on a mat outside his home for sympathisers to pay their last respects.

A motley crowd of mostly family members, very close family friends and political associates of the late national Chairman, Disciplinary Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gathered in his house, to put final touches to the burial arrangement before the corpse was finally moved to

The Chief Imman of Zaria Central Mosque, Sheik Kashimu Awal, led the prayers, which lasted for less than 10 minutes, before the burial which was witnessed by representatives of President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Murkhtar Yero: Dr. Taminu Turaki, Minister of Special Duties, and Alhaji Ishaq Hamza, Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, respectively.

The rites were delayed for about two hours after it was announced that Vice President Namadi Sambo, was on his way to pay his last respects. He could not make it eventually.

No member of the national or state Assemblies from Kaduna State or PDP attended the burial.

Clark mourns

Meanwhile, Chief Clark said yesterday he had been

badly hit by the death of former Minister of Transport, Alhaji Dikko, pointing out that both of them had been friends since 1968.

Clark’s condolence message read: “The news of the recent demise of my long standing friend, compatriot and political associate, Alhaji Umaru Dikko, came as a jolting shock.

“It is true that he had been facing health challenges, and I have been in personal and phone contacts with him in recent past to express my concern and share my prayers with him over his illness. All the same, his death has hit me very badly.

“Alhaji Umaru Dikko and I went a long way, as far back as 1968, when he was Commissioner for Finance in the old North Central State and I, Commissioner for Education and later Commissioner for Finance in the old Midwestern region.

“Later, my friend Dikko became the Commissioner for Information, thus our interactions intensified even more.

“I, nay Nigeria, will miss a rare humane and progressive compatriot in Alhaji Dikko, as much as his family would; but our hearts go to his wives, children, family.”

10 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

TCN disrupts power supply in Lagos

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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A G O S —T R A N S MISSION Company of Nigeria, yesterday said power supply to some areas in Lagos would be disrupted tomorrow for maintenance works on some of its facilities in the state.

The TCN, in a statement

by Mrs. Celestina Osin, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, TCN, Lagos Region, said the disruption would be between 10:00am and 2:00pm on the said date.

According to her, the planned outage which would emanate from the Akangba Sub-Region was to enable it carry out annual preventive maintenance on the secondary breaker and bus isolator, which were very important equipment in the power transformers in the station.

She maintained that with the maintenance of these equipment, electricity supply will receive a further boost in the areas that will be affected.

She said, “The outage will see consumers in Ajele, Marina,Broad Street ,Ijora Cause Way, Ijora Olopa and their environs being without electricity supply for the period that the maintenance work would last as about 30MW of load would be interrupted because two power transformers (a 30MVA and a 45MVA) would be out of service during the period.''

Don’t work on Thursday, Ibrahim advises Christians

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AGOS—THE Group Managing Director of Energy group, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim has advised Christians nationwide not to work tomorrow and stay at home to observe the Day of Atonement.

Ibrahim said specifically that God commanded that his children should not work on the 10th day of the seventh month and that they should bring their souls before Him for atonement.

The publisher of Daily Newswatch said it is a special day, that God set aside to cleanse all saints and it is observed once a year, adding that this instruction from God is forever.

BOMB SCARE: FG beefs up security at Lagos airport

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIELETEGHE

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AGOS—SECURITY agencies, including the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Nigerian Police, Nigerian Air Force and security agents of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Custom Agents, ANCLA, yesterday intensified security checks at the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO axis of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Following a report that Al-Qaeda and its affiliates may bomb airlines travelling to the United States and other destinations

through mobile phones or laptops, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, on Monday, ordered its Aviation Security, AVSEC, to direct passengers to switch on their electronic gadgets before security screening at the airports.

This is to enable security operatives to determine genuine mobile phones, laptops and others that could be used as bomb carriers.

Vanguard observed that the situation led to a heavy traffic gridlock along the airport, Ikeja road causing motorists and commuters to be on queues for hours.

According to Vanguard’s checks, before any person could be allowed into the airport premises at the NAHCO axis, he or she must present an identification card to prove that he or she was an authentic worker at the airport.

Also, vehicles were screened before they could enter the airport while at the SkyWay Aviation Handling Company, SAHCOL, security agents were seen using anti-bomb detector to screen cars before they were allowed into the company ’s premises.

The situation however led those without permission to enter the premises to be stranded at the gate of NAHCO. Speaking, an agent with SAHCOL, Mr. James Chigozie, said

the screening was to ensure that touts were prevented from accessing the airport, stressing that such screening was carried out to sanitise the airport environment.

Mr. Chigozie added that before an agent or anybody that worked at NAHCO axis of the airport got into the airport premises, an identification card must be presented to the security officials as those without any official duty at the airport were chased away, saying “I think the main reason for the check is just to prevent touting at the airport as people who don’t have anything doing at the airport are prevented from going into the airport premises.”

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer ,PPRO, at the airport Mr. Dennis Ifijen, said that he was in a meeting and could not comment.

Also a text message sent to the General Manager Public Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, to confirm the situation at the airport, was not replied at the time of this report.

Lagos HOMS: Govt introduces ‘rent-to-own policy’

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO ASSEMBLY: Mrs. Sekinat Yusuf, President, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, CPN (2nd left); Elechukwu Chibuokem, graduate of the Council (left); Dr. Adeola Ilechukwu, President, Nigerian Women In Information Technology, NIWIIT, and Registrar to the Council (2nd right) and Mr. Sikiru Shehu at the just-concluded CPN Information Technology Assembly, in Abuja.

Africa's 1st cardiac, renal centre takes off in Lagos

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & CHIOMA OBINNA

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AGOS—LAGOS State Government, through Public Private Partnership programme, yesterday officially

opened for public use, the first ultra modern cardiac and renal centre in sub Saharan Africa, at Gbagada area of the state.

The centre constructed under the supervision of the state Ministry of Health, designed

Lagos PDP threatens Sen Tinubu

BY DAPOAKINREFON

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AGOS—THE Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has threatened to mobilise voters in the Lagos Central Senatorial District to recall Senator Oluremi Tinubu over perceived unsatisfactory manner she is conducting legislative functions.

In a statement by its publicity secretary, Mr Taofik Gani, the party said if the Senate failed to reprimand the lawmaker, it would invoke section 69 of the 1999 Constitution, which talks about powers and processes to recall a Senator or member of the House of Representatives.

It said though the Senate had

asked its committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate Tinubu, it threatened to recall the lawmaker.

The party said “First, we want to reassure Senator Remi Tinubu that indeed she has had her fill in the Senate and can never return to the Senate in 2015, at least not as a Lagos Senator. As a matter of fact, her completing this present term is hanging in the balance. ''Unless she is lucky to scale be cleared by the senate committee that would investigate her, we shall mobilise voters from her Senatorial District to commence the process of her recall as allowed under the Constitution.”

to handle heart and kidney related disease, also offers out-patient services, diagnostic services, ultrasound, CT scan, Echo cardiography, Stress Electrocardiography, laboratory services, fluoroscopy, ocular investigation for complications from hypertension, diabetes and renal conditions, haemo-dialysis for acute and chronic kidney diseases with 24 dialysis machine, admission for all cardiac conditions that requires hospital stay, critical care in intensive care unit (ICU) and high dependency wards, cardiac catherization, non invasive cardiology, open heart surgery, renal surgery, nursing and diabetic services, rehabilitation services and corporate wellness program.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who disclosed this, said it became necessary, to stop the spate of medical trips abroad as well as build local capacity especially for ailments that should be treated locally but where expertise and facilities were not available to manage them.

L

AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, said the state plans to review its housing ownership policy by introducing ‘Rent-To-Own’ policy, aimed at enabling residents especially the informal sector access to the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme, Lagos HOMS. Fashola, who spoke at a Town Hall meeting with tradesmen and artisans, Transport unions in Agidingbi, Ikeja, explained that the primary aim of the policy was to afford residents who could not meet the 30 percent mortgage equity to own house in the state.

According to him, “There is a new policy. It is slightly different from the mortgage scheme itself but it will ultimately lead to mortgage scheme. It will open access to more people who cannot afford mortgage, we call it rent-to-own scheme.”

He said that five months after the Lagos HOMS was introduced, they got feedbacks and commissioned a team to visit the traders and artisans, “to find out if our pricing was such what the artisans and traders can afford and we discovered that they could.”

The governor explained that the state government would help the informal sector operators to sanitise their records keeping in such a way as to qualify them for owing a home.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014 —11

9 rescued, one missing as boat capsizes

BY EVELYN USMAN, BOSE

ADELAJA & MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—ONE person drowned yesterday after a passenger boat capsized at Coconut Island, Lagos, while nine others were rescued alive.

The incident occurred barely three weeks after a similar incident occurred along same axis.

The Tin-Can Island, Apapa Local Government, bound boat reportedly left the Ojo Jetty, with about ten passengers and was heading for Tin-Can Island when it capsized. Time was 10.30am Spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, South West zone, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye,

who confirmed the incident, said the tragic incident occurred after a wave from a tug boat belonging to the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, which was towing a ship to habour , swept off the local boat.

Consequently, the boat according to him, became imbalanced and capsized.

Passengers on the boat who were reportedly with their life saving jackets were flung in different directions.

While some of them managed to swim to safety, others could not, until rescue operators among who were officials of the Nigerian National Inland Waterway Authority, NIWA, Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and the Marine Police arrived.

Farinloye said: “Two of the passengers that had minor injuries were rushed to the hospital where they were treated

and discharged while others left for their respective destinations. ''But a man who identified himself as the elder brother of one Mr Idris Adekunle, told us that his brother was still missing.

One of the rescued passengers confirmed that Mr Idris Adekunle was in the same boat with him and was with his personal life saving jacket. Search and rescue operation for the missing person is ongoing'', he stated.

Minister congratulates Fayose

M

INISTER of the Minis ter of Works, Mike Onolememen, has assured that Ekiti State Governor-elect, Ayo Fayose, will add value to the people of the state when he is sworn-in.

While congratulating the governor-elect, Onolememen noted that Fayose’s overwhelming victory at the polls was a testimony of his acceptance and his people-oriented leadership towards the emancipation of the good people of Ekiti State.

He noted that Fayose was coming back as governor with a lot of experiences that would transform the state, saying “Considering the wealth of cognate experience you are bringing to bear in your new office, I am convinced that your tenure will add value to the people of Ekiti State at strengthening their faith in our democracy with a view to transforming their socio-economic well-being.”

He also commended Fayose for steps taken so far to ensure “peaceful co-existence and harmony among members of the different political parties” in Ekiti state.

CAMPAIGN: Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State (on the podium) acknowledging cheers from a crowd of supporters during his re-election campaign in Ede yesterday.

NEW EKITI LCDAs: Bill passes first reading as more communities kick it was against the provisions

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

A

DO EKITI—THE bill on the planned creation of additional 18 Local Government Development Areas, LGDAs, has passed the first reading at the plenary of the State House of Assembly.

This came as more communities protested the plan to merge them with others in new LGDAs. The incoming governor, Ayo

Fayose and his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have continued to oppose the planned creation of 18 new LGDAs at the twilight of Fayemi’s administration.

PDP through its Ekiti State chairman, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, last week dragged the administration to court, praying the court to stop the state government from further action on new LGDAs, contending that

IBADAN FLOOD: Residents count losses, complain over delayed bridge

BY OLAAJAYI

I

BADAN—RESIDENTS of Apete in Oyo state, who suffered both human and material losses from recent flood disaster yesterday expressed their displeasure over delayed completion of the bridge linking the densely-populated area to Ibadan metropolis.

This came as relatives of the recent victims dismissed the

claim by the state government that there was no casualty at Apete.

Mr. Taoreed Jimoh, son of one of the dead victims, said his father was one of the victims and was buried at the riverside.

According to Taoreed, he would not blame anybody for his father's death, but that God allowed it.

“We became worried that Saturday when our dad did not come home. We looked for him throughout Sunday but we could not find him. The following Monday, we

discovered his corpse down there and we buried him immediately because it was swollen up”.

He said this during the visit of Senator Olufemi Lanlehin to the area yesterday.

Most residents who spoke with Vanguard complained that the state government had no excuse for delaying the project Though, another make-shift bridge has been constructed, they lamented that it was another death trap because of the narrow passage left for the river.

of 1999 constitution.

However, reading the executive bill from Fayemi to his colleagues at the floor of the House, the Speaker Adewale Omirin, notified members of the bill sent to the House by the governor.

Moving the motion for the business of the day ,the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon Ayodeji Odu urged his colleagues to consider the passage of the bill.

Other bills considered by the lawmakers passed the first reading included the bill seeking the protection for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS. Meanwhile, four communities have protested plans to merge them with other communities as part of new LGDAs creation.

The communities are Osi, Ire, Ikoro and Erinmope.

The Osi community for example, is protesting its merger with Ifaki to make up Osi Isokan LGDA. Residents argued that the monarch of Osi Ekiti is a first class monarch, saying they would never be under Ifaki Ekiti, whose monarch was said to be a second class ruler.

State creation: Minorities oppose confab’s nod for New Delta

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

W

ARRI—LEADERS in Delta South senatorial district, yesterday faulted the approval to split Delta State into a new Delta State and Anioma State by the ongoing national conference.

Speaking to Vanguard in Warri, Chairman, Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri Leaders Forum, Mr. Edward Ekpoko, said the three Delta South ethnic groups are opposed to the creation of a new Delta because it was not conceived with the approval of all Delta people.

Ekpoko, who is also Secretary, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, said: “There was no consultation with anybody. You cannot talk of state creation without talking to the people who are to be part of the new state.

As Itsekiris, we have disowned our Professor Yomere, who took part in that narrow-minded proposal because as a man who claims to represent Itsekiris, he was not right to commit us to a project for which we were not consulted.

“What Professor Oyovbaire and others proposed was not entirely new. When Senator Fred Brume was alive, he led a consultation of leaders of all ethnic groups in Delta State for the same purpose.

Sensitive questions were raised and it appeared that the Urhobos were in a hurry and the move was deadlocked.

No Toru-Ebe State, No New State —Mamamu

On his part, Ijaw leader and Regent of OgbeIjoh Kingdom, Warri South-West of Delta, Chief Samson Mamamu, said the confab erred in not recommending a new state for the Ijaw people.

Chief Mamamu, a three-time chairman, Western Zone, of the Ijaw National Congress, INC, who addressed newsmen in Warri, said: “I do not doubt the integrity of the confab and the ability of its members, but it is strange that they are talking of 18 additional states and no consideration is being made for Ijaws. ToruEbe, which comprises Ijaws of Delta, Edo and Ondo States was proposed 18 years ago.''

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

A-Ibom faults alleged assassination attempt on guber aspirant's aide

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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KWA Ibom State Government has described an alleged assassination attempt on Chief Sunny Udom as “barefaced falsehood and blackmail,” designed to “taint and tarnish the hard-earned image, integrity and reputation” of the Governor Goodswill Akpabio-led administration.

A governorship aspirant in the state and former Secretary to the State Government, Umana Okon Umana, in a petition by his counsel, Uzomah Ibegbulem, to the Inspector-General of Police, had alleged that the Director-General of his campaign organisation Mr. Udom, narrowly escaped assassination when gunmen numbering about five attacked his office complex in Umo Essien Street, off Obio Imo Street, Uyo. Describing the content of the petition as “wicked lies and utter falsehood,” deliberately put in the public domain to misinform unsuspecting members of the public and hoodwink them into believing what he tagged as baseless allegations, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said Udom only misconstrued an armed robbery attack as assassination attempt and tried to blame same on the governor for political reasons.

He said: “It is unfortunate that a robbery incident at Udom's office has been misconstrued as an assassination attempt. It is on record that the Depart-

ment of State Security, DSS, had since smashed an armed robbery gang, and subsequently paraded them before newsmen, for which they made confessional statements as those responsible for the attack on Udom’s office on May 6.”

He added that the DSS expressed regret over the politicisation of the crime, when the agency had noted in a statement that as the investigation was ongoing, local and national media were inundated with sensational head-

lines of orchestrated state government sponsored assassination and political attacks targeted at key opponents particularly, using the attack on Udom as a reference point.

Umanah regretted Udom’s labelling of the deceased PDP stalwart and personal friend of Akpabio, the late Albert Ukpanah, as his ‘opponent’ in the petition, saying such statement would baffle any observer, who knew the depth of the relationship between both men.

PDP lied over $280m loan —Rivers govt

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Government has described as falsehood, allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that it approached the state House of Assembly for approval to secure a fresh $280 million loan.

State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, in a statement yesterday, said that the $280m loan the state House of Assembly approved for the government on Monday was part of the needed formalities for the government to access the World Bank and Africa Development Bank loan package it applied for in 2012.

“PDP issued a misleading and mischievous statement accusing the Rivers State Government of taking a new loan of $280m. The statement, which was a tissue of lies, claims that the govern-

ment tabled a fresh request for loan before the House of Assembly. The PDP also claims that the loans were to enable the governor source money for 2015 elections and to sponsor the All Progressives Congress, APC. “The facts of the matter are as follows: The Rivers State Government applied for and secured a loan package from the African Development Bank, AfDB, and the World Bank in 2012 for the World Bank-assisted water scheme in Rivers State.

“The rule is that the national government will need to endorse the release of the loan after the state House of Assembly would have approved.

Everything else was done but for reasons unknown to the Rivers State Government, the responsible officers in the Ministry of Finance failed to sign off the release of funds, thereby delaying the Rivers State Government robust water sector’s complete overhaul."

Fresh oil spill hits Bayelsa community

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—A FRESH oil spill has reportedly occurred along a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, in Kalaba community, Bayelsa State.

Though the cause of the spill could not be ascertained, at press time, a source told Vanguard that it was noticed last week by the community folks who were returning from their farm.

The spill, which is spewing crude oil into the en-

vironment, according to the sources, has been reported to the company for necessary action.

Lamenting the incessant spill in the area, the Youth President of the community, Mr. Samuel Oburo, while conducting the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoEN, led by its Bayelsa State Coordinator, Mr. Alagoa Morris, round the spill site, said: “As you can see, the crude oil is spewing and spreading into the environment.

“It is sad that this has continued to occur in this

area. I don’t know the cause of the spill as the JIV process is yet to be initiated to determine its cause.”

He called on the company to take steps to ensure the integrity of its facility in order to avoid spills that may result from integrity issues.

Also reacting to the latest spill, ERA Field Coordinator in the state, Morris stressed the need for all stakeholders to have regard for the environment by maintaining and engaging in environmentally friendly and sustainable standards.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

— 13

14 — Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

ID PROJECT: We can't apologise to Okorocha —Senate

BY JOHNBOSCO

AGBAKWURU BUJA—THE Senate yesterday said it had no apology to render to Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, over its recent resolution which condemned the state governor for the alleged plan by the government to issue Identity Card to northerners residing in the state to guarantee their free movement.

It was reported that as a result of the recent discovery of bomb in a Winners Chapel Church in Owerri, the state capital, by the Boko Haram sect, the state government had planned to put in place security measures, including registration of people of northern extraction and issuance of ID card to them to have free movement.

The Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, had raised a point of order informing the Senate that the purported plan to register the northern people living in Imo State was in contravention of the constitution as amended.

Ningi, in the motion titled “ The

A

Issuance of Identification Card to Northerners residing in Imo State - Urgent call for policy reversal”, noted with serious concern recent government policy statement issued by Imo State government directing all northerners residing or staying in the state to be issued with an identification card.

He argued that the policy contravened the provisions of

section 41(1) and 42(1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, which guaranteed, among others, free movement of Nigerians from any part of the country to the other and right of residence without any inhibition or condition whatsoever.

He added that the policy, if not reversed, was tantamount to gross abuse of the citizens rights.

But Imo State government in

its reaction, demanded apology from the Senate for what it described as blackmail by some of its political opponents who were also eying the governor’s seat in 2015 election.

On the issue of apology demanded by Okorocha, Ekweremadu said the governor had the opportunity to brief senators from his state on the matter when the matter was first raised penultimate Tuesday and eventually debated upon two days later.

Labour clamps down on Chinese firms over unfair practices Joint Industrial Council, NJIC,

BY VICTORAHIUMA-YOUNG

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AGOS—LEADERS of organised labour in the nation’s civil engineering and construction sector of the economy yesterday put the Federal and state governments, especially Lagos on notice, that the operations of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC and all others Chinese construction companies in Nigeria would be shut next week over alleged unfair labour practices.

At a briefing in Lagos, leaders

of National Union of Construction of Civil Engineering, Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers, NUCECFWW, who said the companies had been issued a 14day ultimatum since last week, named other major culprits as China Railway Construction Company, CRCC, TEC Engineering Company, and China Gio Construction, CGC, Nigeria, Limited.

They lamented that even agreement reached with employers’ federation, National

had not been respected by the Chinese companies, claiming they had turned their offices and construction sites into slave camps.

Briefing journalists on behalf of other leaders of the union, its President-General, Mr. Amechi Augwuni, said the Chinese firms had been indulging in payment of slave wages, casualisation of workers, conveying workers to work places with open trucks and trailers, complete disregard to health and safety of workers, non-implementation of the NJIC, agreement, among others.

We're not campaigning for Jonathan's re-election, group tells APC

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A G O S — SUPPORTERS of President Goodluck Jonathan, under the aegis of GEJites Volunteers, have said they were not campaigning for the President’s re-election as alleged by the All Progressives Congress, APC, noting that they were only mobilising support for whom they think could solve Nigeria’s problems.

They also dismissed claims by the party that the President was being insensitive to the security situation in the country.

The APC in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, had described as insensitive alleged ongoing campaign by GEJites for the President’s re-election at the spot where the ‘Bring BackOurGirls’campaignersuse for the protest.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,JULY 9, 2014 — 15

OCEAN SURGE: Senate seeks compensation from Chevron zTasks FG on environmental impact assessment

BY JOHNBOSCO

AGBAKWURU BUJA—THE Senate yesterday called on the Federal Government to mobilise and ensure that Chevron Nigeria Limited paid adequate compensation to communities within the coastal areas to mitigate the impact of its oil rig explosion and fire.

The Senate in its resolutions on a motion sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Paulker, representing Bayelsa Central, on ‘ocean surge in coastal areas and consequences for coastal dwellers’ called on the federal government to put in place measures to bring lasting solution to the problem, including aggressive shoreline protection of coastal areas in the country.

The Senate also called on the government to initiate environmental impact assessment to determine the level of damage of the ocean surge on communities within the coastal line and also directed the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to send relief materials to persons displaced by the ocean surge.

It further called on the Nigeria Inland Waterways Agency, NIWA, the Niger Delta Development Commission,

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OCTOBER 1 BOMBING: Keyamo stalls Okah's trial

BY IKECHUKWU

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NNOCHIRI

BUJA—LAGOSbased lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, yesterday, persuaded the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to adjourn the trial of alleged mastermind of the 2010 Independence Day bomb blast that killed twelve persons at Eagle Square in Abuja, Mr. Charles Okah, till October 7.

Keyamo, through a letter he wrote to the court, said he was mandated by the Okah family to personally defend their son, Charles.

Charles, who is a younger brother to the ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Mr. Henry Okah, is facing terrorism charges alongside one Obi Nwabueze.

NDDC, and other relevant government agencies to clear the waters involved in the pollution without delay.

Senator Paulker in the motion, which was co-sponsored by over 30 senators, had noted that residents of coastal communities in Bayelsa and Delta states were recently displaced by rising ocean waves that submerged their communities and destroyed their

livelihood.

He stated that only last week, the affected communities in the coastal areas, especially Koluama 1, Koluama 11, Foropa and many other communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, cried out about the current ocean activities in the area which had killed many of their people, wiped out their communities and destroyed

their markets and property worth billions of naira and permanently altered their lifestyles.

“These communities traced the origin of their woes to the unmitigated impact of the Chevron oil rig explosion and fire which occurred in Koluama in January 2012, which they claim was not appropriately tackled,” he added.

INDEPENDENCE: US Ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle (left) and Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, Executive Director/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, at the celebration of America's Independence Day, in Abuja.

NEW AUTO POLICY: FG to train 2m mechanics on spare parts' production

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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BUJA — Beyond the promises of a robust local vehicle assembly in the country, plans are underway by the federal government to train two million auto mechanics on how to produce spare parts and components.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, disclosed this at the flag off of a three weeks workshop for 1,000 mechanics on hydraulics,

electrical/electronics and computer applications in modern vehicle operations in Abuja yesterday.

Aganga said his ministry would work with the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, to establish production training centres that would train the mechanics on how to produce vehicle spare parts and components.

He said: “We are working with ITF to open Production training centres, that is, to

train people on how to produce parts and components for our vehicles.

“Training and skill development is a major component of the National Automotive Industrial Plan, NAIP. Technology in the auto sector is advancing continually, it is, therefore, important that we continue to seek to improve our manpower, so as to keep abreast with new technologies."

Abuja airport runway re-opens

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—AFTER 30 hours of facility maintenance at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, which led to its closure, the runway has been re-opened.

The Coordinating General Manager, Aviation Parastatals, Mr Yakubu Dati, said in a statement released to Vanguard in Abuja yesterday, that the rehabilitation which started on July 5, 2014, was now opened for flight operations.

