Nyako's deputy sworn-in as new Adamawa Gov

...towards a better life for the people

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

VOL. 25: NO. 62249

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Muazu, Mark, Daniel beg OBJ for forgiveness

Nigeria'll be among 10 countries promoting poverty in 2030 — World Bank

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Nyako's deputy sworn-in as new Adamawa Gov • Court cancels by-election, sacks Acting Gov, Fintiri • Nyako rejoices; lawyers, others hail court order • PDP accepts verdict, tasks Ngilari on peace, progress

By Soni Daniel, Clifford Ndujihe, Henry Umoru, Ben Agande, Dapo Akinrefon, Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Umar Yusuf & Bartholomew Madukwe

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BUJA — THE po litical climate in Adamawa State changed dramatically yesterday, when embattled Deputy Governor, James Bala Ngilari was sworn in as governor.

The swearing-in followed the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja which declared the seat of the former Acting Continues on Page 12

INSURGENCY:

Too many fifth columnists in Military — Badeh 9

Mr & Mrs SWEARING-IN: Gov. Bala Ngilari of Adamawa (left), taking oath of office before Justice Lawan Lagre in Yola, yesterday.

Photo: NAN.

COLUMNISTS: From Kano to Kogi: Consolidating development, opening accesses •P.17

Strains on governmentowned media •P.19

Leave the Army to repair itself •P.19

Jonathan denies being 6th richest African president •Threatens to sue website

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Edo PDP lawmaker beaten to coma

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—ONE of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers in Edo State, Mr. Rasak Momoh, was last night attacked by unknown persons at his residence in the legislators quarters, Benin.

He was allegedly left for dead by his attackers.

Momoh, who represents Etsako I constituency in the House of Assembly, is currently receiving medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH. A close member of his family, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen that the injuries sustained by the lawmaker were such that he might be flown abroad for treatment.

The lawmaker was expelled at the height of the crisis rocking the state House of Assembly, which is now factionalised along PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC, lines.

It would be recalled that Razaq, while speaking at the sitting of PDP legislators on Monday, September 29, raised an alarm that his life was in danger.

Contacted on phone, Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Noble Uwoh, asked for time to check with the DPO in charge of the area.

Edo State Police Commissioner, Folunso Adebanjo, who expressed shock, said some persons had been arrested and that the police was investigating the matter.

N20m scandal hits Warri Carnival

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Akpokona Omafuaire

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ARRI—TROUBLE looms in Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, as the chief promoter of Warri Carnival Enterprises and initiator of the carnival, Sunny Nikoro, has petitioned Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to ask chairman of the commission, Mr. Oritsuwa Kpogho, to account for the N20 million allegedly disbursed to yet-to-be-identified individuals for the hosting.

Nikoro said his outfit applied for sponsorship of the first ever Warri Carnival through DESOPADEC vide a letter dated September 2, 2013.

The petition, which was accompanied with relevant correspondences, added that the application was considered and the N20 million duly

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AGOS—THE Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, has faulted Ebonyi State Government and the state’s Commissioner of Police over the arrest and detention of Mr. Abah Thomas, and Mr. Henry Amah, the state Chairman and Secretary of the party, respectively.

They were arrested last Friday at the People’s Club in Abakaliki, as party members gathered for a weekly meeting.

Deputy National Secretary of the party, Prince Samson Ndubuisi, who made the condemnation in a statement yesterday, said: “Our members

Efforts to get the commission’s chairman to comment on the allegation proved abortive as calls put across to his cell phone were not answered.

However, Vanguard was able

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA— ARMED robbers, yesterday, raided a bank (names withheld) at Egume Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing one of the policemen on duty.

The bandits, who also attacked the police station in the community, were said to have carted away undisclosed amount of money from the bank.

An eyewitness said the robbers first attacked the police station and carted away some arms with which they attacked the bank.

The eyewitness disclosed that the robbers, numbering about nine, shot sporadically into the air to scare away people, until they gained access into the bank where they shot the police attaché.

Vanguard gathered that the

reported to the National Executive that the two officers showed up at People’s Club on Abakaliki Road, Abakaliki and were promptly arrested, while other members quickly disappeared from the scene to evade arrest.”

All efforts to reach Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Chris Anyanwu, to comment on the arrest of Thomas and Amah, proved abortive, as his number was unreachable.

Ndubuisi said that Amah and Abah committed no crime whatsoever to warrant being arrested, describing their arrest as political intimidation.

police officer was recently posted to the bank.

The source said the armed robbers operated for about an hour and had left before a team of policemen arrived.

When contacted, the Police

Public Relation Officer, PPRO, Kogi State Police Command, Mr. Elvis Aguibo, who confirmed the incident, said the headquarters had been notified and that policemen were on their way to Egume town.

Man, 41, rapes 9-yr-old in Jigawa

By Tina Akannam

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UTSE—THE operatives of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, have arrested one Zakari Imam, 41, for allegedly defiling a nineyear-old girl (names withheld) at Hadejia City of Jigawa State.

The state commandant of NSCDC, Dr. Muhmmad Gidado, told newsmen in Dutse, yesterday, that the culprit ran away to neighbouring Niger Republic after committing the crime, abandoning his motorcycle.

He said his officers followed

due process to effect his arrest in his hideout in Niger Republic.

The Jigawa NSCDC boss said investigation into the case was ongoing, adding that on completion, the suspect would be arraigned in court.

He vowed to bring to book anybody found committing rape in the state, describing it as a barbaric and animalistic behaviour.

He also warned those with the intention of committing rape to have a re- think, saying there was no hiding place for them in Jigawa State.

3-storey building collapses in Ebonyi

By Peter Okutu

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BAKALIKI—AT least one person sustained injuries, while several others escaped unhurt as a three-storey building collapsed at Udude Street, Ntezi Aba, popularly known as Ukwuakpu, in Abakaliki.

The building was said to have been completed Tuesday evening.

Fears were, however, expressed by residents of the area yesterday that workers might have been trapped in the rubble.

The building, it was also

to get through to the Head of Media in DESOPADEC, Mr. Rutherford, who said he was not competent to comment on the matter and referred Vanguard back to the chairman.

ATTACKED: The Police van that came under fire.

Robbers raid Kogi bank, kill policeman

UPN faults Ebonyi govt, Police boss on officials' arrest

By Onozure Dania

approved by Delta State House of Assembly in the 2013/2014 budget.

It said: “To our rude shock, when we requested that the money be remitted to Warri Carnival Enterprises account, we were told that the money had been disbursed to an unknown beneficiary.

“Warri Carnival Enterprises is duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Therefore, by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, any other body that goes by the name Warri Carnival or purported to have received monies on our behalf is a product of fraud, only intended to deceive and defraud the government and people of the state.”

Nikoro appealed to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to step into the matter and direct the chairman of DESOPADEC to do the needful before it was too late.

gathered, was abandoned for over two years before work started in July this year.

Some residents of the area, Mr Chijioke Maduabuchi and Mr Chris Idam, described the collapse of the building as strange and called for inquiry.

They also urged the relevant authorities to intensify efforts to stamp out quacks and substandard materials to prevent a recurrence.

Contacted, the Secretary, Council for Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria, COREN, in Ebonyi State, Mr Nwali Etchee, said the council would investigate the matter.

One dead, 2 injured as robbers attack Police van, commercial bus

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS—ONE person was killed and two others severely injured, yesterday, at Kosoko area of Okoko, Lagos, when armed robbers trailing a passenger in a commercial bus allegedly fired shots that hit a commercial motorcyclist.

The robber, who had attacked the bus coming from Okoko en route Shirbiri in Ojo, allegedly opened fire on a police patrol van carrying suspects from Ojo Magistrate’s Court, injuring one of the four policemen in the van.

An eyewitness, Adekola Wale, told Vanguard that it was God that saved him and other bystanders.

He said: “Everyone around had to run for safety. But the bike man was not lucky as a stray bullet hit him and he died.”

One of the passengers in the attacked commercial bus, who preferred anonymity, noted that the man the robbers trailed boarded the bus at Okoko, Bus Stop and was holding a polythene bag containing money.

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REMI OYO: Family unfolds burial arrangements

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HE family of the late Dame Oluremi Oyo has released the burial arrangements for the deceased who died recently at the age of 62.

A statement signed by the deceased’s widower, Vincent Oyo, on behalf of the family, said that the funeral arrangements will commence next week October 13 and climax on October 24.

According to the statement, the programme will kick off with commendation service at the St Joseph Catholic Church, Usi, Ekiti, by 11 am and the requiem mass by 6pm at the Church of Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja, while the service of songs will take place 4pm at Rasaki Shittu Street, Fagbile Estate at Ijegun in Lagos.

“Media night of tributes for the deceased will hold from 4-6pm at NAN Media Center, National Theatre Complex Iganmu; another requiem mass follows at St Joachin and Anne Catholic Church Ijegun at 12 noon; Christian wake at NAN Media Center by 5pm; funeral mass at St Dominic Basilica, Yaba by 10am; interment follows immediately at Ebony Vaults, Atan Cemetery, Yaba, while reception for guests will hold at Yard 158 Events Centre on Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Lagos,” said the statement.

By Funmi Komolafe

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress has condemned in strong terms the detention of a journalist, Mr. Amechi Anakwe of the Africa Independent Television (AIT) on the orders of Assistant Inspector General of Police in Abuja, Mr. Jospeph Mbu. It called on the Federal Government to tame Mr. Mbu, who described himself as a Lion warning “that we shall shall resist any attempt to gag the press or harass any one going about their lawful duty in a peaceful and lawful manner”.

NLC’s statement signed by its general secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo- Eson noted “It is too soon to forget that the media played a leading role in securing the fourth republic for Nigerians.

Jonathan threatens to sue online website, others ...Over claim he is sixth richest African President

By Ben Agande

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has threatened to sue an online website, RichestLifestyle.com and other publications that claimed he is the sixth richest African President with a net worth of $100 million dollars.

In a statement yesterday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati said President Jonathan has never been a businessman and all his income since 1999 till date has been from the emoluments he earned from the offices he has held.

According to Dr Abati, the “the totally unwarranted inclusion of President Jonathan in the publication titled “Africa’s Richest Presidents 2014" is another attempt to unjustifiably portray the President as a corrupt leader and incite public disaffection against him”.

He said that “there has been no significant variation in the totality of his personal assets as contained in his last declaration to the Nigerian Code of Conduct Bureau in 2011 which, as can be verified, was a very, very far cry from the $100 million figure now being bandied about by Richest Lifestyle.com and other irresponsible, copy-cat publications”.

The statement reads: “We have noted with

consternation the listing of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan by a website – RichestLifestyle.com - as the sixth richest African President with an estimated net worth of $100 million U.S. Dollars.

“The Presidency condemns the totally unwarranted inclusion of President Jonathan in the publication titled “Africa’s Richest Presidents 2014" as another attempt to unjustifiably portray the President as a corrupt leader and incite public disaffection against him.

“We categorically assert that

there is no factual basis for ranking President Jonathan as the sixth richest African Head of State with a net worth of about $100 million U.S. Dollars.

“As is well known, President Jonathan has never been a businessman or entrepreneur, but a life-long public servant.

The President has held public office since 1999 and has regularly declared his assets as required by Nigerian laws. He has had no personal income since 1999 other than his official remuneration as deputy governor, governor, vice president, acting president and president which are

CONDOLENCE VISIT: Mr. Vincent Oyo, widower of the Former President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mrs Oluremi Oyo (2nd left); Dr. Reuben Abati, Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the President (3rd left) and Mr. Otomeh Oyo, the first son of the deceased (left) during a visit by the delegation of the Media and Publicity Department of the Presidency to the Abuja residence of the Oyos over the recent death of the former presidential spokesman, Mrs. Oluremi Oyo. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida

NLC asks FG to tame Mbu That task was not accomplished by playing the lapdog of everyone”.

The NLC noted that according to Mr. Mbu, “The offence of Mr Anakwe is that he had referred to Mr Mbu as “controversial”, which in our view is neither derogatory nor libelous.

Even if the word or sentence were otherwise, there are lawful channels of redress.

Mr Mbu cannot be judge and prosecutor in his own case”.

It added, “Freedom of speech is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to which we are all answerable in

matters of public record.

“The clear and unacceptable imputation of the claim that President Jonathan is now worth about $100 million is that the President has corruptly enriched himself while in office which is certainly not the case.

“We therefore demand a retraction and an unreserved apology from Richest Lifestyle.com and all those who have reproduced the offensive article.

“Otherwise, they should be prepared to substantiate their libelous claims against the President in courts of law within and outside Nigeria”.

spite of our station in life.”.

The Labour Centre stated “The arrest and detention of Mr Anekwe is therefore a calculated attempt to muzzle the press and free speech in a democracy. And it does not appear to be an isolated case as a few months earlier, this same Mbu violently broke up the Bring-Back-the -ChibokGirls Campaign on the basis of a non-existent law, drawing international condemnation of the government.

It expressed concern that “His (Mr. Mbu’s) antecedents in Rivers State from where he was deployed to Abuja are not less sinister.

Rather than receive a reprimand, Mbu was rewarded with a choice posting and promotion, with not a few speculating that he is being positioned to be IGP”.

Not only that, NLC recalled “A few weeks ago, a chestthumping Mbu had boasted at his hand-over ceremony that he was “the lion that tamed the tiger of Rivers State. ''Much earlier though unrelated to Mbu, newspaper publications adjudged not to be friendly to the government were routinely seized and destroyed”.

The Labour Centre said it found it necessary to “Sound a note of caution on Mr Mbu.

His above- the-law attitude to the work of law enforcement gives him out as one that is more inclined to promoting anarchy than the rule of law”.

In the perception of the NLC, “He ( Mbu) does not seem to represent the mainstream 21st century police if his routine primitive, partisan and primordial outbursts are anything to go by. He is a serial embarrassment to the Police Force we need.

What Nigeria needs, the NLC stated ''is a Police Force that is concerned with public good, law, order and justice.

We doubt Mr Mbu is in the right company”.

NLC ended on this note, “A word for those that invest and promote lions. Quite often times, they end up in their bellies”.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014—9

Muazu, PDP, Mark, Daniel beg Obasanjo for forgiveness

INAUGURATION: From left: Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Muktar Baba-Ahmed; former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adebayo; former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, at the inauguration of administrative block, store and library at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital in Ado-Ekiti yesterday.

By Henry Umoru

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B U JA — N AT I O N A L Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu literally went on his knees yesterday, saying that the party has offended former President Olusegun Obasanjo and asked that he should, as a father forgive the entire stakeholders, leaders, Elders and members of the party.

Speaking yesterday at Wadata Plaza, PDP National

By Kingsley Omonobi

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BUJA—THE Chief Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh lamented yesterday that there were too many “fifth columnists” in the armed forces, and this has been responsible for some conflicting information emanating from the military.

Speaking at the opening of the Security/Media Relations in Crisis Management seminar organised by the office of the National Security Adviser, he said some officers in the past gave information that turned out to be false.

Referring to some information that was released to the media in the wake of the abduction of the Chibok girls last May, he said, “If your people are misleading you, what do you do? There are too many fifth columnists in the military. There was a report which said we have seen some of the Chibok girls, only eight are missing, it was a very senior officer that gave that information from Chibok area. That was when people started saying henceforth, watch what Maj.-Gen. Olukolade, Director, Defence Information says. But he was misled by one of us. Anyway, we

Secretariat, Abuja, when he received the former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel back to the family of PDP, Muazu admitted that mistakes were made in the past and Obasanjo should come and lead the party, adding that the leader of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan was also waiting eagerly for him to come back to the party.

Also yesterday, Chairman, South West PDP integration committee and Senate

President, Senator David Mark and Daniel took turn to apologise to the former Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT of the party.

Senator Mark, who hailed Obasanjo and tendered an unreserved apology to him, stressed that the PDP family needed him so much if the PDP must be strong especially in the zone and Nigeria in particular, adding, “Daniel is right that older persons are always right.

All of us in the PDP are begging Baba to forgive us even if he is

annoyed with us. We truly apologise to him. He should forgive us because he cannot throw us away; He will have to forgive us and make sure we are not sheep without shepherd”.

Mark, however, asked the party leadership to ensure that the principle of fairness and equality was applied to keep the enlarged PDP family intact, adding that there must be a level playing field for all aspirants across the country.

Earlier, former governor Gbenga Daniel, who led members of Labour Party, LP back to PDP, however apologised for any wrong done to Obasanjo in the party, pleading that he should not abandon the house he built. He said, “I have returned to my party.

There is no situation where there are no differences, these differences have been settled.

“If Labour Party is actually strong in Ogun State, can it swallow PDP? It is the big fish that swallows the small fish and today PDP has swallowed Labour Party.”

Daniel, who was at the PDP secretariat with Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko and other members of Labour Party said “We have learnt our lesson. Goodluck Jonathan has performed and this goodluck of our time must be supported. We demand for a level playing field.

“What we are talking about is automatic waiver and this issue of automatic waiver has been guaranteed. I Otunba Gbenga

Daniel, former governor of Ogun state for eight years is now back to the PDP.” Speaking further on the return of Daniel to PDP, Muazu, who accepted his request for automatic waivers for all those defecting to the PDP, however warned that all defecting members must apply for the waivers, adding that this does not mean automatic ticket as that was between the aspirants and their God. Muazu continued, “I want to join OGD, I want to join my dear senior brother and indeed all the teeming members here to very sincerely apologise to our leader, to our baba, my baba, General Olusegun Obasanjo to forgive us. We cannot continue.

I know he has been very prayerful. In the Villa, I know he used to pray every morning.

Very early, 5:30 to 6am, he was praying.

And I know he keeps on praying all the time. As we say in our Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who trespass against us”.

“Baba, you have to forgive us. I beg you in the name of the almighty God, so that you too are forgiven. We are your children. We are making mistakes, we have made mistakes, we have apologised, we will not agree even if you want to throw the baby with the bath water, the baby will not go with you. ''So, please baba, we apologise.

Come and lead us. Even the president is waiting for you. Come and lead us. You are our leader, we appreciate you, we thank you for your leadership. We thank you for your courage. And we assure you that by the grace of God, we are all good boys and girls. “

INSURGENCY: Too many fifth columnists in military—BADEH are dealing with that situation ”, Badeh said.

Badeh also argued that what is happening in Nigerian with regards to Boko Haram terrorism is not different from what ISIS terrorist group is doing in Syria and Iraq, noting that it was therefore unfortunate the Nigerian military in spite of taking the battle to the terrorists all alone, was still receiving bashing from the citizens.

“What is happening in Nigeria with Boko Haram being so vicious and violent is not different with what ISIS is doing in Syria and other places; but all the world powers have gone there at different times to bomb Iraq and Syria, but none in Nigeria. The Nigerian military is all alone dealing with the issue.

“The military has taken a lot of bashing from everywhere but all of us know what we are going through. Somebody rightly said that what is happening with Boko Haram is a declaration of war. I want to say that when nations go to war, all elements of National power including the media join hands to fight the war together”.

“The military is not omnipotent,

the military is not omnipresent; are you expecting the military to go and drop a bomb that cost $15, 000 on two people. Let us not give the enemies of Nigeria the chance to make Nigeria become what people (enemies) wanted. We can do this by providing accurate information,” he said.

Badeh said the attitude of some Nigerians towards the war on terror suggest that they are against genuine intentions of the military to flush out the terrorists and this gives the impression that they sympathise with Boko Haram insurgency with the aim of destabilising the country.

His words, “We know that people do not like the military, but they should realise that we are the ones keeping this country together, and should avoid giving the enemies the opportunity to operate”.

Earlier, he told journalists to be guided by national interest while reporting the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North east saying “though you may know many things concerning the operations, you should not report things that would hurt or create panic

among the people”.

The National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki, on his part said insurgency was tearing the country apart insisting that as long as the media celebrated the activities of Boko Haram, the fight against the insurgency would still be far from being won.

His words: “Insurgency is tearing what holds our country apart. Their activities are new not only to Nigeria, but to the whole world. Media and the security should work together to fight this problem. The media should stop celebrating their activities and ensure professionalism takes priority in their reports, as a means to fighting this insurgents.”

The NSA, who was represented

by Prof. Soji Adelaja, said it is what the local journalists report that would go round the world and that since negative occurrences make news, the media should ensure that they report stories that will portray the country in a good light.

“What this insurgents struggle to achieve is to ensure that they get the media to do their bid by manipulating and obstructing the truth about what is going on. They

manipulate pictures, videos and other medium to create fear in the hearts of the masses. The media has a great role to play in this regards by ensuring that the truth is told and the right video and pictures are shown to members of the public”, he said.

He therefore called on the media to report responsibly by not sending wrong information to the public but report what will benefit the nation as a whole.

Earlier in his goodwill message, former Chief of Defense Staff and Chairman, Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SUREP, General Martin Luther Agwai had said that for the battle of insurgents to be won, there must be effective and efficient communication between the security and the media.

Agwai expressed optimism that the collaboration between the media and the security will fasttrack peace and tranquility into the country.

Other speakers at the seminar included the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, Professor Pat Utomi, Dr. Tonie Iredia.

10— Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

N789.6M SUBSIDY FRAUD:

EFCC to call 2 more witnesses

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AGOS—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, told an Ikeja High Court that it had two more witnesses to call in the trial of the three oil marketers over alleged subsidy scam.

The EFCC announced this through its counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, at the resumed trial of the case before Justice Lateefat Okunnu.

The marketers— Adamu Maula, George Ogbonna and Emmanuel Morah — are being tried for alleged N789.6 million fuel subsidy fraud.

Tribunal urges Fashola to take over lecturers salaries

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—AFTER a year of inauguration, the Tribunal of Enquiry set up into the June 17, 2013 crisis at the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, MOCPED, Epe, yesterday, submitted its report to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, urging him to take over the payment of staff salaries of state’s tertiary institutions.

Fashola had on September 6, 2013 inaugurated a five-man tribunal led by Professor Idowu Shobowale to investigate the riot whichstartedaftersomestudents were barred from writing the first semester examination for defaulting on fees.

Exhibition

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AGOS—A three-day exhibition on Vegetarian and healthy lifestyle tagged Lagos Veg Fest, LVF, will commence from tomorrow till Sunday at Freedom Park,Lagos Island.

The exhibition, which is the first to be held will feature some of Nigeria’s most innovative businesses in the health & wellness industry, and international guests.

The event will also feature 30 stands with a food court and innovative health, green, sustainable products and services.

The Speakers’ Forum will be the dialogue platform for topics around a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

ABUJA SUIT: PDP accuses APC of fresh plot to stall Fayose's inauguration zAs security is beefed up in Ekiti court premises

By Gbenga Ariyibi DO-EKITI—EKITI State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has again raised an alarm over an alleged desperate bid by the cronies of All Progressives Congress, APC, to stall the inauguration of the governor -elect, Mr Ayo Fayose by filing a fresh suit in an Abuja High Court.

The party was referring to the suit with registration no FHC/ Abuja/CS 709/14 between Young Democratic Party Vs INEC, Fayose and others.

The party is seeking for a court injunction stopping the inauguration of the governor elect, Mr Ayo Fayose.

Meantime, there was heavy presence of security operatives mostly soldiers, armed policemen and men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, around the High Court premises in Ado Ekiti, yesterday.

The security operatives condoned off the premises of the court and blocked all the major roads leading to the popular Fajuyi Park, location of the court.

According to a statement in Ado-Ekiti by the PDP's state Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, said the party has been vindicated with the latest action by some people sympathetic to the cause of APC. In the statement, the party urged Ekiti people and Nigerians to note that the APC and its allies were bent on fomenting trouble in the state. ”The PDP has again been vindicated about our earlier alert on the desperation of the ruling APC in Ekiti State to use the judiciary to truncate democracy in Nigeria as the party has now rushed to Abuja to file another exparte motion to stop the swearing in of the governor-elect on October 16, 2014. ”This is a confirmation of our earlier alarm and submission that the APC that gallantly lost the gubernatorial election on June 21, 2014 were desperate to scuttle democracy in Ekiti State through the back-door judicial process.

“This new, strange and desperate step by the APC ruling government has clearly demonstrated that the APC is an unrepentant enemy of democracy.

“Despite the fact that the E11 suit is still pending and the election tribunal on standby, the fundamental question is, why does APC have to jettison the two pending cases in Ekiti

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State and run to Abuja to file another suit on the same matter “It has never been in the Nigerian history that a popularly elected governor with overwhelming majority in a free and transparent election could be denied the swearing in just because some people are desperate to cling on to power,” the PDP stated.

Security beefed up

The presence of the security operatives had created tension in Ado Ekiti, the state capital as they searched vehicles moving in and out of the court premises.