Dati said reports from pilots who had used the runway indicated that the rehabilitation of a section of the runway was professionally executed and would enhance safety of flight operations on the runway.

According to him, the second phase of the rehabilitation of the remaining section of the runway will, however, take place for another 30 hours next weekend, between Saturday 12, (2300 UTC) and Monday 14 (0500 UTC), 2014.

He said: “A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) to this effect has already been sent to all aircraft pilots and other relevant stakeholders, informing them of the impending closure.

“The runway rehabilitation is being done in two phases to minimise the inconvenience the closure would have on air passengers and aircraft operators if it was carried out at once."

16 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

— 17

18— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014 THREE years ago, Romanian witches, who have long thirsted for government recognition, got the type of deal they never imagined – the law asked them to pay tax.

Anger greeted the law with the witches threatening to bring misfortune on government and its officials. They carried out rituals at certain rivers to make government change its mind. The witches also prayed for enough misfortune would visit government officials that they would patronise witches more.

The Romanian government dragged more people into its tax net as it grappled with the economy. Witches are in great demand in the country of 21.5 million people with a rich culture of consulting witches and fortune tellers on all matters.

Professionals like witches, astrologers and fortunetellers were not in the country’s labour code. They did not pay income tax. Under the 2011 law, they started paying 16 per cent income tax and contributing to health and pension programmes, as self-employed people.

Le t’s P ay TTax ax es Let’s Pa axes Their battle for official status succeeded in April 2006 when 31-year-old Gabriela Ciucur became the country’s first legal witch, after she registered a company dealing with “astrology and contacts with the spiritual world”.

In February 2007, Elena Simionescu was relieved of her position as president of the court in Vatra Dornei, a small town in eastern Romania after being accused of casting spells on court staff, judges and prosecutors.

Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, had their own personal witch.

“We do harm to those who harm us,” Bratara Buzea, 63, a witch, said. “They want to take the country out of this crisis using us? They should get us out of the crisis because they

brought us into it.”

Nigerians are not witches. Witchcraft is not a legalised profession in Nigeria, for which practitioners should be taxed. Our interest in all these is the great extent serious governments go in sourcing revenue for their budget. Tax is too important in those countries to exclude anyone who earns an income.

Governments run on revenue from tax. It is a two-way street. People pay their taxes and therefore can query how the money is used.

Here, a large portion of the population does not pay income tax. Governments are too busy scrambling over crude oil money to consider the place of taxes in the economy. It follows that we can hardly hold governments to account because oil money is not “our money”, our tax.

The furore over taxing churches and mosques show our hypocrisy on tax.

Can our governments tax everyone, including witches? When governments tax witches, fear of their attacks may ensure accountability in using the money and save us some of the complaints about abuses of public resources.

OPINION

BY JIDE ELUYEMI

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HE common refrain from the Prof.

Attahiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is that it is doing all within the confines of its powers to conduct a credible governorship election in Osun State on August 9. Certainly, a majority of the electorate expect nothing below the bar of excellent performance from INEC. But a recent decision it took in respect of its Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, to wit, that he should go on ‘leave of absence for his own safety’, gives the impression that the Commission is rattled by the baseless opposition some politicians in the state mounted against the person of the REC. It does appear this is not the same INEC that vowed some months ago not to prevent Akeju from conducting the governorship election if those alleging he was partisan did not present unassailable evidence. This strange turn-about from the leadership of the electoral body does suggest, in spite of its claim to the contrary, that those who bayed for the blood of the REC have inundated it with irreproachable evidence.

It should be recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, began the illogical call for the redeployment of Akeju. The governorship candidate of the party in Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, had in 2011 asked a court for an injunction to stop Akeju from conducting the election of that year in Osun. The prayer was

INEC’s

weird voltage on Osun REC

granted. INEC did not contest the injunction and was even making arrangement for the court’s order implementation. Quite strangely, the same PDP immediately went back to the court to ask for a stay of execution of that injunction it has sweetly won earlier.

Justice Babs Keuwumi who presided over the case was so pole-axed that he described the request as ‘bizarre’, wondering why the plaintiff (PDP) in that court was doing what the appellant (INEC) in the Appeal Court should expectedly undertake.

Last February when Jega came to Osogbo for a stakeholders’ parley, a drama of opposition against the REC was staged by the PDP and Labour Party.

They asked that the REC be redeployed.

The other parties did not join them. But in his response, Jega strongly posited that the Commission would do their bidding only when credibly substantiated evidence was produced against the REC. He added that the Commission was not one to change its officials based on mere allegations. The INEC chair was clear in his submission that nothing would be done to Akeju without believable proof of the allegation levelled against him.

This explains why the sudden change of decision on Akeju by the leadership of INEC is absurd and confusing. As rationalised last week by Jega’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kayode Idowu,

Akeju is just on ‘leave of absence’ for his personal safety. Is it that there are threats to Akeju’s life because he will conduct free and fair election? Is the new REC, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, going to conduct a less credible election? Who are the people threatening Akeju’s life? Is Mr. Agbaje’s safety assured? If Agbaje is going to conduct a free and fair election, will the same threat not be transferred unto him?

Let it be said that INEC fools no one with its strange behaviour and its even stranger justification. Discerning Nigerians know too well that INEC has just done the wish of the PDP, which has noisily repeatedly asked that Akeju be prevented from conducting the August 9 governorship election in Osun. Regardless of its advertised faith in Akeju and claim of his still being the substantive Osun REC, the Commission has just in a different way revealed that it does not trust the man. In the same outlandish manner that it has granted the wish of the PDP and its inverted poltroons, the Commission has equally condemned Akeju. The Commission, like those whose wish it has oddly acceded to, sees Akeju has a threat to the coming election. Is the case about the REC’s retention in Osun not still in court? Why the weird decision and breaking of coconut on the head of the REC? Similarly, INEC should know that

nobody except the troubled PDP believes the humbug that the Commission’s request for Akeju to proceed on leave of absence was ‘his contribution towards ensuring the credibility of the state governorship election’. So Mr. Akeju is so daffy that he deliberately stains his integrity and honour in order for the election to be credible? Indeed, it is strange that a body which trumpets its decision to do right in the conduct of its duties care less about keeping its words with regard to not lifting a finger against its officials without irrefutable evidence of partisanship or wrongdoing.

If political parties are involved in ‘intense partisan acrimony over his person’, should he be so unfeelingly made to suffer for their nervousness?

The question remains, can INEC still be trusted to conduct a truly credible election in Osun? If it commends itself for its outing in Ekiti, will it not strangely turn around to perform below acceptable standards in Osun in a few weeks to come? Will INEC not give in to pressure from the PDP to overlook riggings when they are perpetrated?

Jega and his men should note that the Osun electorate will not accept any strange behaviour from it during and after the governorship election. *Mr. Eluyemi, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Ille-Ife, Osun State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014— —19

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N a few days time it would be three full months since nearly 300 or perhaps more girls were brazenly abducted from their school in Chibok in Borno State.

In the last three months a lot of tears have been shed. Homes have been ripped apart and sorrow has overtaken the hearts of many. One only needs to put oneself in the place of the parents and other loved ones of these abducted girls to begin to have a sense, not feel, the wrenching pain the abduction must have inflicted on the hearts of the affected families.

In the first few weeks after the abduction, so much was said and written about the girls as to attract world attention. This attention from the world put the Nigerian government of Goodluck Jonathan in the court of the people of Nigeria and the rest of the world. The government knew its back was against the wall as it tried to defend its shiftless conduct in the face of this brutal assault on our collective sensibility.

Although the abduction had happened several weeks before world attention was focused on it but it didn't get as much as a grunt

from President Jonathan. Neither his body language nor public posture gave any hint of his concern. It all looked to him like a set-up by his ever troublesome opponents. One would have expected some show of presidential interest in the matter even if everything finally turns out to be false. But for President Jonathan everything seemed to have taken on the colour of politics.

He therefore didn't see any reason to be bothered. And so it was that he kept his quiet in the face of the whimpers and cries of the parents who bear the pain of the abduction and the rest of outraged Nigerians who share this pain.

But after the government was forced to speak out, to make clear its plan for the return of the girls, there was some hope that something good might come out of it all. This hope changed to expectation after some foreign powers offered to help the Jonathan team in tracking the girls. No sooner was this done than some senior officials of the government and the military, notably Alex Badeh, the Chief of Defence Staff, let it out that they knew where the girls were being

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kept. As if they had perfected plans for returning the girls, these senior government officials continued with their chest-thumping remarks that suggested Nigerians, especially the families of these unlucky girls, had nothing more to worry about. Even though some of us questioned the wisdom, not to say the professional logic, of statements such as Badeh's on efforts being made to return these girls, we were prepared to see the military keep their words.

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ather than do this what followed was a clampdown on the press. Newspaper-carrying vans were seized while military personnel set upon journalists and other vocal elements in the campaign to bring back the abducted girls. Those of them in Abuja under the leadership of Mrs. Uwais and Oby Ezekwesili were tear-gassed by the police and banned by Joseph Mbu from keeping their daily campaign in the city. In hindsight, one can now

Why PDP thinks it can win Osun

BY MATTHEW ADEJOH

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ASKING in the euphoria of gaining and sustaining the upper hand in Ekiti with its decimation of the support base of the loud but ineffective All Progressives Congress, APC, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been strutting around like a cock in the midst of female fowls. But do you blame the PDP, when suddenly the APC is losing grounds everywhere because of the less-than-noble and undignified behaviour of the leaders of the party, who, for want of office, have been trampling on every other person’s ambition? From the North to the South, from the East to the West, those who look like political “juggernauts” have been jumping ship.

Now, where do all these leave Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who came in through the window by some legal magic in the judiciary, and is not as confident as he used to be, even hinting at violence to have his way? He declared that what happened in Ekiti State during the governorship poll on June 23 was impossible in Osun. According to him: “They rigged the APC out in Ekiti State but we are still looking at them. There is no way for them in Osun State and if they try to perpetrate fraud, they will meet their waterloo. I learnt that the opposition party which is PDP is boasting to lock down Osun State. But I want to tell them that what happened in Ekiti State is not practicable in Osun.”

For a man who has created confusion in the education system in his State and is profiting from exacerbating the fault lines of religion, while treating teachers with disdain, many see his grandstanding as fear of losing the election. But there are other factors that will definitely work

against him. First is the miscalculated insult his godfather, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, hurled at Yoruba Obas. The other is the fragile situation in his party which has led to many leaving in anger. The third is the Boko Haram tar that has been thrown the way of APC. If he remains governor after August 9, then his must be one of the inexplicable political wonders of Nigeria.

Perhaps a rehash of the reason some men of note left the party will suffice in proving that he may remain in the opposition in his State by the second week of the eighth month. Femi Fani-Kayode, an Osun son, had this to say about the APC when he took flight: “My reasons for leaving the party are because I consider nation-building as being far more important than party politics, party affiliation or party formations. I am a devout and committed Christian and I cannot remain in a party where a handful of people that have sympathies for Boko Haram and that have a clear Islamic agenda are playing a leading role. This is made all the more untenable when some of those people are working hard silently and behind the scenes to impose a Muslim/Muslim ticket on the party for the presidential elections next year. “…I have raised these issues privately with virtually every key party leader, including most of the governors but nothing has changed. I cannot be in a party in which the spokesman, Lai Mohammed, only last year said that it was wrong and ‘unconstitutional’ for the Federal Government to proscribe Boko Haram. This is the same Boko Haram that has killed no less than 15,000 Nigerians in the last three years. I cannot be in a party where the leading presidential candidate, only last year said that Boko Haram ought not to be killed but ought to be treated like

say that these moves against the campaigners and others who have criticised the Jonathan government's handling of the abduction were meant to silence the campaign for the return of the girls.

This point has become clear now that very little is now being heard on the issue. This government by its do-nothing attitude seems to have ridden the tide of criticisms that were the aftermath of the campaign that galvanised the world into asking questions of the Jonathan administration. The spin masters of Abuja must by now be congratulating themselves for staying the course of ineptitude despite the criticism of the world.

But with or without world attention Nigerians must never cease to ask questions, and indeed keep up the campaign to see to the successful return of these girls. This is our business and the world can only follow the lead we provide. On this issue sympathisers cannot and must not be expected to cry more than the bereaved. We must continue to ask if this is how Dr. Jonathan would look on as marauders take over the territory over which he presides as President and Commander-inChief. It is not enough for the President to claim to be doing something on the girls return. He must be seen to be doing something.

Several more abductions have happened since the Chibok girls shame. More explosives and bombs have been detonated in different parts of the North East and other parts of the North. More villages and towns have been sacked and many more Nigerians have been sent to their untimely deaths by these agents of terror who now rob, rape, abduct and kill defenceless Nigerians on a daily

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Jonathan and Nigerians must not abandon the Chibok girls

With or without world attention, Nigerians must never cease to ask questions, and indeed keep up the campaign to see to the successful return of these girls

When Skekarau left the party so early, he gave an insight, which, with the benefit of hindsight, was a bull’s eye on the problem in the party; he told the world APC was a sham party

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the Niger Delta militants, granted amnesty without any conditions, pampered and paid and who said, in 2011, that Muslims should only vote for people who will protect their faith.”

He has not stopped hitting the APC, because when he left, Lai Mohammed, who knows he is not as endowed as FaniKayode in words and in bellicosity took him on. Now, APC has threatened to take Fani-Kayode to court, raising the tempo of the drama, and you can bet, FaniKayode has them exactly where he wants them.

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rom the East, Senator Annie Okonkwo left APC belly-aching because he lost out. This immediate past interim Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, on suspension since January this year has finally realised that the APC has no good intentions for his Igbo brothers, an information every Igbo man knew a long time ago. He should tell (Imo) Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Chris Ngige who appear to still live in the wonderland of their political delusions.

Okonkwo said he resigned his

basis. So confident of success are they that they write to their victims weeks ahead of their unwelcome visits. Yet nothing happens to stop them.

To accept that Nigerians continue to live under this climate of fear, terror and uncertainty is to accept that nothing should be done about the Chibok school girls. It is to see their fate as a fait accompli. The routine abductions and murders that now characterise life in different parts of Nigeria where terrorists have overrun legitimate authorities is no reason for us to accept the fate of the Chibok girls as one we cannot do anything about. As it is, those with the responsibility and means to act on the matter have yet to wake up to the reality of that fact, to say nothing of their knowing what to do.

President Jonathan recently gave the impression that he was hard on the case of the Chibok girls even if he was not talking much about it. While paying lip service to the issue or shedding crocodile tears is not the way to bring back the girls, the President must be heard and be seen to be doing something about it. We must put ourselves in the shoes of these girls and try to have a sense of their condition. What has happened to them can happen to any of us. And what the attitude of the Jonathan government is telling us all is that any one of us could go the way of the girls without anybody, least of all the Nigerian government, giving 'a damn', to quote the President own words in a related context. But it is the way of civilised people to give a damn in a matter such as this. And we must insist on the return of the Chibok school girls. Shikena!

membership because of the party’s scruffy promises, lack of internal party democracy as well as clannish and sectional disposition of the leadership.

Though Okonkwo is not saying anything new about the APC, which also appears to be an uncoordinated opposition, he should have said this sometime ago, and not when he was placed on the corridor instead of the chamber of opposition power.

APC suspended Okonkwo last January because he was generally believed to have scuttled the political ambitions of Senator Chris Ngige, whom he allegedly worked against. But according to him: “My suspension was investigated by Senator Kabiru Gaya’s Committee and exonerated me from all allegations. I stepped down my gubernatorial ambition for peace to be in the party but instead of being hailed for this sacrifice, I was hunted and hounded which orchestrated my suspension from duty as Deputy National Chairman (South) on a trumped up petition of anti-party activities.”

He added: “The conviviality, genre and comrade spirit I had hoped for among the progressives in the formation of this party has taken flight. What I see now is a gathering of non-progressives that do not have the interest of the party at heart, hence my decision to quit the party.”

When Skekarau left the party so early, he gave an insight, which, with the benefit of hindsight, was a bull’s eye on the problem in the party. He told the world APC was a sham party. His position on APC last January was scathing and appears to be the recurring anthem of those leaving the party. He stated that within the first six months of the formation of the party, “various unconstitutional decisions have been passed by a clique of the leadership of the party…”. On another occasion, he described the APC as a political fraud. *Mr. Adejoh, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

Commuters: You can’t beat them

BY EBELE ORAKPO

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The disputed land

Who owns the land? Ex-lawmaker, state govt at daggers-drawn over land

BY PETER OKUTU, Abakaliki

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HE law maker who represent ed Ohaukwu North constituency at the Ebonyi State House of Assembly between 2007 and 2011, Pastor Vincent Awoke, weekend raised alarm that the state government had encroached on his plots of land situated at Egu-Effium NSF Ezzamgbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the State.

The land is presently where the State government is setting up a pipeline production company that will aid the redistribution of water to different parts of the state if completed this year.

In a chat with Vanguard Metro, VM, the former lawmaker lamented that his lands within Abalone metropolis and Ebonyi State University permanent site,

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I am the rightful owner(of the land); they should not take my property by force

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Ezzamgbo had equally suffered the same fate and appealed to the state government not to take over the one situated at Egu-Effium NSF Ezzamgbo without following due process.

According to him, most of his earnings as a former law maker were used to purchase the land.

He said: “The whole of my 12 plots are inside that development area; it has affected me seriously because part of my earnings at the House of Assembly were used to purchase that land so that at least one can in future sell or develop it, but unfortunately the government went into it.

“I have all the necessary documents and particulars for the land, including the Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, from the State Ministry of Lands.

My plan was to use it for a residential area or to build a company that will enable me carry out my printing business because it is a vast land.

“My appeal to government is that if its action is in overriding public interest, then they should acquire the land through due process. I am the rightful owner considering their approval; in as much as I will not be a clog to the development of the state, they should not take my property by force.

“When they went into the land I informed them through my lawyer about it, but all of a sudden they started digging to erect fenced walls. We went to court and got an injunction for them to stop work but in spite of that, work has still continued at the site.

I know the court bailiff served the government and their representative at the court”.

Reacting to the state government’s alleged disobedience to the court injunction; Counsel to Plaintiff, Ikechukwu Agbo described the action as a deliberate disrespect of judicial authority. “The continuation of work at the site despite a valid court order stopping same is to say the least, a deliberate disrespect of judicial authority.

The Attorney-General who is the Chief Law officer should know better.

“I think the Governor does not know about this case yet because I know he believes in the rule of law and will not want to dis obey court injunction but the Commissioner for Lands who is the second defendant and the Attorney General will do everything possible to prevent the Governor from knowing about it.

“Ironically, these are people who ought to provide the Governor with lawful counsel, but that’s what you get when you are surrounded by sycophants. If they continue to disobey court orders, we shall commence contempt proceedings against them. We are in court for justice to prevail and we expect to get justice from the court.”

It should be recalled that a High Court sitting in Ohaukwu judicial division, recently issued an interlocutory injunction preventing the Ebony State Government or persons acting on its behalf from entering the ongoing pipeline production site located at Egu-Effium NSF Ezzamgbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the State.

The court also ordered the defendants, the Attorney General of Ebony State, Dr.

Benjamin Iguana and the State Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Housing, Nwogha Friday Moses, not to fence, partition and allocate the land to any other person or group of persons or body and from doing anything or taking any step that will alter, change or affect the current status of the land pending the final determination of the substantive suit.

The presiding Judge, Justice H. A. Nudge, after hearing the submissions of counsels to the plaintiff and defendants, Ikechukwu Agbo and S. N. Ogling respectively, the court granted the application of the Plaintiff.

“An order of interlocked injunction is hereby made by this court preventing Ebony State government the second defendant, Ministry of Lands, Survey and Housing Ebony state or any other government Ministry, parastatal, agency, body or persons acting on their behalf or on their instruction from entering the land situated at Egu-Effium NSF Ezzamgbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebony State.

“The land more particularly marked and delineated in survey plan number BNIL/EB180/2008 attached to the Certificate of Occupancy, registered as No. 71 at page 71 in volume 163 of the Ministry of Lands Registry, Abalone being the subject matter of this suit”.

In a reaction, the state AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner of Justice, Dr. Benjamin Iguana stated that he was not aware of any case in that respect and that no court injunction has been issued to him.

It could be recalled that the state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr. Chile Onwe, had on August last year disclosed that the state government would build a N200 million pipe production company in the state within a period of five months and that the company would be sited at the new industrial estate in Issue in Ebony LGA of the state.

OU have to create your own happiness and that is exactly what commuters in the Oshodibound commuter bus decided to do. Seems they were tired of all the bad news – from Boko Haram and all their atrocities, to bickering between the ruling PDP and opposition APC. Not even the horrible gridlock that has become a permanent feature on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway could dampen their spirits as they waited patiently to board a bus to their destinations. Suddenly, an empty bus appeared with the conductor shouting: “Oshodi N200. Hold your change oo or I join you in wedlock.”

“This change problem has persisted because of the use of ATM machines. We only get N1000 and N500 notes from the ATM. If you have noticed, mallams don’t even have change now,” said Tim. “Wicked people. Just imagine 100 per cent increase in fare simply because of the hold-up,” said Jane.

“Do you blame them? After all, some were asking for N250 and some N300. They are business people and have to deliver to the vehicle owners at the end of the day. So because of the gridlock, instead of making seven trips, they may make only three so they have to devise a means of making up for lost time. Unfortunately, the commuters pay for it,” said Tim. All at once, everyone scrambled to get on the bus despite the fact that the fare had been doubled.

“Ah, madam, abeg, you no fit sit here oo. Go to another seat, this one is too small for you,” said a commuter by name, Moses, addressing a slightly fat lady trying to sit beside him.

“Oga abeg shift, don’t tell me where to sit. This seat is for four,” replied the lady as she tried to squeeze herself into the small space. Eventually, she decided to go to the back while holding tight to a black polythene bag.

“Oga is taking very good care of you at home and that’s why you are this big,” said Clement.

Retorted the lady: “It’s the other way round. I am taking good care of him. My husband is bigger than me.”

Suddenly, a clucking sound came from the lady’s direction and every eye was on her.

Said Moses: “See, you even bought a live chicken. The chicken is just confirming that Oga is taking good care of you.

“Na man or woman fowl? asked Clement.

Replied Moses: “It must be woman nah! Na real amebo (gossip) fowl.

“Power belongs to the women. Haven’t you noticed that no matter how strong a man is, once he gets to his wife, he becomes a baby?” asked Jide.

“Very true! Women rule the world,” said Clement.

“In the Western world, yes, but not in Africa!” countered Chioma.

“Even in Africa. Have you not seen a woman beating up a man and nobody says anything but once the man fights back, all hell is let loose.

Everyone begins to blame him?” asked Moses.

“That’s correct. Tell them!” said Jide.

“In Africa, it is a man’s world. There is nothing you will say to convince me,” said Chioma, adding: “When a marriage breaks up, the man practically gets everything, leaving the wife with nothing. Also, when a man dies, the wife is in most cases left with nothing because the man’s relations may decide to take everything away, especially if she had no children for the man.

That is terrible but that is the reality on ground in most cases.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014 — 21

World Bank unveils new strategy for growth, poverty reduction

W

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE The World Bank Group has launched the new Country Partnership Strategy, CPS, aimed at helping the Federal and State Governments boost development and reduce poverty.

The World Bank said the new strategy was deemed necessar y, following the recent Gross Domestic Products, GDP, rebasing exercise in which now puts Nigeria as Africa’s largest economy.

It added that the new strategycame at an opportune time just as Nigeria is redoubling efforts to tackle critical development challenges. And is committing itself to lift major constraints that are hindering it from achieving broad-based, inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction goals.

According to the bank, the launching event was aimed at making the objectives and outcomes of the strategy known to all beneficiaries, namely the federal and state government officials, the Millennium Development Agencies, MDAs, federal and state, media, Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, the private sector, academics, researchers, professionals and other stakeholders The new partnership strategy, jointly developed with the Government of Nigeria, is supportive of the

From left: Toyin Sanni, Public Relations Officer, Association of Assets Custodians of Nigeria (AACN); Arunma Oteh, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Dr. Sarah Alade, former Acting Governor, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Segun Sanni, President AACN, and Kemi Adewole, Vice President at the 3rd Annual London Investors Conference of the association.

country’s Vision 20: 2020 plan and its Transformation Agenda; which set out Nigeria’s long-term development objectives and the medium-term strategy for operationalising this vision.

The strategy includes support for a bold and ambitious program of development targets and interventions for the next four years.

Specifically, the World Bank

Group’s support for Nigeria is structured around three strategic priorities: Promoting growth and job creation by reforming the power sector, enhancing agricultural productivity, and increasing access to finance; improving the quality and efficiency of social service delivery at the State level to promote social inclusion and strengthening governance and public sector management, with gender

equity and conflict sensitivity as essential elements of governance.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minster of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, said “The Country Partnership Strategy is very commendable and in line with the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government. It supports our development objective.”