Courts under the control of the

state judiciary had been closed down for the past one week by the order of the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, while members of the Junior Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, have joined the ongoing strike action embarked upon by the state workers.

A group called E-11, had gone to court challenging Fayose’s eligibility for the election on account of his impeachment on October 16, 2006 by the then House of Assembly.

The soldiers and other security agencies blocked the major AdoIyin Highway and diverted all vehicles to Adebayo-Iworoko

road, which caused traffic snarl along the axis due to heavy presence of traffics.

The two gates of the court were manned by combined forces of the security operatives.

Police react

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the State Command, Mr Victor Babayemi, said the action was taken based on the directive of the chairman of the National Judicial Council and Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Alooma Mukhtar, which ordered that security should be beefed up around the Judges to forestall attack.

NO ROAD: Traffic gridlock along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, forcing motorists to spend hours in the traffic. Photo: Diran Oshe.

Lagos schools resume as students undergo Ebola sensitisation

By Victor Agi, Kelechukwu Iruoma, Desmond Okon, Faith Olatide & Williams Covenant AGOS—PUBLIC and private primary and secondary school students across Lagos State resumed academic activities for the 2014/2015 session, yesterday, with the first day of resumption dedicated to sensitising them on the preventive measures of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. Following the outbreak of the the Ebola Virus Disease imported into the country by American-Liberian diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, directed schools in the state to postpone their resumption.

When Vanguard visited some schools in the state, school heads expressed satisfaction with the level of preventive and precautionary

L

measures put in place by the government.

According to the Administrative Head, Gloryville College, Okoko, Mr. Obe Olubunmi, government had kept its promise of providing some of the anti-Ebola preventive facilities.

He said: “Everything is in order and we had our students screened this morning before admitting them into classes.”

Similarly, a staff at Staff Nursery and Primary School, Ijanikin, who pleaded anonymity attested to the fact that equipment such as thermo-scanners and sanitizers had been provided to the school.

His words: “The government has provided facilities to ensure preventive and protective measures against the EVD. About 24 infrared thermo-scanners were given to us and they will be used daily by the school to screen entrants, including pupils, parents and staff into the school.”

Principal of United Christian

Senior Secondary School, Apapa, Mrs. Patricia Olujumu said: “We have awareness seminar and workshop. The principals and head teachers went to the seminar. After the training we were given the infrared thermo-scanner. A new tap was fixed in the school, buckets, soaps, jerry cans were also provided.

“We thank God for what is happening around. All we now have to do is be watchful. We know that we don’t have Ebola around again, but because neighbouring states have it, we must be alert and highly hygienic.”

The Proprietor, Ansol Schools, Ejigbo, Evangelist Michael Akanni, who advised that students should be careful with what they touch, however, commended the Lagos State government for its contribution towards the fight against the deadly EVD in the state.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014—11

Osun teachers shun resumption order

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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BACK TO SCHOOL: Students of First African Church Mission Primary School 1, Iju-Ishaga, being tested for Ebola symptoms as schools resumed in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

Transformation Agenda a sham, says Amaechi

By Gbenga Ariyibi

A

DO EKITI—GOVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has described the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan as a sham, saying poverty still pervades the society.

Speaking while commissioning the ultra-modern Pharmacology/Biochemistry building of the Medical School in Ekiti State University in Ado Ekiti, the governor charged President Goodluck Jonathan to remodel the programme with a view to meeting the hopes and aspirations of average Nigerians.

Amaechi, who carpeted members of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, promoters of the Federal Government-driven Transformation Agenda, stated that he never expected anything outstanding from them.

He said: “This transformation agenda has not in any way reflected in the lives of Nigerians. There is poverty and wanton neglect everywhere you go. So what are we now transforming?

“Some of the members of TAN are those that benefited from the subsidy fund and who ought to be prosecuted and jailed. I am

sure that all Progressives Congress, APC, will bring to bear more pragmatic agenda that would meet Nigerians’ yearnings.”

The governor lauded the level of development in Ekiti

State university, saying it had justified the investment of the state government on the educational sector.

Governor Kayode Fayemi, who noted that some people, including himself, had in the

23 Ondo lawmakers dump LP for PDP

By Dayo Johnson

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WENTY-three of the 24 members of Ondo State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the Labour Party, LP, yesterday defected to People’s Democratic Party, PDP. The remaining lawmaker, Mr. Gbenga Edema, representing Ilaje constituency II, said he was still consulting on his next line of action.

Twenty six members make up the Assembly with only one, Mr. Lubi Akpoebi, elected on the platform of PDP. The 23 members, in a letter read on the floor of the house, said they decided to leave LP after meeting with relevant stakeholders in their areas.

According to the letter addressed to the Speaker, the lawmakers said they were no more comfortable with developments in LP. It read in part: “We the underlisted honourable

members, having met with relevant stakeholders in our various constituencies, have decided to decamp from Labour Party to People’s Democratic Party.

“This is because we are not very comfortable with legion of litigation pending before various courts across the nation at the instance of members of Labour Party, which are already igniting crisis in the party.

“As a matter of fact, Labour Party is already factionalised and totally polarised because of the aforementioned reasons.

“Consequently, we prefer to

A

BEOKUTA—OGUN State government, yesterday, said it had adjusted the schools calendar in all the public schools by extending the closing hour by additional one hour for the pupils to meet up with the academic calendar.

The state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Odubela, who stated this after he went round some schools in the state, explained that students in the public schools would hence forth close by 3p.m. instead of 2p.m.

He also disclosed that

key into the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

This we believe will definitely be to the betterment of our various constituencies.”

The Speaker, Jumoke Akindele, while reacting to the letter, said following the decision to dump LP, the natural place for many of them was PDP as most of them were from PDP. Akindele said: “LP was like a small pot with many spoons.

“With the movement to PDP, the members now have a wider platform to operate.”

... as National Committee summons Ondo PDP over Mimiko leaders of the party in the Fadaka said: “We feel total

By Dayo Johnson

A

K U R E — T H E National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has summoned the Ondo State Working Committee and

School calendar adjusted in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji

past described the university as a glorified secondary school, said the trend had taken a dramatic turn through well envisioned steps taken by his government and management of the institution.

S O G B O — CONFUSION trailed the resumption of schools for the new academic session yesterday in Osun State, as only private schools in the state resumed for 2014/2015 academic session, with teachers in public schools shunning the resumption order.

In some public schools in Osogbo and Ede towns, teachers and a handful of students, who had resumed as ordered by the state government, were turned back by the officials of Osun State chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT. NUT had, in a circular issued in Osogbo yesterday and circulated to public schools, claimed that it had already reached agreement with government to defer the resumption till Monday, October 13.

When contacted, Osun NUT chairman,Mr. Saka Adesiyan, said teachers shunned the resumption order because some of its demand had not been met by the government.

Specifically, Adesiyan alleged that the items NUT said must be provided in schools to test returning students for the Ebola Virus Desease were yet to be distributed to schools in the state before the resumption order was given.

students would be given only one day as Easter holiday, adding that students would lose one week of their first term holiday.

State chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Dare Ilekoya, commended the government for providing Ebola preventive equipment in public schools.

state to a meeting in Abuja over the furore the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko is generating.

Governor Mimiko also left Akure for Abuja yesterday to attend the meeting to be chaired by the Senate President David Mark, supported by some members of the National Working Committee of the party.

Ondo State chapter of the party had lashed out at the national secretariat over the manner it handled the defection, saying it was done “ with disrespect to the state party executive.

A statement by the state Director of Publicity Ayo

discomfort and displeasure with the manner his carpet crossing was managed by selected leaders of the party at the national level.”

Vanguard gathered in Akure that the state Working Committee of the party, led by the Chairman Mr. Ebenezer Alabi, left for Abuja to attend the meeting summoned by the national leaders.

Other leaders expected to attend the meeting include Dr Bode Olajumoke, Kingsley Kuku, Olusola Oke, Victor Olabimtan, Gbenga Elegbeleye, Professor Olu Agbi among others, across the three senatorial areas in the state.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

POCKET CARTOON

VISIT—President Goodluck Jonathan receiving the Executive Director, Pan African International Ltd., Mr. Donald Coward while the Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Jejin Jeon (2l) and the President Samsung Heavy Industries, Mr. Daeyoung Park (r) watch during an audience President Jonathan granted a trade delegation from Samsung Industries International at the Aso Villa, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Nyako's deputy sworn-in as new Adamawa Gov Continues from Page 1 Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri as illegal and unlawful.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke directed the Chief Judge of Adamawa State to immediately swear-in Ngilari as governor of the state in obedience to the court judgement.

Adoke, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Adedeji Ajibade, also called on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ‘keep in abeyance all arrangements made for the conduct of bye-elections scheduled for Saturday.

President of Adamawa Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Lawan A. Lagre performed the swearing in ceremony as the tenure of the Acting Chief Judge, Justice Mammadi Ambrose expired, yesterday.

Speaking after taking oath, Governor Bala Ngilari described his emergence as the will of God. “Let me state without fear of contradiction that my emergence is by the will of God. I will therefore put the fear of God first in all I do as I remain the Governor of Adamawa State”, he stated. He solicited the support of all stakeholders in the Adamawa project, stressing that the task ahead needs collective collaboration of all to take the state to the next level.

Ngilari identified insecurity, unemployment, poverty and other social vices as the major issues bedevilling the state, stressing that all hands must be on deck if the problems were to be tackled.

to the October 11 aborted

Loyalty to Jonathan, bye-election, which included former Senate PDP Pledging his absolute loyalty to President Goodluck Jonathan, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party’s National chairman and members of the Board of Trustees, he urged them to rally round his administration to achieve the needed results.

How Adamawa received Fintiri’s ouster

Earlier in the day, when reports started filtering into the state that the Acting Governor, Fintiri had been sacked, complete disquiet enveloped the state capital, especially Government House, the seat of government.

People gathered in groups to discuss the frequent political changes in the state, saying that the trend will not augur well for the needed rapid development of the state.

Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof.

Abdullahi Liman Tukur lamented that the state was jinxed with frequent political changes that were inimical to its growth.

“In short, the hands of Adamawa clock has been reversed. It will take a decade or more for Adamawa to recover from the present political mess.” He said the people of Adamawa State under Fintiri had resolved to carry the state to the next level, but all of a sudden a new quagmire has been thrown into the state's political development.

Adamawa State PDP Chairman, Chief Joel Madaki described the scenario as normal in politics, saying it is a PDP affair.

Some members of the PDP National delegation

President, Ken Nnamani and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’abba described the development in Adamawa State as normal in politics.

Among those at the swearing-in event were former Adamawa State governor and present Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Boni Haruna; Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd), former Deputy Governor, Mr. Wilberforce Juta and Alhaji Muhammadu Kwaranga Jada.

Moments after assuming power, the governor named a former chairman of Madagali Local Government Council, Mr. Chubado Tijjani, as his new Chief of Staff.

Tortuous road to power

Ngilari was comfortable as deputy governor until impeached Governor Murtala Nyako left the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ngilari opted to remain in the PDP, which still controls the majority in the state House of Assembly.

Before long, the House decided to impeach Nyako with a promise to save Ngilari if he resigned. He agreed and tendered his resignation letter to then Speaker Fintiri.

However, when Nyako was impeached, Fintiri was sworn-in as acting governor amid controversies that Ngilari, a lawyer by training should occupy the post because his resignation letter should have been tendered to the governor and not the

speaker.

This was the matter that Ngilari took to the law courts for adjudication, contending that he never validly relinquished his position as deputy governor and the courts answered his prayers.

Indeed, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, sacked Fintiri from office and ordered that Ngilari be sworn-in immediately as governor and stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from going ahead with its plans to conduct a byeelection in the state on Saturday.

The court maintained that in-line with the provisions of sections 306 (1), (2) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the purported resignation of Ngilari on July 14, 2014, was invalid, null and void, noting that contrary to the constitution, the letter, was addressed to the Speaker and acted upon by the Adamawa State House of Assembly.

It will be recalled that sequel to the said resignation letter, the Adamawa State House of Assembly had on July 15 declared Ngilari’s office vacant after it impeached Murtala Nyako.

In his judgement, Justice Adeniyi observed that the purported resignation letter upon which Ngilari was ousted from office, was written at a time when Nyako still held sway as Governor, stressing that the letter ought to have gone through Nyako, instead of the Speaker or the State Assembly.

The court held that the failure of the letter to pass through the proper constitutional channel rendered it invalid, null and void.

Specifically, the court, declared that by the combined provisions of Section 306 (1), (2) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), “the plaintiff , as Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, did not resign his office by addressing a letter of resignation dated 15th July, 2014 to the first defendant (Speaker, Adamawa State House of Assembly)”.

The court held that the purported resignation of the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State did not take effect when the said letter of resignation was received by the Speaker on July 15, 2014.

Justice Ademola said he took judicial notice of the fact that Nyako, in an affidavit of fact he deposed before the court through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ahmad Sajoh, categorically stated that the Deputy Governor did not tender any resignation letter to him, a fact it said was also corroborated by Ngilari himself.

The court held that

Fintiri, having stayed in office for almost three months, ought to have furnished it with any document showing that Nyako saw and acknowledged Ngilari’s resignation.

“In view of the foregoing, it is the opinion of this court that all the documents purportedly indicating that the plaintiff tendered his resignation letter are of doubtful origin, full of inconsistencies and are hereby discountenanced”, the judge added.

Nyako rejoices, Fintiri appeals as INEC suspends byelection

Reacting to the development, Nyako, who has not been seen in public since his ouster, yesterday, expressed satisfaction with the judgement.

He said in a statement made available to Vanguard last night that the court verdict was a clear indication that the entire episode leading to his removal and forced resignation of Ngilari were a farce.

This came as Fintiri filed a notice of appeal against his removal from office and the inauguration of Ngilari as governor.

In the same vein, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, suspended the planned byeelection in the state slated for Saturday in deference to the court verdict.

A statement from the commission signed by its Acting Secretary, Mr. H. Adamu, noted that its action was predicted on the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Nyako, who worked with Ngilari to claim his victory, pointed out that the victory was a first step in the judicial process of correcting the wrongs carried out by the Adamawa State House of Assembly against him and his deputy.

Nyako, in the statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Sajoh, congratulated Ngilari on his victory and hoped that the judiciary would soon return him to his seat since his removal was also illegal.

The former governor said: Fintiri’s sack is a further testimony to the fact that the entire process associated with the purported impeachment saga had been series of acts characterized by extreme illegality and political brigandage.

“Buoyed by a system that promotes impunity and abuse of all legal and constitutional procedures, the lawmakers in Adamawa State took it upon themselves to abuse all known legal norms to enthrone a regime anchored on illegalities.

“We wish to observe that this is the first step in the judicial process of correcting the wrongs of the Adamawa State House of Assembly. We are confident that the Nigerian judiciary will further confirm the injustices associated with the purported removal of Governor Murtala Nyako which was done in a manner akin to a civilian coup d’état.

“The process of the reversal of all the series of illegalities connected with the supposed impeachment saga has only just commenced and will continue until it culminates in the return of Governor Nyako to Government House, Yola.”

Congratulating Ngilari on his success at the court, Nyako advised him to take up the responsibilities of his new office with his famed patience and humility. “He should be mindful of the nature of Adamawa State as a diverse and plural society and therefore rule the people with justice, fairness and the fear of God. Finally we call on the people of Adamawa State to remain calm, law abiding and to extend all necessary support to the new leadership and to wish Barr Bala Ngillari success and God’s guidance in his new assignment.”

Fintiri appeals

Meanwhile, Fintiri claimed yesterday that he had filed an appeal against his sack by the Federal High Court.

Fintiri’s lawyer is said to

Continues on Page 16

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014— 13

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014—14

Rivers APC loyalists slam Jonathan zSay President's 6-year regime, most disastrous in nation's history

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ORT HARCOURT— LOYALISTS of Rivers State chapter of All of Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday described the last six years of President Goodluck Jonathan as the most disastrous in the country’s history, Speaking through Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, APC loyalists said: “We should have been celebrating in recognition of Nigeria’s 54 years of nationhood but what we are rather seeing is a pervasive atmosphere of gloom as Nigerians are groaning day and night under the wicked rule they are being subjected to through the government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, which has abdicated its responsibility to the people, and in every way possible shows the wickedness of its reign.

“To say that Nigeria is currently at the cross roads – confused and not knowing what tomorrow portends, occasioned by the visionless and misguided leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the centre – is to say that appropriate words to describe the state of our nation under an uncaring and

corrupt government can’t be found. Today, we have a government that cannot protect or guarantee our security as contained in the Constitution.

“To worsen the nation’s situation, President Jonathan has proven himself as incapable of running this country as his six years of administration have been

most disastrous to the country’s history. Our hospitals have become more of consulting and mortuary centres; our federal roads are now death traps, after billions of naira had been budgeted and wasted. We have an elected Government that hates democracy.

"Under this administration, the

civil war years can be described as haven, as Nigerians are killed in droves today, without any solution at sight. Under this administration, Nigerians are so divided in both tribal and religious matters. Salaries of civil servants are not paid. Graduates are produced in millions yearly without any plan of employment for them.

Kerosene now sell for N50 in Delta communities zResidents laud indigenous firm

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ARRI— AN indigenous firm operating in the riverine communities of Delta State, A & E Petrol has crashed the price of kerosene from N165 to N50 per litre in the oil rich riverine communities of Ugborodo and TebiIjoh, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State.

Chairman and CEO of A & E Petrol, Chief Ayirimi Emami in an interview, while supervising the sale of the one million litres of kerosene to Ajudaibo, Ogidigben, TebiIjoh and other riverine oil and gas bearing communities disclosed that the subsidy, which

cost his company over N70 million is the beginning of a long term plan to make kerosene and fuel easily accessible to people of the riverine communities in Delta State at affordable prices.

Chief Emami, who noted that the direct sale of kerosene and fuel by his company at cut-down prices will reduce illegal bunkering, stated that the gesture by A & E Petrol is not political, but geared towards reducing the untold hardship being faced by people of the riverine communities.

According to him, the move by his company sequel to a meeting with the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Alison D e z a n i Madueke and the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, wherein a de-

cision was reached that in each kerosene allocation his company gets, sales of kerosene to people of the riverine communities should be subsidised.

A cleric, Rev. G. O. T. Aforijuku, Ogidigben Community Youth Chairman, Mr. David Mamah, Chairman of Ajudaibo Community, Japhet Emami, Madam Caroline Majebi, Clifford Ekwale, Sonny Utoro, Funmi Enegho and Madam Eworitsemogha Edun all of who spoke to newsmen on behalf of other beneficiaries, commended A & E Petrol for the gesture, stressing that it was the first time in the history of Ugborodo communities that they are experiencing the kero direct sale despite being host to key multinational oil companies.

Investigation reveals that the sale of kerosene in Ugborodo and its neigbouring riverine communities is between N250 to N500 per litre due to the cost of transporting it from Warri.

Delta youths disassociates selves from Vanguard report zApologise to Ekpan community head

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ARRI—Six youths involved in the tussle to become Chairman, Ekpan D e v e l o p m e n t Employment, EDC, Unit, Udumoto quarters in Uvwie Local government area of Delta State, have disassociated themselves from a petition published in the media of September on 14, in which they were alleged to have petitioned security agencies and the government.

This was contained in a communiqué signed and issued at the end of a meeting of all the aspirants to deliberate on the lingering issue of who is EDC unit chairman.

The aspirants are Mr. Agagbo Andrew, Mr. Ukoko Joseph, Mr. Sakutu Oghenero, Mr. Roland Ajenughurhe, Mr. Daniel Azaluwa and Mr. Richard Idjai, Chairman elect.

At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that “that all petitions that have been written to all security agencies and the media are, hereby, withdrawn forthwith.

Benin youths petition Works Minister over alleged neglect by RCC

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN CITY—CRI SIS is brewing between the management of the Reynolds Construction Company, RCC, and Benin youths, over RCC alleged neglect of its host communities, following which the youths have issued a 21-day ultimatum to the company, to be alive to its corporate social responsibilities to its host communities or leave.

The youths in a petition through the Edo Unity League, addressed to the Minister of Works, A r c h . M i k e Onolemenmen, alleged that the construction company had abandoned the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, it entered with the host communities in 2013, where it agreed to abide by the Indig-

enous Employment Quota of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as it relates to employment of Edo state indigenes on casual and management staff) and the Local Content mantra of President Goolluck Jonathan.

According to the petition, “As an organized construction outfit with long-standing integrity that has enjoyed Nigeria’s patronage in the last thirty (30) years, we would had expected as a people, the RCC ought to adhere strictly to the spirit and letters of the peace accord and not to treat the concerns of her host communities with impunity; maybe they resort to such jungle tendency to spite the oversight responsibilities of your Ministry."

“We urge you to act

timely in order to save avoidable mishaps from presenting themselves, with auxiliary repercussions. We hereby declare a twenty one (21) days ultimatum for the unconditional restoration and full compliance of the peace accord reached on behalf of host communities and the RCC by the Benin Development Union. The local content policy of empowerment of indigenous small and medium scale organization that is domicile within the operational areas of RCCBenin/Ofosu sites are resuscitated.

“The indigenous employment quota of the federal Republic of Nigeria is adhered to by massively employing more Edo people for casual and management staff undertakings."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 — 15

ENGAGEMENT PARTY FOR ANUOLUWAPO ADEDOYIN & NOSIKE ADAH

From left: Chief Stephen Bakare, Chief Rasaq Okoya and Justice George Oguntade(rtd).

Groom, Nosike Adah and his bride, Miss Anuoluwapo Adedoyin, during their engagement in Lagos, weekend.

From left: Chief Sunny Asemota; his wife, Ireti; Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, and, Sir Kessington Adebutu.

Mrs.Maiden Ibru, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, and his wife, Iyabo.

From left: Mrs. Dupe Oguntade, Mrs. Shade Okoya, Alhaja Wosilat OkoyaSeriki, and Mrs. Tayo Parkes.

From left: Erelu Ojuolape Ojora, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, and Otunba Kunle Ojora.

From left: Chief Joseph Sanusi, his wife, Abigail, and Chief Adewuyi Adetunji.

Otunba Kunle Ojora (left), and a guest at the event.

16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Attack on Edo lawmaker: PDP, APC in war of words

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—EDO State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its All Progressives Congress, APC, counterpart, yesterday traded words over alleged attack on the lawmaker representing Etsako West constituency of the state, Rasaq Momoh, at the legislative quarters, Tuesday night.

While the PDP, through its state chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, alleged that the APC masterminded the attack on its lawmaker, the APC state chairman, Anslem Ojezua, alleged that the victim and the PDP had track records of violence in the state and should be held responsible for the attack.

Orbih said: “The Edo State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is worried by the deteriorating security situation in the state occasioned by the heightening political intolerance by the Governor Adams Oshiomhole APC-led government to opposing political views. “ We strongly condemn the attack which is a reflection of the growing desperation of the APC

administration in the face of its fast dwindling political support.

"In a democracy, the right to freedom of association is sacred and must be respected by all. We call on the Inspector General of Police to bring to book all those involved in the dastardly act."

But reacting, Ojezua asserted: “Violence is not the character of the APC or Governor Oshiomhole. Even when Momoh left the party, instead of resorting to physical combat, the party went to court. Momoh is the one who has an antecedence of violence.

It would be recalled that, some time ago, he was caught with firearms and is still facing court trial.

“There is no way the governor will condescend so low as to sponsor people to attack Momoh because all through his union days, there was no record of him taking up arms against anybody.

As far as I am concerned, whatever happened at the legislative quarters was purely a legislative matter and the governor or the party should not be dragged into it.” .

It was learnt that trouble started when the lawmaker whose seat

was declared vacant by the House last July for defecting from the APC to the PDP, was stopped from entering the quarters by security men at the gate.

He was said to have forced his

way into the premises by scaling the perimeter fence.

This was said to have elicited hot exchange of words between him and the security men attached to the gate and some

CONSULTATION VISIT: Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege, Delta State governorship aspirant (right) during a consultation visit to elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, in his country home.

Nyako's deputy sworn-in as new Adamawa Gov Continues from Page 12

have also filed for a stay of execution of the judgement in favour of Ngilari pending the hearing of the appeal.

According to an aide of the sacked acting governor , the case was filed shortly after the verdict by his counsel, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN).

A statement from the chambers said: “The Adamawa State Ag. Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has appealed the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja delivered a little while ago. The Acting Governor’s lawyers have already filed an appeal against the said judgement. We have in addition filed a motion for stay of the orders of the court pending appeal.