IDB’s fund to boost companies’ expansion in Nigeria, Asia, others

A

Wema Bank secures $50m facilities to grow SMEs

NEW infrastructure fund from the Islamic Development Bank aims to help Gulf-based companies expand in Nigeria, Asia and other Africa countries, developing stronger economic ties among these regions.

Jeddah-based IDB is keen to grow trade among its 56 member countries and fill a void left by other multilateral and private-sector financial institutions that have been slow to support such regional strategies.

The fund could jump-start sluggish levels of trade across these markets, helping the IDB in its efforts to reach a target of 20 percent of intra-member trade by 2015 from about 17 percent now.

But more needs to be done to reach that target: Exports among IDBmember countries reached $343.7 billion as of 2011, representing only

15.3 percent of total exports and a drop from the 17.3 percent recorded in 2009, the latest IDB data showed.

Three-quarters of those exports came from only 10 member countries, such as Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. Nigeria, Egypt and Bangladesh ranked far lower, despite the significant opportunities in those markets.

Part of the problem is limited support from financial institutions in these regions, many lacking a regional presence of their own; a gap which the IDB fund could help fill.

IDB, which promotes economic development in Muslim countries and communities, has ramped up its development efforts after it more than tripled its authorised capital in 2012.

Building regional links would allow some Gulf-focused companies to reach a far broader customer base,

said Mumtaz Khan, Chief Executive of Bahrain-based ASMA Capital Partners, which is managing the IDB fund.

“There are not many institutions that have a footprint across these regions. Some companies are confined to a country or region. We are talking about taking them further a field,” said Khan.

Both Gulf and Asian-based companies could build substantial market share in these new markets, said Khan, adding that the fund was looking at opportunities in Nigeria, Egypt, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The fund has $750 million in commitments from shareholders Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Brunei, with plans to reach $2 billion in size by next year, surpassing the original $730 million fund launched in 2001.

ema Bank Bank has secured over USD50million dollars in trade lines from various foreign correspondent banks and development finance in excess of 20million dollars to support the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs .

Through this development, the Bank has reaffirmed its capacity to handle large international trade transactions, provide necessary finance and support for SMEs whilst also underscoring the confidence of foreign financial institutions in the Bank’srisk management systems.

In a statement, Wema Bank said that it remained committed to providing the value-adding financial support in various sectors of the Nigerian economy – especially as it relates to SMEs. Wema Bank’s recent return to profitability has been hailed as outstanding by industry watchers and investors given the challenges faced before the new management came on board.

However, the management’s commitment to the transformation process it put in place has been hugely successful and has seen it return to profitability within four years whilst also instituting sound corporate governance and risk management frameworks in the process. Established in 1945, Wema Bank offers various international trade and treasury services to its customers.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

INSURAN C 12 ways to save on term life insurance

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ou are the sole breadwinner whose income keeps your family afloat, a parent with young children, or you are helping your kids pay for college. Regardless of the stage of life you are in, buying life insurance is a way to help cover your family’s costs in case of your untimely demise. Although a wide range of life insurance options are available, one of the most popular is term life, which covers you for a certain length of time, such as 10 or 20 years, and compensates your loved ones if you die during that time.

While price is certainly a major consideration when you are looking for life insurance, you also need to be sure the company you choose is financially sound and will be around through the years.

Like so many other decisions these days, good starting points are searching and seeking recommendations of reputable life insurance companies from your circle of friends and consumer reviews.

Once you have got your choices narrowed down, you can start looking for the policy that offers you the best coverage at the best price for your own personal situation. Typically you can figure out how much life insurance you need by adding up your debts — your mortgage, your credit card balances, car payments — so you have enough coverage for your survivors to pay them off. You also need to account for replacing your salary and for future expenses, such as college tuition.

When you have determined that, you can follow these tips to help you save on your insurance premiums.

Shop around. Never rely on the price quote of just one life insurance provider. By shopping around you will find the company that offers the best price for your age and health that will cover your needs. Comparing quotes online is an effective strategy, but be sure to give accurate information. Your lowest quote can be used as a price point from which to work when finding the best policy with affordable rates.

Buy when you are young. If you purchase life insurance when you are young, you will pay far lower premiums than if you wait until you are older to buy. This can save you a significant amount of money over the decades.

Avoid guaranteed policies with no medical exam. You may be tempted to skip the medical exam when deciding what type of policy to buy — but do not. Typically “guarantee issue” policies are for people in poor health who have trouble finding insurance companies willing to take them on as a high risk policyholder.

No-exam policies are more expensive than standard life insurance policies and often pay out less to your beneficiaries. Even if you have a medical condition, you are likely to get better rates by taking an exam and purchasing a standard issue policy.

Do not come up short. Do not try to save money by purchasing a policy for fewer years than you really need.

If the term of your policy is up in 20 years and you want to renew it, you will pay higher rates because the premiums are tied to your age.

Buying a short-term policy and renewing it repeatedly, is not a prudent way to save money – you are better off with a longer term policy.

Maintain your health. It is always better to buy life insurance before your health becomes an issue, if you wait till you really, really need it, it may be too late to buy it. Or if you are able to obtain it, you will pay a higher price. But you are not stuck with higher rates forever if you can improve your well-being and keep it going for at least a year. Once you have a policy, if your health improves, say you quit smoking or your cholesterol or blood pressure levels are back at healthy levels, ask for a rate reconsideration.

Consider your medical conditions.

If you do have a medical condition, you will find that some life insurance companies may be more willing to offer you coverage than others. One provider may offer a better rate even if you have diabetes or a heart condition than other companies will.

Look where you work. Check to see if you can purchase group life insurance beyond what your employer provides as an employee benefit. It is typically inexpensive, but it might not be enough to meet all your needs. In that case you should consider purchasing additional coverage at work from the insurer that offers the group coverage, beyond that the employer pays for. You may also want to buy an additional policy on your own in the regular marketplace as benefits are limited for group life policies and that coverage will end if you leave your company.

Bundle up. Insurance experts recommend bundling your coverage, so you might decide to purchase your homeowners insurance and auto insurance with one company, and receive discounts on your policies.

You also might be able to bundle your life insurance with other types of insurance. You won’t get a break on your life insurance premiums, but you could receive discounts on your other policies, such as auto insurance.

Round up for coverage amounts..

Life insurance companies have “break points,” so even if you figure you need N425,000 worth of insurance, you’ll typically get a better rate if you buy N500,000 worth of coverage.

Round down for age. When it comes to age, be sure to buy when your age will “ round down.” For example, if you are going to be 40 at the end of December, buy a policy in the first six months of the year when your age will be rounded off at 39.

Join the club. If you are a member of a group or an organisation, such as your university alumni association, you might be eligible for a discounted group life insurance policy.

Okada riders differ on use of helmet

BY BARBARA MARQUAND When it comes to riding motorcycles, there is one topic where many people agree to disagree: mandatory helmet use laws.

Against Helmets To be fair, most people are not actually against helmets per se.

Rather, they are against forcing anyone to wear them. They view wearing a helmet as a personal choice, and believe that making someone wear a helmet amounts to trampling on their personal rights and freedoms. The motorcycle represents many things to different people, such as freedom from restraint, the feeling of power and speed or a certain solitude that can only be gained by riding alone with

,

BY SUSAN LADIKA

You also might be able to bundle your life insurance with other types of insurance. You won’t get a break on your life insurance premiums, but you could receive discounts on your other policies, such as auto insurance.

,

nothing in front of you but the open road.

But let us face it. No one rides a motorcycle because they want to be safe. That is not to say riders do not want to be as safe as possible. It is just that many want to do it on their own terms.

Another point often raised revolves around the fact that helmets, by themselves, do not really solve the problem of motorcycle safety.

They believe that by focusing solely on helmet use laws, politicians and others ignore many other problems faced by riders, like right-of-way violations and general

How do I name or change the beneficiary o

N

aming a beneficiary is a crucial part of the life insurance process. If you fail to name a beneficiary and you die, the life insurance policy typically becomes part of your estate and is subject to probate. There are several factors to take into account. Here are must-know tips for naming a beneficiary: Details count — you should spell out the names of all of your beneficiaries and provide your agent with their Social Security numbers to facilitate benefit payouts should you die. You should also designate how you want

the money distributed if there is more than one beneficiary.

Consider naming primary, secondary and final beneficiaries. That way, if your primary beneficiary dies before you do, or at the same time, the money will go to your secondary beneficiary. If your secondary beneficiary is no longer alive, the money will go to the final beneficiary.

Don’t forget to update your beneficiary list if you experience a life-changing event such as a divorce or the birth of children. Contact your life insurance agent or insurer should you want to change a beneficiary.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014 —

23

CE & YOU Don’t forget to update your beneficiary list if you experience a life-changing event such as a divorce or the birth of children

INDEX MOVEMENT

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ignorance of motorcycles on the part of other drivers, and the lack of proper operator training and experience for motorcyclists.

For Helmets The advocates for mandatory helmet use laws usually include safety organisations and governments. They also include those who feel their lives have been saved by a helmet, and people who feel that riders injured due to lack of a helmet represent a financial drain on society because of higher medical costs and disability payments.

Their feelings can perhaps best be explained by a Massachusetts federal court judge responding to the argument that wearing a helmet should be a personal choice because only the rider is harmed in an accident: “The public has an interest in minimising the resources directly involved. From the moment of injury, society picks the person up off the highway; delivers him to an hospital and doctors; provides him with unemployment compensation if, after recovery, he cannot replace his lost job; and, if the injury causes permanent disability, may assume responsibility for his and his family’s subsistence. We do not understand a state of mind that permits plaintiff to think that only he himself is concerned.”

Obviously, this argument does not sway everyone, particularly libertarians. Many studies have been done. Almost all serious, peer-reviewed studies conclude that helmets help reduce the incidence of injury and death to riders and the cost of the resulting medical treatment and that universal helmet laws increase helmet use and lower overall costs. Even the serious riders believe that helmets are important (although they do not explicitly advocate use laws), so it is not just ignorant cagers trying to impose their will on riders due to poor awareness.

Expert seeks internal discipline of financial markets in W-African sub-region .Urges regulators to adopt new tool for banking supervision

BY UDEME CLEMENT

T

he Director General, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Prof. Akpan Ekpo, has called on regulatory authorities in the financial system to adopt a new tool anchored on riskfocused banking supervision to ensure internal discipline of financial markets operating within the West African Sub-region.

He said this while delivering a keynote address, at the regional course on ‘Banking Supervision Intermediate level’, organised by WAIFEM in collaboration with the College of Supervisors of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), in Lagos.

Giving insight into the activities of the financial markets in the sub-region he said, “A relatively new tool to deal effectively with the new challenges is risk-focused Be aware that life insurance companies won’t pay banking benefits directly to children. If you name a child under supervision. age 18 as a beneficiary, you should make arrangements This requires for how the money will be managed through a trust or optimising other legal provision.Dependents who receive the synergy Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid could from different become ineligible for assistance if they receive a large activities, financial inheritance, so be careful about naming them w h i c h as life insurance beneficiaries. In states with i n c l u d e community-property laws, your spouse would have to regulatory waive the right to your life insurance proceeds even if a n d you named someone else as a beneficiary. Check with supervisory your insurance agent to learn the details. functions to enhance Culled from Insurance.com o v e r a l l

on my life insurance policy?

efficiency of the supervisory process.

It entails development and maintenance of a dynamic supervisory plan that responds to the organisation’s changing risk profile. The successful implementation of this model involves existence of efficient risk management architecture, adoption of risk-focused internal audit, a strengthened management information system and well trained personnel in riskbased audit.”

He added, “Given the rapid technological advances, there is the need to strengthen the internal discipline of capital and financial markets to ensure stability of the financial system. It is imperative for regulators and supervisors of the financial system as well as those concerned with systemic stability to promote

prudent behaviour by financial intermediaries and other market participants. This should also cover the areas of changing structure of the banking system and risk focused banking supervision.

In recent year, the international banking scene has witnessed strong trends toward globalisation and consolidation of the financial system. Therefore, the stability of this sector has become a major challenge to regulators and supervisors globally.”

Responding to the supervisory strategy adopted so far in the sub-region, he said, “The supervisory process in the sub-region has concomitantly evolved and aims at attaining a certain level of sophistication consistent with international best practice. However, globalisation and liberalisation have added other dimensions to the

challenges of regulation and supervision of the banking system.”

He stressed, “The need for financial stability in economic management and peoples’ welfare cannot be overemphasised. The recent global financial crisis has fundamentally drawn attention to the need for stable, effective and efficient financial system anchored on sound and strong regulatory framework. Over the last decade, the financial markets have become more open and global. The use of administrative controls to restrict the activities of financial intermediaries is no longer in vogue. Nowadays, national capital markets are not insulated from capital flows, and government intervention to counteract undesired capital market developments is no longer fashionable”.

Philip consulting unveils Shortlist to from an applicant, the ease recruitment process annum firm brought its 20 years

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

P

hillips Consulting, a leading business management and human resource firm, has launched new subsidiary company; ShortList Nigeria, to provide job seekers and employers of labour a new platform for job search and recruitment.

ShortList is an online startup offering job seekers and recruiters easy and simple way to recruit as well as allowing job seekers to

upload their resume online and exposing them to hundreds of recruiters or employers who visit the site in search of candidates whose resumes and skills match the vacancies the employers seek.

At the launch in Lagos, Chairman of Phillips Consulting, Mr.Foluso Phillips described as a structure that connected candidates and employers directly, explaining that in developing the concept attracting a subscription fee of N250 a month or N3,000 per

experience to bear, partnering with Short-List Nigeria.

He said the special thing about the concept was its simplicity, saying “This is a fundamental feature that will appeal to users who are currently frustrated by the jobhunting process,” he said, adding that “to be on a global platform where anyone can discover you is a wonderful opportunity for job seekers, and to find the very people you need to fill your vacancies on this platform is even better.

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

The 20 13 Compan 201 Companyy results and shareholder concerns everal companies have, in time, the in-coming S the last few months, had administration would readily find their Annual General it attractive to complete the

‘Capacity development, right structure critical tto o SMEs gr owth’ gro

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

H

aving the right kind of structures and developing adequate capacity has been identified as the critical success factor for any small and medium scale enterprises, SMEs, in Nigeria.

Mr. Ken Okpara, Head,

SME, Fidelity Bank Plc, made the observation, weekend, while speaking to Vanguard on the sideline of the 50 th birthday anniversary of the bank’s Managing Director/ CEO, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, in Lagos.

He stated that if the

Ecobank assets hit N22.5bn, pledges good corporate governance

By PETER EGWUATU

E

cobank Group has recorded impressive assets of $22.5 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2013, just as it pledged commitment to good corporate governance.

The Bank also pledged to deliver long term value for its shareholders, even as it did not declare dividend for the 2013 financial period.

Speaking at the 25th Annual General Meeting, AGM, in Lome, Togo, the Interim Chairman, Ecobank , Mr. Andre Siaka, said “Despite a challenging operating environment in 2013, Ecobank registered impressive organic growth in terms of both revenues and assets. Revenue broke through the US$2 billion mark, whilst strong growth in both customer loans and deposits led to a 13 percent year-on-year increase in total assets to US$22.5 billion.”

He commended the shareholders of the bank for their patience and support during the financial year under review, saying “The Board is committed to establishing the highest standards of corporate governance. We will learn from the past, address all of the issues and lay firm foundations for Ecobank’s continued success in the next 25 years”He further disclosed that Mrs. Laurence do Rego has been reinstated to the

position of Group Executive Director of Finance and Risk following the directive from the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, to comply with good corporate governance.

Speaking, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank, Mr. Albert Essien, said “Overall, despite the regulatory headwinds in Nigeria, we achieved most of the financial targets that we set out at the start of 2013. On the balance sheet side, we saw good opportunities to grow risk assets, particularly in the regional corporate business.

Our net customer loans increased by 21 percent during the year to over US $11 billion, exceeding our target of approximately 10 percent growth. Customer deposits grew by 13 percent to US$ 16.5 billion and whilst we did not reach our growth target of 20 percent, we ended the year strongly and improved our cost of funds.”

Esien explained why the bank recorded loss in profit, saying “Our profitability for 2013 has clearly been impacted by increased impairment provisions which, including the US 165 million provisions on legacy loans in Nigeria, took up more than half of our pre-impairment profit. Combined with a higher effective tax rate, this led to the sharp 45 percent fall in net profit for the year from continuing operations.”

promoters of SMEs would get it right in terms of building the necessary platform and structures, securing loans from any deposit money bank, specilaised funding like the one provided by the Bank of Industry, BoI, or even internationally, would be a walk-over.

He stated that bearing the challenges in mind, Fidelity Bank has developed models that help the bank to nurture SMEs to growth by providing advisory services and capacity building where necessary as well as taking them through what it means to run sustainable business.

He said, “When you approach SMEs, they will tell you that fund is their problem, but when we began as a bank, we conducted an analysis and we discovered that it is not just about funding.

“We observed that when you provide the funding and the SMEs do not have the capacity and the right structure, they will not do well. So, we discovered that capacity and structure are the major issues facing SMEs and that was why we began to build up the advisory services.”

“There are key man risks associated with what the SMEs do and of course, we recognise that if they operate in this manner, they are not going to go beyond the level where they are.

“What we have done as a bank is to help them to put structures in place and to also provide record keeping; we help to address the key man risk associated with that and when they do that, of course, they become a good bride for accessing fund,” he added.

project as a priority. Otherwise, the project would be subject to further delays whilst various probes, studies etc are carried out by the new administration.

Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, UBN, expects to write off its accumulated losses once the resolutions to that effect are approved at its AGM. This should pave the way for UBN to declare a dividend at the next available opportunity. The current directors of UBN should not ignore the circumstances in which some of these accumulated losses were inflicted on the company by the previous directors of the company. There is available evidence before the courts to the effect that funds belonging to UBN were misapplied by previous directors in the purchase of UBN shares.

However, the courts have only given a decision on whether there was manipulation of UBN’s share prices on the NSE over a period of time. UBN and the

,

From left : A customer, Group Managing Director, Jecconds Engineering System Limited, James Chigbu; Manager, Awolowo Experience Centre, Heritage Bank, Kufretido Etim; Executive Director, Ivory Banking, Heritage Bank, Mrs Mary Akpobome and Group Head, Cowry Banking, Heritage Bank, Mr. Davidson Regha, during the opening of Heritage Bank Awolowo Road Ikoyi experience centre in Lagos.

Meetings, AGMs. Shareholders of each company have considered the annual report and accounts of their company for the year 2013 and have also declared at the AGM a dividend to be paid to shareholders from the profits of the company. We still expect results from some companies whose financial year does not end on 31st December. Such companies include Guinness Nigeria Plc, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc and University Press Plc. However, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc has during 2014 paid an interim dividend of 19.91 kobo per share as well as a special dividend of N1.30 per share.

We still expect a final dividend from PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc. From the results submitted to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, during 2014, ABC Transport and Julius Berger Nigeria have each proposed a bonus share issue of 1 new share for every 10 existing shares. Following on its AGM, Nigerian Breweries Plc, NBPlc, has announced proposals for a merger with Consolidated Breweries and its share price on the NSE has risen from about N150 per share to about N178 per share at the close of business on Friday 6 June 2014. Forte Oil Plc was one of the first companies to hold its AGM this year. The company has experienced resurgence in its share price which also closed at about N250 per share on Friday, 6 June 2014. This is the same price as at the share offer in 2008.

Following on its AGM, FBN Holdings Plc, FBNH, has paid a dividend of N1.10 per share which is 10kobo less than would be expected if the company had kept to an apparent policy of increasing dividend by 20k per share from one year to the next year. The indication is that FBN is still underperforming and this is due to the fact that there are no positive results from some of the company ’s major investments.

For example, the Rainbow Town project in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, remains substantially uncompleted as at Saturday, 7 June 2014. The project promoters should at this juncture concentrate resources on one of the high-rise buildings such that one building would be completed before the administration of Governor Amaechi leaves office in May 2015. If there is a completed building by this

We have not received reports from Access Bank Plc and FBN Holdings in any format. The issue of non-delivery of reports leads to the issue of unclaimed dividends

,

previous directors have entered appeals against the decision on share price manipulation. One hopes that UBN would not eventually have to pay substantial sums as compensation when the appeals processes are completed whilst the previous directors walk away free from the issue of misapplication of UBN funds.

Shareholders are still not receiving annual reports, whether in paper format or CDformat. We have received reports from NBPlc, Mobil Oil and lists of unclaimed dividends No 10 – No 14 for Access Bank Plc in paper format whilst Dangote Flour Plc sent its report and lists of unclaimed dividends in CDformat. We have not received reports from Access Bank Plc and FBN Holdings in any format. The issue of non-delivery of reports leads to the issue of unclaimed dividends.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014 — 25

DIARY z World

congress on computational intelligence

International Convention Center Beijing,China

06 Jul - 11 Jul 2014

z Cisco Connect Sun City, South Africa Nov. 2 - 4, 2014

New inventions shaping life and living

‘Shape-in or shape-out' •Cisco warns Nigerian mobile network operators •Forecasts strong internet growth in MEA by 2018

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

A

TEAM of engineers has developed what they are claiming is the world's smallest wireless earbud. In creating Earin, the vision of the team, led by mechanical and design engineer Olle Lindén, was to produce earbuds that not only did away with the messy wires and cables, but fit unobtrusively in the ear to provide a high quality listening experience.

The Earin buds weigh 5 g (0.17 oz) and feature a plastic casing with a silicon tip on the end that is designed to create a snug, noise-isolating fit inside the ear. Measuring 14 mm (0.55 in) in diameter and 20 mm (0.78 in) in length, they are a similar size to your typical earbuds and use Bluetooth 3.0 and 4.0 to wirelessly stream audio from a paired device.

I N S I D E

L

ATEST Cisco forecasts on internet traffic growth for 2013-2018 is putting African mobile operators, particularly those operating in Nigeria, on red alert.

The forecasts, particularly, warn Nigerian mobile operators to be on their toes in terms of service delivery or risk losing customers.

This is following its discoveries of impending market trends in new services and offerings that may determine how subscribers in the region rate and value service providers in the coming years.

The trend may even become more of a determining factor, considering available statistics which pitches

LG unveils Gen Cool inverter air conditioner

the growth of internet related services higher in Middle East and Africa, MEA, than in many developed countries of the w o r l d .

For instance, the Cisco forecasts, estimate that in Middle East and Africa, Internet Protocol, IP traffic will grow 5-fold by 2018, representing a compound annual growth rate, CAGR of 38%.

Internet traffic, the report said, will grow 5.5fold from 2013 to 2018, a compound annual growth rate of 41%; IP video traffic will grow 7fold from 2013 to 2018, a compound annual growth rate of 48%; Internet video traffic will grow 8-fold from 2013 to 2018, a compound annual growth rate of 50%.

It also predicts that HD will be 19.6% of IP Video traffic in 2018, up from 6.9% in 2013, while Mobile data traffic will grow 14-fold from 2013

Nigeria must clean up cyberspace —Juwah

to 2018, to represent a compound annual growth rate of 70%.

Meanwhile, other regions of the world like Latin America will grow 21%. Central and Eastern Europe 23 percent, Western Europe, 18 percent, North America 20 percent and Asia pacific 21 percent.

They are far behind MEA on these projections; the closest Central and Eastern Europe still trails with average of 15 percent on all indices.

Compelling factors The factors that will propel these changes included the rising population of Africa which Nigeria spearheads, smart devices, growth of high definition videos.

Other major factors contributing to this development are private/ government intervention in the deployment of data services, like the

plan by Nigeria’s telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC to license Infrastructure Companies, InfraCos, Broadband Nigeria initiative and several private investments in submarine cables like MainOne, Glo1, WACS among others.

The growth will see 2.0

,

Preview

100 gigabytes per month in 2018, up from 438,224 recorded in 2013.

Global projections Even in the global scene, MEA’s potentials and forecasts are pushing projections expected to completely and dramatically shift the composition of IP traffic in the coming years.

...service providers must seek new innovative technology solutions that will deliver enhanced experience.

billion networked devices in 2018, up from 1.3 billion in 2013. Particularly so, is that Fixed/ Wi-Fi will be 60% of total IP traffic in 2018.

Again, there will be 3 million Internet h o u s e h o l d s representing 5.1% of all Internet households generating more than

Reality of digital literacy in schools

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By 2018, according to Cisco, the majority of traffic will originate from devices other than personal computers (PCs) for the first time.

Wi-Fi traffic will exceed wired traffic for the first time, and highdefinition (HD) video will generate more traffic than standard-definition video.

Mobile and portable devices other than PCs will drive the majority of traffic by 2018, building further from 2013, when 33 percent of IP traffic originated with non-PC devices.

However, the report noted that by 2018, the Continues on page 28

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

•Gen Cool inverter air conditioner

LG unveils Gen Cool inverter air conditioner

BY RICHARD UDOFIA

L

G Electronics last week released another of its innovative products in the Air Conditioner genre of home appliances. Ta g g e d Gen Cool, the product is expected to bail Nigerians out of the harsh climatic condition and inability to effectively use Airconditioners due to poor power supply.