“The implication of this is that the orders of the court cannot be complied with until the appeal process is disposed of.

This is the position of the law

as the law allows anyone who is challenging an order of a court not to obey such order until his constitutional right of appeal is exhausted. This is to forestall a situation where a fait accompli will be foisted on the appeal court,” Ojo said.

PDP accepts ruling However, the PDP yesterday accepted the judgement of the Federal High Court and urged the new governor to ensure peace and progress in the state.

Speaking with journalists yesterday in Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, disclosed that at the end of its National Working Committee, NWC meeting, the party agreed that since it was not a party to the suit, considering any appeal will not be feasible, adding that it would look at the earlier agreed zoning arrangement reached prior the ruling.

Atiku, Agbakoba, Okocha,

Akeredolu, others react The development elicited widespread reactions yesterday from leading lawyers and politicinas.

It’s the right thing to do—Akeredolu Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) said the decision to swear-in Ngilari was a welcome development. “That is the right thing to do if he has been sworn-in by the Chief Judge of the state to take over the functions of governing the state to act as governor. That is how it is done pending the suit brought by the impeached governor over his impeachment. That is the law.”

Verdict only delayed wishes of the people to oust PDP – Atiku Former Vice President and presidential aspirant on the banner of the APC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said the court judgement that brought back the former Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Bala Ngilari as Governor of the state has only delayed the overwhelming desire of the people of the state to vote out the PDP government in the state.

2015: Why we support Obuh for Delta gov —GBM

By Caleb Ayansina

A

B U J A — A p r o democracy group, Goodluck Believers Movement, GBM, yesterday, insisted that it was the turn of the people of Delta North senatorial district, to produce the governor of Delta State, as they had been marginalised since the creation of the state.

The group said it had thrown

its support behind Chief Anthony Obuh, who hails from Anioma area of Delta North senatorial district, for governor in the spirit of fairness and justice.

National President of the group, Mr. Engema Jumbo, while speaking to newsmen in Abuja, maintained that the Urhobo and other senatorial districts had sufficiently had

lawmakers within the premises.

It was gathered that some suspected thugs swooped on the lawmaker during the commotion and he was allegedly beaten to a pulp.

their shares.

Jumbo, who named past governors who had ruled the state since its creation in 1991 from the administration of Chief Felix Ibru to that of Chief James Ibori, (both from Delta South), and the incumbent governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta Central), noted that people of Delta North were also part of the state, and they also had competent people that could move the state forward.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 — 17

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N the past two weeks, I have been travelling in Kano and Kogi states. Two weeks ago, we were back in Kano along with colleagues from other parts of the country, to see the fast paced developments of the past three years in the city. I go to or pass through Kano very regularly to know that it is one of the most impressive construction sites in Nigeria today: new housing estates or brand new cities springing up around the great commercial city; the various institutes offering training opportunities to young people and opening entrepreneurial apertures; the network of roads and overhead bridges; street lighting on the broad avenues of the city and the general feel good factor that has become central to life in Kano. These were the scenes and ambience that we soaked in during the two days that we were in

maintenance and reconstruction. And because each vehicle is packed with passengers eager to arrive at different destinations, drivers became a bit more careless; two lane roads suddenly morph into four even five lanes from each direction, and everybody gets hooked up in a logjam!

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From Kano to Kogi: Consolidating development, opening accesses struggle for modernity and development. The slogan that hung on the wall in the Government House, in Lokoja, described Kogi as a Confluence of Opportunities,

We were informed that there are a total of 58 ongoing projects in the state and given the topographical challenges, a conscious effort is being made to take development towards the Ganaja direction of the city, on the Ajaokuta road

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Kano. The extra dimension was the unfolding buzz around the presidential ambition of the governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the man's strength of character and sheer force of personality have been central to the remarkable modernization that Kano is witnessing over the past three years and it became clear that the man was not only renewing his community, but was also looking forward to the possibilities of engaging with Nigeria. Kwankwaso has become one of the major factors in the political permutations in Nigeria as we move forward towards the 2015 elections. And if what he has achieved in Kano was used as areference point, then the last has certainly not been heard of Governor Kwankwaso. In Kano, there is a lot that has been achieved in three years and they show what leadership can actualize when there is commitment and a sense of purpose. That was the frame of mind that I took out of Kano.

Last week, I was also in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi state. There are strong emotions for me about Kogi state. Afterall, it had been created out of the old Kwara state and many of the childhood memories that I cherish had been shared with contemporaries who were hitherto from the old Kwara but have now become citizens of Kogi state. And apart from passing through to or from Abuja, it was the first time that I was returning after a few years. It soon became clear that in Kogi, there is a lot of work to do in the

and indeed that is what it truly is! The state capital is a city of very challenging topography, which can be both a threat and opportunity. In the hands of a visionary leadership, there are tremendous opportunities to create a genuinely modern Nigerian city. One got the impression that it is the foundations of the modernization of the city that are being laid by the government of Captain Idris Wada.

Frankly, things are far from being easy or rosy. We were informed that there are a total of 58 ongoing projects in the state and given the topographical challenges, a conscious effort is being made to take development towards the Ganaja direction of the city, on the Ajaokuta road. New road bypasses are being flagged off in that direction; a new housing estate is also being constructed and the Greater Lokoja waterworks has been fortified to prevent the flooding which almost consumed it in the recent past. There are hopes for tourism, including the plan to regenerate the Mount Patti residence of Lord Lugard; the contract for the road to that height has already been awarded and the governor told us of the efforts being made to address the issues of youth unemployment and the empowerment of the poor.

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here is a lot of work ahead for the people and government of Kogi state, in the struggle for modernity and development. There were false starts in the past and the political situation has often been very adversarial.

But at the end of the day the duty of government is to plant that mustard seed of development and the hope that the people can be galvanized to achieve visions of development they can be proud of and be willing to buy into.

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overnor Idris Wada is a soft spoken, old pilot who seems far too gentle for the cloak-and-dagger world of Nigerian politics. But he consciously chose the vocation and has surrounded himself with many people from all backgrounds, to help actualize the vision, including our own colleague, Zainab Suleiman Okino, who has temporarily traded the world of newspaper editing for the political world of

Commissionership in the Kogi state's ministry of Information.

We had a long night of interrogations with the governor on all the issues arising from our trip round Lokoja earlier in the day and left with the hope that the will power will be mustered to translate into reality the opportunities that Kogi state possesses. We were already in the mode for the Sallah celebrations and very early the following morning, the eve of the Eid, I hit the roads to get to Ilorin, for my first Sallah celebration at home, in the past three years. As usual at this time of the year in Nigeria, the roads were clogged up with traffic; trailers have broken down on several stretches of roads desperately in need of

eople curse under their breadth; local people from communities on the roads takeover the control of traffic, with unconcealed efforts to extort the road users. The state seems totally absent, infact, useless in these settings, unable to provide the leadership that such moments require. Selfhelp is the central motif in the Hobbesian state of nature!

Hours on end are spent on these roads and the most annoying thing is that this is a national cycle of logjam that we all know will take place each year, at least four times: the two Eid holidays; at Easter and Christmas/New Year festivities. Yet, we are unable to remedy the situation. If ever there is a country that doesn't learn lessons taught by the social processes of existence, that country is Nigeria. Thank God though that after the frustrating sojourn on the roads, we arrived all aching in joints and exhausted in limbs and body, but in one piece, able to participate in the Sallah festivities. We will go through the same cycle at Christmas.

Remi Oyo: My sister, my friend

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EMI OYO, former MD, News Agency of Nigeria; former Senior Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo and a former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), died on October 2nd, of cancer-related ailment in England, a few days before her 62nd birthday. She has rightly been mourned by people from all over the country, but especially by her colleagues in the media and top representatives of officialdom. Remi Oyo was one of the most generously spirited human beings I ever met. And we first met in March 1980. I was a neartwenty year old, and had been sent from Ilorin to Lagos to become one of the newsreaders on the National Network Service of Radio Nigeria. That evening of our first meeting, Remi Oyo was the News Editor on duty and I was the newsreader for the Seven PM, half-hour NEWSPANORAMA news programme. Soon as I finished reading the news segment, Remi walked up to me to tell me how well I read news; I was slightly embarrassed and she then asked where I came from.

When I told her I was from Ilorin, her face lit up, telling me she had also been born in

Ilorin and that her mother still lived there. And to make it even more interesting, she lived not too far from my family's compound!

In the next couple of weeks of my engagement on the Network Service, I saw Remi Oyo every week and we became very close friends.

There were far too many tales of Ilorin childhood, in the same neighbourhood of the city that we could share and when I returned home after my tour of duty, I went to see her mother; it was remarkable to discover that she knew my parents and practically every member of our family. The Ilorin town of those years seemed to be so close-knit, that families literally knew each other and the children were collectively taken care of, by everybody.

It was that sensibility that Remi Oyo belonged to, and I used to tell her that she formed her persona and her humane spirit in the wombs of my hometown that she was equally so proud of. Over the years, our different career trajectories took us in different directions and we were not as in touch as hitherto; and I think my very critical pieces against President Olusegun Obasanjo, especially in the months of struggle against the

Third Term Agenda, affected our closeness somewhat, but Remi Oyo was always a dependable sister whose support I could always take for granted, no matter the anger she felt about my writings. In 2004, when my twins were born and there was a problem with passport formalities in England, it was Remi Oyo I turned to, in order to get our old boss at Radio Nigeria, Dr. Christopher Kolade, who was then Nigeria's High Commissioner to the UK, to help sort out the logjam. She obliged with tremendous efficiency and passion just as our boss, Dr.Kolade ensured that the problem was cleared within 24 hours and my wife and twins could return safely home to Nigeria. I am therefore not surprised that practically everybody has had a very good thing to say about a truly remarkable Nigerian woman; a mother and wife; top notch professional journalist, broadcaster, editor and media leader; and for me, a wonderful sister and friend.

May the Almighty God give former ace Announcer/ Newsreader, Vincent Oyo, Remi's husband and the children and the entire family, the fortitude to bear Remi Oyo's tragic passing.

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18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 THE recent decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) to increase the number of polling units across the country was conveyed as an attempt to ease the voting procedure. It was aimed to shorten the queue of voters during accreditation and voting on election days.

That decision and the reason as given, ordinarily should be applauded by all stakeholders, especially given the crave by most Nigerians for free, fair and credible procedures on polling days.

Given the accolades the Commission has received on account of relatively undisputed gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun States, Nigerians expected INEC to build on its positive rating.

However, on the issue of the increase of the number of polling units recently decided by the Commission, there are many questions begging to be answered.

That the decision was taken after the application of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, (AFIS) when the number on the voters’ roll has been significantly reduced calls the creation of new polling units to question.

Following the application of AFIS, the

Shelve The Controversial New Polling Units Commission was expected to revise or redistribute the polling units across the country based on the new number of voters.

However, in a move that put logic on its head, the Commission proceeded to award new polling units to states that were clearly shown to have diminished number of voters.

Shockingly, states that have experienced mass exodus of people on account of insurgency have had their number of polling units increased over those with assimilating populations.

Unnecessary suspicion was created by the confirmation that majority of the newly 30,000 new polling units were carved out disproportionately in one part of the country, leaving other parts protesting.

That has soured the upbeat mood in the Commission and the nation at large, creating the impression of a devious agenda.

Another fact that the Commission may not have factored into its planned creation of additional polling units is the extra cost that would go into the exercise. The creation of the 30,000 extra polling units would require additional 30,000 policemen, 60,000 polling officers and the 30,000 additional observers each of the political parties would have to provide.

INEC has sought to counter issues raised by concerned stakeholders but the response has failed to soothe frayed nerves.

The suspicion that this exercise has raised calls for its suspension until a thorough and acceptable reassessment is carried out.

We believe that the creation of additional polling units should wait until next year ’s general elections have come and gone. The INEC should commit all its efforts towards ensuring a hitch-free poll in 2015.

OPINION

By Johnson Ukochevwera

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WO publications provoked this writ ing. Both publications say so much about how contemporary Urhobo politics has entered the doldrums and how if this trend is not immediately arrested we as a people in spite of our majority status in Delta State will remain political underdogs. The state of Urhobo politics at the moment is very pitiable and we seem to fall deeper and deeper into the abyss of political limbo.

The Urhobo remain the only majority group anywhere in the world that suffers from marginalisation when it has the majority vote which evidence has shown dwarfs votes from all other parts of Delta State put together. What is our political status today?

We are politically and economically disempowered. We have been stripped of all political leverage and dignity and we have become the laughing stock of all.

Our people, the Urhobo people, saw the year 2015 as the year of achoja when all our political shortcomings, our fears, our sufferings, marginalisation and the injustices done to us will be remedied. But the present scenario, the happenings and events as orchestrated by the political class, only shows that we have not learnt our lessons and that more terrible and harsh socio-economic and political experiences await us.

The present crisis assailing the Urhobo nation as the countdown to 2015 gathers momentum is not only a function of the problem of the political elite, but also traceable to the questionable and less than altruistic role played by the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, in the political affairs of the

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Urhobo and the crisis of confidence Urhobo people in recent times.

One is not saying that the UPU should be quarantined from politics. What one is saying is that the UPU should represent Urhobo interest without ulterior motives and should be seen to be above board. However, as the race to 2015 began the UPU took sides with some Urhobo politicians and anointed two as their preferred Urhobo aspirants for 2015.

Our neighbours in Delta State laughed and rejoiced knowing that the two UPU favourites will not in any way enjoy the confidence or attract the votes of the common Urhobo man or woman on the streets due to their past political records. The two names the UPU chose played very prominent roles in selling off the electoral mandate won by an Urhobo, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru. They did it in 2007 and twice in 2011. How come these political sell-outs are the same people that the UPU selected as her favourite sons who should be Governor come 2015?

The Urhobo nation is in big trouble and the action of the UPU is about to backfire. I began this write-up by referring to two provocative publications. The first one is a report that a serving commissioner who pretends to be a governorship aspirant and who is among the two names shortlisted by the UPU has been on his knees begging Chief EK Clark to make him Deputy Governor to Tony Obuh, a rookie aspirant of Delta Igbo

extraction.

The shame of this deed is on the UPU who chose the fellow. Why should Urhobo people not believe or feel that the UPU has derailed and is conniving with politicians to mortgage Urhobo political fortune? How come only political sell-outs are considered fit by the UPU. The second infuriating publication is in the Vanguard of September 29, 2014. The publication was made by a self-styled Urhobo Media Group which has endorsed two Urhobo aspirants for the governorship.

It is a very unfortunate thing to do. Deltans and indeed the Urhobo people know the man and the hand behind the Urhobo Media Group endorsement.

Urhobo people know their genuine political leaders, they know those who genuinely embody the Urhobo aspiration and ideals and at the right time the people will speak and make their choice.

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hy will the Urhobo Media Group set tle for somebody known for truncating the Urhobo will to produce the state governor. The action of the UPU and the Urhobo Media Group will destroy Urhobo solidarity. The action is going to create a crisis of confidence because the Urhobo people who constitute the electorate will not follow them to the electoral battlefield.

Let them spend all the money, the Urhobo

people know them and will make the right choice at the right time. How come the UPU is not bothered about the political antecedents of those they have picked as Urhobo choice.

With the present development is it still justifiable to blame Olori Magege, Ighoyota Amori, Monday Igbuya and other Urhobo sons who have been accused as working against the Urhobo interest by campaigning for Anioma candidates? Certainly nobody can blame them because those nominated

by UPU also worked for an Itsekiri candidate at the expense of the Urhobo nation. How come UPU suddenly found them as worthy sons?

In the same manner, Magege, Amori, Igbuya and co will go to UPU after the 2015 election and seek for forgiveness. They will ask to be reconciled with UPU and UPU will oblige them. Is this how we will continue as a people? For how long can we survive this crisis of political confidence?

UPU must be responsive and be above board and ensure that there is no disconnect between it and the Urhobo people. It is not too late for UPU to cancel the endorsement.

Urhobo has worthy and patriotic sons in Great Ogboru, David Edevbie, Otega Emerhor and others.

•Ukochevwera, a political analyst, wrote from Effurun, Delta State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014— 19

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HAT the Nigerian Army has problems is pretty obvious.

Perhaps, the challenge extends to the entire armed forces, but the Army is the one that has been in the news. The Army, as usual, is the one that bears the brunt of defending the nation whenever it is challenged either from outside or within. It is the flag bearer any time Nigeria is called upon to participate in peace keeping operations within the sub-region and other parts of the world, be it the Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Sudan or Chad.

The Nigerian Army’s biggest accomplishment was its ability to restore the unity of the country during the civil war. It was subsequently able to repel a series of Islamist rebel attacks in Maiduguri and Yola during the 1980s. Just five years ago, the Army was also able to force the Niger Delta militants, who were fighting for resource control, to drop their arms and settle for late President Umaru Yar ’Adua’s amnesty programme. We alsorecall that it was the Army that conclusively crushed the kidnap network in Aba and Ngwa-land, and destroyed

Osisikankwu, whose armed bandits were already angling to become a political force, making demands and arm-twisting the political authority in Abia State.

It was this same great fighting force, which started wilting in the face of a full-scale war waged by Boko Haram, the Al Qaeda and ISIL-linked Islamist group, which has now named its occupied territories in Adamawa and Borno an “Islamic Caliphate”. This is the only challenge that the Army is meeting with both divided house and divided attention. Some officers and men are reportedly channeling funds, arms and strategic information to the enemies. Some senior officers are said to be misleading troops into ambushes, leading to loss of precious lives, while some others at the very top echelons are being accused of treasonable corruption. They are said to be diverting funds meant for arms purchases, and buying obsolete equipment. Some serving and retired officers are alleged to be worth “billions”.

We do not know whether all these things being said are true.

All we know is that a foreign

busybody mercenary called Dr Stephen Davis is accusing some people of “sponsoring” Boko Haram. We also know for sure that there is a series of courtmartials going on. Already, 12 officers have been sentenced to death, while others bagged jail sentences. Another batch of 97 personnel and officers have been arraigned. Their alleged offences range from mutiny to disobeying orders from their superiors, right down to refusal to participate in the on-going military operations.

It was also during this sad period that wives and family members of army personnel drafted to the war front took the bizarre step of barricading the gates of military barracks in Maiduguri to ensure that the deployment did not take place “until they are given the right equipment to fight”.

On the other hand, the Federal Government presented a request for one billion US Dollars loan to procure modern military equipment to the federal parliament, which was speedily granted. Efforts to procure the arms have resulted in scandalous interception of two batches of

Strains on government-owned media

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HE importance of the press cannot be overemphasized. There is hardly any aspect of human endeavour that is today not covered by the activities of the press – from the maternity ward to the mortuary; from agriculture to zoning; and, indeed, in every sphere of life, we see traces of the press.

From time, the strategic role of the press has been realised as succinctly expressed by the third President of the United States of America, Thomas Jefferson (17431826): “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without a press or a press without government, I would not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter”.

Ever since the Supreme Law of the land, the Constitution, assigned to the press, the role of the watch-dog; the role of upholding the fundamental objectives of the Constitution; and the role of the responsibility and accountability of the government to the governed, it has become clear that the media has been assigned an onerous responsibility.

The watch-dog never sleeps. At the legislative end, the watch-dog is there for the people, constantly ensuring that the lawmakers play by the rules. Once the laws are enacted, it becomes the responsibility of the media to carry them to the people.

That explains why, in the case of our elections, from the stage of registration to the election proper; from the election to the post-election phases at the Tribunal and Appeal Court processes, the press is constantly there for the people – educating them on their rights and obligations under the law. In essence, the media must stay awake in order that the rest of society can sleep.

When the law runs foul and in those critical moments of the miscarriage of justice, the media is constantly there to point out what is and what should be.

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However, despite the fundamental importance of free speech and free press in a democracy, some people still believe that speech should be free only for those who agree with them. Once we leave the level of abstraction to the level of specific questions or conflicts, there is discouragingly low level of support for free speech and free press.

Government is constantly at war with itself. While wanting a free press, government does everything contrary to the tenets of a free press. This approach-avoidance stance can be likened to the case of a man who always wants good teeth but does not want to see a dentist.

At the staffing level, government recruits the best; government trains the best; but government cannot retain the best. Soon after recruiting and training the best, most of them “decamp” to the private media outfits where they get higher wages and more alluring incentives.

In the end, perhaps unwittingly, this produces a win-win situation for everybody: the private media outfits save a lot of money in initial training costs; the decampees, so called, besides getting the enhanced pay packet, they immediately become bosses in their new places as against the subordinate positions they occupied in their previous places; and the original employers, have a repository of goodwill out there. They acquire for themselves the status of trainers of trainers. For instance, there is hardly any media house you visit throughout the country today without meeting a former staff of the Nigerian Observer and Edo Broadcasting Service, EBS. Government would want the best coverage from its media outfits; in the case of Edo State, the Nigerian Observer and the EBS. Meanwhile, these outfits still depend largely on the analogue equipment that were acquired for them at inception, dur-

smuggled foreign currencies ($9.3 million and $5 million) in South Africa, which the Federal Government has admitted were meant for arms purchases. So, there is abundant evidence that the Army is having serious problems.

Many have wondered: How is it possible for a “rag-tag” band of Islamist fighters to roll back the mighty Nigerian Army, storming out of their hiding places in Sambisa Forest to establish an “Islamic Caliphate”? Well the answers can be gleaned from the fact that our army has the kind of problems it has never been faced with during previous challenges. During the Biafra war, the federal side came together as one against the breakaway Republic of Biafra.

The war eventually produced heroes on the Biafran and Federal sides. Who are the heroes of our war on Boko Haram?The one name that should have automatically come tops was General Azubuike Ihejirika, the former Chief of Army Staff, but alas! He is being accused, or more appropriately, smeared with accusation of being a Boko Haram sponsor by people who have axe to grind with President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mighty China, in spite of its large army and advanced technology, fell to Genghis Khans’ Mongols, a band of horsemounted nomadic fighters. The problem was mainly lack of support for the regime in power, corruption in the Chinese army and the sound strategic savvy of the Mongol generals. They went on to create the largest empire in human history. It is obvious that

ing the medieval age, so to say; while the media world out there has gone fully digital.

There is no royal road to geometry. And you can’t eat your cake and have it. Let government invest in the update of its media outfits for the mutual benefit of all – efficiency would be enhanced and the much coveted Inter-

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Leave the Army to repair itself

The Biafra war eventually produced heroes on the Biafran and Federal sides; who are the heroes of our war on Boko Haram?

To perform their constitutionally assigned responsibilities, journalists must have reasonable degree of independence, freedom and assertiveness

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nally Generated Revenue, IGR, would shoot up considerably.

The government-owned media are tranquilisers of sorts. Rather than “publish and be damned”, which is the hallmark of bold journalists, the practitioners in government must remain palliative, only obeying the master’s voice. They are only heavy in propaganda, lending credence to what a British Prime Minister once said: “In times of war, the Ministry of Information becomes the Ministry of propaganda”!

A government media-man would drive on a failed road, a road completely ridden with pot-holes but he cannot say so.

Rather, he must be ready at all times to unleash his venom on the opposition politician who dares to say so.

the general rot in the Nigerian system – the corruption and mad quest for easy money has permeated our armed forces.

Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, put it correctly when he said Boko Haram fighters were better equipped and motivated than our army. The quest for more arms by the Federal Government is one evidence, and the yearning by Boko Haram to have an Islamic caliphate where they can practice their weird form of Islam is another.

I think we should support the on-going effort by the military high command to return sanity to its rank-and-file. At least, the armed forces did not take the path chosen by their Malian counterparts when the Islamists and Tuareg rebels seized half of the country and set up their own sort-lived Islamic republic. The army commander, Captain Ahmadu Sanogo, simply went to Ouagadougou and removed President Toumani Toure from power and installed himself. He accused Toure of not giving the forces the equipment to fight and win. At least, our own army has chosen the more civilised and better option of internal cleansing.

We must allow the Army to carry out its assignment and put itself back to shape. Even though we are in a democracy, where the public opinion cannot be stifled over anything under the sun, we must remember that too much interference in military affairs may ultimately backfire, with serious consequences for our democracy and the unity of our country.

His boss could be stealing the country blind but rather then say so, he must defend the action of the boss and thus, as an “apprentice in thievery and corruption”, he perpetuates the culture and tradition of these vices until he ultimately graduates into a bigger thief than his boss.

Three years ago, at the celebration of our 51st Independence Anniversary, it took a foreign guest lecturer to inform Nigerians that their politicians were the highest paid in the entire world but Nigeria’s infrastructure was among the least developed. On that occasion, two people spoke – President Goodluck Jonathan and the guest lecturer. The President’s speech, which was only as insightful as telling us that one could get wet in the rain was freely circulated; while the guest lecturer ’s speech, which contained the home truth, the bitter truth on which development could be based, was strategically withheld from circulation.

In all, information remains the raw material on which a free press thrives and by which a free people live. To perform their constitutionally assigned responsibilities, journalists must have reasonable degree of independence, freedom and assertiveness. They must also have reasonable access to information and be able to function in an atmosphere devoid of harassment and intimidation. Except in the rare cases of inevitable classification of documents, government officials should strive at the goal of full disclosure.

In every form of media ownership, deliberate efforts should be made to balance the interests of the owners and the public.

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20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Tears flow freely after fresh onslaught by Fulani herdsmen

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG, Jos

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OR more than a decade, Plateau State, the “Home of Peace and Tourism”, has been plagued by series of violent attacks and bomb blasts which have left thousands dead, property worth billions of Naira destroyed and relationships among people severed.

These attacks which abated in the State capital Jos, have however persisted in the hinterlands with Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos South and Bokkos Local Government Areas being the latest targets.

Residents of Riyom, one of the worst affected council areas, who had in the last three months witnessed relative peace, were

children were given as Goodluck, Grace, Mary, Sandra and their two-week-old baby. Also killed was an 80- year old grandmother, Mary Dauda and her grandchild, Jummai Dauda, 14.

Lasting peace Others who alleged lost their lives included Dalyop Gorow, Danyam Davou, Ayuba Danjuma, Homsarah Danjuma, a pregnant woman whose name could not be ascertained and some others whose identities were not established at the time of this report.

Speaking with Vanguard Features VF, the Chairperson of Riyom Local Government Area, Mrs. Josephine Piyo said she was saddened by the development which occurred

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Many people were killed including one foetus at full term; the mother was burnt to death and the completely formed baby exposed; some bodies are yet to be recovered

caught off-guard when the monster reared its ugly head again. The latest attacks which came when the residents were getting used to the new- found serenity, left the people disillusioned.

The attacks which occurred simultaneously in six villages early Friday morning, were perhaps the most gory. The residents who alleged that the attackers were Fulanis, claimed that they killed a two-week-old baby. A pregnant woman who was due for delivery was also burnt to death.

The attackers who stormed the Sharubutu, Gyen, Dung, Fang, Lwa and Dyang villages when the inhabitants were fast asleep, allegedly killed 16 people and burnt property, including six cars and eight motorcycles. Also destroyed were more than 40 houses as well as over 20 farmlands of pepper, cabbage, maize and vegetables.

Among the dead were five members of the family of one Pastor Jonathan, the presbyter in charge of the local Church, COCIN. The names of the

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inspite of efforts to restore lasting peace in the area.

“I got a call at about 3am that there were simultaneous attacks on six villages of my local government and that the people were running for safety despite the sporadic gunshots all over the place.

“Many people were killed including one foetus at full term.

The mother was burnt to death and the completely formed baby exposed. Some bodies are yet to be recovered and the Special Task Force, STF, posts were also burnt down,” she lamented.

Mrs. Piyo commended the bravery of the security personnel who rose to the task adding: “The security personnel tried but I guess they might have been outnumbered and overwhelmed.

I sympathise with them as they also lost a personnel.”

She said she will not be deterred by this ugly development and will continue to work for lasting peace to be restored in the area. The Council boss appealed to detractors to give peace a chance so that

*Discarded items left in the wake of another bloody attack development can come to the area.

Majority Leader and member representing Riyom Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Daniel Dem said the attacks were carried out by Fulani herdsmen who also burnt houses, including that of the late Senator Gyang Dantong.

Dem added that there was rumour about an impending attack on the communities about a week before the incident but no one believed them because of series of meetings which had been held and the fragile peace which residents were enjoying.

He said normalcy has been restored as a result of the intervention of the operatives of the STF, but called for adequate security measures in the affected communities to enable the villagers continue with their normal activities.

Mr Dem also called on the

National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to assist the victims with relief materials to enable them cushion the effects of the attacks.

Similarly, the Councillor representing Sharubutu Ward, Dauda Dim alleged that19 people were killed including two Fulani men who were exchanging fire with the soldiers. According to him, many people were also injured while eight persons are still missing.

He further alleged that the attackers went away with the missing people and appealed to security agencies to track them down and rescue the people.

Apart from the burning of houses, shops and foodstuff barns, the Counsillor disclosed that one Emmanuel Pam who was returning to Sharubutu from Angwan Wereng on a motorbike was ambushed and killed on Saturday evening.

He appealed for the intervention of relevant agencies in the provision of foodstuff to the affected villagers who are “living in fear and hunger”.

The Councillor called on the security agents to patrol the routes from Shendam, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi to Riyom in Plateau State and Southern part of Kaduna State which the militia always pass through.

The spokesman of the STF, Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, confirmed that “six villages were attacked simultaneously, including our guard locations in those villages”.

“The attacks started around 3.30am and at the end, eight community members lost their lives. A soldier was killed and three attacking militias also lost their lives. Some injured persons have been taken to hospital and normalcy has been restored to the areas,” he said.

Electricity: Online firm launches lottery to provide alternative power supply

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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ALKING towards her apartment at Ikotun Ijedodo, Lagos from the bus stop at 10:00 pm, the entire community was in total blackout. Miss Toyin Ogun could not understand why the company in charge of electricity distribution in the community was yet to supply electricity for months.

Efforts by the Community Development Association, CDA, to ensure that IKEDC replaces the transformer supplying electricity to the community, failed. Also attempts to persuade the Ikotun-Igando Local Council Development Area, LCDA, to provide solar powered streetlights that could provide illumination for residents to navigate their way in the community, yielded no result.

To worsen the situation, Toyin

could not afford the cost of buying a standard generator, at least a 2.5 KVA which cost at about N40, 000, because her landlord had banned the use of smaller generators popularly called ‘I better pass my neighbour’, in the house.

Toyin said that the landlord cited environmental issues. So, at night she relies on her torchlight for illumination.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government last month announced that it had concluded plans to provide N213 billion, as bailout facility to settle the legacy gas debt, a move expected to translate to improving gas supply for electricity generation.

Olatunde is, however, afraid that the usual bureaucracy in government transactions will scuttle the plan.

But he has an option courtesy of Buy Cheap Nigeria, the owner of the online retail out-

let, BuycheapNigeria.com which has launched a lottery programme to provide alternative power supply for Nigerians with as low as N50.

Unveiling the plan at a press briefing, Chief Executive Officer of Buy Cheap Nigeria Mr. Dominic Edokpolo said that the draw would be broadcast live every Friday on local television. According to him: “It would give Nigerians the opportunity to win any product up for sales at a certified price ranges from zero kobo to N100.”

The CEO hinted that seven 2.5 KVA petrol power generating sets would be made available to the general public across the country weekly, adding: “We have obtained a permit from the national lottery regulatory commission to promo generators imported into the country by Pavo Punda Limited”.

Vanguard, THURSDAY OCTOBER 9, 2014 — 21

Why we stopped distribution of pre-paid meters —Eko DISCO

By Udo Ibuot, Chief Sub Editor

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HE Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC, has blamed the delay in the rolling out of prepaid meters to consumers on the fear of byepass of its meters.

The company’s Vice President, Legal, Mrs. Wola Ojoye, who spoke during a courtesy visit by members of the Consumer Rights Advancement Organisation, CRADO, led by Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, at the EKEDC corporate headquarters in Marina, Lagos, said that byepassing of payment for electricity consumed was evident mostly with prepaid meters.

She said this fear has been responsible for the company’s inability to distribute the 9,000 prepaid meters it inherited from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, when it took over on November 1, 2013, adding that these meters go into negative after consumption of electricity already paid for by the consumers.

She said the company was prepared to partner with manufacturers of best quality prepaid meters that would not be bye-passed by its consumers, stressing that whether such meters were locally made or imported was not the issue.

Ojoye said EKEDC has a plan to roll out meters in the country next January, noting that the plan has already been forwarded to the electricity sector regulators, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, in Abuja for

their approval.

She said the company met big problems when it took over, stressing that what EKEDC met was not what it was told.

Asked whether EKEDC did not avail itself of the due diligence which all the DISCOs were given opportunities to undertake, she said their officials were prevented from doing so by the electricity workers union. She said the union leaders refused to allow

them to access facilities of the defunct PHCN. While stressing that the company was not interested in forwarding estimated bills to its consumers, Ojoye said it was automating the billing process because estimated billing was not profitable to the company.

The managing director of Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Oladele Amoda, had a couple of weeks ago said the company had

concluded plans to roll out a total of 360,000 electricity meters to customers under the distribution network of the company.

According to the Eko Disco boss, N1.3 billion would be expended on the project by the company. The first phase of the project, he disclosed, would start with about 5,000 meters for all high voltage or maximum demand customers of the company who, he said, were

responsible for about 70 percent of the company’s revenue profile.

He further said under the scheme, apart from those not having meters at all, all customers having obsolete and malfunctioning meters would also have their meters replaced.

Earlier on in his postprivatisation update report to the committee, he had disclosed that the company had embarked on a number of measures poised to engender a total turn-around in the company’s services to its customers. These, he said, included the embedded generation project, evolvement of a new human resource policy with emphasis on workers’ safety, training and improvement of general working condition.

From Left: Bola Adedola, Managing Director//CEO, Standard Chartered Bank of Nigeria; Diran Olojo, Head Brand & Marketing, Nigeria & West Africa,and Remi Oni,Executive Director, Corporate & Institutional clients, at the Standard Chartered Bank premise consumer price tracker media roundtable in Lagos. Picture by Akeem Salau

LADOL, Samsung to establish N51bn vessel fabrication facility GODWIN ORITSE THE Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics, LADOL and Samsung Heavy Industries SHI, have formed a partnership to establish a N51 billion vessel fabricating facility. The facility with quay length of approximately 520 meters, depth of 13.5 meters and heavy lifting area of 5,000 metric tons is designed to become Africa’s largest vessel fabrication and integration facility and will create 50,000 new jobs in Nigeria.

Commending the joint project, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke said that “the project will certainly add value to the economy.”

The facility, which is the first fabrication and integration yard in Africa, has a total area of 121,000 square meters consisting of an assembling area, a painting shop, utility and warehouse area with a

production capacity of 10, 000 metric tons.

Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony of the new enterprise located within the LADOL Base in Lagos , Alison-Madueke said that on completion by October 2016, the facility will be capable of fabricating 1,000 tons per month as well as integrating the Egina FPSO and other FPSO projects expected to be undertaken in the country.

“We are happy at this ground breaking ceremony which is the beginning of the journey to full completion of the mega-fabrication and integration yard at LADOL. This is a major milestone in our drive towards building capacity which will be a big boost and will be of benefit to the upcoming deepwater development projects.

“With the initial hitches in progressing this development now gone, it is our hope that the yard construction work will continue as planned to enable the delivery of the Egina FPSO project as scheduled and have the first

FPSO integration done at this mega-facility in Nigeria as well as to commence a new era of it being a hub for the entire Africa region,” the Petroleum Resources Minister, who was represented by the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Engr. Jonathan Okeh, stated at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The Minister explained that in addition to increasing the size of fabrication, engineering, procurement and raw materials market in Nigeria, the facility which she described as a huge local content milestone would also generate 50,000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians.

Speaking in similar vein, Managing Director of LADOL, Dr. Amy Jadesimi said: “We have been developing the facility for 13 years and the ground-breaking today is a real watershed moment.

USC 190.80

USC 4.75 USD3,318.00 USC 15.73

USD 7.00

USC 0.32

USD 97.20 USD 0.20 USD 94.55

DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

USD 1.01

154.75 155.25 249.7046 250.5114 195.4957 196.1273 161.737 162.2596 1.4217 1.4263 0.2783 0.2883 228.7066 229.4455 25.2068 25.2887 41.248 41.3812 26.2595 26.3444 229.8502 230.5928

155.75 251.3182 196.759 162.7822 1.4309 0.2983 230.1845 25.3706 41.5145 26.4292 231.3355

CBN Exchange Rate as 08 /10 /2014

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

,

Before you can cure your anxiety, you must be able to recognise symptoms of anxiety and accept that you are anxious

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Entrepreneurship without anxiety B

NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES

eing an entrepreneur is enviable but not all the time. The reason is that entrepreneurs go through a lot of challenges and tough situations. Sometimes they are scared, sometimes anxious. As an entrepreneur, one must find a way to eliminate or reduce anxiety because it•fs dangerous to health and a threat to one’s existence. Following are some tips that could help cure/reduce anxiety.

Take deep breath when anxious: When next you start feeling anxious, try to take a very deep breath and exhale and you just might start to feel better.

Psychologists always encourage taking deep breaths as a way to cure strong feelings like anxiety, stress and anger because it triggers relaxation of your body. It sends relaxation signals to your brain from your nervous system.

Consider worst case scenario: Most times, anxieties are born out of fear of the unknown. Sit down to analyse a worst case situation. Then come up with a solution or an alternative course of action.

Accept your condition: Before you can cure your anxiety, you must be able to recognise symptoms of anxiety and accept that you are anxious. This doesn't mean that you should resign yourself to your condition; it just means that you recognise that you are in an intolerable position and must do something about it.

Give generous time limits to complete tasks: Anxiety also arises due to fear of deadlines. It•fs always good

Most times, anxieties are born out of fear of the unknown. Sit down to analyse a worst case situation

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to give yourself sufficient time to complete tasks.

Refrain from setting unreasonable time limits and deadlines that would put unnecessary pressure on you. Allow yourself enough time to complete tasks and even review it.

Plan everything: From your daily tasks to your meetings and even your speeches, make sure you have everything planned ahead and written down for reference. It•fs easy to get distracted and forget things that we ought to do or say but when you have them laid out in black and white, it becomes easier.

Delegate Tasks: A good leader always delegates. If you find it difficult to delegate tasks to your subordinates, then something is wrong somewhere. You are either a bad leader who has done a bad job of training his subordinates or you have surrounded yourself with the wrong subordinates. You don•ft have to do everything yourself; try to embrace team work so that tasks and responsibilities can be shared and one person doesn•ft have to carry the burden of a task alone.

BUSINESS

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Talk and think positively: Instead of accepting anything that comes into your mind, always question your negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts. As much as your mind likes to play tricks on you, it is still under your control and subject to commands. Therefore, you must always command your mind to fill itself with positive thoughts. You should also learn how to speak positively and use your mouth to confess positive things. When you start feeling anxious, start saying positive things that make you happy and you would start to feel better.

Reduce idle time: When you spend time on meaningful activities that contribute to the achievement of your goals, you would find out that you have less time to nurse fear and anxieties.

Exercise: Physical activities also help to cure anxieties. People have talked about the therapeutic effects of Yoga. Jogging in the mornings and taking short walks in the evening can make you feel like a brand new person.

Date Currency 02/10/14 DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

BY YINKA KOLAWOLE, with agency report

H

akeem Bello-Osagie is regarded as one of the successful businessmen in Nigeria, with interests in the banking and telecoms industries. He is currently chairman of mobile network operator Etisalat Nigeria.

He recently addressed a conference at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School, where he shared with the audience some of the lessons he has learnt in business, as captured by howwemadeitinafrica.com.

Excerpts.

Buying(N) 154.75 249.7046 195.4957 161.737 1.4217 0.2783 228.7066 25.2068 41.248 26.2595 229.8502

Central(N) 155.25 250.5114 196.1273 162.2596 1.4263 0.2883 229.4455 25.2887 41.3812 26.3444 230.5928

Selling(N) 155.75 251.3182 196.759 162.7822 1.4309 0.2983 230.1845 25.3706 41.5145 26.4292 231.3355

How to be a successful businessman, by Bello-Osagie

Have a healthy scepticism of data Bello-Osagie noted that much of the market data and information about Africa he has come across in his career had been incorrect. He said one of his biggest mistakes in business was when he was part of a losing bid for the first mobile network licences in Nigeria. According to him, at the time, some of the world•fs most well-known consultancy firms advised that the Nigerian mobile phone market could not exceed 20 million subscribers. Based on this figure, he said that his partners decided not to bid more than $265 million.

However, the winning bids came in at $285 million.

Today, Nigeria has more than 100 million mobile phone subscribers, and in hindsight Bello-Osagie said the value of the licence was probably closer to $800 million.

When he bought United Bank for Africa (UBA) in the late 90s, he did not make the mistake of relying too much on expert data. The bank was for sale for $15 million.

Many advised him that buying the bank was a bad idea, but he felt it was an undervalued asset and stuck to his guns. Bello-Osagie approached a large South

African bank to put in $8 million for a 51 percent stake in UBA, but this was deemed too risky an investment. He however went through with the transaction. A few years later the same South African bank made him an offer that valued UBA at $300 million.

•"So when I tell you to have a healthy scepticism (or) disrespect for data, I mean what I say," Bello-Osagie asserted.

Don't exaggerate political risk in Africa Many foreign investors are scared to invest in Africa due to the perceived political risks.

Bello-Osagie says companies however need to look beyond only political risk, and take into account all the other risks that could be a threat to a business. According to him, while there may be greater political risk in some African countries, firms in the West

have higher •"technological risk" with their business models constantly under threat from new disruptive technologies being introduced by companies like Google.

• "The risks that you face in a lot of other countries are far higher than you imagine, and they often, in my view, outweigh the lower political risks that you have in the Western world. Therefore, success in Africa needs a correct appreciation of political risk, not exaggerating it (and) not unduly worrying about it," he stated.

Right team is essential Bello-Osagie said winning teams are critical to the success of any business. •"Teams are crucial because they combine the differing talents of different individuals, and they make the whole better than the part," he said. He noted that large

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014—23

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& YOU

The old erroneous belief that leadership is all about knowing all the answers should no more apply in today's business world

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COMMODITIES (08/10/14) Commodity Light Crude

Last 87.20

Natural Gas

3.89

-0.07

-0.77

Sugar

16.13

+0.09

+0.56

Coffee

218.65

+2.30

+1.06

Cocoa

3,039.00

-12.00

-0.39

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companies operating in Africa today typically have a mix of expatriate and local employees. In terms of expatriate workers, BelloOsagie said those with a need for structure, certainty and clear procedure often don•ft do well in Africa. It is therefore important to appoint someone with •"a spirit of adventure, a hunger for new things".

• "When the light packs up or the washing machine stops working, he or she doesn't throw their hands up and head for the airport...That eagerness and desire to experience something new, is more important than functional intelligence," he added. When it comes to local staff, Bello-Osagie said there are broadly two kinds of people - the foreign MBA educated with an understanding of "what life could be", and those who have lived in a country like Nigeria all their lives. He said that a winning team is a combination of those with international experience and streetwise locals who know how to work the system.

Nurture relationships Weaker institutions and legal systems make personal relationships more important when doing business in emerging markets such as in Nigeria and Africa in general.

Bello-Osagie noted that these relationships need to be nurtured. •"You may not want

% Change -1.86

Key attribute of a performing organisation

to go (to) the CEO's daughter's naming ceremony. You may not want to go (to) his daughter's wedding, but I'll strongly advise you to go, in your own interest. These relationships are fundamental and they do not stop at five o'clock in the afternoon•"they go round the clock," he explained.

Be bold uncertainty

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

despite

Drawing from The Fog of War, a 2003 documentary film on the life of former US Secretary of Defence Robert McNamara, Bello-Osagie compared the uncertainty of business with warfare.

•"When you go into war, it is like walking into fog, you cannot see very clearly precisely what there is on the other side. I love that analogy because I think that one of the key factors for success in business is you must have that mental attitude to walk boldly through the fog of uncertainty that is an inevitable part of business. There are some individuals who cannot make a decision until every fact is in, who cannot live with uncertainty. By the time every single fact is in, you are inevitably too late for the opportunity," he said.

Don't sacrifice personal life for business success Bello-Osagie urged the audience not to neglect their personal lives in the pursuit of business success. "Your relationship with another human being, whether that be a wife or a partner or with your parents or with your family, is very important. I know many businessmen that are on the pages of newspapers and on the front pages of magazines, who return to their lives and their houses, who are deeply unhappy. In your desire to be great successes, I want to urge you not to lose yourself.

It is far easier to change a job, to change an industry and to improve a business, than it is to change an unhappy life," he stated.

"We run the company by questions, not by answers"... Eric Schmidt

ften times, when I ask people in organisations to O list their attributes or what

classify them as a high performing organisation, the list is always long. Organisations on their own also invest in so many things or areas they think will make them high performing at least by their own assessment.

However, one key attribute – that is critical to innovation, transformation, growth, new discoveries and new ways of doing things has been kept off the radar all these years. And that is •"creating a culture of questioning". Intentionally, ask yourself, in our organisation do we have a •gculture of questioning•h as part of our attributes?

In this era of competitiveness, a major advantage organisations will have over others is the ability of their employees (regardless of unit or department) to ask smart or thought provoking questions.

Every transformation, innovation or initiative stem from understanding or knowing the right questions to ask.

Conversely, most failures in organisations have occurred because someone was unwilling to ask questions about things going wrong, things he/she does not understand, things that show great concern (and if not resolved can cause serious problems). Yes, it is true that thought is what precedes change, but what is more important is to know that all thinking is stimulated by questions.

Does your organisation have a corporate culture of questioning as opposed to depending only on answers?

Frankly and sometimes, it appears better and more respectful to always provide answers to customers,

managers and even business owners. This also explains why salespeople are quick to provide impressive answers too often and eventually do not win the business. The business landscape of today requires people who will not just provide answers, but know how to ask smart questions (and problem revealing questions). Little wonder Robert Focazio, (former National Vice President of Sales, AT&T) once said, •gIf you improve your questions by 10 percent, you increase your sales and productivity by 20 percent...and that's being conservative. I understand, the urge to appear

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It is far easier to change a job, to change an industry and to improve a business, than it is to change an unhappy life

Change ($) -1.65

Does your organisation have a corporate culture of questioning as opposed to depending only on answers?

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smart always drives us to seem to be providing answers where we ought to ask questions (or even listen) in order to be on the same page with our managers and customers alike. The CEO of Google (Eric Schmidt) knew the importance of having a corporate culture of questioning when he said: •"We run the company by questions, not by answers".

My personal understanding of this is that great companies can only be built by asking questions that have not been asked before as opposed to providing answers that have already existed.

But someone might say, making our organisation to have a culture of questioning is something we can just introduce in our organisation and that does not require serious effort or investment. I think any organisation that thinks in that manner has missed it, because asking smart question and asking it in the right way (to yield result) is an art that should be learnt by organisations.

Organisational activities like marketing, hiring the right staff,

problem solving, improved performance, negotiation, and improving the corporate culture, etc, can be greatly enhanced when employees have mastered the art of right questioning. Without learning the art, organisations might only be building up questions that will always backfire. These include lousy questions, dangerous questions, manipulative questions, prying questions, showing off with questions, asking at the wrong time etc. Having dwelt over the years with the above wrong questioning skills have not helped organisation in any way.

So what employees need now is a comprehensive guide that will sharpen their questioning skills – that way they will know what to ask, what not to ask and how to ask the right questions in almost any managerial or marketing situation.

Leaders and managers have a key role to play in creating a corporate culture of questioning.

They are to create a questioning business environment where staff members will feel safe and able to trust the system and the people involved. By so doing, they will build a culture in which questions are welcomed, assumptions are challenged, and new ways to solve problems are explored. As a matter of fact, questions establish an inquiring culture in organisations, and such an inquiry and culture will build a learning organisation.

Final Note: Organisations should develop a culture where asking questions is permissible, safe and desired.

The old erroneous belief that leadership is all about knowing all the answers should no more apply in today's business world.

Leadership in any facet should be viewed as knowing the right questions to ask, and carefully listening to those answers. Every organisation possesses an array of knowledge, wisdom, creativity, and energy, and the surest way to harness those assets is to encourage questioning as part of the organisation's culture.

For your views or perspectives:

Email: uju@hainescentre.com Mobile: 09091142093 C M Y K

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

World Bank predicts 5.2% growth for African economies

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From left: Miss Naomi Lucas, Chief Executive, Eclat Nigeria; Mr. Abiola Aloba, Head, Brand Management, Sterling Bank Plc and Mr. Omojuwa Japhet, a prominent online media practitioner at the press conference to announce the flag-off the 2014 Social Media Award, Africa in Lagos

Decline in external reserve: Naira depreciation to persist

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

T

he decline in the nation’s external reserve and naira depreciation in the interbank foreign exchange market will persist this month, said Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Financial Derivatives Company.