This is because in producing the product LG said, it took these sit-

uations into consideration and therefore made it possible to operate effectively with the lowest capacity generators found among low income earners.

The new cool inverter air conditioner is also said to be truly Ecofriendly spotting refrigerant -R410A. Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Deog Jun Kim said in Lagos at the launching of the product that Nigeria remains a sensitive market in Africa and need to be given with

preference.

Deong said, the new LG Gen cool Inverter air conditioner "is designed for Nigerian Market," he said, "This AC meets the demands of customers who want to use Air Conditioners in Nigeria with small capacity generators."

He said, that in addition to previous products like Plasma, Titan AVS, Mosquito Away air-conditioners among others in the market, the Gen cool Inverter AC, a new energy- efficient solution that allows 1HP AC to run on small capacity

generator of 0.9 KVA with Gen Mode is a consumer friendly product.

He maintained that LG’s innovative prod-

The new cool inverter air conditioner is also said to be truly Eco-friendly spotting refrigerant -R410A. ucts function well despite erratic power supply or in extreme outdoor temperatures. Surprisingly, the air conditioner features an upgraded power circuit board (PCB) and corro-

War over broadcast signal

Pinnacle wins licence, Phase3 kicks

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

P

INNACLE ommunications Limited last week emerged the winner of the 2nd Broadcasting Signal Distribution license Network for transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.

The company won the bid after a keenly contested bidding process by the Presidential team on digital migration, BSDGROUP, set up to oversee the implementation process from analogue to digital broadcasting in Nigeria..

This bidding process came after the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC experimented the switch-on of broadcast transmission from analogue to digital broadcasting in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Announcing the winner, the Chairman of the DigiTeam, Engr. Edward Amana, said about 15 companies originally expressed interest in the first phase of the biding process and out of the 15, five companies bided for the license.

From the five bids, Phase3 Telecoms Limited, Pinnacle Communications Limited and Trendcorp Africa limited met the mandatory requirements and were therefore qualified for technical evaluation.

Following the technical evaluation, two companies, Pinnacle Communications and Phase3 Telecom Limited scaled through to the financial phase with 71.1 per cent and 74.8 per cent respectively.

In the financial evaluation, Pinnacle bided N618 million, which translates to 31.1 per cent higher that 20 per cent prescribed for the preserved price of N500 million, while Phase3 bided N100 million, which is less than 20 per cent.

Amana described the process as another milestone in the Nigerian transition programme, saying that DigiTeam would leave no stone unturned to achieve a successful migration programme.

“As I speak, 14 companies have submitted proposals to manufacture Set Top Boxes in Nigeria and we are engaging them all to ensure that a manufacturing base is set up earliest to meet the attractive market in Nigeria,” he added.

He said the winner will be issued the license as soon as it pays the license fee, which it has one year to do or lose to the second bidder.

He encouraged them to harmonise existing broadcasters in the country for either outright buy-

ing over or leasing of their existing transmitters to be able to meet up with the roll out of network.

With the emergence of Pinnacle as the winner of the license, Pinnacle Communications Limited is now expected to deploy and operate a national terrestrial broadcasting signal distribution network and to television and other multimedia services in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Going by the regulatory requirements, the license is expected to provide distribution services to other duly licensed broadcasting service providers upon their request on an equitable, and non-preferential and non-discriminatory basis.

The license, according to NBC, shall be prohibited from broadcasting content

sion-resistant technologies that ensure greater operational longevity.

The Gen cool Inverter also provides a strong,

services unless it established separate entity that is duly licensed by the Commission.

Recall that the International Telecommunication Union, ITU had in 2006 fix 17 June 2015, as the

dependable cooling system.

General Manager, Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Junhwa deadline of 17 June, 2015.

After the switchover date, it is expected that countries will broadcast terrestrial signals in the digital format as analogue transmission would no longer be protected from interference.

Following this development, Nigeria as a signatory to the regional agreement, which established the technical criteria for transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting, through the Federal

Jeongsaid the product offersLG’s inverter Hz control technology and reduce the voltage necessary for startup and reliable op350V operational range. It also enables the Gen mode cool to cope with power surges of up to 500V. Meanwhile, the double powder coating and Platinum Fin protect the compressor from wear and corrosion, which in turn contributes to greater operational longevity, Junhwa said.Managing Director, Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani said Customers who value durability, stability and powerful performance will find LG Gen cool Inverter AC a perfect addition to their properties.

Government set up a Presidential Advisory Committee, PAC to over see the implementation process.

The Federal Government’s Committee was set up in March 20, 2014 to prepare a framework for the implementation of the ITU decision and following a report submitted by the PAC, the Federal Government issued a White paper setting out the implementation framework and established the DigiTeam

Terragon Media becomes certified Google partner

BY EMEKA AGINAM

O ca lm iing that his compan y ought t o have been declared winn e r f o r t h e inefficiency of Pinnacle Communications

NE of the leading digital media agencies in Nigeria, Terragon Media, has announced that it has become a Certified Google Agency Partner.

This certification edges the company apart from its counterparts and affirms its experience and understanding of the Google advertising platform.

Speaking on the development, Anu Sanya, Team Lead, Terragon Media, said that the company was proud to be among the few agencies in Nigeria to make the list : “We are very excited to announce this Partner status. Being a certified Google Partner implies that Google is confident, based on our experience, spend and the competency of our staff, that Terragon Media can provide high quality digital marketing services to our clients.”Sanya said.

According to Sanya , “What this status means for our clients is that they can be confident we can solve their problems faster, easier, and with the best solutions tailored to their needs to help build their businesses in the best possible way.

“With this, we have become the experts to come to on Google’s online products like Analytics, Google AdWords, and Google Search. We are not just saying that we will consistently deliver value, but unlike other companies, have quality .

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014 — 27

Nigeria must clean up cyberspace —Juwah •Says clean cyberspace imperative for FDI

BY RICHARD UDOFIA

T

HE Executive Vice Chairman, Nigeria Communications commission, NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah has advocated for a clean cyberspace in the country so as to prepare ground for more Foreign Direct Investments, FDI into the countr y.

Juwah spoke at a cybersecurity forum organized by the Office of the National Security Adviser in Lagos.

According to him, capacity building in the area of cybersecurity is necessary for development of a sustainable and proactive national cybersecurity culture.

He said that was the reason the commission implemented the open access model for deployment of broadband services in the country.

He admitted that the cyberspace has become an integral part of modern information society, vast amount of information is available in different formats for end users globally.

He noted that because of this,fraud, theft and forgery exist online just as they are prevalent on normal daily activity, warning that if users are to benefit from full advantages on the internet, there is need for building confidence in the information infrastructure as primary and utmost importance.

He stressed that cyber threats like malware, cyber harassment, Child molestation, spoofing, phising, spam, pharming, viruses, Trojans, worms child online phonograph and spyware are becoming extremely sophisticated that it takes users with indepth knowledge and skill to manipulate the system.

However, he said that the internet has long ceased from being the exclusive domain of the technically savvy users, to include all type of users including novices and even children.

He however added that: "The internet is a borderless communication tool and consequently, any solution to secure it must involve global collaboration. Loopholes in legal framework are being exploited by perpetuators as harmonization between existing laws across nations is far from being satisfactory."

With the phenomenal growth in the use and application of ICTs and new trends such as cloud computing and virtualization, it is increasingly likely that cyber threats will also spread to new bounds.

Explaining how the commission has been combating cybercrimes in line with global regulatory best practices, Juwah said the NCC, created a new department “New media and information strategy ”, about three years ago. The department is responsible for all issues of information security and capacity building in information technology through the accelerated digital awareness program for tertiary institutions, ADAPTI, program. This commission was fully involved in the formulation of the national cyber security bill and other similar initiatives, coordinated by the office of the national security adviser.

In addition to capacity building, NCC has improved on its equipment Authorization Process through which security loopholes in telecoms hardware and software are checkmated. It therefore ensures that security standards are fully implemented by manu-

•Juwah

‘Local content 'll boost development in ICT sector'

BY RICHARD UDOFIA

M

INISTER of Information communication technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, has inaugurated a 7 man committee responsible for developing local content delivery in ICT sector.

Johnson inaugurated the committe in Lagos, at a program organized by the Office of the National Content Development in ICT. She said local content seeks to achieve the development of local skills, technology transfer, use of local manpower and local manufacturing. She further described it as an incremental value created in Nigeria through the utilization of Nigerian human and material resources for the provision of goods and services in the ICT

Huawei rolls out enterprise solutions suite

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

H

UAWEI last week introduced a range of intelligent storage product portfolio called Ocean Stor. The products are made for convergence and simplicity for enterprises that need enterprise solutions with converged, simplified performance.

There are converged Architecture Blade server E9000 and OceanStor Dorado 2100.

These products are said to increase scalability and lower energy consumption for business managers.

Features that make the Dorado 2100 in every environment are: It has excellent performance, due to its intelligent catche algorithm and advanced I/O scheduling. It also has robust reliability, energy saving and low Total Cost of Ownership, TCO. The products and solutions in these fields cover storage area network, solid state storage system, network attached storage, virtual intelligent storage and cloud storage.

facturers in the design and fabrication stage of all telecoms equipment imported into the country.

There is need for collaborative effort by relevant government agencies towards the implementation of domain name system security extension (DNSSEC) on the top level of domain name system in other to address identified vulnerability of the DNS system.

"This DNSSEC provides an additional level of security that can strengthen trust in the internet by helping to protect browsers from redirection to fraudulent websites through effective integrity and authenticity checks on DNS protocols."

Huawei said that these products and solutions are widely applied in government, public utility, transportation, finance, ISP & media assets.

Managing director, Huawei Nigeria, Pang Jimin,said the Company prides itself as a global organization, that has same interests in other markets as in its native China For him, about 12 years ago, the company birthed Nigeria while it was struggling to make its imprint on the African Continent.

But today,“Huawei is playing a leading role in global server and storage market. According to the latest statistics from Gartner report, Huawei storage ranked number one in China shipments and number one Global Market Growth Rate for six quarters around 66%.

“We are not focusing on China alone. That is why we see ourselves as a global Company.

In Nigeria, we will continue to be partners to the public and private institutions like the telcos, banks and others" he added.

•Minister of communication Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson industry within acceptable quality standards in order to stimulate the development of indigenous capacities.

She said Nigeria ICT sector remains the fastest growing sector in the economy with 12.5% annual growth rate contributing an average of 8% to the country's GDP. She also noted that Gap recession in local content delivery sets the economy backward in the production of devices, hardwares and equipments when compared to countries like Egypt, South Africa, Kenya among others.

While urging local content developers to come up with viable contents in manufacturing department that will put the sector as one viable sector , she called for public-private partnership in assisting local entrepreneurs come up with achievable plans on how resources can be made available for starters.

The minister said: "Government is fully in support of any indigenous company that comes up with local content driven policy as viable and

functional framework are in place to support the success of those content.

She contended that the IT sector is a skill driven market, therefore partnership with IBM, Worldbank and other international firms have been reached so that productivity, efficiency and quality of product will be attained.

“Between 2002 to 2012, the ICT sector created about 2.5million jobs, at the moment, an average of 12million jobs is created in Nigeria, and we intend creating more jobs so that its impact can be felt even in the less developed areas, she said.

While pleading for more capital to be invested in the sector, she maintained that manufacturing of products in Nigeria remains a mirage as far as the Nigerian economy is concerned.

To promote and encourage an environment within Nigeria that is welcoming to foreign investments in information and communication technology, as well as the export of indigenous made ICT goods and services, there will be need to stimulate increase production, sales and consumption of high quality technology products and services developed by indigenous companies.

Johnson said that with the growing rate of globalization, every government as well as captains of industry are charged with the burden of finding ways to ensure that their regions stay competitive and capable of fulfilling local demand, given the wide availability of information technology created to serve markets worldwide.

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

National standards for IT education:

Reality of digital literacy in schools

BY EMEKA AGINAM

T

HE unveiling of the national standards blue print for IT education of the Nigerian educational systems recently was a convincing signal that building digitally literate Nigerian schools through IT education has begun.

The blueprint was officially launched in Abuja recently at the just concluded Information Technology Assembly of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, CPN. The CPN IT Assembly/ Annual General Meeting is a yearly gathering of IT practitioners in Nigeria and the Diaspora with the objective of discussing and strategising on emerging issues in IT with recommendations and decisions that will impact positively on the industry and the nation.

Designed by the Ministry of education, the National Information Technology Development Agency and the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, CPN, the standard document which was also a major highlight at the 2014 IT Professionals Assembly, if well implemented, the participants believe would retool both the students and the teachers for e-learning.

The national curriculum on IT education which was applauded by the participants at the assembly is a standard document at all levels for teachers, students, educational administrators and other stakeholders in education.

The new policy has IT education standards for early childhood care education, ECCE, basic education, post basic education, NCE awarding institutions, enterprise institutions, polytechnic education, diploma, national diploma, universities, among others.

A look at the 146 pages comprehensive document showed a set of standards to guide the development of IT curricula, teaching, learning and assessment at all levels of the Nigerian education system.

However, these standards provide the minimum requirements which should be improved and elaborated upon by various schools and institutions to enhance the quality of knowledge, skills and attitude in IT imparted to learners.

21st century ICT skills For majority of participants at the event that discussed industry issues including

developing the capacity of Nigeria IT industry/local content development, strategies for enhancing collaboration between IT Professionals , stakeholders

and government, solving national security challenges using IT, E-agriculture, improving education , research and development in

Nigeria among others , it is essential that core 21st century skills and knowledge associated with the use of technology and computers

•From left: Dr. Evans Woherem, Chris Uwaje and Dr. Xiaoman Duan, Chair, 2014 Universal Village local organizing committee at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), International Conference, Boston, USA.

embedded in the document are retooled into education systems.

Although majority of teachers in the Nigerian schools are not skilled enough to teach IT education needed to survive the knowledge society, the forum believes that the document which form a central part of students’ school experiences from early child education will serve as an intervention strategy to retool them for tomorrow’s workforce.

Now that the national standard for IT education is compulsory at all levels, greater efforts, the forum noted must be made at all levels to further embed digital literacy into schools and thus ensure that the skills acquired are those that will be needed

by Nigerian citizens of tomorrow.

The Minister of Education, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike while formally launching the document at the event that attracted capacity audience with the theme: Harnessing the potentials of IT Professionals for national development, told the gathering that the document which sets clear standards for IT education will be implemented immediately at all levels of education starting from early childhood to tertiary education.

Shape-in or shape-out Continues from page 25

non-PC share of IP traffic will grow to 57 percent. Wi-Fi and mobile-connected devices will generate 76 percent of Internet traffic by 2018. Wi-Fi will be 61 percent, and cellular will be 15 percent.

Fixed traffic will be only 24 percent of total Internet traffic by 2018. In comparison, Wi-Fi was 55 percent; cellular was 4 percent; and fixed was 41 percent.

Global broadband speeds will reach 42 Mbps by 2018, up from 16 Mbps at the end of 2013. Online video will be the fastest-growing residential internet service growing from 1.2 billion users to 1.9 billion users by 2018.

Desktop and personal video conferencing will be the fastest-growing business Internet service growing from 37 million users in 2013 to 238 million users by 2018.

The Internet of everything is also gaining momentum, and there will be nearly as many machine-to-machine (M2M) modules as there are people by 2018. For example, smart cars will have nearly four M2M connections per car.

A new challenge for operators Now, considering all these projections, a new challenge sprouts with multiple tentacles for operators; meaning that a change of marketing perception, service offering and customer service initiatives is imperative.

To be able to succeed, Cisco says that Service provider networks must adapt to the increasing number of devices, such as tablets, smartphones and M2M con-

nections, that will need to be authenticated to gain access to fixed/mobile networks with enhanced security and intelligence required.

The evolution of advanced video services, such as HD/ultra HD video, may create new bandwidth and scalability requirements for service providers. Residential, business and mobile consumers continue to have strong demand for advanced video services across all network and device types with quality of service, convenience, and price as key factors for success.

It also stated that: "Continued business video adoption, such as HD and web-based video conferencing and business VoD may prompt greater growth in network virtualization and leveraging the Internet for video transmission with network ramifications for service providers and over-the-top providers.

4G network growth and service adoption may grow faster as mobile users continue to demand similar service and content experiences from their fixed and mobile networks.

IP networks must be intelligent and flexible enough to support the constant introduction of new/updated applications for fixed and mobile networks.

As the company’s General Manager for Nigeria and English Speaking West Africa, Mr Dare Ogunlade, aptly noted, “the reality of the IoE, the increasing demand for network

mobility, and the emergence of 4K video are among the key trends that represent significant opportunities for service providers in Africa today and in the immediate future” Although indications are that many service providers are actually collaborating with application developers to enhance their service offerings, fears are that time is running out for African operators to capitalize on enormous potentials to catch up and overtake the world. 2018 is merely 3 years away and the universal and dynamic nature of technology makes playing catch-up a dangerous game.

Today, major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup have highlighted the enormous consumer and business appetite for a better viewing experience over the Internet using either mobile or fixed devices. So, service providers must seek new innovative technology solutions that will deliver this enhanced experience.

The Cisco forecasts, therefore, could be a call for African operators to shape in or shape out.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

— 29

30—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

ARIBISALA: When hatred destroys credibility (2) if history had not thrown up Asiwaju in the southwest to regain its place of pride in the Nigerian nation.

The difference in performance is stark with Obasanjo as the captain in the political game in which the likes of AlaoAkala, Oyinlola and Fayose are players as opposed to Asiwaju being the captain in a game in which the likes of Fashola, Aregbesola, Fayemi, and Ajimobi are players. It’s the height of political naiveté for Aribisala to think that the northerners or any lingocultural groups for that matter are less important, and therefore should be ignored in bringing the Nigerian project into fruition.

RIGHT OF REPL Y REPLY

BY FEMI ODERE

Femi Odere, yesterday, wrote on: Aribisala: When hatred destroys credibility. He concludes today.

Ekiti Waterloo

I

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu tion” was the most diabolical hit below the belt I have heard in recent memory.

'Useless' Yoruba Obas

Aribisala’s other erroneous assertion that “Yorubas in general are now fed up with Bola Tinubu arrogance…(because of his) overbearing influence in Ekiti politics was one of the major issues of the campaign” is ludicrous in the least. That this “message was superbly championed by Fayose who

,

T’S the height of irrespon sibility for Aribisala to have even insinuated, let alone believe that APC’s loss in the Ekiti governorship election was because of Tinubu. His display of crass hatred with his ascription that “the people of Ekiti decided to send a loud and clear message to Tinubu[and that] they no longer want to have anything to do with him and with his party” was the most ignorant conjecture I have heard in recent time.

Aribisala must have just arrived from Mars not to have noticed those reasons adduced by credible opinion leaders and political experts as to why the Ekiti election turned out the way it did. In case he just came down from the outer space or chose to wallow in selective amnesia, what really influenced the outcome of the recently concluded Ekiti election can be condensed into two major divisions, which can be compartmentalized into macro and micro political components.

The chief culprit in the former component was another unprecedented militarization by Aribisala’s ‘paymaster ’ in Abuja of a democratic election, which made it patently an unfree and unfair election,ab initio, among other flagrant abuse of federal executive powers. This is a new form of election rigging by stealth that all lovers of democracy must rise up to condemn.

The micro component has to do with a people who seem to have been pathetically psychologically ‘wired’ for instant gratification in any-andeverything that affects their existence. To this groundswell of people, which probably predominate everywhere in the country, a future life of abundance and quality of life—which Governor Fayemi represents—is like having a cake in the sky. Who wants to wait for the future when they could very well be dead with the many life-threatening uncertainties that daily surrounds them, no thanks to Aribisala’s principal, President Jonathan who has been universally adjudged to be seriously inept. Tinubu was the farthest from the minds of the voters in that election.

Aside from being in agreement with what has so far been written about the Ekiti election, I was a witness as an accredited member of the press during and even days after that election. That “Tinubu cost Fayemi the elec-

The socioeconomic and political conditions of the South-West are better imagined if history had not thrown up Asiwaju in the South-West to regain its place of pride in the Nigerian nation

,

presented himself as a man of the people, determined to stop the hemorrhage whereby Ekiti money was routinely shipped to Lagos to further Tinubu’s political ambitions” was even more asinine.

This statement should not even have been dignified with an answer. But Pray, where would Fayemi have found the money for all the infrastructures that dots the Ekiti landscape if the state’s money “ was routinely shipped to Lagos….? If Fayose is truly the “man of the people,” would he have embarked on a poultry farm project, the largest financial scam in the history of the state in his first outing? This same line was used in the 2012 Mimiko governorship election against Tinubu, but the people of Ondo state now knows who is shipping the

state’s money to God knows where.

Aribisala’s“useless” Yoruba Obas allegation is simply part of his psychological warfare on the minds of the unsuspecting.

The goal here is to inflict as much damage as possible on how Tinubu is perceived in his southwest geo-political base.

The truth remains that the Yorubas know who among their Obas are truly championing their collective interests and not their primordial economic interests.

The truth is that the traditional rulers that can speak truth to power without thinking of the consequences are truly few and far between in Yorubaland, as opposed to what obtained in the past. Aribisala should think back to the ‘phantom coup’ days of Abacha.

Lessons from Obasanjo

For Aribisala to have positioned both Obasanjo and Tinubu on the same trajectory towards the socio-economic and political renaissance of the Yoruba race is patently disingenuous and an attempt to blatantly turn history on its head. While Obasanjo pursued, and continues to pursue his personal ambitions at the expense of the collective interests of the Yoruba race, whatever ambitionsTinubu has are intricately intertwined with the collective aspirations of the Yorubas within their culture of progressive politics.

While Obasanjo would engage in alliance that would only advance his personal interests and would quickly collapse the same alliance when it no longer suit his personal purpose, Tinubu would build, and continues to build political alliance across the country that not only advances the long-term interests of Yorubas as a group but also the course of democracy in general, with little or no consideration for his personal interests.

Examples of this abounds.

The socio-economic and political conditions of the Southwest are better imagined

Failure of Success

Probably the only statement of fact in Aribisala’s piece was his admission that “the PDP rigged the 2003 elections masterfully and wrested back power from every ACNcontrolled South-West state except Lagos.” Aribisala admitted further that even in Lagos where PDP did not win, the electoral umpire had proclaimed “a fictitious PDP victory on its website, before

it was belatedly withdrawn with ignominy.” He also said that “the brilliant South-West answer to this PDP treachery was Bola Tinubu.” What Aribisala said in effect is that if Tinubu, with his dedicated neo-progressive political lieutenants had not stood up to the PDP behemoth then, only God knows what a wasteland the southwest would have become by now.

Tinubu really has nothing to learn from Obasanjo as suggested by Aribisala because the personal and political philosophies of the two political gladiators are mutually antagonistic. And if Tinubu must, it is how not to build a country and its machineries of power around a single personality as exemplified by Obasanjo. It is building bridges across the country’s nooks and crannies in order to free her from the very few holding her in the jugular for the benefit of the masses of people of Nigeria which has always been the preoccupation of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

Femi Odere is a media practitioner. He can be reached at femiodere@gmail.com

ALLEGED FALSIFICATION OF RECORDS:

Edo to review cases of 926 teachers

B

ENIN—THE Edo State Government has commenced the review of the cases of 926 teachers allegedly involved in the falsification of their ages in their service records.

Most of the teachers were said to have tampered with their date of birth which incurred the angst of the state government.

The state House of Assembly had two months ago appealed to the state government to review their cases so as to retain them in the services, just as they also advised teachers whose retirement ages are due to be retired and their entitlements paid to them so that younger graduates could be employed into the system.

Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Prince Stephen Alao, who said the board had commenced review of the cases of the 926 teachers when he received members of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools in his office, said the board was determined to ensure that the issue of teachers was laid to rest.

He further disclosed that the board had put machinery in place to fasttrack the release of promotion of Junior Secondary School teachers in the state, saying with the establishment of the Edo SUBEB management system in the 18 selected schools across the state, the issue of promotion, transfer, posting and payment of salaries of teachers will be a thing of the past.

He said: “So, these are some of the things Comrade-Governor Adams Oshiomhole is doing to ensure that our teachers are comfortable. The issue of the 926 teachers will be laid to rest soon. So we are soliciting the cooperation of the teachers so that we can lift the standard of basic education in our state.”

Speaking earlier, National President of the ASUSST, Mr Charles Ifaluyi, said the visit was to cement relation between the board and the union so that “together we can reposition basic education in Edo State and also ensure quick release of promotions and transfers for our teachers.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

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32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

FIFA declares World Cup drug free

T

here have been no positive doping tests at the World Cup in Brazil, FIFAs medical commission announced on Monday.

Jiri Dvorak, FIFA’s chief medical officer, told a news conference that all 736 players involved in the tournament had been tested for performance-enhancing drugs, either before or during the finals.

He said there had been more than 1 000 separate tests in total - 777 out-of competition tests between March and the start of the tournament on June 12 plus another 232 so far during the tournament.

“We have not found any prohibitive substances... either prior or during competition,” Dvorak said.

Van Persie bids to end knockout-phase hoodoo P

RIOR to the Netherland’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina today, Robin van Persie is still waiting for his first goal in a knockout match at a major international tournament.

The Manchester United striker’s flying header against Spain helped set the tone for a group-phase of joyous football, but since then — and in keeping with the tournament as a whole — the goals have gradu-

2014 World Cup:

Beauties of the competition

T

he great festive mood, which is prevalent in the 2014 FIFA World Cup hosted by Brazil, would have been incomplete without the beautiful female football fans who are the focus of attention.

Four matches have left before the end of the world’s top football competition.

Yesterday, Germany and the host nation, Brazil, faceed each other, and today, the Netherlands and Argentina will lock horns to book their places in the World Cup final. The losers of these two games will play each other on Saturday’s bronze-medal match, whereas the winners will clash on Sunday’s 2014 World Cup grand final.

Argentine goalie Caballero joins Man City

A

rgentinian goalkeeper Willy Cabal lero has signed for Manchester City from Malaga on a three-year contract, the Premier League champions confirmed yesterday. The 32-year-old has moved for an undisclosed fee in a switch that sees him team up again with City manger Manuel Pellegrini.

Cabellero played under Pellegrini when the Chilean was in charge of Malaga from 2010-2013. Caballero began his career with Boca Juniors in his homeland before signing for Spanish club Elche in 2004.

He headed for Malaga in 2011 and was named La Liga keeper of the season for 2012-13, Pellegrini’s last with the Spanish club.

City had been looking for a new goalkeeper to provide back-up for first-choice stopper Joe Hart following Costel Pantilimon’s release at the end of last season.

N

ally dried up.

Having claimed two goals in the 5-1 rout of Spain, he netted in the 3-2 win over Australia, but has since gone 225 minutes without scoring.

Suspended against Chile, he was substituted in the 76th minute against Mexico and had to watch from the bench as his replacement, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, scored the injury-time penalty that sent Holland through.

Against Costa Rica in the quarter-finals, he was unable to convert a string of chances, notably seeing an injurytime shot blocked on the line by Yeltsin Tejeda, before scoring in the penalty shootout.

Demichelis out to thwart old master Van Gaal H

aving been brought back in from the international wilderness, Argentina defender Martin Demichelis is now hoping to ruin the World Cup dream of his former coach Louis van Gaal in today ’s semi-final against the Netherlands.

The 33-year-old Manchester City defender had not featured at all before being called-up into the side for Saturday’s quarter-final with Belgium in Brasilia.

Preferred to Federico Fernandez in central defence, Demichelis shone alongside Ezequiel Garay as Argentina triumphed 1-0 to progress to the last four.

While most of the focus is on

Lionel Messi and his ability to drag what many consider to be an average Argentinian side to the title, Demichelis and his fellow defenders will have a central role to play if they are to stop the dangerous Dutch attack.

He knows all about the threat posed by Arjen Robben, his former teammate at Bayern Munich, and the tactical nous of Van Gaal, under whom Demichelis played in the Bayern side that reached the Champions League final in 2010.

He has described Van Gaal as “a great manager” and someone who is “very convinced about his own methods”, so Demichelis knows the size of the task in store.

But he is also just savouring his return to international prominence after close to three years out of the picture.

“It means a lot in every sense. It is a reward for all those who helped me,” he said after the Belgium win, which marked his 39th cap but his first competitive appearance for the Albiceleste since 2011.

Hist

F

Dut

uelled by decades of hurt, Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Arjen Robben’s Holland will carry competing motivations into today’s tantalising World Cup semi-final showdown at Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena.

Argentina, who last reached the final in 1990, will be determined to pay appropriate homage to former great Alfredo Di Stefano, who died on Monday aged 88, while arch rivals Brazil could by then be awaiting in the final.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, are eager to rediscover their group-stage swagger

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014 — 33

Notable Dutch and Argentinian World Cup quotes

Van Gaal - Dutch master enjoying his Orange period T W

Netherlands vs Argentina 9:00 pm

•Van Gaal

in or lose today’s semifinal against Argentina, Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal will leave the World Cup having firmly reinforced his reputation as a master tactician.

Manchester United fans must be feeling on excellent terms with themselves at the prospect of seeing the distinctive 62-year-old’s presence filling the Old Trafford dugout in a few weeks time.

But before he swops his orange tie for red to direct his prodigious grey matter to reviving United’s fortunes, van

Gaal has unfinished business in Brazil.

After Holland’s 2-1 last 16 comeback win over Mexico van Gaal was hailed as the most tactically astute coach in the game by Dirk Kuyt.

The way van Gaal switched the former Liverpool forward between three positions in Fortaleza as circumstances required illustrated his thinking-out-of-the-box approach.

As did the way he exploited the cooling breaks in that match to make tactical switches.

IOC: Rio’s Olympic preparations boosted by World Cup

T

he smooth running of the World Cup has lifted the mood of Brazilians and given them the confidence to overcome delays and deliver the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro on time, the IOC’s point man on the games said yesterday.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, IOC executive director Gilbert Felli said the situation has improved since he was dispatched as a special troubleshooter for Rio two months ago. He said there is no reason to panic and that

ory hangs heavy as

Brazilian organizers will complete the mountain of work still needed over the next two years — with constant monitoring.

Speaking in his office at the International Olympic Committee headquarters in Lausanne, Felli said there are no plans to move any venues as some sports federations had feared, and he predicted that most construction projects will be back on schedule by the end of September.

“Of course it remains tense, very tense, but we should look with more optimism,” Felli said in his first extensive interview since being handed the Rio assignment in April. “Until the games are delivered I’m always concerned.

tch, Argentina clash and prove they are finally ready to claim football’s greatest prize after agonising final defeats in 1974, 1978 and 2010.

“The semi-finals are fantastic, but we know what it feels like to lose a World Cup, and we would love to win,” Dutch utility man Dirk Kuyt said.

“Argentina are a world-class team and they deserve to be in the last four. But we want to measure ourselves against the best, and not only measure, but win.

That’s why we’re here.”

The second of Holland’s final losses came at the hands of Argentina, who

won 3-1 as hosts at a Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires broiling with the menace of the country’s military dictatorship.

It is, however, the only time in eight encounters that they have bettered Holland, who memorably won a 1998 World Cup quarter-final in Marseille thanks to a majestic last-minute goal by Dennis Bergkamp.

Di Stefano never graced a World Cup, either for Argentina or his adopted Spain, but on Wednesday another Argentine great embraced by the Spanish

can tighten his grip on this year’s tournament.

Messi met with quarter-final heartbreak at his first two World Cups, but in Brazil the Barcelona superstar has played with a decisiveness that suggests he may be about to definitively make his mark on the game’s biggest stage. Dutch dangerman Robben is in similarly scintillating form, but for all the stars on show, the game in Brazil’s sprawling financial capital will also be a painstakingly prepared tactical battle.

en of the most Notable quotes from the Netherlands and Argentina at the world Cup ahead of their semi-final in Sao Paulo today: THE NETHERLANDS “It worked out. That was beautiful.”

- Coach Louis van Gaal basking in getting it right after daringly switching keepers and bringing on Newcastle’s Tim Krull for the penalty shoot out win against Costa Rica last Saturday.

“Compared with the atmosphere at Euro 2012, it’s night and day.”

- Wesley Sneijder talking about the lovey dovey atmosphere in the Dutch camp in Brazil, unlike the riftridden campaigns of years gone by.

“I really have to say and at the same time apologise in the first half I took a dive and I really shouldn’t do that.”

- Serial diving offender Arjen Robben’s mea culpa after taking a plunge against Mexico.

“He’s maybe the best tactically there is in the world.”

- Dirk Kuyt on van Gaal, after playing in three different positions in the quarter-final. “It was five, but it could have been six, seven or eight goals, in my opinion.”

- Robin van Persie, after the stunning carpet-bagging of defending champions Spain in the opening first round game.

ARGENTINA “It’s a catastrophe, nothing more, nothing less. There’s nothing worse than getting injured at a World Cup when your dream of lifting the trophy is still alive.”

- Sabella reflecting on the tournament ending injury Neymar suffered. “I understood his gesture as a positive gesture.”

- Sabella commenting on Ezequiel Lavezzi splashing him with water while he was giving him instructions on the touchline during the group game with Nigeria.

“He’s the water in the desert. He finds solutions when we think there aren’t any.”

- Sabella after the quarter-final win over Belgium and on what his captain and four-time world player of the year Lionel Messi brings to the team. “Suffering, suffering that’s what I felt but now we know we can go through times like this.”

- Messi after Argentina beat the Swiss in the last 16 with a goal two minutes from the end of extra-time.

“Argentina have gone a long time without doing this, and it was us who crossed the frontier.

“Messi on what it meant to have been part of the team that ended the 24 year drought at the finals by reaching the semi-finals.

Battle of the brands pits Adidas against Nike in bo World Cup semi-final th s

A

nd so, with just four of the 64 matches remaining, Brazil 20 14 has come down, as one always susp ected it might, to a duel between the two big gest brands and the two confederations whos e top teams have mo nopolised the World Cup Both semi-finals are trophy for 84 years. heavyweight clashes between Nike and Adidas, UEFA - wh ose teams have won 10 of the 19 World Cups co ntested since 1930 and CONMEBOL, the South American conf ederation - whose tea ms have won the other nine.

34—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

I have goodwill, not godfathers osemar —Tour ourss & e evvents mogul, R Rosemar osemaryy Duamlong our —T

•Says over 80% of jobs come on referrals

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

Rosemary Akaette Duamlong is one lady that has carved for herself a silver-spoon through diligence and hard-work. An English graduate and alumnus of the Lagos Business School, the mother of two is exceptionally adept in the business of international tourism and events managements. The unprecedented success she made of Benue State’s Akata Fishing Festival 2013 earned her the name Iveren(Blessing) from the state government which was stunned by her organisational dexterity. In this interview, Rosemary who is CEO, Gren Business Dimensions, a multifaceted firm, opens up on the secrets behind her great strides.

Your kind of business requires high-level networking; how do you handle that?

A

lot of people ask me that question and I tell them I’m just connected to one personGod. You won’t believe it but I have no god-father out there. But I can confidently tell you I have goodwill; and that goodwill comes from diligence. If you’re diligent in anything you do, opportunities will come knocking at your door. In the little you’re doing, are you diligent in it? People throng into my office despite it’s not on any highway, and I tell you, over 80% of the jobs we do are based on referrals.

Why will people refer others to you if they’re not satisfied?

What’s inspires your reverence for diligence and integrity?

I would say I took some things from my dad. My mum was my best friend until her demise. My father is one person who speaks a lot in idioms. One thing he always says is: “Rosemary, I may not have the luxuries of life to give you, but I have a name you can hold on to”. Most especially, I got born again quite early; at age 13. I grew up that way and you understand what it means to get born again and grow up in a Deeper Life Church. That

moulded me a lot. Integrity is not you doing people a favour; it’s you doing yourself a whole lot of good, and that has always guided me. If you come to me today and I swindle you of your money, you cannot come tomorrow. And these are the things I tell people in

why no one can succeed in isolation. In fact, you can achieve ten times more of whatever you have achieved in life if you network rightly.

By virtue of our business tourism engagements, we had to register with a lot of embassies, and soon, we found ourselves in the

Everywhere I have worked in life has added up to the experience I’m using to run my business. business. Integrity pays beyond any other thing. I have seen it work in my life and business. So, I’m never going to compromise integrity for anything.

What exactly is the focus of Gren Business Dimensions?

We started with business tourism. That’s an avenue through which we provide networking platforms for business owners by networking them with likeminds in other countries. I actually learnt about the power of networking while working at the NigerianAmerican Chamber of Commerce. You see, the world is a global village and that’s

business of providing visa services. Ticketing and hotel reservation soon followed.

That led us into family, educational tours and more, for individual clients and groups. Apart from exposing children to the real western world so that they are not misled by what they see on TV, educational tour helps build for them a travel history so they won’t have to suffer at embassies in future.

ou didn’t say how you ventured into events Y management…

(Laughs) Events management, for me, started as a passion. I like organising! I’ve been putting together events for about a decade but actually set up

*Rosemary

Gren Business four years ago.

In fact, I love playing with new ideas and events management affords me the opportunity to do so. I was able to hone that skill at the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce where I was Programs and Publicity Officer. My job was to come up with ideas for programmes for the chamber, plan, coordinate, get sponsors and make sure people attend the event. I’ve never trained in events management but today, I manage all manner of huge events. That also led me into public relations services because no one can wink in the dark and get noticed.

Didn’t you have to attend training on visa services and ticketing?

I had trained on the job.

Was that while at the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce?

No. I think God actually planned my life out.

Everywhere I have worked in life has added up to the experience I’m using to run my business. I started with the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce where I was planning events as Publicity and Programmes Officer. I left there for HSSL Global where I was Senior Marketing/PR Manager. There I went for training at the Nigerian

Institute of Public Relations, NIPR. I later became Corporate Affairs Manager, running both the marketing and PR departments.

Later, I introduced business tourism to the management because I had learnt it in my previous employment. They believed in me, gave me the opportunity and for the two years I worked with them, we had three successful tours; two to South Africa and one to Canada. I later joined Five Star Travels as General Manager of Business Development. There, I learnt everything on ticketing, hotel reservation and visas, and also went for some certifications.

Starting Gren Business Dimensions is simply drawing from my experiences in these three places.

Tell us in what ways you proved yourself a ‘blessing’ in your business dealing with Benue State?

It played out in a whole lot of ways, especially for the fact that I’m not from that state. I had the support of the government, local governments and youths to manage an event I knew nothing about. Akata had run for 34 years without visible impacts but in 2013, we ended up uniting local chiefs in the state with it, attracting investors to Benue and giving the festival an official logo, among others.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014 —35

Tiwa Savage

T

HE Eminado crooner is currently under fire on cyberspace for going almost nude to the 2014 BET Awards where she was nominated Best International Act. Though it’s becoming her signature to dress half-nude, Tiwa went too far this time round when she appeared in a navy blue dress with a completely sheer upper body.

Questions bugging cyberspace is whether her husband sees nothing wrong in her choice of style these days. Even showbiz buffs and fashion enthusiasts are yet to recover from the shock Tiwa gave with her choice of dress.

DailyMail, in their coverage of the event’s red carpet had said Tiwa Savage was one of the few celebrities who missed the mark with their outfits. Cyberspace seems in search of a new stylist for this lady.....any applicant?

Kate Henshaw

N

OLLYWOOD star Kate Henshaw rarely talks about her daughter Ella and isn’t about to break that code anytime soon. Not only is she beautiful and intelligent, she has brilliantly hidden her gorgeous daughter away from lime-light. When asked why she hasn’t brought Ella into the show business yet, Kate said her life wasn’t for her daughter. “She didn’t ask for this life.

It’s mine and mine alone. If you see her with me, you won’t even know she’s the one, which is good.”

Wow… Smart move Kate.

Toolz

Waje

P

OP star, Aituaje Iruobe, popularly known as Waje, isn’t as carefree as many thought. Guess what!! She is as strict as a churchy mum. She’s also a cool mum though. “I’m all that and more”, Waje informed cyberspace. Learning from how she was raised by her mother and her interaction with lots of young people today, she now knows how to raise her kid. She is balanced and is still learning the ropes of motherhood. She says “When I get back from work, and I’m very tired, my daughter would say, ‘Mummy kiss’, and I’d dismiss it, and she’ll say ‘Mummy you are not even romantic’, so you now know the kind of person I am’.

Entertainers are not all devoid of morals after all!

V

IVACIOUS and awardwinning Beat FM on-air personality, Tolu Oniru aka Toolz, recently celebrated her birthday with her boo Captain Tunde Demuren. The love birds are currently living large at the Palais Namaskar Marrakech resort in Morocco, where they went to celebrate the big day. Who knew they had such a cool vacation spot in Morocco! Anyway, that’s not the crux of the discourse.

What cyberspace is going agog over is whether these two are tying the nuptials anytime soon. Maybe Toolz will answer that on return.

Nice one, girl!

Chibok Girls

O

UR Chibok girls are still rocking cyberspace.

This time though, all attentions seem to have turned to their parents. About three

months after, seven parents of the abducted female pupils of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, have died of trauma. The National

Ifeoma Michelle Umeokeke

Y

Chairman of the Chibok community under the Kibaku Area Development Association, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, disclosed this at a conference in Abuja.

OU may not know her but the model-turned-beauty queen was recently engaged to Jude Okoye, elder brother and manager to Psquare. Their traditional wedding has been fixed for July 17, 2014. The Aso-ebi which is blue in colour is out already and invitation cards are going out already to invited guests. The event would be holding at the bride’s home town in Nnewi South Local Government of Anambra State. While the white wedding, according to insiders, will hold after Ifeoma who is pregnant has given birth to their bundle of joy. Ifeoma has also bagged an endorsement deal with a hair cream company.

Although lips are sealed on the worth of the deal, we however hear the pay is very, very juicy.

Double congrats, Ify!

36 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

— 37

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

Oyo 2015:

I'm coming back

— Alao Akala, former Oyo Gov C

hristopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, is former governor of Oyo State and strong member of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview , Alao-Akala who served in the police before entering the political arena speaks on life outside Government House and the current security situation in the country. He offers his solution to the raging Boko Haram insurgency

Y

OU have been out of office for some time now, how have you been coping?

I have been enjoying my self. I have time to my self. As a politician I have time to think of the past and focus on the future. I don’t have any office work bothering me.

Since I left office, I have less of responsibilities.

2015 is around the corner, what are you up to?

I am thinking of coming back, I don’t think anything is wrong with that. I am am giving it a very serious consideration and I will soon come back to the race. And my chances are very bright, considering my track records.

They have tried me before, they are trying another person now, and if you do analysis or comparison between the two of us I will be rated higher than the other person.

You are quoted as saying without you PDP is dead in Oyo State is it true?

Let me put it this way; I don’t want to arrogate that to myself alone, but myself and my associates. Without them and me I don’t think PDP will exist in Oyo State because anybody in the party now can never know PDP more than me. I have seen it all in PDP. We started the party.

I thank God I am in charge.

The security situation of the country is becoming alarming, as an ex-police officer what do you think should be done to arrest the situation?

Security should not be left in the hands of the Federal Government alone.

It is the responsibility of all.

The current security situation in the country is the problem of all of us. Each state government should be responsible for whatever is happening in its domain. Nobody in Abuja would help govern Yobe, Adamawa or Borno State; it is the duty of the

governors in the respective states to take charge and ensure that there is peace and stability in those places.

But at the federal level, the government should allow police to tackle the menace being posed to the nation’s security before deploying the army. If I were the government, I would not deploy the army first; the army will be a backup for the police.

The police should face the insurgents first and not the army.

The army should come in at the request of the police. The police are more civil, and the people we are looking for are not in the army.

There are trained police officers and men, who are very conversant with the task of mingling with the civil society and getting the information that is required to tackle the enemy.

That is why they should allow the police to be in the fore front. They should equip the police the more and allow them to tackle insurgency, which is not a normal war that the army can fight. The army does not know those we are looking for, but the police are everywhere in the country, so the police know how to give on-thespot-assessment if given the chance. Intelligence gathering is very important, and if the police are well equipped they would have been trained on how to combat these insurgents. During my time I had the opportunity of going to Jaji and I was trained alongside the army.

I was trained on how to face and combat this type of insurgence. They trained us every year. I don’t know whether they are still doing it or not. They trained us on how to deal with this particular situation we are in now.

With due respect to the army, no matter how sophisticated the army is, this is not a war they can easily win. It is one that everybody has to participate in order for the nation to win.

What they should do is to make sure the police are well equipped to face the challenge.

•Akala: I will be rated higher than the other person If you see when they started they first of all scared away the police. They are attacking police stations all over the place just to scare them.

They should have fortified the police by giving them more money and vital equipment to enable them to face these people.

The police are more widespread in this country than the army. We have police posts in every locality, but soldiers are not everywhere. If you remember, at the commencement of the civil war, there was what they called police action first, but when they felt the police could not deliver, they brought in the army.

Right now, there is a department in the police called CIB, Civil Intelligence Bureau.

The CIB will gather intelligence report, which will not be sent to anywhere but used within the immediate environment and action taken immediately based on the intelligence gathered and analysed by the officers.

If the police are in charge, they would send intelligence officers to mingle with the areas they consider as Boko Haram black spots to be able to gather vital information in dealing with them. So, my suggestion is that the police should be brought in; army should be in the background. Why we have

mobile policemen is because of this type of situation, MOPOL is a sort of para-military outfit and they are well armed and well trained to face this type of threat to the society.

Have you ever advised the government on this?

No! No, because I have not had the opportunity doing such.

There was no effective way of communicating such to the government. You see there is a standard way of carrying over the operation of the police to the army.

I have not been able to see where the police will say they are not able to combat a situation and

,

BY SONI DANIEL

were able to subdue the Maitasine fighters because they knew who they were going to fight and we knew their entry and exit points.

These Boko Haram insurgents are mobile and it is difficult to pinpoint their exit or entry point.

If you approach them from the North, they will exit from the East and when they are moving, they do so in trickles and not enmass like the way they were able to identify them in Abia. My thinking is that the police are trained to dialogue while the military is trained to fight and kill.

So, what exactly should be done now? What advice do you give to the police authorities?

They should give more money to the police to be able to do their work effectively. I believe that if they give the police half of the money given to army, the police would do a very good job.

Why we had to invite the military against Maitasine was because they were not using guns but bows and arrows, which made it possible for them to target anyone anywhere they chose to attack. In fact, one could be targeted anywhere.

In the present circumstance, I believe that there is a Divisional Police Station in Chibok and that they can detect the movement of people and take action against the insurgents.

The insurgents are wearing army uniform not police uniform.

I am sure the police would have detected who is a police officer and who is not. If you are not in my division and you are in police uniform and I see you, you will explain to me why you are in police uniform, but army formations are far apart and it is a bit difficult to identify who is not a real soldier.

I want to suggest the full

No matter how sophisticated the army is, this is not a war they can easily win. It is one that everybody has to participate in order for the nation to win

they transfer it to the army. All the information is from the police and again the army is talking too much. I was involved in Maitasine in 1980. Although we knew where they were, we could not enter and we suffered a lot of causalities. It was at that point that the military cordoned off the area and within some hours they

,

involvement of the police in fighting the insurgents while the army is brought in only when the police feel it is necessary to do so.

But the police, particularly, the Mobile Police, should be deployed to assist in the fight because this insurgency is not a conventional war that the army can easily win.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014—39

Edo House Crisis:

How it started — Ise-Idehen

H

ON Jude Ise-Idehen represents Ikpoba/Okha state constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly. In this interview, he spoke on his decision to defect from APC to PDP, the crisis in the House of Assembly that led to his suspension from the legislature and other issues Excerpts;

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

WHAT were the reasons that led to your defection from the APC to the PDP? or me there were a lot of things that accumulated over time before I made that decision. A lot of things led to it and one was the way the Comrade Governor started controlling everything that happened in the House. It started way back in June or July 2012 or even before then.

One of such was when they dissolved the House Service Commission because he said that one man offended him and because of one man, he made ten people jobless. We pleaded with the Speaker, the Majority Leader and everybody involved that if one person has offended the governor, they should at least discipline that person and leave the others. These are all family men, but they refused.

It is those kinds of dictatorial tendencies that made me kind of sit up and start looking somewhere else before a lot of things started happening.

There have been insinuations that you were induced financially to leave the party and not out of personal volition. What is your reaction?

I met the Comrade Governor about a week ago (penultimate week) and I told him to his face that, that was a lie that was uncalled for and for a sitting governor to come out with such a statement, that he has been reading in newspapers that the defected APC lawmakers collected N50million each. To me, that was an unfortunate statement for the Comrade Governor to make because the governor has the power, the intelligence and the capacity to find out if it was true that we collected money or not.

Well, I will put the record straight that I have not collected a kobo from anybody, not from the PDP or APC; I stood my ground that I went to the governor to tell him that I was leaving the party; he knew the problem that we had in the party. We have had issues in the party for over one and half years

F

and we met him on a couple of times and we told him our minds, that the way things are running in the party was not fair. He knows the reason why we left.

It was just not that we woke up one day and left.

Hon. Kabiru Adjotor, the House C o m m i t t e e Chairman on Information said that you people were suspended not as a result of your defection from the APC but you were inducing others with money to defect to the PDP. He should come out publicly and point out any of the 24 members in the State House of Assembly that I, Ise–Idehen promised that I will give Y or X amount of

• Hon. Ise Idehen naira or promised that I will give money to leave APC for the PDP. He should name one person. I am not going to join issues with Adjotor because he is just talking of what he does not have knowledge of.

I have my self integrity and I have told them before that I am not from a poor family; my grandfather was a senator from this state and I am from

a well known family in Benin that has long history.

To what extent would you say that the State House of Assembly is independent of the Executive in the performance of its duties?

It has been like this for a while; it is just that some of us have been resisting it and those of us that were resisting government’s interference in the legislature were labelled rebel leaders in the House and the governor keyed into that because we always told him our minds.