He He He made this prediction in his month Economic News and Views presented at the Lagos Business School.

The external reserve has been on the downward trend, falling from $43.61 billion at the beginning of the year to $39.53 billion last month. Rewane however noted that owing to the commitment of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to continue to defend the naira, and the expected huge liquidity injection of N866 billion from maturing AMCON bonds, the external reserves would experience further decline in October. He said these factors coupled with the drop in crude oil price to the $93 per barrel, would push the external reserves further down to $38.5 billion by the end of this month.

Rewane noted that the surge in domestic liquidity due to the AMCON bonds, and increased electioneering spending, would increase the pressure on the nation’s currencythe naira, leading to further depreciation in the interbank foreign exchange market, with the rate rising to N165 per dollar from N163.7 per dollar last month. “The naira has lost one percent at the inter-

bank in the last month. Currency pressure is likely to worsen due to weaker oil earnings, imminent U.S rate hike and domestic liquidity pressures,” he said.

Predicting a further increase in inflation for September to 8.39 percent from 8.3 in August, Rewane said that there would be increased liquidity mop up by the CBN, in order to combat the surge in domestic money supply occasioned by the above factors. “The CBN will likely increase Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on private sector deposits in November. There will be

more frequent and larger OMO interventions in October”, he said.

It would be recalled that despite the effort of the CBN to mop up liquidity in the banking system, the amount of idle cash remained high closing at N560 last week. According to the daily market liquidity report obtained by Vanguard, excess liquidity (or idle funds) in the interbank market opened the week at N563.85 billion, rose to N611 billion on Tuesday, before dropping to N566 billion on Thursday and N560.9 billion on Friday.

AfDB approves $12m credit to LAPO Microfinance Bank he African Development Bank ed USD 144 million in December T (AfDB) has approved $12 million 2013 thanks to its efficient decentralcredit line to Lapo Microfinance Bank. The Bank disclosed this in a statement saying, “The Board of Governors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) through its private sector window approved on a USD 12 million line of credit (LOC) equivalent in Nigerian Naira (NGN) to LAPO Microfinance Bank (LAPO MfB) in Nigeria.

“LAPO MfB is the largest microfinance bank in Nigeria with 1.1 million clients and 327 branches currently operating in 26 out of 36 states in the country. Given its history of a group-lending model based on a community-based approach, LAPO predominantly focuses on low-income households and women (with females comprising over 90% of its total client base) by providing an average loan size of USD 190.

“In spite of its lower-income client base, its total loan portfolio exceed-

ized banking model as well as wide coverage and deep penetration of rural areas. LAPO has successfully achieved its goal to reach over 1 million clients by end of 2013, faster than planned, and targets to reach 5 million clients by the end of its five-year business plan (2013-2017).

LAPO has 3,184 staff (1,311 men and 1,873 women staff) across 327 branches to prospect for new business and effectively serve its existing customers on the ground.

“The LOC will support proposed project will support expansion of LAPO MfB to achieve its goal to serve 5 million clients by 2017 in Nigeria focusing on low-income individuals (predominantly women) and micro/small enterprises by providing affordable access to finance, saving, credit and insurance in urban and rural areas as well as by expanding its geographic coverage and number of branches.

he World Bank has predicted a 5.2 per cent growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for African economies between 2015 and 2016.

This prediction was contained in the Bank’s new Africa’s Pulse, a twice-yearly analysis of the issues shaping Africa’s economic prospects.

The Bank noted that despite weaker than expected global growth and stable or declining commodity prices, African economies continues to expand at a moderately rapid pace, with regional GDP growth projected to strengthen to 5.2 percent yearly in 2015-16 from 4.6 percent in 2014.

Significant public investment in infrastructure, increased agricultural production and expanding services in African retail, telecoms, transportation, and finance, are expected to continue to boost growth in the region. This pick-up in growth is expected to occur in a context of lower commodity prices and lower foreign direct investment as a result of subdued global economic conditions.

Commodity prices remain highly significant to Africa’s outlook since, as the report notes, “primary commodities continue to account for three-quarters of Sub-Saharan Africa’s total goods exports, and the share of the region’s top five exports in total exports has climbed to 60 percent in 2013 from 41 percent in 1995.”

“Overall, Africa is forecast to remain one of the world’s three fastest growing regions and to maintain its impressive 20 years of continuous expansion” says Francisco Ferreira, the World Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa.

“Downside risks that require enhanced preparedness include rising fiscal deficits in a number of countries; economic fallouts from the activities of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Al Shabaab and, most urgently, the onslaught of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.”

Standard Chartered to hire 1000 new staff in Africa AGENCY REPORT tandard Chartered plans to hire at least 1,000 more staff in Africa in the next couple of years, an increase of more than 10 percent, even as its expansion elsewhere has slowed.

Diana Layfield, Standard Chartered’s chief executive for Africa, declined to specify where the extra staff would go, but picked out Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana as three of the most attractive markets.

“Nigeria has to be close to the top of everybody’s list for expansion. It has scale, growth and real dynamism,” Layfield said.

Nigeria overtook South Africa as the continent’s biggest economy this year after a rebasing of its gross domestic product (GDP).

“Our opportunity in Africa is constrained by the ability to invest at pace, and that’s not just a financial constraint but also a management capacity. So the real challenge is prioritisation,” Layfield said at a briefing on Africa by the bank.

After a decade of expansion that took it to 89,000 staff globally, Standard Chartered has put the brakes on hiring in the last two years after suffering an embarrassing fine for breaching U.S. sanctions, big losses in South Korea and a slowdown in its investment bank.

It has about 8,100 staff in Africa and has a significant presence in 15 countries there.

Standard Chartered, Barclays and Citigroup are the biggest international banks in Africa, but they are facing increasing competition from Asian banks, including Chinese ones.

S

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 — 25

By Amaka Abayomi, Gbenga Olarinoye, Daud Olatunji & Tare Youdeowei

A

FTER the over two weeks of extra holiday as a result of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, schools in ten States resumed yesterday. The States include: Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Benue, Ekiti, Kano, Kogi, Akwa-Ibom, Ebonyi, and Ogun.

Meanwhile, Kwara State Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Saka Onimago has directed both public and private schools in the state to open October, 15. He noted that the extention was to enable the state acquire necessary equipment and organise seminar for stakeholders.

Moreover, public school teachers in Ekiti have maintained that until the state government pays their two months salary arrears, no teacher should go to the classroom.

It will be recalled that the National Executive Council of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, while countering government’s directive, had called on its members to ignore the September 22 resumption date, saying the date was not realistic in view of what was required to prevent theoutbreak of Ebola in the schools.

NUT’s National President, Mr. Michael Olukoya, said schools in various states would remain shut until adequate preparations had been made by the state governments for resumption, as teachers were not ready to endanger their lives and those of the school children when necessary preventive and protective measures had not been put in place.

Situation report: A visit to some schools in Lagos, Osun and Ogun states revealed that the contentious preventive measures, like running water and hand sanitisers had been provided at the entrances and other strategic places of schools.

Also, personnel to check the students’ body temperature with digital thermometers have been trained. At the schools visited by Vanguard Learning, the administrators said at least two teachers have been trained on EVD and how to handle any suspected case of the virus.

Government, NUT agree

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Student invents maths board game Pg. 30

Temperature check on pupils and students of Supreme Basic International Schools, Magada Onimole, Ibafo, Ogun State, at the entrance of the school as part of measures to curb the spread of Ebola Virus Disease. Photo Lamidi Bamidele

Finally, 10 States resume nationwide EBOLA:

• Kwara resumes Oct 15 • Ekiti teachers adamant

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ointing out that everything was set for resumption, an official of Lagos State Ministry of Education said teachers had no excuse not to resume work yesterday as digital thermometers, drums of water for washing hands, hand sanitisers, among others, had been provided.

The NUT National President, Olukoya, said teachers resumed in states where safety measures are already in place and strategies on how to cover the syllabus will be worked out state by state.

The state NUT Chairman, Mr. Adesegun Raheem, said the national leadership had given members the green light to resume after ensuring that all was ready for academic activities.

Raheem said: “The NUT set up monitoring committees to ensure that the preventive materials were supplied to all schools.

Though we encountered some challenges, we reported same to

Jigawa State University as a metaphor for others Pg. 27

the government and proffered solutions to them.”

On how teachers intend to cover up the syllabus due to lost time, the Lagos State NUT Chairman said: “The number of school days missed is just 12 and we know that the first week of resumption is used in getting the schools ready for academic activities.

“Also, since school closing time has been extended from 2pm to 3:30pm to encourage reading culture in students, we intend to maximise that extra time and the last week of the term, which is for revision.” Osun: Teachers in Osun State have also joined their counterparts in Lagos and Ogun for resumption of academic activities following the distribution of digital thermometer to all public schools in the state.

P

ointing out that the thermometers will go round the 1,593 public schools in the state, the Permanent

Free education corrupts educational system Pg. 29

Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran, said

more emphasis was given to flash Continues on page 26

Educationists assess sector's problems, proffer solutions

By TARE YOUDEOWEI

W

ITH age, they say, comes wisdom. Except when one has hard luck, the average individual is expected to continually improve from birth to being a toddler, teenager, young adult, adulthood and within adulthood; middle age and old age.

All these stages have varied expectations from man depending on the society, but one thing cuts across all societies and expectations; progress, in whatever aspect, man is expected to continually improve on what he was in his younger stages of life.

Same applies to the education sector. Here, society would refer to the education system of countries in the world. However, before one compares oneself with peers, one must first assess oneself. Look back, as is done at birthdays, to see how well one has done over time and plan a way forward.

Educationists spoke with Vanguard Learning on the current state of education in Nigeria and a way forward, amid

comparison with the sector’s teenage and youth days, criticisms and praises.

Using the original lingua franca of the nation upon gaining independence, a veteran teacher of 20 years in one of the unity schools who pleaded anonymity uses the quality of spoken Queen’s English as measure thus: “You know that the standard of education has fallen from independence till date, by the quality of spoken English.

"Previously, a secondary school certificate holder would speak fluent English, now you find that even some professors can’t express themselves in proper Queen’s English. You find that errors of tenses are an everyday occurrence even among media people. In my opinion, this is a mirror of what happens in every subject and of course, is reflected in the professions. This is as a result of loss of discipline in schools brought about by the military who instead of coming to eradicate corruption as they claimed; entrenched it.

"Merit has been thrown overboard. There is the parlance 29 Continues on pagePg.26 C M Y K

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

EBOLA: Finally, 10 States resume nationwide points local governments like Ejigbo, Ede, Iwo, Odo-Otin and Ikirun that have students that might have travelled to neighbouring countries like Cote-de-Voire, Togo, Ghana and Benin Republic during the long vacation.

With the distribution of preventive materials, the Osun State NUT chairman, Mr. Atanda Laidi, said: “The minds of our members are now at rest and we appreciate government’s effort at considering the safety of the students and teachers.

"I’ll also use this medium to appeal to government to ensure prompt release of running grants, especially now that schools are resuming for the 2014/2015 school year.”

Ogun teachers resume but In Ogun State, both Nigerian Union of Teachers and Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, had also given their members the green light to resume, with ASUSS warning that it might review its stand if its members complained about lack of or inadequate preventive materials.

Though efforts to confirm from the state Commissioner for Education, Segun Odubela, if government was ready to reopen schools proved abortive, the Ogun State NUT Chairman, Mr. Dare Ilekoya, said teachers in

public schools under NUT resumed yesterday as government had put in place every needed material for the prevention of the virus.

He said: “The procurement of the preventive materials was enough reason for us to resume, though the World Health Organisation has cleared Nigeria of Ebola.”

In the same vein, the ASUSS chairman, Mr. Akeem Lasisi, said though its members in all the 473 secondary schools resumed yesterday, they are ready to down tools if government fails to provide all the materials needed.

Strike in Ekiti

Continues on page 33

Educationists assess sector's problems, offer solutions Continues from page 25 ‘let my people go’ - wherein persons who have failed are given pass marks and promoted.”

In his contribution, retired Director of Education, Lagos State Education District V, Agboju, Mr. Agbarakwe Godwin said: “Before a comparison can be made, one needs to take into consideration the fact that the persons found in primary schools today are not the same as in those days. Around independence, education was new to Nigeria; you had men and women in schools who were already entrepreneurs. They came with

Ebola: Stakeholders urge improved sanitation, hygiene in schools ByLAIDEAKINBOADE

A

BUJA— IN view of the panic created in the US where five school children were reported to have had contact with the first Ebola case in USA, stakeholders recently urged the federal, state governments and other providers of basic education in Nigeria to step-up sanitation and hygiene in schools to prevent Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) infection and other diseases.

This was one of the resolutions reached at the end of the 13th quarterly meeting of Universal Basic Education Commission Management with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) held in Gusau, Zamfara State.

The communique was issued at the end of the meeting and made available to journalists in Abuja, by the Principal Public Relations Officer of UBEC, Mr. David Apeh.

They urged education providers not to relax because of the containment of the Ebola virus in Nigeria.

Delegates to the quarterly meeting also urged the Federal

VISIT: From left: Dr Adoghe Anthony, Dept of Electrical and Information Engineering, Covenant University, Nigeria, Anne Ihugba, Marketing Manager Vodacom Business Nigeria, Olumide Idowu, Manager, Network Engineering, Vodaocm Business Nigeria, Engr. Adesuyi Richardson, Dept of Electrical and Information Engineering, Covenant University, Nigeria during a visit to Vodacom facility in Lagos.

Government to carry out needs assessment of the state governments before intervention in Basic Education.

It was gathered that Chairmen of SUBEBs at the meeting raised concerns over certain interventions that were not really the problems of some of the schools.

The delegates particularly observed that the Exercise books procured by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs (OSSAPMDGs) were yet to be delivered to most states and the FCT. They noted that record-keeping and equitable distribution of textbooks still constitute a great challenge to SUBEBs, LGEAs and schools.

The delegates in the communique commended UBEC for providing support to states and other providers of basic education with a view to improving service delivery of basic education in the country and stated that this has resulted in the establishment and equipping of additional schools, provision of textbooks and library resources for pupils, students and teachers.

their knowledge of calculation from their businesses and applied it to arithmetic being taught in schools. Times have changed, education is now part of our lives and as such five yearolds are in primary one. Children are smarter; the things and rate at which they assimilate, the devices they operate, speak of this intelligence. Today, children are tech savvy before they are 10 years old. Times have changed and a comparison to me is not quite right because the indices are not the same.”

Staying on the fence with good reasons and indicting a wide range of participators in the sector, Mrs. Anne OmetoruwaMiyebi, a retired level 13 teacher of the Lagos State Teaching Service said; “No position is completely correct. I say this because even though we say that education has deteriorated, we need to look at the performance of students at different levels compared to the 60s and 70s. We see that for some educational institutions, what the children know at various levels, is more now compared to the 60s and 70s.”

Shelving of responsibilities The mother of four further said: “Parents are the main cause of the deterioration in the quality of students. Parents have shelved their responsibilities; they are more interested in money, so long as they can provide money for the children, they feel that is all.

They do not take time to look at the work of their children when they get home.

Everything is left for the school teacher to do. Gone are the days when parents will take time to bring up their children, to teach their children values. Those days, if a child cheats in school, it is a shame to the whole family.

These days parents teach their children how to cheat. It has become so bad that children don’t even know that cheating is bad.”

Despite devoting 19 years of her life to teaching, Mrs Ometoruwa- Miyeebi had no reservations in pointing a finger at teachers: “Teachers now are not as educated as the teachers of those days. The teachers of today are more money-conscious, although the economy has influenced that mentality. The teacher is not able to meet his or her needs so to meet up, they need to look for money.

Admittedly, there is no amount that you will give a person they will say is enough, but if you look at the salary of a person and it cannot match the cost of living, then you know there is a problem.

Having said that, we would see

,

Continues from page 25

kudos as the veteran noted: “In the area of curriculum, the educational curriculum of today is better than that of the 70s. For instance, there are more subjects in secondary schools.

The syllabus is such that subjects originally done in ALevels are now done in secondary school. The subjects have now been arranged in such a way that learning is easier. If we look at some of the private schools that take quality into consideration, that do proper supervision and follow the curriculum, you will see that they produce students that are better than those that went to school in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

If parents can take up their responsibility and not just leave the child for the teacher alone, I think we would go a long way

that the quality of teachers you have in public schools are actually better than the quality of teachers in private schools.

Because majority of private schools are looking for cheap labour, they do not go for qualified teachers. They go for unqualified teachers and even secondary school leavers.

“Corruption or professional misconduct is another issue.

Because teachers have become involved in examination malpractice, students now feel that without studying they can actually pass, so students that study have become very few.

A situation where teachers are preparing children for exams and they tell the students to answer their school mates when they call them during the exam, so that they will not pass alone, is appalling. I strongly believe, except in cases of mental disadvantage, that there is no child that will study and would not pass, even if it is average. So why cheat? “ she said.

The education sector got

,

If we take care of the current abnormalities, we will see that education today will be better than it was in those days.”

Proffering solutions, Mrs Biola Awosika, an educationist, said: “The curriculum needs to be changed. The curriculum needs to be redefined and redesigned at all levels if we want to be globally present or adequate. We have to have a curriculum that gets our children ready for the global environment.

People are no longer interested in vocational studies, we are not going to survive if we do not grow the route that sends the children to the technical path for vocational technical education.

We don’t have qualified plumbers, mechanics anymore.

But I don’t think that is going to get us where we want to be.”

Ometoruwa- Miyeebi also added: “If there can be better supervision in our schools; if parents can take up their responsibility and not just leave the child for the teacher alone, I think we would go a long way.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 — 27

Dons brainstorm on alternative energy as minister flags off Enville seminar

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AGOS Airport Hotel, Ikeja Lagos will play host to distinguished university dons and experts in the environmental and energy sector, drawn from across the globe when they gather for the Enville Institute's annual seminar to discuss an issue of utmost importance in the life of Nigerians as the country celebrates her 54th anniversary. The event at which the Minister for Environment, Mrs. Lawrencia Laraba-Mallam, is the special guest of honour, takes place today and will be chaired by the Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, OFR, former V.C University of Lagos and the current V.C of Federal University, Udufu Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State.

Positive challenges According to the Chairman, Enville Institute of Environmental and Safety Management, Professor Awele Maduemezia, the theme of the seminar is: Alternative Energy Potentials

and Carbon Footprint in Nigeria. He is of the belief that brainstorming at the seminar will yield positive challenges in the discovery of suitable and sustainable alternative energy resources which should also address the challenges of global warming.

The guest speaker of the seminar is a Professor of Environmental Engineering and Science, University of North Carolina, USA, Prof.

Hillary Inyang. A team of discussants, led by Mr. Roy Chatterjee, Managing Director, Emel Advanced Power Solutions Ltd, includes Dr. Victor Fodeke of Africa Clean Energy Summit (ACES), Prof. Martiale Gaetan Zebaze Kana, the UNESCO Chair, Alternative Energy and Mr. Salisu Dahiru, the Director of Forestry, Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja.

Prof William Odiete, the Executive Director of Enville Institute, added that “the mission of Enville Institute of Environmental and Safety Management, is the propagation of environmental, safety and healthcare education with a view to

promoting professionalism and producing competent people in the management of the corporate and industrial environment.

Through this, advocate actions that will compel all to minimise pollution, reduce waste, maximize the utilisation of renewable resources, reduce carbon emission and climate warming actions. Also improve the efficiency of the utilisation of input materials, save lives through encouraging clean and healthy environment, engender safe actions and living, reduce injuries and illhealth at work place, promote safe, secure, clean, healthy and harmonious environment and advocate the catch them young culture and thus empower the youth for productive self-reliant life."

He went further to explain that Enville Institute is a non-profit making environmental, safety and health management education centre.

Vodacom empowers youths through ICT education

BY FAITH OLATIDE

I

N its continuous effort to bridge the gap between theories taught in the classroom and real life situations, Vodacom Business Nigeria organised a two-day industrial tour for students from the Department of Engineering and Information Technology, Covenant University, Nigeria.

The visit was aimed at providing first-hand experience and a unique opportunity for the students to gain insight into a working environment related to their field of study. The industrial tour which took place at Vodacom’s office in Ikoyi focused on Demystifying Cloud Computing and students got an in-depth knowledge of cloud technology, how it works and how it is applied to modern businesses.

The Managing Director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Guy Clarke, said: “Our commitment is centered on the concept that the more knowledgeable the youths are, the greater their opportunity for employment. We know that Cloud Computing plays a big role in the ICT industry today and it would contribute to the

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*Some 400 level students of Electrical and Information Engineering, Covenant University, Nigeria and Olumide Idowu, Manager, Network Engineering, Vodacom Business Nigeria at the student's industrial visit to Vodacom facility in Lagos further growth of Nigerian businesses as the technology is gaining wider acceptance in the business world”. According to him, the workshop is one of the company ’s many contributions towards the development of skills and job creation opportunities for young people.

Cloud computing will continue to change the world and in many cases, young people drive this process even

without knowing it. With millions of youths in Nigeria connected to the Internet, many use cloud through collaboration and social networking tools.

There is no better way to encourage this change than exposing the young people to the technical, business and leadership skills required for Cloud technology innovations.

Jigawa State University as a metaphor for others (1) by the founding father, Governor Sule Lamido. Let me quickly explain why.

Professor Michael Adikwu, Vice- Chancellor of the University of Abuja, in an interview published in PUNCH of September 23, 2014, page 45, has already told us what has become of most federal and state universities, as well as most private universities. He sumarrised the situation by N page 24 of the same saying that Nigerian universities become “village paper, there was a report have on the Education page, written institutions.”

Prior to that remark, he had

by Geofrey Ekenna and titled “Jigawa University to take off made a point which a state September”. From the tone of the government should consider article, the university, whose seriously before embarking on Chancellor is proposed to be the project and in its long-term former Head of State, Chief planning for the institution. The Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, was JSU future progress is bottomed supposed to start in September on “four phases of a five-year this year. To the best of my development plan, beginning knowledge, the take off has been from 2013-14 until the next 20 postponed for various reasons years”. But, there is already a which need not delay us here. I great deal of problems in the first have even sent a letter to the year of the 20 – according to Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, on Professor Adikwu.

According to him, “Today one of the major problems the university will encounter from the teachers outside their home areas first day. Permit me not to are no longer comfortable. There are people of Even among the students, there is a d i f f e r e n t high level of heterogeneity. It is only nationalities in American, in Nigeria institutions you find this many Asian, and E u r o p e a n type of homogeneity universities. Even disclose the contents of that letter. among the students, there is a The proposed take off of high level of heterogeneity. It is Jigawa State University, founded only in Nigeria institutions you in February 2013, approximately find this type of homogeneity.”

In plain language, what two years to the end of the Governor’s second term in office, Professor Adikwu had told all of right from the start, loaded the us, and which I can confirm from project with all sorts of events my visits to several universities which have to be decided and in Nigeria, is that JSU is going settled in a hurry. Establishing a to start out with mostly students university, even when all the from Jigawa State, although that necessary funds and other might be intended. It might also resources are available, is not have to open with Academic and something to be done in a hurry Non-Academic Staff drawn from if excellent results are expected. the state and contiguous states – But, Jigawa State University not necessarily the best, even if followed the same pattern which found.

Furthermore, the Nigerian produced all the federal universities which were ordered economy is headed for a

by President Jonathan at once. recession. Never mind what the And the result is almost National Bureau of Statistics is sending out as quarterly reports. predictable.

Officially, “Overall, the vision Already, Federal allocated of JSU is to be a university with a revenue, on which Jigawa strong tradition of excellence, depends to finance its projects is intellectual progress, and dwindling and the situation continuing learning and service, might continue till next year or a university driven by the new beyond. The funds earmarked demands of globalization, rapid for the university in the first two advances in technology, years might not even be environmental issues, and other available. Yet, JSU, must be societal challenges.” Great prepared to pay the same salaries vision. But, it is a vision which and allowances, may be even might be aborted even before it more, to attract lecturers already gets atarted if care is not taken engaged.

"A university does not just answer that name unless it is able to provide for the needs of the society. I fancy one great university that is all in all. A university that is wellfunded to meet all the academic needs of the society that it is founded to serve.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State, New Telegraph, September 3, 2014, p 23.

O

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BY DAYO ADESULU

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Visit: www.delesobowale.com or Visit: www.facebook.com/biolasobowale or www.twitter.com/DrDeleSobowale

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Don calls for provision of counselling services

ACCAI pledges support for research, training in African varsities

By KELECHUKWU IRUOMA

BY DAYO ADESULU & KELECHUKWU IRUOMA

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N a quest to reduce suicide ideation, suicide, use of alcohol and harmful substances, Professor Amos Alao of Covenant University has called for the provision of counselling services in the educational system and in the community at large.