A lot of those who go to the governor to collect money are not comfortable with us, they always tell him, don’t worry; we will do this or that. When they meet people like us and cannot convince us, they lie to the governor that we are opposing him in one way or the other. The governor on his part has not called to say why do you oppose me or are always opposing me; he has not done that as a father to all.

What is your take on the crisis in the House?

It is unfortunate that it has happened like this; things should not have gotten to the stage it is today because the laws are very clear. You cannot suspend a legislator for more than 24 hours and if they say they are law abiding, then, they should follow the law which says it is 24 hours. You don’t need anybody to tell you

to come back to the House after 24 hours suspension.

Besides, the suspension itself is illegal because the House can only suspend one person at a time and that person must be present and at the point of our suspension, none of the four of us suspended was present in the House. So, technically, the suspension was illegal and the only thing that would solve the crisis is for the House to revert to the status quo before the suspension.

It is being speculated that it is not Uyi Igbe that suspended you, that he is being manipulated .what do you say?

Uyi Igbe has been a friend for about seven years and we have been much close. I cannot really speculate on who is designing this; the burden is on him because he made the pronouncement, so, I will hold him responsible, I don’t know if he is being teleguided and if he is being teleguided, he has a mind of his own to know what is good or wrong. He should be able to tell those teleguiding him that what they told him to do was wrong or right because he is educated enough, the laws are there; if he cannot read the books, he should tell the clerk of the House or the legal Department to enlighten him. If he is being teleguided, it is unfortunate for him but I don’t want to believe that he is being teleguidcd.

My plans for Ughelli/Udu...---MASHENI

M

ASHENI Johnson, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress ,APC, in this interview says that the alleged under-representation of Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency in the past and present, informed his decision to run for the position. He also spoke on other issues.

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

W

HY do you want to run for the House of Representatives seat in your constituency?

I found out that my constitu ency lacked purposeful representation over the years and I found the need to make consultations about what they need.

The consultation made me realise that my people are so disconnected from governance at all levels. So having seen all these, I decided to heed the call of my people to run for the position.

Apart from the alleged underrepresentation, what difference would you bring to the seat?

When some projects were being commissioned in my constituency last year, I was angry because most of the projects in the three local governments in the constituency were DESOPADEC projects.

It will interest you to know that my constituency is so prominent in terms of landmass, natural resources and human resources but it has

nothing to show that we have people representing us in the National Assembly. My people are so far from governance. You don't see or feel the presence of dividends of democracy in my local government.

My vision As a lawmaker, I will empower my people.

I will come up with motions that will create the enabling environment for my people to create wealth because they are very industrious. I want to be one of those that will table the motion on the level of insecurity in Delta State. It will be wrong for someone to tell me that there is security in Delta whereas there are military checkpoints everywhere. I also want to change the orientation of my people about politics. The orientation is such that even a criminal finds it easy getting followers because of the amount of money available to that person. That situation facilitates the emergence of questionable characters as representatives of the people.

Do you have the required robust support base that would guarantee your victory?

As we speak today we have an active campaign organisation across the three local governments in the constituency. And have done everything possible to empower the campaign organisation. As I am talking to you now, our men are on ground networking

•Johnson: My constituency lacked purposeful representation

for our victory. To a large extent, I will say that we have the support of those that matter in Delta politics. So, we can tell you that we have their support. They really accepted our vision for the constituency. I am a foundation member of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state. I did not just wake up to say I am running for this position.

This is a product of grassroots consultation among my people. So, my party is behind my aspiration.

I derive pleasure from being in the opposition.

Even the person there today, was elected on the platform of the opposition before he decamped to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The current administration in the state has been adjudged to be doing well, can we know if it has created an enabling environment for the opposition to thrive?

I don't know if there is an enabling environment because what we have seen so far, does not speak well of the ruling party.

40— VANGU ARD, ANGUARD,

WEDNESD AY, JUL Y 9, 2014 WEDNESDA JULY

Seduced by his randy dad

Dear Bunmi, I have an old friend who meddles in my financial affairs. We’d been together since our secondary school days and are now in our late 40s. We’re both divorced but the similarity ends there.

My friend seems to have the best of everything; she runs a thriving business and has a house in a nice place on Lagos Island. She has only two children while I have four.

I do a bit of petty trading from time to time and some of the children chip in financially whenever they can.

I have a claptrap car which I struggle to keep on the road.

My friend has cars she fills up with petrol all of the time.

Whenever I grumble about money, she asks why I didn’t invest my money when I had a good job. Is she for real?

How can I invest in anything bringing up four children with no real help coming from their father? Recently, she phoned up with the news that her late father ’s estate had been settled and she inherited one of his houses. I don’t begrudge her what she’s got but I hate her having my nose rubbed in her wealth.

When she asks why I don’t make more effort with my appearance, I tell her I have no money. She thinks I’m being mean, believing my children give me a lot of money I have stashed somewhere. How do

I make her understand I don’t like being questioned about my finances?

Opeolu, by e-mail.

Dear Opeolu, It’s obvious you resent your friend’s financial good fortune and that’s a shame. Your protests imply that she’s at fault for having more cash than you do. But if your circumstance had been a little different your roles might have been reversed, with you the richer one being envied.

Whatever you do, don’t allow money to come between you and your friend of several decades. Friendship is too valuable to waste.

Recognise the bitterness your friend’s prosperity sometimes evoke in you. Admit to her that, by comparison to her you really are as poor as can be. This may hurt your pride but friendship depends on openness and honesty. Next time your friend suggests you spruce yourself up, tell her cheekily: ok! Are you paying?

My wayward ex is running me down Dear Bunmi, I was married for close to 12 years when my wife and I called it quits. We are in the process of getting divorced as both of us are fed up with the marriage. My wife is now spreading rumours that I had affairs all through the period we were married and gave her sexually transmitted infections twice. This is a load of rubbish. As a matter of fact, she was the wayward one and I’ve kept an incriminating letter she wrote to a close friend who was once her lover.

I’m thinking it’s about time, I started telling some home truths about the appalling way she behaved when we

were married, but we have three lovely children and I don’t want them to be hurt by any scandal.

Moses, by e-mail.

Dear Moses, It’s considerate of you to think about your children’s feelings. Divorce is never easy but if there’s too much mud slinging, children can suffer. You’ve shown a lot of maturity by keeping quiet when your ex is busy spreading rumours but don’t descend to her level. Let your lawyer handle the messy details for you and try to keep your children away from the accusations.

If I leave I could be worse off

Dear Mandy, What the heck do you think you’re doing? You’ve made a

commitment but one glance from this JJC and you’re throwing all you’ve built for years out of the window.

There is a difference between a solid relationship where you love each other, build a life; and a flash-inthe-pan romance, such as you had with this other man.

If meeting this man has shown you that your relationship could be seriously wrong,

,

Dear Bunmi, My current boyfriend is a professional and so am I. We earn good salaries and live in a flat we both furnished towards when we'll get married.

I thought I loved him but a few weeks ago, I met a friend’s brother who was on a short visit to the country. He was wonderful and witty and our lovemaking was mindblowing.

My problem is that I believe I’m in love with this new man who says he’s recently been separated from his wife and is in love with me too. He has since gone back but we talk on the phone fairly regularly.

I’m now having doubts about my current boyfriend but if I leave now, I will end up losing a lot of money I’d invested in the flat. Help!

Mandy, bye-mail.

then leave. You might lose the money you’d invested in your flat, but at least you’ll be free to love someone you really care for. But are you sure of this new man who is still married and might not be free to commit for years maybe? I would advise that you settle down to making a successful future with your man instead of replacing certainty with a dream.

What the heck do you think you’re doing? You’ve made a commitment but one glance from this JJC and you’re throwing all you’ve built for years out of the window

,

,

Her wealth makes me resentful

Dear Bunmi, My boyfriend of three years ended the relationship and I was devastated. A few months after we split, I went to his flat to remove the rest of my belongings but he wasn’t around. His dad also lives on the premises and I popped in to see him with the hope of asking my ex to leave my things with him so I could pick them up at a future date.

He wanted to know why we split up and I told him. The two of us had always got on well.

So when he offered me comfort and booze, I didn’t refuse.

One thing led to another and we made love. My ex had always complained that his dad was too friendly with me. Although we had not done anything until that fateful day, I know he’ll never forgive me

when he finds out what happened as I haven’t ruled out our getting back together.

Doyin, by e-mail.

Dear Doyin, Your ex would have to find out about this indiscretion of yours and if he did, be rest assured he would never forgive you. You’ve been clearly out of order. Having a one off on the rebound is understandable, but not with your ex’s father! But does it matter that he might not forgive you?

Because if he really were that important to you, you would have behaved yourself around his father. Since neither you nor the randy father of your ex is prepared to come clear, there is no chance of your ex finding out.

So move on and make a mental note not to let your lust run away with you again.

Since neither you nor the randy father of your ex is prepared to come clear, there is no chance of your ex finding out; So move on and make a mental note not to let your lust run away with you again

,

His brother still turns me on DearBunmi, I currently live with my boyfriend of six years and we have a lovely three-year-old son. Before I met my boyfriend, I had a crush on his brother and I’m afraid I still find him attractive. Every time I see him, the feelings get stronger. I can’t stop thinking about him even though I now have a son by his brother.

My relationship with my boyfriend has always been rocky and if his brother makes a pass at me, I will jump at the chance regardless of the consequences. How can I stop lusting after this man?

Judith, by e-mail.

Dear Judith, I wonder if you are looking for an excuse to leave your boyfriend. If so, then stop and think because such relationship could only last for a while, in the process of which

you would have broken off a lot of friendships and this could put too much pressure on you as a couple. If your relationship with your partner is rocky, you must think of a way of working on it. Jumping into the arms of his brother is not an option you can even begin to consider as you may be left with no one in the end. Crushes fade in time.

You need to focus on your son, who needs to have a good relationship with his father. This is very important for a boy. If you do anything to jeopardise this, you are risking his future and whenever you think of what might have been with your man’s brother, remind yourself of this. If you are not happy, talk to your boyfriend about ways of improving the relationship. The only way to get his brother out of your head is to think of someone else - your son, who is this man’s nephew!

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

— 41

42

— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: You’ll tend to become both creative and persuasive to the administration of others. Then those who’ve been resisting secret love may slip suddenly and become excited.

GEMINI: Even if opposition persists, supports you are getting from the influential people will be enough to see you through. Yet, the more cooperative you are the better.

CANCER: Your creativity quotient within your working arena will today be enhanced. You’ll be blamed if you keep official issues secrets from your challenges at work.

LEO: After a few tension soaked days, you’ll have the needed opportunity to look through windows of the world and have your way as well. Magnetic and/or magic days is predicted for lovers today.

VIRGO: Even if you continue to work under pressure via increased workload, you will have good results to show for your efforts today. Be steadfast.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

I

guess you know what the word ‘Retrieve’ mean.

This simply means to get back something from the place it is now, especially a place it ought not to have

Retrieve Yourself been.

Many of us have lost it all – our identity, our values, our self esteem, our personality, our vision, self worth

TERROR MUDA

etc. If you have lost all of this what can you do? Get back your personality.

Get back your selfesteem. Be the man or woman you are destined to be. Be

in “Never say goodbye”

the person you are created to be and unleash yourself on the world.

Be the best God destined you to be.

Retrieve yourself from whoever you have subsumed it before.

By Lanre Kehinde

LIBRA: Promise made to genuine personalities should be kept if not because of today but for better tomorrow. Be reasonable and clean.

SCORPIO: Those of you willing to let go hard feelings at work are for a progressive day to the betterment of your finances. Let go yesterday, move ahead.

SAGITTARIUS: Once again, you’ll have the needed opportunity to assert yourself to the administration of others.

Both love and financial success can be yours with efforts.

Reason with your tried and trusted friends.

CAPRICORN: You can make it a successful day with positive approach on your part. You will be in a better position to defuse tension within your working arena. Try to be more ambitious.

AQUARIUS Yes! You’re not scared a bit even, when opposition and/or competition come your way but, if you give in to diplomatic approach, you’ll fare better today.

PISCES: Pressure that came your way suddenly will give way unexpectedly, today, to the betterment of your course.

The more financially ambitious you are today, the better for you. Be steadfast.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

ARIES: You sincerely believe in intelligent argument or discussion. And if you allow your ability to be diplomatic come to play today, you’ll be better for it. Enjoy your love life.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s my Horoscope?

Dear Joshua, Kindly tell me how the planets lined up when I was born and the day of the week I was born but don’t publish my date of birth.. Please tell me my full horoscope Anonymous, Nigeria.

Dear Anonymous, You were born on a Sunday.

YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Day of Birth = Sunday Sun Sign = Scorpio. Sun in Zero Degree of Scorpio Moon Sign = Libra: Moon in 5th Degree of Libra Mercury in 12th Degree of Scorpio Venus in Zero Degree of Sagittarius Mars in 1st Degree of Aquarius Jupiter in 29th Degree of Cancer Saturn in 10th Degree of Scorpio Uranus in 27th Degree of Cancer Neptune in 25th Degree of Libra Pluto in 26th Degree of Leo North Node in 8th Degree of Capricorn South Node in 8th Degree of Cancer No planet in earth spar sign, one in available, two in fire, three in air, four in cardinal, fixed and water star signs hosted five planets each.

PHYSICAL INFLUENCE = 50% NON-PHYSICAL INFLUENCE =50% PLANET AT HOME = NONE ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA You are both an intelligent and emotional person. And as there was planet at home when you were born, too many ideas will always struggle for prominent place in your mind, thus decision making is difficult but most times, your intelligence comes to the rescue.

Certainly, you appear to other as a gentle person who can be mistaken for soft fellow but your inner-self is the personality with a steel like will power.

You are the consistent type who may find it difficult to change once you have made up your mind as indicated by distribution of the planets as written out in paragraph two of this exercise.

One major challenge you have been battling for a very long time is constant worries, some times, necessarily and the other time, uncalled for, as indicated by conjunction Mercury and Saturn formed when you were born.

Placement of your natal Sun (basic self head) and Moon (your sub-conscious self) in Scorpio and Libra respectively are indications of your being mainly Scorpio born person and partly in Libran.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014—43

Abia govt directs Churches to DSS for security tips

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—ABIA State government has directed all church leaders in the state to meet with the Director of Department of State Services, DSS, for security tips, in view of infiltration of Boko Haram insurgents into the South-East zone of the country.

This came as churches in the state have introduced security measures to safeguard their worship places from attacks.

The government also urged the churches and their members to be always vigilant in the course of service.

It would be recalled that 486 suspected Boko Haram members were arrested in Aba three weeks ago while travelling in a motorcade of 35 buses.

Security agents confirmed that a wanted Boko Haram kingpin was among those arrested, even as there was a bomb scare at

Ogah lauds S'East delegates to Confab

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA— A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State, Dr. Sampson Ogah, has commended the SouthEast delegates to the ongoing National Conference for working diligently to achieve the desire of the zone, especially on additional state for the zone.

According to Ogah, with the decision of the confab to recommend an extra state for the South-East, “the injustice done to the zone by the Military during states’ creation exercises had been redressed.”

Ogah, who is also the President of Masters Energy Group, however, urged the National Assembly to ensure that the decision of the National Conference was realised.

He also lauded the wisdom of the confab in approving additional 18 states for the country.

Meanwhile, Oga has commended Governor Theodore Orji for attracting over a billion naira to control erosion and land reclamation in old Umuahia.

Ohafia last week.

Meanwhile, churches in the state have begun taking measures to stave off terror attacks from the Islamist sect.

In some churches, worshippers have been banned from entering the church halls with bags of any type.

They are now allowed to enter into the church with only the Bible and writing materials.

Worshippers are also screened

with security metal detectors.

In addition to the above security measures, the parking lots of most of the churches have moved a bit further from the churches and are also checked by the private security guards engaged by the churches.

FOR CLIMATE: From left— Company Secretary, Ecobank Nigeria, Mrs. Adenike Laoye; Deputy Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Tony Okpanachi; Economic Advisor, United Nations Development Programme, Mrs. Colleen Zamba; and Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Felicia Adun, at the signing of Territorial Approach to Climate Change Initiative between UNDP and Ecobank Nigeria in Lagos.

Owerri residents raise alarm over refuse dumps

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI— RESIDENTS of Owerri municipality have raised an alarm over mountains of refuse scattered in parts of the capital city.

One of the concerned citizens, Mr. Augustine

Nkaru, said apart from the health hazards associated with filthy environment, the refuse dumps were potential places for planting bombs.

He said: “These refuse dumps are located in the busy markets, residential areas, schools and other places where people congregate.

They are, therefore, potential targets for planting of bombs.”

Another resident, Miss Chinazaekpere Iwuala, said nobody can start inspecting waste bags dropped at collection sites, adding that getting workers to clear the refuse daily was best.

FG to establish tourism cadre in councils

BY MONSUR OLOWOOOPEJO

T

HE Federal Government has concluded plans to establish tourism cadre in local government areas across states to boost tourism potentials in the country.

Chairman of Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, LGSC, Alhaji Mashood Ojikutu, disclosed this at the opening of a capacity building programme for officers of the unified local government service in Lagos State.

Ojikutu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Ashamu Fadipe, said the tourism cadre will commence operation in 2015.

He explained that the decision was reached at the last stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental

Relations in Abuja two weeks ago.

He said: “It has been approved by the committee on rescheduling the scheme of service for local governments in the country.

“Very soon, the committee will complete its fine-tuning process and it will present it to the national council on local government. Immediately it is

passed, circulars will be sent to all councils in the country.”

Speaking earlier, the Director General of PSSDC, Mrs. Olubunmi Fabanwo, said it was for same reason the state government had commenced training for human resource officers on information technology and management bridge programme.

Anambra West lauds Obiano

BY ENYIM ENYIM

O

NITSHA— THE people of Anambra West local government area have hailed Governor Willie Obiano for awarding the construction of a multi-billion naira road project from Iyiora-Anam to Aguleri-Otu in Anambra East Local Government Area.

The people also thanked the governor for implementing a massive rural electrification project across the length and breadth of the local

government area.

This was contained in a sixparagraph communique issued by stakeholders from the community after a crucial meeting convened by the Commissioner for Public Utilities, Water Resources and Community Development, Dr. Chinedu Emeka, in Onitsha.

They equally thanked the governor for appointing many of their sons and daughters into his administration.

Imo threatens to shut banks again

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—IMO State government has warned that it would not hesitate to seal up commercial banks and other businesses for failing to fulfill their financial obligation to government.

The Commissioner for Internal Resources and Pension Matters, Chief Nick Opara-Ndudu, read the riot act yesterday, while giving an update on the face-off between the state government and commercial banks over alleged non-remittance of taxes to the Board of Internal Revenue, BIR, Owerri.

He said: “We have been trying to resolve issues raised on the recent closure of banks operating in the state. We have resolved them with one of the banks.

“If by the end of the month we are unable to conclusively deal with the issues, we will definitely repeat the previous action.

“It is not something you just determine overnight.

The fact is that as the revenue authority, what we are doing is to give them the benefit of doubt because what we did the first time was backed by law.

“If they refuse to cooperate with government, we will not have any other option than to seal up the banks and nobody should blame the BIR.”

Transition

L

ADY Obirevbo Ararile (nee Ivwurie), the mother of Ovie of UmiaghwaAbraka Kingdom, HRM Lucky Ochuko Ararile, is dead. Aged 92, she died June 25 after a brief illness.

In his tribute, the monarch, who is one of five children, said his late mother was gentle and subtle in all her ways, adding “my friends were her children.

“She could not hurt a fly, soft-spoken and, above all, a very peaceful woman.”

Burial arrangements will be announced later by the family.

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

Bayelsa govt wades into Obunagha, Shell crisis

MASSOB slams APGA chair

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

B

AYELSA State Government has waded into the face-off between Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, and Obunagha community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

Obunagha community is host to the multi-billion naira gas plant owned by Shell.

The community women had laid siege to the road leading to the facility since last Wednesday in protest over alleged insensitivity of the company to their plight and vowed not to leave until the company address their grievances.

The women are protesting, among others, the lingering power outage in the community, lack of potable water, noncompletion and implementation of health services at their health centre.

Troubled by the lingering face-off, the state government through its

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI—THE Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Delta South senatorial district, Delta State, yesterday, criticised the national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, for allegedly painting the group in bad light.

MASSOB’S zonal leader, Mr. Joseph Odikpo, in a statement in Warri, said: “We want him (Umeh) to be rest assured that the group’s national leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, does not lack focus as he claimed.

“Those who told him lies were the ones that could not abide by our regulations and were suspended from the movement.”

He advised the APGA leader to focus on his political ambition and leave MASSOB alone, saying “the non-violent posture of the body should not be taken for granted.

“We are a non-violent group fighting for our legal right and nothing more.

From the beginning of the struggle, MASSOB made public its aims and objectives, which is to actualise Biafra.”

Ministry of Mineral Resources convened a meeting of stakeholders with a view to resolving the matter.

At press time, the women were yet to vacate the area, but a community source at the meeting presided over by the

Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Mr. Francis Ikio, which had in attendance representatives of the community and Shell, told our correspondent that the parley was successful.

The source added that the outcome would be conveyed to the community so the protesting women can

vacate the facility.

The source, who lauded the role of the ministry in resolving the crisis, said it was agreed that the burnt 800Amps manual transfer switch breaker, which plunged the community into darkness would be replaced with a 1250Amps automatic transfer switch ATS breaker.

I enjoy good relationship with Uduaghan, says Omo-Agege

BY FESTUS AHON

U

G H E L L I — FOLLOWING speculations in some quarters that he was not in good terms with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the Delta State, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, a 2015 governorship hopeful, has said his relationship with the governor was very cordial.

Speaking separately in Olomoro and Emede, Isoko South Local Government Area, during his consultation visits to Dr. Idodo Umeh and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tom Egbuwoku, respectively, Omo-Agege said: “I have bad news for those who believe that

Governor Uduaghan can never handover to me because I am not in good terms with our governor.

“It is true that we had political differences in the past, but we reconciled in 2011 and since then, I enjoy a very robust relationship with him to build our party and state.

“My governorship aspiration is something I had thought of carefully since 2006. This is the time I believe that my candidacy will be embraced by all Deltans.”

“By May 29, 2015 Uduaghan will hand over the baton to another person and I want to be the recipient of that baton.”

He said he will build on the achievements of Governor

Uduaghan with an assurance to complete all ongoing projects in the state.

Aviation Ministry clarified its indebtedness — DATI publication of the ministry’s Aviation Sector Master Plan.

T

HE Coordinating General Manager, Public Affairs, Aviation Parastatals, Mr. Yakubu Dati, has said that the debt profile of the Ministry of Aviation on aviation projects was recently clarified through a statement on the ministry’s total indebtedness on aviation projects, paticularly under the Aviation Sector Master Plan.

He added that the recent

indebtedness did not originate from his office.

He said: “I was quoted to have given the total indebtedness of the Ministry of Aviation as N148.23 billion, as against N174 billion earlier given by the Senate Committee on Aviation.

“The Ministry of Aviation recently issued a statement on the ministry ’s total indebtedness on aviation projects, especially under the

It is possible that the figures were sourced from an independent source, which we have no control over.”

It will be recalled that there were reports that debts incurred by the ministry from the remodelling of the airports projects across the country was N148 billion and not N174 billion as announced by the Senate Committee on Aviation which first announced the debts.

S

IR Kenny Okolugbo, the Commissioner representing Ndokwa nation on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development C o m m i s s i o n , DESOPADEC, has charged the 52 women, who received empowerment for small scale business, to use same judiciously.

He commended the First Lady of Delta State, Deaconess Roli Uduaghan, whom he described as the woman behind the success story for the strong representation sent to Ukwuani for the event.

At the event were Commissioner for Women Affairs, wife of the Speaker, wife of the Deputy Speaker, wives of commissioners and chairmen of the 25 local government areas in the state.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

Okolugbo empowers women

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Super Eagles' N20.8m

T

HE players should just collect the money and buy houses in Nigeria. With that they will know that they got the millions of naira for sluggish football and their love for money rather than for their country. It is all about money.— Ms. Joy Amos, Worker.

I

T is cool. the footballers that played the qualifiers are entitled to the money. If they didn’t qualify in the first place, will there be appearance fee? Those that protest the such entitlements are a bunch of thieves and gluttons.— Mr. Fredes Fred, Businessman.

I

F the delegates to the national confab are getting millions each, money they don’t deserve, and nobody complains, why then should anybody complain about the Super Eagles getting N2.8 million each?— Mr. Ako Amadi, Commentator.

S

OLDIERS and innocent Nigerians are being killed every day in the North-East, and nobody cares to do the right thing. Players are being paid such a huge amount for not doing much at the World Cup. It is wrong. Very wrong— Mr. Agada Raphael, Worker.

F

OR me, I think skipper Joseph Yobo did well by saying that all other footballers that participated at the World Cup qualification level should be included. That is a good leader. Yobo, you will never lack.— Mr. Abogu I z u c h u k w u , Businessman.

W

ELL, although the boys did not really play well in their last match, but they worked.

If in that sense, then yes, they should be paid.

But if it is on the basis that they deserve it, then they shouldnt be paid.

What did they play anyway?— Mr. Iboro Moses, Worker.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014—45

2015: AkokoEdo South needs quality reps —Aspirant

2015: NYCN declares support for Mutu

BY DANIEL GUMM

B

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

E N I N — A S S I S TANT state Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Ms Bisi Idaomi, has indicated her interest to contest for Akoko-Edo South constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, insisting that the area needed a credible representative come 2015.

The House of Assembly aspirant, who is gunning for the position on the platform of PDP, promised to give qualitative representation if given the opportunity, adding that she would work hard to ensure that her constituency was not left out in the scheme of things in Edo State.

Ms Idaomi, at Igarra during her visit to delegates and leaders of Akoko-South constituency to inform them of her intention to vie for the position, said: “I am a committed PDP member and popular. I believe very much in the development of my people. I will not derail and I have come to seek for your support.”

Ex-militant leader hails Kutigi over states creation

B

OMADI—DELTA State chapter chairman of Phase Three amnesty programme, Mr. Preye Ekpebide, has commended the qualities of the chairman of the national conference, Justice Idris Kutigi and his team for ruling against reversal of the confab's position on state and local government creation noting that same will change the configuration of the country.

The former warlord, who spoke to journalists in Bomadi also commended the Southern delegates at the conference for their foresight in trying to balance the abnormality in states and local government creation that favoured the North.

SENSITIZATION OF INDIGENT WOMEN: From left: Mrs. Phil Nneji, Assistant Secretary; Mrs. Elina Martins, Chairperson, Lagos Branch; Mr. Youssef Makrour, SDF, French Embassy; Mrs. Ngozi Ogbolu, Vice Chairman and Mrs. Biola Laseinde, Public Relations Officer, at the Sensitization of Indigent Women campaign organised by International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Lagos Branch, in conjuction with the French Embassy, in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Bayelsa alleges plot to incite students against state govt

BY EMEM IDIO

Y

E N E G O A — B AY E L S A State Government has accused those opposed to the Seriake Dickson-led government of infiltrating the ranks of the National Union of Bayelsa State Students, NUBSS, with the intent of inciting students of the state origin in tertiary institutions to stage violent demonstrations over the delay in the payment of their bursary allowance.

Chairman of Bayelsa State

Scholarship Board, Evangelist Ogola, in a statement in Yenagoa, expressed surprise over the development claiming that the state government had released funds for the payment of the bursary allowance. He said the ploy was aimed at discrediting the state government and disrupting the peace currently enjoyed in the state.

Ogola said: “We are surprised by this development because the state governor had approved and author-

ised the release the sum of N200 million to the scholarship board for disbursement via online registration by each student, which would be followed by e-payment.”

The Board advised the students to be calm and not allow themselves to be used by the opposition. It also appealed to parents of Bayelsa State students in Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions to advise their children and wards to be of good conduct.

Uduaghan urged to intervene in community crisis

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—EX-MILITANT leader, Mr. Francis Muturu, has urged Delta State Government to intervene in the impending crisis threatening Bomadi community in Bomadi Local Government Area over the election into the position of the Amanana-Owei of the community Addressing newsmen on the development, Muturu alleged that one Chief Oporomo had installed himself as the Amanana-Owei of the community without being duly elected to the position.

He said: “When the former Amanana-Owei, Chief M. Mienyibo, completed his tenure, he handed over peacefully to the congress’ President, Chief Jonathan Ogodobiri. After some time, the people learnt that Chief Oporomo was plan-

ning to hijack the position and this generated tension in the community.

“On account of this, the people wrote a petition to the Chairman of Bomadi Local Government Transition Committee, Mr. Collins Olorogun, the Joint Task Force, JTF, the Police and other stakeholders. The council Chairman then called for a peace talk. The meeting was attended by the JTF Commander, the Divisional Police Officer and other community leaders but Chief Oporomo failed to show up.

“At the meeting, it was agreed that the election into the position of AmananaOwei of the community be postponed till there was relative peace so that it can be properly conducted. But Oporomo connived with

some persons and was surreptitiously installed without notifying the community. Even the most elderly man, whose duty it is to perform the installation, was not aware of it.”

O M A D I— M O R E groups in Bomadi/ Patani federal constituency of Delta State have thrown their weight behind the incumbent member representing Bomadi/Patani constituency in the National Assembly, Mr. Nicholas Mutu.

The latest are the youths of Bomadi Local Government Area under the aegis of National Youth Council of Nigeria, led by the chapter chairman, Mr. Keneke Godbless, who have declared their total support for Mutu’s re-election in 2015.

In a statement by the youth leader after a meeting with different youth bodies, including the Ijaw Youth Congress, IYC, Mein zone in Bomadi, Mr. Godbless said that the youths of Bomadi had resolved to support Nicholas Mutu, adding that they will continue to rally round the lawmaker for his people oriented projects and programmes, and also mobilise the grassroots to ensure Mutu's victory in 2015.

Godbless called on the youths to support Mutu's bid in 2015, noting that the problem of insecurity in the Niger Delta was linked to lack of human capital and infrastructural development in the region.

“Concrete development will neutralise youth agitation and insecurity in the Niger Delta region. That is why we expect our elected representatives to carefully use their offices to bring a turn-around and upliftment of the masses, he added.”

Rotational presidency: Urhobo youths hail confab

BY EMMA AMAIZE

E

FFURUN—THE Urhobo Youths Leaders Association, UYLA, Delta State, has praised the national conference for meeting the aspiration of the minority ethnic nationalities to produce a president for Nigeria.

The confab recently endorsed rotational presidency between North and South and among the six geo-political zones.

The group, in a statement by its secretary, Mr. Vincent Oyi-

bode, said the vote for local government autonomy as a third tier of government, creation of more states and federalism by the confab were a clear indication that the nation’s unity has been strengthened.

“We express confidence in the confab set up by President Goodluck Jonathan. The confab has been able to meet some of the expectations of Nigerians, most especially people from the minority ethnic nationalities, who now have the hope of becoming president of Nigeria some day.”

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

Kano signs agreement to promote French language in schools

K

ANO—THE Kano State Government has signed a cooperation agreement with the French government to promote French language in the state.

In a statement by Malam Halilu Dantiye, the Director of Press, in Kano yesterday, it stated that the agreement was signed in Abuja on Monday by Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso, on behalf of the state and the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Jacques Champgne de Labriolle, signed for his country.

The statement quoted the governor as saying that the state government will continue to open windows of opportunity for its people, considering the population of the state and the trend of globalisation.

“The state government is consciously promoting French language among students because Nigeria is surrounded by French speaking countries.”

UNN needs N1bn to replace faulty equipment in 6 departments

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SUKKA—THE Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, needs about N1 billion to replace broken down equipment in its six departments.

Prof. Simeon Ugwu, the faculty’s Dean, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Nsukka, Enugu State yesterday.

He said the dilapidated state of laboratory and field equipment being used to teach students was a big challenge for the faculty.

“I believe in practicals. It is good to also demonstrate the practical aspects when you teach your students.

“That is why the faculty recently organised a homecoming for the alumni of the faculty, so as to interact with them and see ways they can assist the faculty.

“The faculty needs about N1billion to replace broken down equipment in our six departments to bring the faculty to standard,'' he said.

200,000 indigent youths to get life skills training btw 2014 and 2017 A

BUJA—OVER 200,000 youths from poor households in Nigeria are to receive life skills training between 2014 and 2017 under the Social Protection and Labour Programme of the World Bank.

The bank made the plan known in its report on: “Nigeria Country Partnership Strategy 2014-2017’,’ released in Abuja yesterday.

According to the report, the programme intends to increase the number of states using the unified registry of beneficiaries and common targeting mechanism from 0 to not less than 10 by 2017.

It is expected that: “More than

200,000 youths from poor households received re-orientation and life skills training.

“Also about 40 per cent increase in the number of beneficiaries from targeted poor households receiving cash transfers conditioned on utilisation of education and health services”, the report said.

It stated that the poor in communities would be selected using a combined geographical and community-based targeting system in order to benefit from the programme.

“The population in poor communities will also benefit jointly

from community driven initiatives and government structures and systems will be revitalised for sustainability,” it stated It explained that governance and institutional issues hampered the effectiveness of social protection system.

According to the report, a welldeveloped social protection system can give adequate support for the large segments of the population that suffer from vulnerable circumstances in Nigeria.

“It can also help mitigate challenges in achievement of some MDGs by 2015, particularly MDGs 4 and 5.

PRESENTATION: Muhammed Majeed, winner, male category (left) and and Princess Obuseh, winner, female category (right), receiving their gift vouchers from Mr. Fatai Oshungboye, Branch Manager, Shoprite, Ibadan, after coming first in the just-concluded Shoprite fun race during the opening of Shoprite's mega store in Ibadan recently.

NBA okays 38 candidates to contest for 13 national offices President are Oluwole Akin- Enoch Adebisi, Balogun OyeyeBY INNOCENT ANABA

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HE Nigerian Bar Associa tion, NBA, has screen and approved 38 candidates to contest the 13 national offices of the association at its delegate conference slated for July 15 in Abuja.

The national officers to be elected on the said date will take over the running of the association for the next two years and will assume office on the last day of the annual general conference of the association, slated for August in Owerri, Imo State, Those running for the office of President are Mr Olufunke Adekoya, SAN, Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, Deacon Oladele Adesina, SAN, Chief Augustine Alegeh, SAN and Mr Osas Erhabor. For the position of 1st Vice President are Yakubu Ibrahim Umar and Ekwere Francis, while for the 2nd Vice President are Taiwo Taiwo and Obi Afam.

Those in the race for 3rd Vice

tokunbo, Ashong Asu, Komolafe Muheeb and Orlando Sunniey.

In the contest for the position of General Secretary, Okoyeaniche Barth, Abar Stephen, Oduah Joyce, James Usman and Osigwe Afam.

For the 1st Assistant Secretary are Nnaemeka Felix Obi and Salawu Nasiru Olatunji, while for 2nd Assistant Secretary is Nwaeke Ephraim.

Financial Secretary has Mohammed Tajudeen, Prince Ochoga Attah and Ejelonu Kelvin as contestants, while Assistant Financial Secretary are Anozie Victor, Ugbuji Cecilia and Ogunfuwa Ola-Oni Charles.

Welfare Secretary has Oruma Mackson, Igba Theophilus Terhile and Mas’Ud Alabelewe as contestants, while for the position of Treasurer are Nwadike Joy and Mustapha Amina.

Publicity Secretary has Gbolahan Gbadamosi, Edun Ogheneovo and Unachukwu John.

The Legal Adviser has Ayeni

mi and Onwuzulike Chuks slugging it out.

“Governance and institutional issues, such as poor targeting system, weak collaboration and coordination, inadequate monitoring and evaluation and absence of policy guidance hamper effectiveness of social protection systems,” it stated.

Kwara PDP chair urges members to collect voter's cards

I

LORIN—THE Chairman of the PDP in Kwara, Mr Iyiola Oyedepo, has advised members of the party to collect their voter cards, saying it remains their only weapon to initiate change.

Oyedepo gave the advice while addressing members of the party at a one-day retreat entitled: “A new dawn for Development of Kwara State”.

He charged members to ensure that they collected their permanent voter cards when INEC begins distribution on Aug. 15.

Oyedepo also admonished those who did not register to ensure they participated in the Continuous Voter Registration.

According to him, possession of voter card is important if the party is to win the 2015 elections in the state.

The chairman also described the retreat as a veritable tool for arousing the socio-political consciousness of members of the party.

“Today we are on another milestone of what has never been in the annals of party politics in Kwara.

“A retreat of this nature is a medium for sober reflection and training for party members and workers on how to operate the programmes and policies of the party,” Oyedepo said.

Nigerian students win 2014 Intel ISEF award in US finals in Los Angeles, which was

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WO Nigerian stu dents have emerged winners at the 2014 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held in Los Angeles, United States of America, US. During the showcase of scientific innovation and development of scientific research, Ibukunoluwa Oladeinde and Eveshorhewa Samuel Ajayi of Doregos Academy Ipaja, Lagos won a second Life Science Award of $1,000, courtesy of Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society in the category of Medicine and Health Science for the project titled: ‘Walnut: Sustainable Solution to Halitosis’ for the treatment and diagnosis of halitosis.

Nigeria was represented with 6 projects and 12 students at the

a follow-up to the National Fair Competition held in Akwa Ibom State earlier in the year, where the students emerged as winners.

Reacting to Nigeria's good showing, the Corporate Affairs Manager, Intel Corporation, Babatunde Akinola, said that “Intel was proud to know that Nigerian students are devoted to the growth of science and technology. ''In a bid to increase advocacy to education stakeholders and seek continuous support for science, technology, engineering and Math education in Nigeria, all partners and Genius Illumina will embark on capacity building for science teachers in all states of the federation in the next three years, with the aid of Intel STEM courses to be offered through a mix of e-learning platforms.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014 — 47

48— Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

LAUNCHING: From left: Deputy Managing Director, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Ltd, Mr. Segun Odusanya, GMD, MiDCOM Ltd, Mr. Akash Kumar; CEO/ President, Samsung Electronics, Korea, Mr. Boo-keun Yoon and the Executive Director, Lagos & South-West, FCMB, Mr. Femi Bakare, at the launch of MiDCOM’s manufacturing facility and partnership with Samsung in Nigeria, in Lagos.

SIGNING: From left: Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi, Commissioner of Finance, Dr, Jide Idris, Commissioner of Health and Dr. Ladi Awosika, Director, Renescor Health Ltd Liability Partnership, during the signing of operational and maintenance agreement between Lagos State Government and Renescor Health on the take-off Management of Cardiac and Renal Centre, Gbagada, at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

GRADUATION: From left: Dr. Julius Adeniji ,President,Lagos West Baptist Conference, his son, Pastor Tobi Adeniji, and wife, Mary, during Pastor Tobi's graduation from Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomosho, Oyo State.

AWARD: From left: Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, representative of Governor Babatunde Fashola, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olutoyin Ayinde, presenting the Cooperatives Hall of Fame Award to the Perm. Sec., Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Wale Raji, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce and Industry, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo, during the awards/dinner Nite in commemoration of 2014 Cooperative Day Celebration inLagos.

PRESENTATION: From left: Director, Business Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Lucas Dada, Chairman, Jokie Global Resources Ltd, Mr James Egbe, and Chief Executive Officer, Jokie Global Resources Ltd, Mrs. Ekuase Egbe, at the presentation of buses to the winners of the Etisalat ESP Activation Promo in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau.

Mr Amos Osai, Board member, Tapshak EntertaiNment (left) and Samuel Ibrahim, Globacom's Zonal Business Coordinator, North East, at the signing of an MoU for the sponsorship of Puuskaat Festival in Jos.

FIDAU PRAYER: From left: Mr Mukail Mumuni, Abuja Bureau Chief, Newswatch Newspapers,son of deceased, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, Ogun State Information Commissioner and Mr. Dejo Adebisi, at the 8-day Fidau prayer for late Alhaja Afsat Agbeke Mumuni, Mother of Mr Mukail Mumuni, in Abeokuta. Photo: Wumi Akinola.

From left: Mr. Jide Ogodan, Director, Nollywood TV Italia, Italy, Mr. Tony C. Iwobi, Councillor, Lombardia Regional Government/MD, Data Communication Labs, Italy and Mr Dada Ajai-Ikhile, MD, NextMedia Ltd, Lagos, during the briefing on campaign against illegal Immigration, in Lagos.

PRESENTATION: From left: Florence Ogunleye, member, Women Committee, Non Academic Staff Union, NASU, Lagos State chapter, Titilayo Olukoya, Treasurer; Mrs Florence Kayode, Principal, Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home School, Akoka, Lagos and Elizabeth Pedro, Chaiperson, Lagos State NASU Women Committee and some children of the Home, during the presentation of food and clothing items to the Home in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

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50 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

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52 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

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C M Y K

54 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

By CHIOMA OBINNA

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Health watchers are recommending that to meet the target of the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, goal four and five, government should consider having more contract doctors to offer urgent services any time there is strike.

The NMA demands

•Stranded:Where are the doctors?...Some stranded patients at LUTH

For doctors in Nigeria, it’s one strike too many ... The agony of avoidable deaths Situation in govtowned hospigovt-owned tals

The pathetic situation in all federal and state-owned hospitals across the country left hundreds of patients, who turned up for appointments, hopeless.

Women, children and men who turned up at the hospitals, irrespective of their conditions, were left unattended to.

The situation in the hospitals was so bad that in some hospitals, nurses and pharmacists took over the duty of the striking medical doctors.

From Lagos, Abuja, Bauchi, Imo, Delta, Ekiti, Minna, and the rest of the 36 states of the country, the situation was the same.

There was total shut down of services by the striking medical doctors.

Lamentations of patients

Lamentations were the singsong in many wards as patients on admission continued to recount their woes.

The beehive of activities which the Accident and Emergency, A&E, departments are known for, were absent. Usually busy

departments like Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Surgery, Paediatrics, Medical Out-Patients Clinics and Labour, were devoid of activities.

The frustration was so much that patients began to ask why strikes had become too frequent in government-owned health facilities. The sad aspect is that patients are always at the receiving end.

For these patients, strikes should be outlawed in a sensi-

,

HIR TY -FIVEYEAR HIRTY TY-FIVE-FIVE-YEAR YEAR-OLD Mrs Gladys Agbo might have been alive with her children if doctors were available at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH to attend to her when she was rushed to the foremost teaching hospital. Gladys might by now, be busy nursing her set of twins. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be, no thanks to manmade factors bordering on the nationwide indefinite strike called by medical doctors under the auspices of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, despite public outcry.

The set of twins which would have been the first offsprings of the family, died along with their mother.

Their demise swelled up the already high number of neonatal deaths in the country.

Available statistics show that Nigeria contributes 30 percent of global deaths and 11 percent of the global burden of underfive deaths as well as the unacceptably high maternal mortality rates.

Gladys and her children are not the only victims of the ongoing strike. Many casualties are being recorded almost daily in almost all hospitals across the country. Just last week, there were reports that three patients died as a result of the absence of doctors in Delta State.

Two of the patients were reported to have died at the the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Asaba, due to lack of attention from doctors while the third victim died at the Ekpan General Hospital in Uvwie Local Government Area.

Many more patients suffered the same fate, like a Lagos-based librarian whose wife was admitted a day before the commencement of the ongoing strike.

“It is unfortunate that the government and doctors are taking our lives for granted. I brought my wife here yesterday (Monday), only to be told that doctors are on strike today. Her sickness is somehow different and cannot be left in the hands of a nurse or student doctor. The doctor that is supposed to attend her case is not even near the hospital. We have no choice than to consider a private hospital to continue her treatment,” the husband of one of the patients told Vanguard Features.

Another heart-rendering story is the case of a five-year old boy, Daniel, whose mother barely managed to raise the money for transport to the hospital that day. The boy has a swelling on the neck. Little did they know that the doctors have withdrawn their services. “Who will I run to?,” the mother who later identified herself as Mama Ruka , asked to no one in particular.

patients, particularly pregnant women and their children and those who cannot afford treatment in private hospitals, will continue to die in their numbers.

In the last one week there have been public outcry over the indefinite strike. To compound issues,neither the government nor the medical doctors is considering shifting grounds. Even the nurses are left wondering how there will be a functional hospital when the doctors are

It is unfortunate that both the government and doctors are taking our lives for granted

tive sector as health. They argue that strikes in public hospitals are usually to the detriment of the average Nigerian who can hardly afford to pay private hospital bills.

Yet, these are Nigerians whom, according to the Constitution, have a right to good healthcare services.

Critical observers are of the view that unless there is an urgent intervention, many more

,

nowhere to be found.

The father of a patient in an emotional outburst asked: “Is this the hospital a government would boast of? I know it will be costlier to take care of him at the private hospital, I have no other option; I will take him there.”

For now, it seems that strikes have become a way of life in Nigeria. Perhaps more worrisome is the frequency of such strikes.

In the letter, signed by NMA’s National President, Dr Kayode Obembe, the NMA said that the post of Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, DCMAC, has been circularised and operational.

“Rather than abolish it, the NMA hereby demands that four (4) DCMACs for teaching hospitals and three (3) for the Federal Medical Centres be appointed forthwith to assist the CMACs whose statutory responsibilities are too heavy for any single individual to handle.

Directors in other government agencies are supported by several Deputy Directors, why not the CMAC who is also a Director? Such a DCMAC must have same qualifications as the CMAC.” Obembe said that the NMA is opposed to the appointment of directors in the hospitals. According to him, this position distorts the chain of command in the hospital, induces anarchy and exposes patients to conflicting treatment and management directives with attendant negative consequences.

“The NMA demands that Grade Level 12 (CONMESS 2) in the health sector must be skipped for medical doctors.

Consequently no medical/dental practitioners should be on that grade level anymore,” he said. mediate effect. “ The entry point of the House Officer should be corrected to CONMESS 1 step 4 as originally contained in MSS/ MSSS while the Registrar/Medical Officer is moved to CONMESS 3 step 3.

“Clinical duty allowance for Honorary Consultants should be increased by 90 percent of CONMESS amongst others.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

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BY CHARLES KUMOLU

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Commissioner for Environment Mr Tunji Bello and the MD LASAA, Mr George Noah, inspecting the stands at the exhibition with other participants.

OUTDOOR ADVERTISING:

Demand for expanded capacity deepens employment opportunities in the sector which presently employs over 100,000 people in Lagos.

Regardless of this, he disclosed that the industry is being frustrated by the absence of empirical data. This, he said, has remained a source of worry to him.

As part of the innovations being put together by the agency, Noah disclosed that some parts of Lagos State have been carved out as zones where posters could be pasted all year round.

He noted that even the posters have been unstructured, adding that this has impeded its growth, making advertisers to cut down on advertisement spending as outdoor agencies have no data on eyeball traffic hitting the advertisements.

Challenges and prospects In his presentation on the Challenges and Prospects of out of the Home Advertisement in Africa, the Chairman of the Outdoor Advertising Agencies of Nigeria ,OAAN, Mr Charles Chijide said the challenges exist in relative measures and are common to all members of the association in the continent.

He said the platform which started in Nigeria in 1956, has evolved over the decades to digital. Corporate members of OAAN have moved from two when it began to 158. “‘Our effort at proffering solutions to outdoor challenges, is for the over-all economic development of all, not just the outdoor advertising organisations. Whatever adversely affects the industry, affects all, as it has the equally negative impact on very many other sectors of the economy by reason

of multiplier effect. A decline in the industry’s fortune impacts on employment rate, reduces the number of taxable adults, causes a sharp drop in the literacy level (unemployed parents not being able to support children/wards in school), stiffens trade and commerce as consumer awareness and enlightenment towards purchases and brand engagement drops, and the rate of social unrest and crime is likely to rise. All of these are likely fallouts of the collapse of Out-of-

,

OLLOWING the identifi cation of challenges which have hindered out-of-home advertising in Nigeria from achieving its full potentials, stakeholders in the industry took destinies into their hands by gathering recently to redirect the future of the sector.

The gathering which was a three-day event with the theme: Signage and Outdoor Conference and Exhibition Africa, held in Lagos. The event attracted participants from Europe, Asia, America and Africa.

A brainchild of the Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency ,LASAA, the forum primarily focused on how best to create an enabling environment that would help players in the sector grow their businesses and keep abreast with new innovations from other parts of the world.

Raising the curtains on the event, chief host and Managing Director of LASAA, Mr. George Kayode Noah said the need to take the industry in Nigeria to the next level informed convening of the conference.

He was optimistic that the outcome of the deliberations would set the pace for a new vista in outdoor advertising. ‘’The objective is to provide a veritable platform for the growth and development of signage and outdoor advertising in Lagos State, Nigeria and Africa and also to create an enabling environment that will help all players in our sector to grow their business and keep abreast with new innovations from across the globe.

Visitors and participants are expected to discover the latest developments in equipment, software, signage and outdoor materials, systems, fittings and fixtures. So the exhibition is expected to take Nigeria’s outdoor industry to new heights,” he said.

On the state of the industry, he posited that the sector has witnessed huge transformation in the last decade. According to him, out of home advertising accounts for over N50 billion turnover while Lagos State with population of 22 million accounts for 60 percent of Nigeria’s total advertising market.

Statistics Backing his position with statistics, Noah said while outdoor media buying agencies generate about N8.6 billion, fabricators rake in N1.5 billion, installers N3.82 billion and large format printers N8.27 billion.

Continuing, he noted that outdoor specialist agencies generate N21.9 billion, outdoor protection services N370 million, adverts N1.25 billion, while other areas account for N8 billion.

Noah identified the huge

rate Assembly, an assembly of all business operators in the state, where issues hindering their profitability in business could be addressed.

Governor Fashola had earlier challenged the operators to think out of the box in repositioning the sector and make out of the home advertisement sector a vibrant platform.

Fashola who was represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, said issues such as the lack of empirical data to sup-

The objective is to provide a veritable platform for the growth and development of signage and outdoor advertising in Lagos State, Nigeria and Africa

Home advertising sector,” he added.