Delivering a lecture at the 37th public lecture of Covenant University entitled: Fostering Psychological Adjustment: Pathways to National Wellness, Prof. Alao said “counselling services in the educational system need to be strengthened, beginning from primary school to our secondary schools and culminating in our tertiary institutions.”

He said: “provision of counselling services must also be available for our

*Professor Amos Alao out-of-school youths at community levels supported by government at local, state and national levels. This will address the problems posed by unfocused kids who can easily become dangers to themselves and the community in which they live.”

The Professor of Counselling and Psychology calls for

psychological adjustment and wellness at all levels in the society. According to him, “psychological adjustment and wellness needs to be made at the individual, family, group and community levels, which will serve as the building block for national wellness.

He said the lecture was i n t e n d e d t o: “ d i s c u s s a ‘bottom-up’ approach of exploring national wellness, beginning at the individual level of human existence, to associations at the marital, family and community levels and how these associations and relationships have consequences for the larger and more complex associations, relationships and interactions in the larger human polity known as the nation.”

UNN V-C calls for stakeholders' support

BY KELECHUKWU IRUOMA & CHINONSO CHIME, UNN

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ICE-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Professor Benjamin Ozumba has called for the support and contribution of stakeholders to enable the continuous development of the university.

He made the call at a Press briefing at UNN, Enugu campus main hall to mark the 54th Founders' Day celebration of the university and his 100 days in office.

Speaking to journalists, he said: “The occasion of a Founders' Day celebration is a moment of thanksgiving for our institution, for its founders and their generous vision for the advancement of learning and sharing of knowledge for the benefit of all and the progress of the fatherland.

“This is the first Founders' Day celebration of UNN I am presiding over as a VC and also it is a kind of first public presentation as a VC." The renowned professor of gynaecology said his overall agenda as he marks his 100 days in office is to provide UNN the leadership needed to become an academic giant and pace-setter in the quality of its scientific research, the level of its innovative teaching, and the robustness of its community service among universities in the developing countries.

He, however, grouped his agenda into five main points, which according to him, are:

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*UNN VC, Prof. Ozumba “staff welfare, student welfare, environmental and campus aesthetics, academic leadership and research, and academic discipline and ethics.

“The dreams and visions of our founding fathers are articulated in the motto they gave us, ‘to Restore the Dignity of Man’, are in our minds as we celebrate. It falls to us to carry these words forward. We are aware that the dreams they had may be borne only on stout shoulders, all the more reason for joint effort, for collaborative endeavour by all the stakeholders. I am calling today for the joint effort. It requires a sound and stable infrastructure.”

He also said that internally, the university needs a conducive working environment, happy and productive workforce, and a crop of students eager to learn and desirous to apply all the time and energy to this essential

task.

Prof. Ozumba revealed some of the achievements he has made in his 100 days in office.

He said committees have been set up to address different issues in the university, supply of water to Enugu campus of the university which has not been functioning for 15 years, visit to all the hostels in the university to know their state adding that the living condition of the students in Mbanefo Hall is bad and will be renovated shortly.

I

N a bid to strengthen the capacity of African Universities in research and training, the Africa Climate Change Adaptation Initiative, ACCAI, has instituted an Alumni Grant Program, designed to provide opportunities for the alumni of the ACCAI partner universities, to deepen their expertise and knowledge in the field of adaptation to climate exchange and food security.

ACCAI which uses its platform to form a network of experts capable of producing reliable and useful information to feed policies and pan-African initiatives to adapt to climate change, instituted the Alumni Grant Program to use the knowledge and expertise in practise through handson projects in close collaboration with local communities and civil society.

Also, through the ACCAI AGP, the alumni will have the possibility to share the knowledge and scientific findings with civil society and local communities.

ACCAI intends to use the program for mutual interchang, partnership and alliances between communities and universities, which can be enormously effective and yield to important

benefits for all involved.

The approach which is inter-disciplinary and closely tied to the needs of civil society and policymakers in Africa will be benefitted by University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Makelle U n i v e r s i t y, Ethiopia, University of Dar es Salaam, Ta n z a n i a, U n i v e r s i t y o f Ghana, Ghana, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa and University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.

The ACCAI AGP will therefore aim at opening channels to partnerships between the civil society, local communities and the universities, raising awareness of food security issues in the content of climate change, and disseminating local knowledge and community adaptation strategies.

Higher education support programme The ACCAI AGP which is an international higher education support program will also offer individuals grants to alumni of ACCAI Network universities for implementing projects targeting adaptation to climate change and food security issues, establishing a partnership with members and leaders of local urban and rural communities to create dialogue and strengthen collaboration with these communities and with local civil society in an effort to reduce vulnerability to climate change and to food insecurity.

Oko Poly matriculates students

BY CHINASA ANI, OKO

F

EDERAL Polytechnic, Oko, was in a state of euphoria as the polytechnic on Monday, held her 30th matriculation ceremony at the Convocation Arena to matriculate the new students of the polytechnic.

Students who were matriculating were excited, putting on their matriculation gown and beaming with smiles.

The Rector, Professor Godwin Onu, in his address, advised the new students to be good students of the polytechnic and good citizens of the country.

He also advised them to always be good representatives of their

families, adding that they should concentrate on their studies and forget about things that are going to

distract them from their studies. He swore in the students as bonafide students of Federal Polytechnic, Oko.

*Cross section of matriculating students of Federal Polytechic, Oko

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 — 29

Damilare emerges 2014 Miss UNILAG selected out of the God almighty for giving her 15 and were asked the strength, talent, courage questions to test and the grace to emerge the their intelligence. winner. She also thanked Though the five Sulcata entertainment and c o n t e s t a n t s other stake holders that made performed well, one the 2014 Miss Unilag event a had to be selected success. Her friends and and Damilare family members were equally Babajide emerged thanked for their love and victorious and was support.

Meanwhile, it would be greeted with cheers from the crowd as recalled that Olaitan Zainab certainly a larger emerged winner of the debate part of them were in competition organised in the favor of the judges’ same institution last month.

Olaitan Zainab, a 200 level choice. *Miss Unilag 2014 in high spirits Nkemadu Adaobi student of Political Science having received her gifts and Sarah Itoje were was handed a sum of N100, the first and second 000 with a laptop computer.

By Victor Agi & Olatide Faith Reacting to the disparity of runners up respectively.

The newly crowned queen gifts made to winners of both N the just concluded Miss walked away with a branded the debate competition and University of Lagos Toyota Matrix, cash price, beauty pageant, some pageant, Miss Damilare monthly maintenance salary students on the campus said Babajide, a 400 level Student and ambassordor for Yaggy the measly gifts to winners of competitions of the Faculty of Law emerged Energy, Techno Mobile, academic the winner and was rewarded Zaron products, evening compared to the sumptuous with a new car. The gift was gowns from Woodin amongst packages to winners of beauty pageants will definitely affect presented to her officially by other goodies.

Speaking of her success, she the morale of students in the the office of the Directorate of expressed utmost gratitude to course of their studies.

Student Affairs (DSA).

It was a highly anticipated and well attended event with guests ranging from past beauty queens and kings, delectable UNILAG alumni, celebrities amongst others.

The show ended late but was worth the wait as there were mind blowing performances from Runtown, Slyde, YQ, Cynthia Morgan, Bash the comedian, Bucci the World’s strongest man, Byno, Creeda and Burna Boy. The contestants also put up a great show, from their choreographed dance session to their corporate, traditional *Vice-Chancellor, Unilag, Professor Rahamon Bello and evening gown displays.

Top five contestants were presenting gifts to debate winner, Olaitan Zainab.

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NTI donates 400 computers to NOUN, others

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HE National Teachers Institute, NTI, Kaduna, has donated about 400 computers to the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, the National Mathematical Centre, NMC, and Adeyemi College of Education, Akure, Ondo State, in support of teacher-education in the country.

Director-General of the institute, Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu, said the donation became necessary in view of the fact that computer education has become a pre-requisite to life-long learning, considered critical effective service delivery in The National Open University of Nigeria got 100 desktops and 50 laptops, the National Mathematical Centre received 40 desktops with 10 laptops while Adeyemi College of Education got 150 desktops with 50 laptops.

Aminu said, “We have since started distributing these C M Y K

computer sets and laptops along with their allied accessories for the use of Nigerian teachers through the establishment of model computer laboratories in 37 states & FCT for the use of Nigerian teachers free of any change.” He said that in addition to establishing computer laboratories for use by teachers in the 37 States and the FCT free of charge, the Institute is to equip all its field centres nationwide with the e-learning facilities for easy access to the internet among the students.

The director general said the institute was committed to the creation of ideal learning environment for Nigerian teachers which would enable them learn with minimal stress.

The aim is to promote teacher education and professionalism in Nigeria through partnership and collaboration by assisting sister teacher-training institutions so that together, Nigeria can face

and address the challenge of teacher education.

In a goodwill message, the representative of the directorgeneral of the National Mathematical Centre, Mr. John Ebiaku, who is also the Head of Computer Department at the Centre, appreciated the effort of the NTI under Dr. Aminu’s administration. Describing the event as unique, he said the Centre has a mutual relationship with NTI, which could enhance better performance.

Ebiaku said the Mathematical Centre would continue to partner with the Institute to achieve the desired national objectives.

The representative of the Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, who is also the Director Kaduna Study Centre of the university, Dr. Nuhu Garba, said the donation of the computers would make them stronger and strengthen the university’s ICT.

•AAUA main gate without much activity despite resumption

AAUA resumes lectures, tasks students on hard work

By OLATIDE FAITH

T

he Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State has restated its determination to commence lectures for its 2013/2014 second semester this week. Mr Chukwuma Okechukwu, a senior lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication who spoke with Vanguard Learning disclosed this, urging students to be hard working and focus.

According to him, the school was way behind schedule and the only way to meet up was to resume early. He reacted to students’ complaints that the last semester was too long and that the two week break they were given was insufficient for them by saying, “within those two weeks, I have

marked my scripts, uploaded the results, gone for course allocation and other things, only an unserious student will give that excuse”.

Refuting the claim by some students that the reason behind the quick resumption was because of the upcoming convocation ceremony, Mr chukwuma said, “convocation can hold even without school’s resumption, it is no way connected. The school simply wants to meet up with schedule and I think that students should be excited about this”.

He however advised students who were still at home to get to school quickly as lectures will commence as planned. In his words, “I have told them, my first lecture is on Thursday and I don’t care how many students are there, it is going to hold.”

Free education corrupts learning system — Adesina

BY KELECHUKWU IRUOMA

T

HE Deputy Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Lagos Chapter, Mr. Adedoyin Adesina has said that total free education corrupts the educational system.

Speaking to a cross section of people on the topic Effective teaching, he said that free education has made students not to be serious and focused with their education, adding that parents hardly buy books for their children because they believe education is free and they tend to wait and expect the government to provide books for the children.

According to him “if you give students assignments to do at home, they will not have textbooks to work on “. He also said “students themselves don’t buy books. They wait and hope the government provides them the books needed.

He also said that what makes teaching ineffective is that in a class, there are always too many students which brings about distractions and loss of focus on what the teachers are

teaching.

He noted that lack of classrooms is another factor that makes teaching ineffective, adding that teachers are not the cause of the problems in the education sector but policies on education.

He said policies on education, especially the curriculum, do not make for effective teaching. According to him, the scheme of work being set by the curriculum planners cannot be exhausted.

Taiwo Olaniran who also contributed to the effectiveness of teaching recommended, saying “even with the policy, teachers can make teaching ineffective by making his teaching interesting and interactive for students to focus totally on what is being taught, despite having a large number of students”.

Recommendation also made, based on number of students is that teachers should group the students in class and draft out time table on days the various grouped students will be taught, to enable the teachers to cover the curriculum and make teaching effective.

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Student invents maths board game

BY EBELE ORAKPO

Stefan Banach, a Polish mathematician considered to have been one of the 20th century's most important and influential mathematicians described Mathematics as the most beautiful and most powerful creation of the human spirit.

Unfortunately, to many, mathematics is a nightmare. It has kept so many away from their dream of acquiring a tertiary education because it is a compulsory subject. Experts have argued that maths in itself is not difficult given the right teachers and the right amount of practice time. To fulfil his dream of making math a darling of students, Olatunji Moshood Abiola, a 400-level student of Mathematics Education at the University of Lagos, came up with an innovation he calls Math Race , a board game which helps children learn while having fun. In this chat with Vanguard Learning, the author of The Good Side of Failure, speaks on his invention. Excerpts:

I

NSPIRATION for the invention: "Right from when I was in SSS1, I have always wondered about the possibility of a math board game just like the ludo game.

I know children love to have

*Olatunji Moshood Abiola...ensuring a sound mathematical foundation for everybody

*Math race 1 fun by playing games. Ever since then, I have been working on it. Fortunately for me, I got the right pattern and design of the game when I went to urinate at the Elkanemi Hall of the University of Lagos. The design of the toilet tiles gave me the clue on what the pattern should look like.

Family game:

Math Race 1: “This is a mathematics board game for primary 2-6 children. This game will enhance their ability to know addition, subtraction, multiplication and division at the same time while having fun.

A maximum of six players can play at a time. It can also be played by only one player. But the more the players, the more

*Math race 2 interesting it is. It is also a family game. Parents can play with their children. It can also be used for adult education and school inter-house sports competition.

The sweetest thing is that it keeps getting easier.

Other inventions: "After the invention of MATH RACE 1, I also invented MATH RACE 2, a modified version of MATH RACE 1 with the introduction of negative numbers; and also MATH WAR, which enhances their ability to know multiplication table from 1-12.

A maximum of four and minimum of two can play at a time.

The game has been playtested by almost 50 children.

MATH RACE 1 and MATH RACE 2 are played with just one die and MATH WAR is played with a duodecagon die .i.e. a die with 12 sides.

Benefits:"Firstly, to solve the problem of the abstract nature of Mathematics.

Secondly, to make children excited about mathematics.

Thirdly, to enhance and stimulate their interest in Mathematics. To make them learn maths while they have fun. Lastly, to ensure a sound mathematical foundation for everybody," he said.

Combining academics and innovation: "It wasn’t easy considering the fact that we do a lot of courses in my faculty.

So, I spent one hour in the laboratory everyday. To me, the laboratory is anywhere - hostel, class, home or around the faculty. I just make sure I spent one hour a day thinking about a problem and finding a way to solve it."

Challenges: "During the process of invention of MATH RACE 1, my mother started complaining as a result of the dice. She thought I was into gambling. So, I had to isolate myself to play-test the game.

At first, the addition and subtraction were solved. I wanted to stop there. Later, I introduced colour in order for the game to perform

multiplication and division.

After that, I encountered another problem, a situation whereby players get stuck at the middle and they could play for four hours without a winner.

So, I introduced the action cards for colour red, which tells a player to perform some specific action like 'add 10'."

Launching: "It has not been launched. All I have with me is a prototype version of the game. I mean a computer design print-out that is laminated and the seeds."

Accessibility: "For now, schools cannot have access because it is not yet in its final stage. That is why I am seeking the help of coporate organisations and wellmeaning Nigerians to produce the games and make them available to Nigerians.

The game can be produced in two versions - Board game version which should be plastic and the cards must also be plastic because children can easily break things, and the Electronic version, which should be in the form of an iPad. The three games will be programmed on it. The dice will be made in such a way that when children roll it on screen, it will be enticing. The iPad must be plastic also and should have Update.... where they can update the iPad online to add more games."

For classroom/extracurricular activities: "It is an extra curricular activity. Just like teaching aids, it will stimulate student interest in mathematics.

It is mainly for children within basic 2-6. The colours denote the action to perform.

Green=addition, yellow=multiplication, blue=subtraction, black=division and red=pick a card. There are 12 cards a player can select from. And the player performs the action on the card like 'subtract 15'.

Oando Foundation trains 507 teachers, “A detailed Teacher 11 master trainers Development Needs Assessment

By AMAKA ABAYOMI

I

N line with its strategy to create a sustainable system that educates and empowers children, Oando Foundation has trained 507 teachers and 11 master trainers in its adopted schools to mark this year’s Wolrd Teachers Day, .

According to the Director, Oando Foundation, Tokunboh Durosaro, Oando Foundation recognizes that investing in teachers has long term benefits.

She said “Oando Foundation has a long-standing global commitment to providing quality education and has demonstrated this through its Adopt-a- School

Initiative. UNESCO Education for All Report 2013/14 statistics reveals that there is a deficit in the number of trained primary school teachers in Nigeria. The ideal pupil/trained teacher ratio should not exceed 1:40.

However, in some schools in northern Nigeria, there are more than 200 students per trained teacher, hence our call to action.

“This is why we instituted the Oando Foundation Teachers’ Professional Development Programme to equip our teachers with relevant skills to become more knowledgeable, competent and able to use participatory methodologies in their pedagogical practices.”

(TDNA) was conducted by Pearson, and was designed and implemented by directly engaging Head Teachers, teachers and students from 23 Oando Foundation adopted schools across 12 states. The outcome of the assessment informed the design of a PTDP customized to meet the specific requirements of teachers in the Nigerian context.

“Consequently, master trainers were identified and selected from the National Teachers’ Institute and their capacities developed to administer training. On completion of the master teacher training, the trainers were deployed to conduct a 5 day professional training programme for Head Teachers and Teachers in selected adopted schools.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 — 31

C M Y K

32 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

How Crescent Varsity graduate lectures undergraduates during service year

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

W

HEN he sits back in his Olusegun Obasanjo Hilltop GRA, Abeokuta home and recounts the many blessings that have accrued to the Crescent University, Abeokuta when he sold all his property to establish less than ten years ago, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Abdul-Jabbar Bolasodun Ajibola, SAN, CFR, LLD says, “alhamdulillahi (that is, I give praise to Allah).”

Bola Ajibola, today, is renowned world class figure having served as World Court Judge at The Hague and had taken part in many adjudications affecting many great nations of the world.

He was also the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom just like he was Vice President of the World Bank, New York, in the United States of America.

Of all the achievements, the one that interests the legal luminary, who was pioneering President of the Nigeria Bar Association, NMA, Vanguard learnt, was the event that led to deserving the honourary award of the LL.D. conferred on him by the prestigious University of Buckingham, United Kingdom.

He said, “I have four children that went to that university and the authorities were not settled until they sent for the parent of those children.

Prince Abdul-Jabbar Bolasodun Ajibola, SAN accolades from both National Universities Commission, NUC and other stakeholders in the universities community demonstrated that the university has more than just theory but also practical evidence of what it is up to.

But Bola Ajibola has a background that ostensibly orchestrated this moral quality that he has transferred to his children. It is the Owu home, where he comes from and the Baptist Boys High School, BBHS, Abeokuta operated by missionaries in those days, where discipline and morals

One of our first class graduates was allowed to lecture 300 and 400 levels in a leading federal university during her youth service They said their moral and moral spiritual attachments to academic performances were excellence and that these could not have come from other than the home.

“When they came for me, they met me at The Hague and so they invited me for appreciation of being a good father. They gave me the LL.D. honorary consal of the University of Buckingham presented to me by the British first and, so far, only female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher,” he told Vanguard as he woke on that morning into a day he described as “day of publicity.”

It was a day the first major achievements of Progress Report Newspaper and Radiance magazine by students of the Department of Mass Communication of his school, Crescent University Abeokuta and many other products by students of the school were presented to him. Such achievements produced from scratch to the peak of the process and which had generated

were non-negotiable. Owu, Abeokuta is an ancient Egba community where name matters.

Again the BBHS where he attended, moral and spiritual excellence was issue. You were either a good character or you were thrown out of the school.

Anything short of good moral qualified a student for dismissal.

Cudgel and carrot style was it at BBHS and that can, today, be seen in many products of the former Christian missionary school like the Olusegun Obasanjos, the Bola Ajibolas himself, the G. O. K. Ajayis, the Oba Olusanya Dosunmus, etc. They are great people who in their respective fields have made Nigeria great.

Ajibola, juxtaposing this beautiful upbringing of the past with what he seeks to achieve with Crescent University Abeokuta, said, “What I set out to achieve with the Crescent University Abeokuta is to train Nigerians to be good moral, fearful of God and still perform excellently well in the academic.

It has been with me since 64 years ago during my days at the Baptist Boys High School, BBHS, Abeokuta. We were trained on the platform of good moral and fear of God and it was cudgel and carrot style. Carrot means they would tell us: be good children, do not steal, do not be criminals, respect people and worship God. And cudgel means any slight default on this expectation, you were out for ever.

“At Crescent University our watchword is in the moral and fear of God. That we impact in all our students. We are not rich but our riches abound in the fact that all our products are now being marvelled nationally and internationally. We achieved this feat through employed guidance and counsellors, who guide and advise the students in the academics and Imams, who preach to them. Our lead Imam was purposely brought from Egypt and he does no more or less than train the studentsto fear God and have good morals.

Academic failure “Our students repeat not only because of academic failure but because they fail in their moral and spiritual dispositions, which we have now built into a course called Global Citizenship and which must be passed compulsorily. You must pass in Crescent University as human being and not as brilliant beast.

“This is new dimension in education that we want our students to imbibe and we in our own way are not only doing that but also, we are achieving it. So much that people are now bringing their children to us to undergo the kind of training that we offer in our school. That is what we do differently, which we

call academic plus. “We have duty to train the whole Nigerian students. Our good example and disciplinary policies on students also extend to lecturers and other staff. We send lecturers away if they fail to toe our disciplinary and moral lines.

Recently we sacked six lecturers over bribe-related offences. We do not condone that here.

“We have invisible earning in the sense that we are poorer but we are good materials anywhere you find us in the world. We receive accolades from Scotland, Jordan, the United States of America, mention it, over our products that are there pursuing their postgraduate programmes.

We do not say anything but we do many things,” Ajibola said.

Entrepreneurship policy At the Crescent University, emphasis is not only on the brain but they have state-of-the-art equipment which backup the brilliance that has been attested to, even by the National Universities Commission, NUC. As a result of this, the Department of Mass Communication of the university, under its entrepreneurship policy has successfully put its students through in newspaper and magazine publishing from news gathering through writing, editing, production and printing.

All done by students and the output, Progress Report and Radiance, respectively, are not only excellent but also have hit the reading public at given prices.

When asked about the prospects of the school, Head of Department, Mass Communication, Mr. Kola Adesina said, “Any university worthy of note must be able to answer the following questions satisfactorily: Are your

programmes accredited by the National University Commission, NUC? Are your products getting employed in the right places and are these products getting admission into postgraduate studies both home and abroad?

Crescent University is able to answer all the three questions in affirmative with incontrovertible evidence to show for it.

“In this department, our overall last accreditation score by the Nigerian Universities Commission was 90 percent; we were also scored95.7 percent in academic content. We also have evidence that some of our students are being retained where they had their youth service. One of our first class graduates was allowed to lecture 300 and 400 levels in a leading federal university during her youth service.

Another of our products, Rafiat Gawat, who graduated with a first class in 2011 served with Sterling Bank and was retained by her service branch and headquarters came and took her to take part in starting the social media section of the bank.

Social media “From Sterling Bank she was offered a scholarship by the Lagos State government to study at Robert Gordon University in Scotland. More so, because of the exploits of Gawat, other products of the Department have been offered employment by the bank.

“We have it on record that 300 students sat for the MSc entrance examination a few months ago, into the University of Lagos.

Among those offered admission after a highly competitive examination were all five graduates of Mass Communication from Crescent University Abeokuta who took part. The good thing about this is that they had to sit for entrance examinations, so, it is not just bring your certificate and get admitted.

“Some of our graduates have obtained masters degrees from Pan Atlantic University in Nigeria, University of Bedfordshire, UK, and University of Texas, US and so on.

On the issue of entrepreneurship, a graduate of the department already owns a thriving online fashion design outfit with staff,” said Mr. Adesina, who said he kept talking about his university’s products because anyone that could not showcase his products was not proud of them. The school singlehandedly founded by Prince Bola Ajibola and for less than ten years now under the executive leadership of Professor Kehind Okeleye as Vice Chancellor, Mr. Adeshina told Vanguard, has its products as its best form of advertising.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014---33

MSDF hosts income-generating workshop, exhibition

BY EBELE ORAKPO

F

OR three days, women were hosted to an income-generating workshop\exhibition with the theme: Creating wealth through income generation opportunities organised by the Morgan Smart Development Foundation (MSDF), a non-government organisation dedicated to the empowerment of rural and urban poor women and youths in Nigeria.

The purpose of the workshop, according to a release made available to Vanguard Learning, was to “expose the women to various incomegenerating opportunities in the Niger-Delta, how to tap into these opportunities, manage existing businesses, write business plans and proposals, access credit facilities, etc.

The exhibition featured display of local spices, bead works, liquid soap, potato chips and fish.

The workshop which

*Dr. Omawumi Urhobo featured lectures and presentations from experienced facilitators; had 34 women in attendance. The training methodology for the workshop was based on David McClelland’s A c h i e v e m e n t Motivation Theory which is accepted as a valid guidance on entrepreneurship and business creation. The modules included: McClelland’s Achievement Motivation Theory and its application; Information and support; Business opportunity identification; Goal setting; Introduction to Business planning;

Business start-up process; Presentation to bank panel; Managing business growth/Group formation and Qualities of an entrepreneur etc.

Addressing participants at the end of the w o r k s h o p , President\CEO of MSDF, Dr Omawumi Urhobo advised the women to always work hard to be financially independent and to invest in the education of their children without compromise.

The participants all expressed their joy and excitement at being part of what they described as a ‘life changing’ workshop. They said they were refreshed and re- invigorated to boost their existing businesses or start new businesses and manage them effectively.

Each participant received a certificate of attendance at the end of the event.

The Foundation promised to organise another series of workshops/exhibitions from October 28 to 30, 2014 in Warri, due to popular demand.

EBOLA: Finally, 10 States resume nationwide Continues from page 26 In sharp contrast to their counterparts, teachers in Ekiti State did not to resume for the new academic session on Wednesday as directed by the state government.

Giving reasons for not resuming, the state chairman of the union, Mr Samuel Akosile, said asking teachers to resume for the session with empty stomach was like attempting suicide.

Akosile said: “How can we go back to work when we are being cheated?

We cannot pretend that all is well when teachers are dying in silence. As we speak now, teachers have not received August and September salaries as well as the deductions in July salary.

“This made us direct our members to remain at home until we are paid because we don’t want a situation whereby teachers will either be dying on the roads or

working with empty stomachs.”

Teachers, parents and students react Excitement was in the air as pupils and students exchanged pleasantries with each other while they did their Ebola check. But same could not be said of their parents as they dropped them off.

At Ibafon Primary School, Apapa, students were given a pep talk on Ebola, washed their hands and had their temperature checked before entering their classes.

The Headmistress, Mrs Adeyemi Adenike appreciated the efforts of government in providing everything needed to curtail the spread of the virus, while the Chief Education Officer, Mr. Salau O. Kabiru, assured that the exercise would be daily and at regular intervals.

The The Headmistress, Kajola Primary School, Kirikiri Road, Lagos, Mrs Kazim A. Mariam, said “the process was smooth as all the necessary materials were provided by the government and are being fully utilized.

Though the turnout is low due to celebrations, classes will commence immediately so that we can make up for lost time.”

Expressing delight to resume school, Amarachi Idenyi, a primary six pupil said “I am glad school has resumed.

Ebola that has been killing people kept me from school and that made me very sad. I am looking forward to starting lessons.”

Also, Favour Obi, a primary five pupil said resuming school was one of the best things to have happened to her as she was tired of staying at home.

34—Vanguard,THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Rights campaigners tackle Osun govt over retirees' benefits

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

C

AMPAIGN for Democratic Workers’ Rights, CDWR, has called on Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, to end the

perceived misery being faced by retirees in the state public service by immediately paying their pension arrears.

Secretary of Osun State chapter of CDWR, Mr. Kola Ibrahim, in a statement claimed since August,

the retirees had not received their monthly pensions, while gratuities of those who retired since Aregbesola assumed office had not been paid.

According to the statement, “retirees who were forced into the Contributory Pension Scheme by government, have not also been paid their meagre stipends, because the state government has not committed its counterpart funds for the payment of the retirees. These situations have put retirees in poor

conditions. It will be recalled that it took several protests by Osun State pensioners since January 2014, before the government could pay some fractions of the pension arrears it owed retirees since last year. Interestingly, the arrears were paid some days to the August 9 governorship election, in which the current governor won a new mandate. This has spurred many to ask if the payment of the arrears was an election gimmick.

Indeed, not a few retirees

felt confident to cast their lots with the governor in the election, hoping for a better future. However, it seems their optimism is misplaced, as reflected in government’s current attitude. It seems the government only used the pension issue as a political tool.

“While political leaders tell workers, pensioners, unemployed, students, parents and the poor to tighten their belts, and bear with their capitalism-created austerity, capitalist political and government officials

justify their ostentatious and parasitic living on public resources on the lame excuse that cost of living is high. This explain why politicians will awards for themselves millions of naira as illegitimate pensions while they tell workers to go into exploitative contributory pension scheme that jeopardises their future. In a sane society where governments are held responsible, payment of pensions should not require constant protests and agitations.

We call on Aregbesola government to pay pensioners their entitlements, and resolve all outstanding pension issues without fur ther delay.

The pensioners, having committed their active adult lives to public service, should not be made to suffer needlessly.”

The group lamented that at a time when anti-poor policies of all pro-capitalist governments at all levels had engendered poverty and higher costs of living, the need to defend the right of pensioners was urgent now than ever.

CDWR said “as a result of government-induced unemployment, many retirees still fend for their adult children, while commercialization of education has meant increasing cost of education for parents.

Public hospitals have been commercialised, if at all they function properly. All of these have made live unbearable for working people, retirees and the poor.

Non-payment of pension is an added act of wickedness on the part of politicians.

Moreover, failure to attend to the legitimate need of pensioners, aside worsening the conditions of retirees, will put workers in desperate conditions, lower their morale and undermine public service. This is why the society must get concerned about the plight of pensioners. More than this, the labour movement, under whose platform the pensioners are, should show more interest in the plight of its members.

“Nationally, hundreds of pensioners continue to die needlessly as a result of unpaid pensions and attendant poverty. In Osun State, the leaders of labour unions played active roles in forcing many workers to join the exploitative Contributory Pension Scheme that put workers’ future in jeopardy, while forcing other to retire prematurely.

Yet, when pensioners’ rights were denied, they looked the other way.

We call on retirees to get more organised than ever, and build a fighting platform. Workers in Osun State, and nationally, must also compel their leaders to show commitment to pension issues and plight of pensioners.”

NOTE: Pension and You, got in touch with an official of the state government for reaction, but at the time of this report, the response was still being awaited.

However, whenever the response comes, it will be given similar publicity.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 , 2014—35

ASSBIFI, others decry unsafe work places ASSOCIATION of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions, ASSBIFI, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, and others, have decried the increasing hazardous working environment Nigerian workers are exposed to,lamenting workers' safety at work places.

They spoke at a symposium organised by ASSBIFI to mark this year’s World Day for Decent Work, in Lagos.

The symposium had the theme "Justice for Workers -Climate Change."

Speaking, President of ASCSN, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama, lamented that the degradation of work in the country jeopardised the livelihood and well being of workers and their families.

He said jobs that once kept the hopes of many families and communities alive were being depleted by casualisation policy.

“To add salt to injury, the labour bill that ought to address this abnormally is still pending at the National Assembly with little or no attention. The challenges make it imperative for all concerned stakeholders in the labour industry to break the barriers of inequality by doing the needful to empower individuals through decent work and adequate social protection for the Nigerian workers.

“There is gross disrespect for workers fundamental rights at the work place in this country which also includesd the right to join trade unions and engaged in collective bargaining . Trade unions must push for measures to promote the respect of these fundamental standards set up by the ILO. "Unions must put pressures on the government and private sector employers to respect these fundamental human rights of workers . Ii sincerely believe that if we do our part with all sense of sincerity, dedication and commitment, together we will get justice for all and help to create a decent work place we all desire."

Lagos lawyer and rights activist, Mr. Fred Agbaje, also at the event, decried the worsening conditions of workers.

He lamented that unfair practices and work places, had compounded the poverty level in the country and urged trade unions to step up the fight against unfair labour practices.

Challenges in Edo civil service,

by Adodo C

OMRADE Didi Adodo is the Edo State Commissioner for Establishment and Special Duties. Before joining the State Executive Council, SEC, of Edo State, he was the General Secretary of the Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ISSSAN. In this interview, Comrade Adodo spoke on the efforts of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to rebuild the state civil service, employment of youths, training and re-training of workers, among other issues. Excerpts:

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

T

HERE are growing concerns by members of the Youth Employment Scheme, YES, over their status and nonpromotion. Above that, they are afraid of what will become of them after the Comrade Governor leaves office. What assurance can you give them?

The Youth Employment Scheme was a way we employed 10,000 youths. They could just fit into the civil service structure as at that time and we needed to take them off the streets. They were employed through the Rapid Response Agency, RRA. It was supposed to be a collaboration at that time through the local governments but the local governments were being controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as at that time so they did not co-operate but Governor Oshiomhole went ahead to employ the youths. No government can come in and sack them except the government wants to scrap the law establishing the agencies responsible for their employment. Their positions are guaranteed. The issue of promotion as you find in the regular civil service is being addressed.

I have raised the issue with the governor and with the new Head of Service, we are sure of doing something for them. There are two options, either we allow them float like that or bring them into the civil service.

Governor Oshiomhole promised that all backlog of promotions should be cleared before the end of 2013 but the 2012 promotion is still pending. What is the problem?

I don’t know what you mean by still pending. We have been able to play our own part. The Civil Service Commission, CSC, was not yet constituted when the governor made the promise. The promotions are to be done by the commission. Everything is moving smoothly now. A lot of promotions are with the Commission and very soon, they will be cleared.

What plans for capacity building of workers?

We have organized several trainings in the last three months, both within the state and outside. We have in-house training and it is a continuous exercise. We are

seriously not lacking in training but there of workers alongside the Comrade will be improvement. The morale of Edo governor but there are casual workers in workers is not low. We are doing promo- Edo State today. Why are you encouragtions; settled relativity, pay minimum wage ing casualisation that you once harassed and other issues have been taken care of. employees for?

We have said teachers have to go for This government is not encouraging catraining and re-training. sualisation. When we came on board, I was The workers are fairly okay. Commissioner for Lands and Survey.

There were issues that arose from that. When we were fighting against Somebody goes for training without casualisation, we never looked at the civil approval; approval comes after the per- service. We never knew there were casuals son has gone. What we discovered is that even in the civil service. We were looking when the person applied, the salary stops at companies that were employing and it takes over one year for the approval casuals. It was sort of a cultural shock for to come. me when I was made commissioner and a There is a gulf in the Edo Civil Service lot of people in my office were casuals. We as many workers are aging without found out that there were criminal retrenchrecruiting new ones to replace them. ments done by two previous governments.

There are no clerical staff. What is being The retrenchments were done in a crookdone to address this? ed manner. They removed cleaners, drivFew days ago, there was a meeting be- ers and all kinds of people. Later they distween our ministry and the Head of covered that they needed people to drive Service to look at the issue of aging. When and clean offices. That became a problem we presented our paper we said the civil for us. The governor was shocked when I service is depleting like the ozone layer. told him about the casuals. When we were We have recognized that and it is actually to do employment, the priority was to give aging fast. Even if you are to recruit employment to the casuals but the employgraduates, you are to do that on level ment was not seriously done. The two eight. At some point, we discovered that there may be nobody to We need to discuss with labour appoint as permanent leaders that we may resort to secretary. Before new recruits would get to the that approach because there level 10, most of the older are some ministries without staff would have left. As a level 12 or level 14 officers labour leader in those days, we always frowned options left were to send them home or be at government recruiting somebody from paying them as before. If we sack them, outside to head those already inside. We they will cry that we have sacked. If we need to discuss with labour leaders that decided to keep them, they will say we may resort to that approach because Oshiomhole is keeping casuals. Head or there are some ministries without level tail, we were not winning. It was better to 12 or level 14 officers. We need to employ leave them while we look for a way out for across board. We are making sure we them. A lot of these casuals were those balance the civil service in a way that will already retired. They came back when please everybody. But where we can get youths are looking for jobs. That is the people from within, we do not intend to matter we are still resolving. bring somebody from outside. We have They have to be brought on board. The discovered that the next Head of Service other option was to send them away. I was might be a level 10 officer. It does not on the committee on casualisation. Some speak well. We are working to make sure workers used to fight us that we want to the service is okay. stop the little money they were earning.

You once fought against casualisation TO BE CONCLUDED.

,

BIT

,

C M Y K

36—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Nigeria @54: Delay in dispensation of justice worrisome — CJN

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI, Abuja

A

S Nigeria marks its 54th year of existence as a corporate entity, stakeholders in the justice sector have emphasized the need for a holistic reform that would make justice affordable and accessible to the common man.

Leading the debate was the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who decried that “the level of delay in the dispensation of justice in Nigeria is disturbing and has over the years yearned for attention”.

The CJN who bemoaned the situation while flagging-off the 2014/2015 new legal year, further warned about the rising figures of awaiting trial inmates in Nigeria, a development she blamed on a cyclone of factors both within and outside the judiciary.

She stressed that as the country inch closer to the completion of the second decade of its nascent democracy, it should pay more attention to the issues of judicial reform

Alegeh, SAN, insisted that, “The current state of affairs whereby the procedures and criteria for the appointment of judges is shrouded in secrecy must give way to a more transparent and open system”.

It was his argument that “Public confidence in a free,

,

We cannot afford the degeneration of the Nigerian judiciary. Therefore, attention in the form of an institutionalized pragmatic response must be carried out in several key sectors of the Judiciary and financial independence for the judiciary as an arm of government.

She said: “We cannot afford the degeneration of the Nigerian judiciary. Therefore, attention in the form of an institutionalized pragmatic response must be carried out in several key sectors of the Judiciary”.

The observation of the CJN is coming on the heels of call by the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, for a review of the yardstick for the appointment of judges in the country.

Lending his voice to the debate, the National President of the legal body, Mr. Augustine

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fair and impartial judiciary is improved when the individual is aware of the process by which judicial officers are selected”.

He maintained that merit rather than favouritism should be the basis for the appointment and promotion of judicial officers.

“The quest for an independent and incorruptible judiciary will continue to elude us unless and until there is a complete overhaul of the judicial appointment and promotion mechanism”, the NBA President added.

Meanwhile, the CJN, has advocated the appointment of

more Judges and Magistrates, as a way of curbing some of the challenges associated with delay in the dispensation of justice in the country.

“The ratio of remand prisoners or awaiting trial inmates in Nigeria is alarming and to a certain extent can be linked to an inefficient judiciary.

“As with our Criminal Justice System, so also is our civil justice. As the back bone of our legal system the common man in Nigeria should be able to resolve their grievances and obtain remedy in conformity with fundamental rights through institutions of justice.

“In an effective manner Civil Justice requires that the system be accessible, affordable, effective, impartial and culturally competent. Effective Civil justice also implies that court proceedings and judgments are delivered and enforced without unreasonable delays”, the CJN stated.

Meantime, on his part, while conceding that the judiciary has not lived up to expectation, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, called for an urgent reappraisal of the

present performance evaluation mechanism in the judiciary which he said tends to emphasize quantity at the detriment of quality.

“A judge’s perfor mance should be measured by a cocktail of performance indicators including, but not limited to: the quantity of rulings/judgments; the number of decisions upheld or overturned on appeal; the degree to which judges take effective control of their courts; case management skills and sitting as at when due.

Evaluation mechanism “I am of the respectful view that a more responsive performance evaluation mechanism will better reward hard work, sanction indolence and promote a harmonious working environment in the judiciary”, Adoke added.

He further urged Nigerians to exercise restraint in the way they write petition against judges, “a timid and fearful judiciary comprised of judges constantly looking over their shoulders as a result of palpable fear of unjustified peti-

tions cannot dispense justice in the manner desired by the entire citizenry.

“We must collectively play active roles in reversing this trend”, he argued.

The AGF urged the National Judicial Council, NJC, respective Heads of Court, and the leadership of the NBA to do more than they are doing at the moment, “to protect the dignity and independence of our judicial officers”.

As the debate rages on, the fact still remains that the Nigerian judiciary, though has evolved tremendously within the past 54 years, is yet to meet the expectations of the citizenry.

Sadly, the Judiciary still lags behind in so many areas. At this age, many of the judges are still constrained to take notes in long hand.

It is equally pathetic that in this era, the judiciary is still grappling with the twin plagues of bribery and corruption both within the Bar and the Bench.

General elections Besides, as Nation marches into what obviously will be a very busy legal year, in view of the coming general elections and the appeals that will certainly follow, it is imperative that the Judiciary extricates itself from inappropriate connections with, and influence by the Executive and Legislative branches of government.

It is undeniable that judicial independence is a pre-requisite to the rule of law and a fundamental guarantee to a free trial.

More so, a comprehensive modernization of the operational systems of the courts at all levels, has to be given priority in the ongoing judicial reform process in order that we may achieve the desired results in our quest for expeditious and effective administration of justice.

Projects continuity bill will stop Including justice in post-2015 MDGs —Page 39 abandoned projects — Page 38 — Nigeria must lead (2)

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014—37

Projects continuity bill will stop abandoned projects — Ugbo W

Progress and development What we in the National Planning Commission notice is that when governments come into power, the first thing they do is to abandon what the previous administration did. And to us, that is a loss to the Nigerian populace.

What are you doing about this?

We came up with a law which we call Projects continuity Bill which is before the National Assembly, believing that the National Assembly will look at this bill, pass it into bill so that no administration, whether it is the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) or is the All Progressives Congress (APC), will come to power and will want to abandon what the immediate past administration did. This is beneficial to Nigerians and not to any particular person or any political party, so we expect that such a law would be put in place so that it will help us in our development efforts, so

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

it will help Nigerians to realise the benefits of their tax money.

That is how law can assist in ensuring that there is development, that is how law will ensure that people who are supposed to bring in money and invest and bring development come in when the enabling environment is right, when the legal systems are properly put in place. That is the relationship between law and development and we believe that we are doing a great job in addressing that.

One of the problems in Nigeria is lack of continuity in government policies. How can this be addressed?

We are trying to see that there is continuity in Government development policies. Remember that we started with the vision 2020. The vision 2020 document about 5000 Nigerians participated in tracking the Nigerian vision. Why did we get all Nigerians from all works of life to participate in that, it is because we didn’t want it to look as if it is Federal Government document, no, it should be a Nigerian doc-

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BY INNOCENT ANABA HAT aspects of our laws do you think we need to amend to fast track economic development in the country?

Law and economics go hand in hand, law and development go hand in hand. If you create an enabling environment what it means is that your legal systems in place are perfect, you can encourage investors to come in and invest because the legal environment is conducive for them to operate and when that happens, it brings development, so you see the nexus between law and economic development.

When you embark on projects and programmes of governments, governments come and go, but the programmes and projects you established continue to remain, how do we ensure that the law helps us to ensure that progress and development is sustained.

tier of government which is the local governments in the States.

So, if the governors are in attendance, they are representing the States which they come from. So, this meeting holds every Month where we discuss matters that affect the Federal Government, the States and the Local Governments in one sitting and everything we need to do as a nation, obviously, these things are discussed at that meeting. This is very important and we coordinate this meeting from the National Planning Commission which is an aspect we think we are doing well.

Which values do you think this has added to the governance of this country?

Well, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, a sitting President did a mid term review of his achievements which was published, that is Mr President’s Transformation Agenda mid term report. He published a mid term report where he challenged all Nigerians, saying, this is what he has achieved in the two years of his sitting as the President of

In monitoring and evaluation, we monitor budgets and programmes implemented by the three tiers of Governments, Federal Government fiscal projects

ument. So, every Nigerian was given the opportunity to make a contribution to that plan. And when that came up, the States in the same vein, followed suit by developing their own State vision which was derived from the national vision. To ensure that we coordinate and we ensured the working together of the three tiers of Government, we have the National Economic Council which is chaired by the Vice President of the Country with all the 36 States Governors in attendance and you know that the constitution places the responsibility of the governance of the third

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the Federal Republic of Nigeria and if anybody doubts what was contained in the report, he is free to debunk it by showing that what is written there is not correct. Up till this moment we speak, nobody has come out to say that what the President presented is not true. That report was was facilitated by the National Planning Commission, they came up with that report.

We have set up a national monitoring and evaluation system for the country which is working very robustly, we have even established a Geographic Information System (GIS) monitoring lab in

•Mr. Ntufam Ugbo the National Planning Commission because we know that we are in an age of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) which we must apply in running all our processes. We have done all that which is the pride of the commission and it all happened during my tenure as the Secretary to the commission, so, I am indeed proud that we are doing what we ought to do and we partner other organs of government that is available to us like the Joint Planning Board What is the work of this Joint Planning Board?

The Joint Planning Board is a body where all the States Planning Commissioners meet quarterly to discuss issues that affect the three tiers of government and what can be done. We make resolutions, we go ahead to enforce these resolution and at the same time we monitor what is going on. The National Monitoring and Evaluation that we have put in place, we are also encouraging the States to adopt the same system because it will help us to know what we are achieving and where we are failing, so that once we know where we are achieving well and where we are failing, we can correct the failures and then improve on the positive achievements that we are making. So, to that extent, we are making wonderful contributions

and we are coordinating what happens across the three tiers of governments.

What do you monitor and evaluate?

In monitoring and evaluation, we monitor budgets and programmes implemented by the three tiers of Governments, Federal Government fiscal projects.

We develop a monitoring evaluation report every year to tell what ministries and departments are achieving every year and whatever do not achieve, we report also.

Why do you do this ?

We do this because we want to give them an opportunity to see what they are doing, because there is this saying that you do not see yourself, you can only see yourself with a mirror and we being the mirror with which the ministries, the departments and agencies see themselves, we give them that report, so that from the report they see clearly what they are doing right and what they are not doing right from there they know where to take corrections and where to improve. We a also monitor programmes and not only projects.

It is widely speculated that you intend to serve your people of Cross River State as Governor, therefore, you intend to contest for that office in the forthcoming elections in 2015, what is Continues on page 38

38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Including justice in post-2015 MDGs — Nigeria must lead (2) C

hallenges to meeting MDG’s According to Nigeria’s 2013 MDG report, the country experienced challenges in striving to meet MDGs goals and targets.

One key challenge was the initial heavy debt burden which affected the finances and expenditure of government.Endemic corruptionstill makes Nigeria very unattractive to local and foreign investors as it raises the risk and costof doing business. Increased insecurity, violence and terrorism havehampered ongoing developmental efforts across the country as well as hampered investment. In addition, monitoring and reporting of progress made on MDGs has been poor and lopsided while concrete translation of growth into better living conditions remained a major policy challenge.

Economic growth alone is not enough Despite accomplishmentsin recent years, it has dawned onNigerians and other countries thateconomic growth—as defined by gross domestic product or GDP per capita – alone

is not sufficient to measure development. Our experiences clearly tell us that justice, safety and good governance are central to development –includingNigeria’s effort to reduce poverty and eliminate inequality. The recent ‘UN’s World We Want Survey’ revealed that issues such as honest and responsive governments and protection from crime and violence were rated above development markers such as roads and household energy supply.

This has presented a shift in global discussion of development goals and targets and the dire need to includejustice and rule of law in the post 2015 agenda. Inter-governmental organizations and CSOs working on issues of access to justice and rule of law are beginning to see development as a concept that must necessarily include justice, rule of law, human rights and security.

Justice and development goals Undoubtedly, justice and development are interrelated, interlinked and mutually reinforcing - what happensacross justice in-

•Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, CJN stitutions—including formal courts, administrative agencies and communitybased dispute resolution — profoundly impactshuman development as well as other sectors of the economy. The current worsening security situation in Nigeria evidently shows that we have placed much emphasis on ensuring other development needs at the expense of justice, rule of law, human rights and security. The strong nexus between a free market economy and good governance is what justice and rule of law is to economic

growth.

It is imperative that Nigeria perceives justice and rule of law not as mere abstract terms, but as concepts vital to economic development. Respect for rule of law and human rights are precursors for peace - the violation of which create conditions inimical to development.

Investments receive more boost in communities where there is respect for rule of law as it guarantees confidence in the justice system.

In the same vein, potential investors are assured

that justice will be served when they have recourse to law courts to protect their investments.

Challenges facing judicial system It is important to ensure the inclusion of justice and rule of law in Nigeria’s post 2015 agenda. It is an opportunity to continuously highlight the key problems and challenges facing our justice system, as well as identify potential responses. Key problems include chronic delay in the trial of cases, lack of effective coordination amongst the agencies of the criminal justice systemthe police, prisons, prosecutors and the courts, a growing number of awaiting trial detainees,the problem of ‘holding’ charge, limited alternatives to imprisonment and indiscriminate transfer of investigating police officers. By linking these challenges to development impacts, the post-2015 process will help improve coordination across government agencies and sectors and support innovative new approaches to secure access to justice. It will also serve as an opportu-

Projects continuity bill will stop abandoned projects Continues from page 37 your reaction to this?