Lagos development plan The Director of Commerce in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Akeem Adeniji, who represented the Commissioner, Mrs Olusola Oworu said outdoor practitioners must key into the Lagos State Development Plan, LSDP, which has four parts: Economic Development; Infrastructural Development, Social and security Development and Sustainable environment.

Oworu who spoke on Africa: Nigeria as your target market, challenged all operators having issues with the state government to make use of the right channel of making the government aware of the gray areas they wanted addressed.

She said the Babatunde Fashola administration last year began the Lagos Corpo-

,

port media buying into the platform and even power could be mutually resolved if operators decided to look inward and reapply themselves to resolving the peculiar challenges to their businesses.

“When there is no data to support advertisement buying, the buyer is at sea and loss of market share to other viable options becomes the alternative,” he noted.

Noting that a sector that has a N50 billion turnover yearly is a major stakeholder in any economy, he charged operators to repackage their offerings to ensure that they have necessary linkages with the government to ensure the best for the sector.

Mr. Jimi Awosika, Managing Director of Insight Communications, one of the foremost advertising agencies in the country, challenged operators to

deepen their offerings and become more creative in the display of outdoor advertisements.

Awosika, who likened a poor outdoor advertisement to an actor with a minor role (waka pass) in the thespian world said in a world of “democratised noise,” only an advert with a telling presence, creatively conceived and delivered would be remembered in the crowd.

Synergy He canvassed more synergy between the advertisers, the advertising agencies and the outdoor practitioners in such a way that the messages meant to be communicated, had desired impact in the market.

A resource person, Mr. Jerry Coasters of Out of Home Africa in a paper on Nigeria: the good, the bad and the challenges of out of the home, said Nigeria despite the challenges impeding businesses, is a story that is yet untold.

“Nigeria is an amazing country of major contradictions. The country’s capacity at conflict resolution is unimaginable and incomparable with none else in the world. If Nigeria must move on, its story must be rewritten by Nigerians. You have so much to teach the world and I dare say the world is waiting for stories of economic miracles from Nigeria,” he submitted.

In his goodwill message, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba challenged operators to rededicate themselves to professionalism. He stated that the government’s desire to regulate the industry is borne out of the desire to ensure that marketing communication messages are better packaged and uniquely presented.

“Government will always play the regulatory role because it is the way to go in sustaining business anywhere. If this business must continue and be profitable, it must be professionally packaged. If we all come together, we will get better for it,” Ibirogba said.

56 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

•From left, Alh. Umaru Hadejima discussing with Senator Shaidu Dansadau and Dr Garba Abari during Consideration of Devolution of Power Committee’s Report at National Confab in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

18 new States:

50 Osun Monarchs write Kutigi •Make case for Oduduwa State

BY HENRY UMORU AND JOSEPH ERUNKE

5

0 FIRST class traditional rulers, leaders, stakeholders, elders from Osun State have written the Chairman, National Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi

Derivation:

meeting T

and the leadership to demand the inclusion of Oduduwa State as an additional state to those to be created from the South West geo- political zone of the country.

Expressing dismay that Oduduwa State was not part of the 18 states proposed by the

national conference committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government, the Osun traditional rulers and leaders said the demand for the new state had been a passion for the people of the affected area since 1983.

Addressing journalists yesterday, stakeholders pushing for the new state led by Prof.

Muheed Opeloye, President, Ife Development Board recalled that the request for state creation from the old Oyo State in 1983 included among others, Oduduwa and Osun States, adding that while the then proposed Osun State included Ede, Ejigbo, Ifelodun, Ila, Irepodun, Osogbo, Iwo and Odo Otin areas, the proposed Oduduwa State had Atakunmosa, Ayedaade, Ife Central, Ife North, Ife South, Irewole, Isokan, Oriade and Obokun.

Prof. Opeloye was flanked by the Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Prof. Steve Adewusi, member Ife Development Board, Alhaji Ajagbe Akewasola, member Ife Development Board, Prince Gbenga Omiwole, General Secretary, Oduduwa State and National Secretary, National Association of State Movement at the briefing.

He said that after the eventual creation of Osun State, the clamour for the creation of Oduduwa state never stopped.

According to him, in December 1995, the leaders from the proposed Oduduwa State submitted a memorandum to the National Conference holding at that time while the same was also done in March 1996 when traditional rulers, chiefs and community leaders from the area signed another memorandum requesting for the creation of Oduduwa State. He added that in 2009, the Osun State Council of Obas examined the agitation for the creation of a new state out of the present Osun State and found it desirable and justifiable.

He explained that the Council

was satisfied that both the new and what was left in the existing Osun State will be economically viable and sustainable adding that the endorsement for the creation of Oduduwa State was signed by 50 senior traditional rulers of Osun State Council of Obas, just as he explained that the proposed state covers a land area of 8,853,22 square kilometers with approximate population of over 1.7 million people based on the 2006 census figure.

“The historical significance of Oduduwa as the progenitor of the Yoruba race and Ile-Ife as the cradle of Yoruba in Nigeria and the Diaspora are some of the compelling reasons for the endorsement by the Council’s call for the creation of Oduduwa State.

“From the foregoing, it is evident that creation of Oduduwa State will bring benefit to all the communities in the new state in terms of development, and also more beneficial to the remaining Communities in Osun State in terms of more amenities. The job opportunities for the citizens of the area in the wake of more ministries and agencies cannot be overlooked.

“The efforts of our delegates in the National CONFAB to make this dream realizable will be indelible in the minds of the people and be an everlasting legacy for the present stakeholders in the struggle.

Wishing the CONFAB success in their deliberations.”

Oba Adedapo, who is secretary, Council of Yoruba Obas and also a delegate to the ongoing National Conference is leading the intense lobby for Oduduwa State to be included among the new states to be so recommended for creation.

Clark, Nwachukwu, Coomassie others in strategic

HE National Conference was forced to adjourn yesterday following a last minute effort by some elder statesmen among the delegates to forge a consensus on a benchmark for the payment of derivation to mineral producing areas of the country.

The delegates drawn from across the six geopolitical zones it was gathered met from 9 p.m. on Monday to 1.00 a.m. on Tuesday before resolving to continue meeting after yesterday’s plenary session of the conference.

Yesterday, delegates had resumed debate on the report of the Committee on devolution of Power with many canvassing disparate positions on derivation.

While some canvassed the retention of the existing 13%, others canvassed an increase to 21.5%; 30%; 50%, 100%, among others.

With deliberations not gone too far, the chairman of the

conference, Justice Idris Kutigi announced an unusual short break of 15 minutes.

Though the short break was designed by Kutigi as a tea break, it became an opportunity for high wired politicking among delegates who gathered in caucuses.

An indication that the meetings were productive, delegates stood up clapping for Kutigi when he entered the hall after the short break at 12. 45 pm with the singing of the old National Anthem, with much emphasis on “ brotherhood we stand” Kutigi who thanked delegates for what took place, said, “we are grateful for showing the appreciation.”

The conference Deputy Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi then disclosed that a document was distributed on the Land Use Act by the Harmonization Committee and that the Committee has been on it for a month now, even as many

delegates raised their voices that they were not given the document.

Following that, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (rtd.) stood up and told delegates that leaders of the six zones met on derivation but that the meeting was still inconclusive and pleaded for more time saying that the meeting of 18 delegates drawn from across the country was from 9 p.m. Monday and ended 1am yesterday morning.

Supporting Ike Nwachukwu, a delegate representing the North East Zone, Mohammed Kumalia explained that the delegates should give them another opportunity to continue with their plans to forge a consensus on derivation.

Speaking with journalists after the adjournment, a delegate on the platform of elder-statesmen, Chief Edwin Clark said, “A few of saw what was happening and we decided to meet. We reached out to a few elders of the North -

former IG, Ibrahim Coomassie, Prof. Jerry Gana and somebody from the north east.

“Then Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, Chief Olu Falae and myself. So we met and we said this is one country; we may have areas of disagreement but we belong to one country. If at our maturity, age, experience we cannot formulate what should be agreed to by all the sections then we have failed.

So let’s meet again, the previous meeting was scuttled so we sat down and agreed that three members each from the six zones should represent their respective zones. So it was eighteen members.

We met last night and took a decision on the matters we are discussing.

“At the end of it all, we were coming to an agreement but we couldn’t finish. That is why we decided that we should inform the house that the discussion continues. So we have

adjourned to go and discuss again and conclude on what is good for Nigeria and what is good for the various components of Nigeria.

We need one another to live in this country. As I have always said, we are all the same, equal and we should be friendly to one another. We have no other place to go.

“Those of us fighting for derivation are not doing so because we want derivation for derivation sake. Our area has been devastated, the ecosystem is gone, we have no water to drink, yet we sit on top of water. We have no fish to eat. When you go to the riverine areas of the Niger Delta, ice fish is now the order of the day and no farming. You remember the UN report on Ogoniland. Even though Shell left there over ten years ago, the pace is still devastated and polluted.

That was why the UN said the pace should be cleaned up over the next twenty years with the sum of over one billion dollars. But nothing has been done there. "

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

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Netherlands v Argentina

Tonight 9pm

Messi battles Robben for final place T

HE World Cup’s best dribblers Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben - face off when Argentina and Netherlands meet in the semi-finals.

In Brazil, Robben has been quick, Messi has been quicksilver.

On Wednesday in Sao Paulo, either one could turn the semi-final with a dazzling turn of pace or a weaving run to propel his team to the final. “We have to cut the supply line to Messi,” Dutch defender Bruno Martins Indi told Dutch website Nu.nl.

The Barcelona star led Argentina through the group stage with four goals. He has also made 180 passes in his five matches so far.

The Dutch have shared the goal-scoring duties more evenly Robben and Robin van Persie each have three, Memphis Depay has two of the team’s total of 12 - but the Bayern Munich winger ’s scintillating sprints with the ball have often been the highlights of Oranje matches.

“We know that we will play against one of the best teams when it comes to counter-attacks because of the speed of their men up front,” Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano said. “So we have to

•Robben

take precautions to not give them the possibility to counterattack, to always be well positioned, to not lose balls unnecessarily in areas where there’s a lot of risk.”

After scoring 10 times in the group stage, the Netherlands have managed only two in their two knock-out matches and the Dutch will be hoping captain Van Persie regains his touch in front of goal. He looked off the pace and missed an easy chance near the end of normal time in the quarter-final against Costa Rica.

The Netherlands will again be without their powerful midfield controller Nigel de Jong, who has a torn groin muscle. A possible replacement, Leroy Fer, is recovering from a hamstring injury and it is not clear if he will be fit for Wednesday ’s semifinal at the Itaquerao Stadium.

•Messi

Krul vows to repeat penalty antics against Argentina IM Krul has vowed

T

Eagles must begin early preparations for AFCON 2015 —TAN

T

HE Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN)wants the Super Eagles to start early preparations for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Speaking against the backdrop of Eagles second round exit from the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Waidi Akanni insists that only early preparations would enable the Eagles to successfully defend the crown they won a year ago in South Africa.

Akanni, who notes that the team should be kept together with few

inclusions made to beef up the squad, says the future is bright for the Eagles.

While commending President Goodluck Jonathan for his support to the team, Akanni tasked the handlers of the

•Oshanuwa

team to intensify efforts to ensure that Eagles successfully defend their crown in Morocco.

Speaking further on Eagles, Akanni said that he was encouraged with the potentials that abound in the country, adding that it was up to the coaches to select players who will deliver on the pitch.

“We have so many players who are national team materials. So, the onus is on the coaches to widen his dragnet for talents that can make the Eagles fly again.”

•Ogenyi Onazi (l) jostles for the ball with Angel Di Maria.

to wind up Lionel Messi and his Argentina team-mates if Holland’s World Cup semi-final goes to penalties tonight.

“I don’t think I did anything wrong,” the Holland goalkeeper told a press conference in Rio. “I did nothing crazy. I didn’t shout in an aggressive manner. I told them I knew where they were going because I had analysed it.

“I was trying to get in their heads and it worked because I saved two penalties.

“It is a good way of psyching [penalty takers] out and I am happy to do it again.”

Germany disgrace Brazil 7 - 1 Continues from Back Page

gled and needed controversial officiating to beat Costa Rica Brazil never showed the quality that they were known for.

They used long balls and never played South American football. But nobody expected them to be so dis-

graced at home. Oscar scored Brazil’s only goal in the 90th minute.

The shame of yesterday was better than that of 1950 when they lost as hosts to Uruguay who beat them 21 in the final. And so all their conquests in the World Cup were outside their shores. .

As Brazil fans sobbed in the stands and millions of people around the world stared at their televisions in utter disbelief, Germany celebrated their sweet victory. They are in good stead to face the winners of today’s match between Holland and Argentina in the final on Sunday.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

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62 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014 — 63

Esin: Mikel was a big flop N Former Nigeria star Etim Esin has slammed John Obi Mikel for his performances at the World Cup in the iconic number 10 jersey.

Esin is a custodian of the famous jersey number and it has long been debated whether he or Jay-Jay Okocha is the greatest Nigerian number 10.

The former attacking midfielder expressed disappointment that Mikel did not set the scene alight in Brazil like other key players at the tournament have.

“Mikel was a big flop in Brazil. He wears Nigeria’s number 10 jersey but he did not show he is worthy of wearing it at the big stage like the World Cup,” the former Eagles international said.

“He rose to the occasion in South Africa (at AFCON 2013), but in Brazil he was not committed and ended up as a monumental disaster.''

ATIONAL telecom munications operator, Globacom, has concluded arrangements to airlift its top dealers to watch the finals of the on-going 2014 World Cup in Brazil.?

The trip is in appreciation of the massive support the company has received from the dealers over the years. During the all expenses paid trip, the dealers will watch the World Cup finals in a premium hospitality suite and also visit top tourism spots in Brazil. Glo dealer and Chairman of Easy and

•Mikel

World Cup: Keshi pockets N48m COACH Stephen Keshi pocketed a total of $300,000 when he led Nigeria to the last 16 of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

‘Big Boss’ Keshi is on double the win bonus of the players and on that account, he received a total of $260,000 as appearance fee for the World Cup after the team agreed to pay each player $10,000 per game, covering both the qualifiers and the World Cup itself.

A total of 13 matches were considered and it was

on that basis that the likes of Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Godfrey Oboabona each netted $130,000 as appearance fee.Therefore, the least a player received was $10,000 for playing a qualifier.

Keshi’s World Cup jackpot also included an additional $40,000 being match bonus for the win over Bosnia, the draw with Iran and the loss to Argentina.

Keshi’s assistant Daniel Amokachi therefore earned a staggering $195,000 as

appearance fee as he earns 50% more than the players.

The federal government shipped $3.6 million through the sports minister on a Presidential jet on the eve of the round of 16 match against France.

Arguments and counter arguments about how the cash was to be shared meant that the entire squad stayed up till 2 a.m. local time and eight hours later they were on their way to the stadium for the match they eventually lost 2-0 to crash out of Brazil 2014.

Global Football Fiesta: Glo Dealers for finals in Brazil Quiet Limited, Mr. Anthony Mutiu Mohammed, described the offer from Globacom as very exciting, adding that the company has always taken good care of its dealers.

He stated that watching the final in Brazil will be a very wonderful opportunity and concluded with the phrase “God bless Glo!.”

On his part, the Chief

Executive Officer of Upper Room Limited, Mr. Odukoya Adegbenro stated that he felt highly honoured by Globacom’s sponsorship and noted that the gesture was a continuation of the company’s tradition of appreciating people, particularly those who had been partnering with it.

NFF crisis Continues from B/P executives before proceeding to meet with FIFA in Brazil. Nigeria faces the risk of a FIFA sanction, including suspension from international football, as a letter from the world football governing body to the Nigeria football federation reads in part.

“The NFF has been asked to relay FIFA’s position to the relevant authorities and inform them that if the aforementioned NFF officials are not fully reinstated by Tuesday 8 July 2014 the case will be

referred to the appropriate FIFA bodies for sanctions, including the potential suspension of the NFF,” a part of the letter read. It is however unlikely that Maigari and his board will be reinstated, with sources informing that “Maigari and his board are gone for good and nothing will bring them back.”

Nigeria’s senate president, David Mark is also expected to travel to Brazil, but it is unclear at this point if he will be travelling together with the sports minister.

F-L-I-C-K-S! Ojuelegba in Brazil!

O

JUELEGBA has its place in history. Good or bad.

Some of you who love moving in the night would attest to the beauty of Ojuelegba. Forget about the confusion that is associated with it. Even Afro beat King, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti respected Ojuelegba so much that he made out time in his album to sing about Ojuelegba with vehicles coming from north, south, east and west without a single traffic officer. Logjam! Ayilara street remains one of the streets that catapulted Ojuelegba to prominence with the nocturnal movement, trading, trafficking, smoking, sex boom that has become its hallmark. Every country has its own Ojuelegba. It’s a pity that most times our law enforcement agencies go to the extreme by dislodging such historic landmarks in Nigeria. Out here in Brazil, there is a typical Ojuelegba in the outskirts of Sao Paulo which has almost been turned to a tourist attraction. There is no difference to the activities in Lamires street in the downtown area of Republica except for the rising sky-scrappers that bear the signature of virtually every Brazilian building. There is law and order with the police maintaining vigilance 24 hours.

People mill around as women of all shades solicit for customers. They have canvassers with posters of beautiful and loaded women posing in very provocative manners. Nigerians here call the posters ‘Point and Kill’, referring to the choice that one makes on the posters.

Once you identify any girl on the poster and pay the mandatory fee, the first stage of pointing is ascertained.

Then, you are taken to her room to complete the ‘killing’ aspect. It is a booming trade. There is no foul language of calling one a harlot, prostitute or ashawo or akwuna as is the case in Nigeria. This is a system that recognizes prostitutes as professionals who work hard day and night to earn foreign exchange for the country. They believe that sex is one of the most beautiful, natural, wholesome things that money can buy. Beyond prostitutes, the number of drug addicts and hookers who occupy open air crack-lands are amazing. They feed on left-overs and yet have a home in the open streets. The police over-look and protect them because they are Bra-

zilians. The question of immorality in Brazil is not questioned. It has become their culture and parents and government are not disturbed. Like they say: ‘’Wine and women make wise men dote and forsake God’s law and do wrong.” .

However, the fault is not in the wine, and often not in the woman. The fault is in the one who misuses the wine or the woman or other of God’s creations. Even if you get drunk on the wine and through this greed you lapse into lechery, the wine is not to blame but you are, in being unable or unwilling to discipline yourself. And even if you look at a woman and become caught up by her beauty and assent to sin [ adultery; extramarital sex], the woman is not to blame nor is her God-given beauty be disparaged: rather, you are to blame for not keeping your heart clear of wicked thoughts. ... If you feel yourself tempted by the sight of a woman, control your gaze better ... You are free to leave her. Nothing constrains you to commit lechery but your own lecherous heart”.

For a country not so hard on morality, what is their AIDS statistics like? Brazil’s Aids programme is widely seen as a model for other developing countries. In the early 1990s the World Bank predicted that in 2000 the number of Brazilians with HIV would be 1.2 million and rising.

The current number, however, is around 630,000. The government puts great emphasis on prevention, with education and publicity campaigns actively and openly promoting safe sex among high-risk and vulnerable groups. Brazil was also the first developing country to commit to providing free anti-retroviral medicines to people with HIV, and the government has put pressure on international pharmaceutical companies in order to reduce the prices at which it buys anti-retroviral drugs.

This is a country that cares for its people, all round.

Schools and medi-cares are free, prostitutes are protected, alcoholics are given homes, roads are smooth, electricity is certain as tomorrow that will come. Let us not wipe out our landmarks. Ojuelegba is bubbling in Sao Paulo. That is where Supporters Club lodged their members. Those who do not stay there cannot do without visiting there either in the day for food or in the night for food of the soul. Ojuelegba lives!

C

Is Africa in Nigeria?

REDIT must be given to Nigerians or Africans for their knowledge of their cities. It has become a general thing here to know of any Brazilian who is so versatile with their environment without referring to the GPRS. Taxi drivers cannot locate a street without consulting it. The receptionist in my hotel confessed that she does not know anywhere in Brazil outside Sao Paulo. And here I am moving to almost all the landmarks of Brazil ranging from Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Curitiba, Manaus, Recife, Belem etc. Ask a Nigerian on how to get to Calabar and he will tell you the streets and the buses to enter and how many hours(except for traffic and robbers blocking major roads) it would take you. Ask a Brazilian of a street next to you, he turns to his GPRS or map. It was the general lack of knowledge that made a man ask where I am from. I told him from Nigeria and he jabbered on asking; “Is Africa in Nigeria? I know Kanu, Okocha. Great footballers. Are they from Kenya?”. Where do I begin to lecture him from other than to say ‘’Kenya ko, Kema ni!

Y

Hearts ‘ll be broken!

OU don’t spend a month and two weeks in a place without getting familiar and close to many things and many people. Despite the language barrier, friends have been made and some of them have become very close. As the World Cup draws gradually to a close this weekend, smitten hearts are already bleeding.

Goodbyes would be difficult to say as no matter the hugs and kisses would bring back the warmth of being together for the length of the World Cup. Promises of coming back to check on them are easy to say, but not practicable because of the distance and resources. I feel for those who worked with me and helped in my stay here. I say; “Don’t be ashamed to weep; ’tis right to grieve. Tears are only water, and flowers, trees, and fruit cannot grow without water. But there must be sunlight also. A wounded heart will heal in time, and when it does, the memory and love of our lost ones is sealed inside to comfort us”. Obrigado!

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

NFF crisis: Danagogo to meet Blatter •Adamu, Oneya also in the delegation N ESIN: IGERIA’S sports minister, Tammy Danagogo will travel to Brazil on Wednesday to meet with FIFA president Sepp Blatter to discuss the recent development in Nigerian football, and the possible sanctions

which may be taken against Nigeria following the court order which restrained the Aminu Maigari-led NFF board from controlling football affairs in the country.

It is expected also that Danagogo will explain

•Blatter

•Danagogo

the dissolution of the said Aminu Maigari-led board by a congress which held last Saturday. Sources inside the national sports commission have informed that “the minister will travel to Brazil to try to explain to FIFA the current developments in Nigerian football.”

The Nigerian delegation to FIFA include former CAF and FIFA executive committees member, Dr Amos Adamu and former NFA Chairman, General Dominic Oneya. We gathered that the delegation would first meet with CAF Continues on Page 63

Mikel was a big flop — P.63

Germany disgrace Brazil 7 - 1 R

AMPANT Germany scored five goals within 18 minutes to surge 5-0 ahead of shellshocked hosts It was a record. No host country has been so humiliated in the World Cup semifinal. Brazil have the record of the most wins in the World Cup and now the record of the most disgraced hosts at this stage. Germany mauled them 7-1 in yesterday’s semifinal . And this happening to five time record holders was amazing. Germany were simply superior, superlative and awesome.

Thomas Mueller put the Germans ahead after

11 minutes with a simple volley from a corner and they doubled the lead after in the 23rd when striker Miroslav Klose struck to become the World Cup’s alltime leading scorer with 16 goals.

Toni Kroos grabbed the third a minute later and the midfielder scored again in the 26th before Sami Khedira added a fifth as the shambolic Brazil defence caved in yet again just before the half hour. Andre Schuerrle scored two in the second half to make it 7-0.

From the opening match when they strug Continues on Page 60

Kick-off time: 9 pm

Messi battles Robben for final — P.32 & 33

World Cup: Keshi pockets N48m — P.63 QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Brawl (6) 5 Column (6) 8 Trade (8) 9 Group (4) 10 Timid (3) 12 Wrath (5) 15 Abroad (3) 17 Tavern (3) 18 Sprite (3) 19 Imitate (3) 20 Surly (5) 21 Because (3) 22 Untruth (3) 23 Stretch (3) 24 Finish (3) 26 Seam (5) 29 Din (3) 33 Thought (4) 34 Disturbed (8) 35 Plague (6) 36 Character (6)

DOWN 2 Crude (5) 3 Cot (4) 4 Strict (5) 5 Adhesive (5) 6 Oaf (4) 7 Farewell (5) 10 Frighten (5) 11 Cede (5) 12 Seraph (5) 13 Flashy (5) 14 Allude (5) 15 Tender (5) 16 Hurl (5) 25 Elbow (5) 27 Viper (5) 28 Enlist (5) 30 Fat (5) 31 Hypocrisy (4) 32 Tangle (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Area 4, Rot 6, Feel 8, Closed 9, Sudden 10, Eft 12, Creep 14, Penal 15, Rebel 18, Revere 20, Eraser 24, Treat 26, Seedy 28, Thorn 30, Spy 32, Puppet 33, Exempt 34, Meet 35, Pup 36, Eddy.

DOWN: 2, Ruler 3, Austere 4, Ride 5, Test 6, Fudge 7 Elevate 11, Fee 12, Cur 13, Per 16, Bet 17, Lee 19, Execute 21, Rat 22, Athlete 23, Run 25, Rip 27, Depot 29, Rapid 30, Stop 31, Yelp.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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