Service to me has been part of my life because when I was talking to you about the areas I have offered services here and there you will see that it has always been a life of service to the people, service the nation and all that. And if at this point in time I consider that I have it takes to step up my service to my State, I think I right.

What makes you think that you are the man for the job?

Yes, in 2006 I aspired for the position of the Governor of my State, I am a team player and at the end of the day we agreed and we came together, we worked together to actualise, this dream for one of us who happens to be the current Governor on seat.

Now 2015 is around the corner , the guidelines are indeed out and my people still believe that I have what it takes to give them that leadership and I have been urged to renew the aspiration that I started in 2006 and I cannot let my people down, I will take up the challenge and I will show interest.

There was an advertisement in the newspapers recently in which you were quoted as saying that you reject the Lagos accord of three musketeers, what is your reaction to this?

I was shocked to the marrows

when I read the advertisements in the newspapers. I was shocked because I don’t understand why human beings could go to the extent of concoct, fabricating and publish such lies in the newspapers just to undermine other candidates and achieve political gains.

That advertisement did not come from me nor did it emanate from my campaign office. How can I go ahead to say that a government which I am fully part of is a slave driver, it then means that I myself, am a slave driver.

Above all, we have done our best for our people and the country in general.

Campaign train Mischief makers used the photographs of our Governor and that of our former Governor to do that, they made it sound as if it came from my campaign train. It is really unfortunate and this kind of politics must be discouraged by all, the press should always cross check who is sending advertisements to them.

They should always confirm the authenticity and verify the source, so as not to embarrass innocent citizens, defame them or infringement on their fundamental rights.

As an embodiment of eco-

nomics, law and finance, how do you intend to touch the lives of ordinary Cross Riverians if elected the State Governor in 2015?

At times when you are growing up in life, you go through certain processes that you don’t know what God is doing, but He is deliberately preparing you for certain responsibilities, for the journey ahead, you may never know that. But somehow, some where along the line you will begin to realise that God was indeed preparing you for a great task which He has planned for you ahead.

I started my life as an economist, I was engaged in the Central Bank of Nigeria as an economist where I worked for 24 years. Out of the 24 years, 20 years were with the CBN and four years were the years I spent as Commissioner for Finance, Planning and budget in Cross River State, that was between 1995 and 1999. When I returned to the Bank, I read law and took a Masters degree in Finance which exposed me to all forms of financing options and all that. As if that was to say look, you are going to face a State that is financially challenged, you should have those views to decide on how you are going to innovatively create some financing that will help to propel development in the State. So, I believe that these

background that I had, with the fact that I worked in the CBN, I worked in the International Economic Relations Department of the Bank, I am now working in National Planning Commission where I have to coordinate and direct development assistance to Nigeria, interfacing with development partners and interfacing with bilateral partners from different parts of the world that send one form of development assistance or the other to the nation, that in itself has also placed me in a better position to bring this experience to bear on the people of Cross River State to be able to share the benefits.

As the Executive Secretary, National Planning Commission, which area of our laws do you think we can amend to enhance rapid national development?

Before now, if you look at the first national development plan, the second national development plan, the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), the Vision 2020 and all that up till this moment, emphasis was not much on the private sector partnering with the public sector to bring about development.

Today the area of emphasis is that we must allow the private sector do those things which they can conveniently do so that the government can concentrate on creating the enabling environment.

nity for government, civil society and citizens to come together to benchmark progress made through various reforms in the justice sector.

Rule of law and national sovereignty Concerns have been raised on how to include rule of law whilst also “respecting national sovereignty” and “promoting national ownership,” as well as taking into account the peculiarities of different justice systems. The notion that the inclusion of rule of law in post 2015 agenda will interfere with states sovereignty is unfounded – rather its inclusion will lift economic growth and wellbeing of the people.A major breakdown of rule of law in Nigeriawill not only lead to instability but could snowball into a major regional crisis. Therefore strengthening the rule of law, the police and other security institutions in Nigeria is critical to promoting good governance, effective, accessible and a fair justice system. This enhances the poor and vulnerable people’s right to basic services for a better livelihood.Policy makers and other stakeholders should perceive justice and rule of law not as a “top down” imposition by wealthy states, but rather as a “bottom up” mechanism to ensure predictability, consistency, and fairness in the everyday lives of the people.

Others suggest that rule of law and access to justice are too difficult to measure. This argument is no longer tenable. According to the World Health Organization’s report on Violence and Health, the criminal justice sector has been recognized as a rich source of data to epidemiologists seeking to measure the impact of armed violence on public health. Governments gather significant administrative data on performance of government institutions as well as survey data which helps to capture the experiences of individuals.

Some governments have already incorporated justice measurement into their national systems, while CSOs amongst other functions play a crucial role in relevant data gathering.

The Nigerian Federal and States Ministry of Justice at various times have used data on case volume and duration as indicators to measure progress in the reform of the justice sector.

Concluded.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014—39

40 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 , 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 , 2014—41

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Delta 2015:

I am the non-controversial aspirant — Tony Obuh Sir Tony Obuh, a frontline aspirant in the contest for the gubernatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Delta State was in Lagos last weekend for an interactive session with the media.

Obuh was heralded to the session by a large routine of supporters led by the director general of his campaign organisation, Barrister Fred Majemite, himself, a onetime political adviser to the incumbent governor of the state Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Obuh, a retired permanent secretary whose humility was hailed by Majemite, subsequently unfolded himself as a policy wonk with his grasp of the strategy, structure and system of government.

ByEMMANUELAZIKEN, Political Editor

O

N the needs of Delta I know the needs of the various segments of Delta State. I know what we can do to enhance the lives of our people, I know the areas that we are lacking, I know where we have the advantages and I know what we can assign to the different sections and segments of our Delta community. I know what we can do to ensure that life is protected and security maintained to ensure that the different parts of this state continue to live side by side. I know that it is possible for the people of the three senatorial districts of Delta State to live side by side and experience growth and development without acrimony.

knowledge, I have the exposure to run Delta State as the governor if and only if, the people of the state and the Almighty God bless that my ambition.

So, I am standing as a symbol of unity. You may have heard that in Delta State that the political parties are thinking of ceding governorship to a part of the state, that is Delta North.

Incidentally, I am from Delta North, but I am not standing as a candidate of Delta North or for Delta North, I am standing as a candidate for the entire Delta State because I believe that I have enough support across the state.

Political affiliation I am a card carrying member of the PDP and it has been that way since 2011. It has been said in some quarters that I am not a politician and that I will

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I know that if the resources of the state are properly managed and employed to serve real purposes that Delta State will continue to grow

I know that if the resources of the state are properly managed and employed to serve real purposes that Delta State will continue to grow. I know that our present policy of Delta Beyond Oil holds a growth promise for the people of Delta State and what we require is ability to build on the blocks that have already been laid. I believe that as part of the persons who initiated that policy that I know enough to drive that policy for the greater benefit of the people of Delta State. That is why I feel that I have the experience, I have the competence, I have the

,

need exemption to be able to run for office. That is not correct, I am properly qualified to run for office without applying for any form of permit or exeat or clearance from anybody just as any of the other contestants who have shown up. I have the qualities and the qualifications to run for the office of governor in Delta State. There is no controversy about that.

My mission here today is to expose myself to you, to let you know that the name you may have seen in print has blood flowing in his body. It is not a fluke, I am not the creation of anybody’s imagination and I

•Obuh am not being coerced to contest for this election. As a full grown man of 57 years, a man that has seen 32 years in public service, I am of age to decide what is good for me and what is good for my people. What is right and what is wrong, what is doable and what is not doable, and what aspirations can be actualised and that is why I am running as a candidate who has full belief that Delta can grow and grow well and grow strong as a united entity to be among the leading states in this federation.

At what point did you make up your mind that you want to be governor of Delta State and what prompted that decision? What are the specific challenges in Delta and what do you think you can do to move the state forward?

Let me first let you know that from 2006 I have been involved in political activities, not directly by way of contesting for election for any political office, but by putting together a support group which had its own philosophy of good governance, accountability and

unity. Through that support group we were able to work behind the scene with the present governor and again, I was part of the transition committee that prepared his eventual takeover of office.

If you don’t understand what that problem is, the tendency for you is to begin to do blame game. I know how to identify such problems and because I have been in the system, addressing them will not be a problem.

Understanding the system And looking at the number of persons who are around, my personal assessment is that they do not have the kind of understanding and exposure that I have and that places me at an advantage.

Even becoming a permanent secretary was not something that I just woke up one morning and said, “God make me a permanent secretary,” I subjected myself to training to understanding the system so that when I have the

opportunity I could do well.

So, in the aspiration to become a governor, it was the combination of well thought plans within me on how I think that the defects within governance can be addressed and I believe that I stand in a position to be able to address those defects because I know what are our advantages.

My plans for the new Delta First is to let you know that I have full faith in the policy of Delta Beyond Oil, that is to say that what we have now as our greatest advantage and resource, that one day, we would no longer enjoy that status. We need to begin to address the various sectors and segments of the lives of the people of Delta State. Our state has a lot of natural resources.

Agriculture is one basic area that we consider as a great asset for the people of Delta State.

We still continue to witness waste, loss arising from our inability to utilise our harvest.

At harvest time if you visit some of our farming communities Continues on page 43

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014—43

Money has stopped winning election in Anambra —Maja Umeh Chief Maja Umeh is a senatorial aspirant for Anambra South senatorial zone for the 2015 elections. A former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism during the Peter Obi administration, Umeh, in this interview spoke on the chances of his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, the relationship between Governor Obiano and former Governor Obi, among other issues in the polity. Excerpts: BYVINCENTUJUMADU OUR party, APGA, may have come out of leadership crisis, but the recent resignation of the former governor, Mr. Peter Obi as the chairman of the party’s BoT and the defection of some federal lawmakers elected on the platform of the party are issues worrying your supporters. Don’t you think these may adversely affect the party during next year’s election?

Well, first of all, APGA is a spiritual movement; it is not just a political party the way other political parties are fashioned.

People who are following APGA are doing so for what APGA is. That is why I call it a spiritual movement, not minding that some people come in and some people go out.

It is natural. The electorate in this part of the country believes stoutly in APGA. So, though APGA is experiencing some problems, I don’t see such problems as insurmountable. For me as a party man, I will advise my party leadership to look inward. A situation where highly placed members of the party are leaving the party is not a good

Y

development; a situation where a former governor, more or less the founder of the party is also saying that he needs a ratification of his BoT chairman is also a serious issue. I must admit that all is not well in APGA, but they are not insurmountable problems. I want our party leadership to look inwards and find out the reason for the disgruntlement. I am happy with the sustained tour of local governments by the governor, Chief Willie Obiano which would give him first hand experience and feelings of party supporters.

As for our chances in next year’s, I believe they are bright election because I hope that before the election, we will put our house in order. I sincerely call on our party leadership to look into the issues that make people leave our party and not to treat their leaving with a wave of the hand. It is not healthy for the party because we believe in one large, big family. The challenges may be there, but we must conduct ourselves the way our great leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu directed us. If we don’t do that people will be asking: is it because Ojukwu is no longer there that these things are happening? It is not a good omen

•Maja Umeh for the party. So, I call on the governor, the national chairman of the party and the entire leadership of the party to, for the sake of Ikemba and Ndi Igbo, not let this cock to stop crowing. If there are areas that need amendment, let us amend them. We should not adopt the posture of it doesn’t matter. If four people have left out of five, you call them. They are not dead people. If you ask they will tell you and then you will know whether they are right or wrong. Everything matters and a stitch in time saves nine.

There is the report that the incumbent governor and his predecessor are not on talking terms. Dot’s you think this will also

affect party cohesion?

I don’t know about the insinuation that the former governor and the incumbent governor are not getting on well because I discussed with my principal, the former governor, and he told me he has no problems with the new governor. I am yet to see the new governor, but I believe that they don’t have any irreconcilable difference, if they do have at all. But as I said before, our party leadership should sit down and put their acts together because our lack of cohesion can definitely affect the way the party develops.

There is also the insinuation that the immediate past governor is

backing you for the senatorial race, while the party leadership is backing the former deputy governor, Dr. Okey Udeh. What are you envisaging during the primaries?

Nobody is backing me, except the masses that have said go, speak and get our things for us. The slogan of our ‘Effective Representation Group’, ERG, is: ‘go, speak and get’ and that is what this ambition is all about. It is about speech, it is about delivery, understanding your terrain; it is not about money. So, at the end of the day, you get something for your people. You have gone there to represent them. It then means that you go and present their case and get a solution. It is not how wealthy one is, and if there is any of them that is better than me; so be it. Right now I don’t want to address the insinuation of who is backing who.

I am not a money bag but my determination is coming from people’s love for me, my moral encouragement and personal zeal God has given to me.

From my knowledge of Anambra politics, virtually all the money men come from your senatorial zone, that is, Anambra South Senatorial District. How are you going to compete with these men?

I agree with you that a couple of very successful Ndi Anambra come from my zone. But I want to re-iterate that politics is not all about money. Nigerians must begin to appreciate quality of representation; they must begin to appreciate effective representation.

That is most important and I must tell you that people underrate the intelligence and political behaviour of the electorate. Money has stopped winning election in Anambra State a long time ago without people realizing it. I have seen so many money bags backing people and yet they lost elections.

What is important is; who is the candidate, what does he have to

Delta 2015: I am the non-controversial aspirant—Tony Obuh Continues from page 42 you will be sorry for our farmers because what they have used the whole year working for would have been lost just because they have been unable to process them or add value and get greater benefit out of them. That would be a major challenge I intend to confront because for us, we need to grow the lives of our people, the full value chain in agriculture, we intend to explore them and develop them for the benefit of our people.

The different segments and parts of Delta State have economic crops that they can grow to an advantage. We will put every effort that we have to ensure that the farmers are encouraged to produce more and what they have as their excesses at harvest time is

mopped up so that they do not regret producing more than enough for domestic consumption.

We are also going to tackle education. Unemployment is a problem that is plaguing the whole world, not just Nigeria, not to talk of Delta State. But for us in Delta State, we see it as a major challenge. And part of this challenge is that our graduates whether from secondary, polytechnic or university level are not properly equipped to be independent. What you see is that everybody graduates, the next day they are asking for employment from government.

We should grow beyond the level of looking for employment from government, people should have the skill that can make them independent, engage themselves and

indeed, employ other persons.

So, we are going to improve on our educational system and produce people who can be entrepreneurs even as they are coming out of school. We will give them life engaging skills that can make them independent and employable.

Riverine communities Since the state government started funding DESOPADEC restiveness in our riverine communities, especially in the oil bearing communities has been addressed and if I have the opportunity to be in the driver’s seat by the grace of God, we will ensure that we continue on this same path by ensuring that projects that are aimed at addressing specific problems within these oil

bearing communities are given maximum attention. If people have what they require in the rural communities or in the riverine communities, I do not think that they will migrate from there to the cities to look for jobs that are not available.

So, what we will do is to ensure that funding of DESOPADEC does not cease.

The information we have is that you have been anointed by the powers that be. How do you intend to carry along other stakeholders?

If they say anointed by some political interest groups, support groups, youth, communities and so on and so forth, I think that is ok and I think that is what most politicians seeking public office look up to. Those who see it as a sin, I am sure that they have attempted to get such

anointment without success.

What maybe you didn’t say specifically is that maybe, they have mentioned some names to say that such names have anointed me. Let me be more specific, some persons have said that the governor has anointed me, I have never discussed anointment with the governor, he has never declared to me that he has anointed me and even the chairman of the PDP has issued a statement that neither the governor nor himself or the party has anointed anybody.

But I am aware that people have been carrying busloads of political leaders to seek anointment from this same source. I have not received that, but I am looking forward to it but if it does happen I will celebrate it.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

CHIEF Bonaventure Mokwe in this interview with Vanguard, said that the demolition of his hotel was as a result of the political cold war between his half brother and former Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi. Excerpts:

BY EVELYN USMAN

W

HAT informed your decision to join APGA ?

My decision to join APGA is purely based on the personality at the helm of affairs in Anambra state, Willie Obiano. Whatever he parades as his degrees reflect on his actions. I want to use my logical reasoning to assist him promote good governance instead of self-interest motivated decisions which are not part of his administration. My entry into partisan politics was a decision I made after consulting prominent Aguata natives and my larger family. The youths of my town, Umuchu and neighbouring towns - Uga, Amesi,Achina, Akpo and Ezinifite Aguata were all instrumental to my decision.

My recent experience in the hands of the former state governor, Mr Peter Obi, was also a factor in my decision to make a difference in governance.

I was welcomed into the APGA political family on August 24 by the party big-wigs in Aguata local government of Anambra state Sound and logical reasoning in governance and promotion of rule of law are my priorities.

Governance by trial and error, act

Anambra: Why I'm fighting Obi — Mokwe now and think later approach, lack of any sense of damage control and governance by just one man while the rest knows nothing will be a thing of the past.

Does that mean the hue and cry for justice over your demolished hotel is over?

No! That is a case totally independent of my political ambition. That case continues until its sorted out. But I am counting on Willie Obiano to use his intelligence, so that he does not get caught in the cross - fire between Mr Obi and I. Don’t you think that the alleged discovery of human heads and arms in your hotel may work against your political ambition?

It will not work against it.

Rather it will solidify it because it has been demonstrated that the whole thing was a grand conspiracy to destroy my personality and to destroy my father ’s name. It has been proved, as there is currently no charge against me in any law court.

In the first judgement, the court ruled that my property rightly belongs to me. Also, the state government has not said a single word to counter the proven facts that have been reflected in all publications.

•Mokwe With your emergence in politics, how do you intend to right the wrong allegedly done by the administration?

I must say that Willie Obiano is taking each step in the right direction. I won’t do it any better.

The only thing is that he needs people like us in his tentacles so that he won’t misdirect himself by way of self interest motivated actions or try to intimidate people

and label them what they are not while in the real essence, it is to acquire their property. Obiano is doing exactly what I would do if I were the governor.

The only thing I would have done differently is to come out openly and said look, this whole money said to have been left for me in government coffers is not exactly the way it is so that he doesn’t end up answering what

The epistles of Nsima Ekere

BY SYLVANUS UKPONG

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PISTLES are the apostolic letters of The Bible. The New Testament has twenty-one epistles with Saint Paul credited as the author of 14 of them, making him the single most important influence and exponent of the Christian faith after Jesus Christ. The Pauline epistles involves the ministry of Paul, following his turning-point experience on the Road to Damascus, to his First, Second and Third Missionary Journeys.

Paul who is unarguably one of the greatest Christians that has ever lived, had profound messages for the Church, which have today become the firm foundations of Christianity.

For Akwa Ibom, and especially as we march steadily towards the defining moments of the 2014 Governorship Primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, one leading aspirant stands out from the pack, as a man with a message for Akwa Ibom people.

Obong Nsima Ekere, a onetime Deputy Governor of the State, who has stepped forward, in what will be his ‘third Missionary Journey’ to help salvage Akwa Ibom, at the top

level of governorship of the State, has yet again offered to serve in leading the people to their eldorado.

The first time, he ran for office of governor in December 2006 and came fourth in the primaries hotly contested by 58 aspirants.

In 2011, he came on board as the deputy governor to Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON. This third time out, he seeks to consolidate and build upon the successful template put in place

by Governor Akpabio through the Uncommon Transformation Agenda.

Obong Ekere is not doing this in a vacuum. While other contenders are employing proxies and fronts to smear fellow aspirants and mount vicious campaigns of blackmail against other opponents, Ekere has focused on running an issuebased campaign and as a result, is connecting with the people by highlighting the vision, mission and work plan he has for the Akwa Ibom of our dream.

Nsima Ekere’s brand and its populist orientation quickly received the crucial backing of the Akwa Progressive Commercial Tricyclists, Taxi and

•Nsima Motorcyclists Association, (APCOTMA), the umbrella union of tricycle and motorcycle operators in the state.

The endorsement came, when Ekere, became the first governorship hopeful to consider this usually neglected and trampled section of the society, worthy of being consulted and

their input sought for the continued good governance of the State. Ekere made it a priority to reach out to the state executive council members and chapter chairmen of the association as well as their wives at their secretariat in Uyo. Addressing them, the former deputy governor, who was visibly overwhelmed by their show of support, promised to institute a N2 billion revolving loan for members of the association within six months of his assumption of office as governor.

He explained that the loan would assist those tricycle operators that intend to graduate to taxi operators and those willing to go into other businesses, adding that the whole idea was to sustainably empower them in line with his people’s development agenda.

Ekere disclosed that his government would flood Uyo, the state capital, with taxi cabs but assured that all registered tricycle operators would benefit from his taxi scheme gradually.

He said he decided to consult and partner with APCOTMA given the strategic role of tricycle operators in the economy of the

he knows nothing about. That is the only difference.

Apart from that Obiano is deploying necessary actions to fighting crimes and making other people contribute. He has this all hands- on- deck approach and not venting the anger of the sins of one’s brother on another like in my case with the immediate past administration.

I want to reveal to the whole world what led to the demolition of my hotel. My senior brother, Gregory Mokwe, is a political enemy of the former governor.

He was instrumental at the initial time Obi wanted to vie for governor of the state under APGA. Along the line, my brother fell apart with Obi because he followed Chekwas Okorie of the United Progressives Party, UPP. As if that was not enough, Gregory, who is my half brother, hosted Chekwas Okorie’s new party and blocked old Market road. Naturally, actions like that get to the state house. Two weeks after that incident my hotel was demolished.

They thought that the property (my hotel) they demolished was my brother’s. You see, my father had about five buildings along that road and he shared it among us. Gregory inherited the building next to my hotel. He never knew that I am from a polygamous family.

state, particularly the fact that they controlled the transportation system.

Ekere recalled the ban placed on motorcycles in the state capital, three years ago, by the State Government, pointing out that it was successful because of the maturity of APCOTMA leadership. He emphasized that the major priority of his administration would be the industrialization of the state to build on the infrastructural base already put in place by Governor Akpabio.

As a believer in the grassroots, Ekere has continued to deliver what commentators, public affairs analysts, community leaders and opinion moulders as well as political stakeholders have reached consensus on as being well-thought out messages of hope to the good people of Akwa Ibom State.

The messages which are everywhere, on giant bill boards, fliers, newspapers, online platforms and social media correctly anticipate and address the collective hopes and aspirations of the people. It covers all classes and sectors of our socio-economic life and this is the politics that our nation sorely lacks, but eagerly yearns for.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014—45

46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Diaspora group petitions UN over $9.3m arms deal

Nigeria 'll be among 10 countries contributing to global poverty in 2030 —World Bank L

By Omoh Gabriel

AGOS—THE World Bank has said that Nigeria will be one of 10 countries that, in the year 2030, will remain as the main contributors to global poverty.

It said that the scenario requires that in Nigeria, currently contributing heavily to global poverty numbers, growth rates need to rise, but not to a degree that is entirely unimaginable.

It stated that in Nigeria, the growth rate needs to pick up from 2.3 to 3.2 per cent growth in real term. According to the report Nigeria will contribute another 61.5 million poor people to the global total.

According to the World Bank, much more work needs to be done to end poverty and close the gap in living standards between those in the bottom 40 per cent and the top 60 per cent of the population around the world.

The report details, for the first time, the World Bank Group’s twin goals of ending extreme poverty by 2030 and promoting shared prosperity, measured as income growth of the bottom 40 per cent. GMR 2014/2015 continues to monitor progress on the Millennium

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S DISCOURSE over the purported $9.3 million arms deal continues to rage, a diaspora group, the Nigeria Unite Group, NUG, has petitioned the office of the Secretary General of the United Nations on the alleged $9.3 million arms deal, demaning for proper investigation.

The petition signed by Messers Mohammed Hussaini and Francis John, averred that the arms deal was a total violation of the principles enshrined in the global Arms Trade Treaty, ATT. The petition reads: “Although the government has admitted knowledge of the deal, it has denied any complicity in the attempt to commit a crime.

“However, in court papers, the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa submitted evidence that Tier One, the company that Nigeria claimed to have an arms import deal with is not registered with the National Conventional Arms Control Committee and is thus not authorised to enter into any agreements regarding the sale and/or rental of military equipment."

y Hero is CPL Usuah who displays joy, happiness and entertainment under sun and rain when discharging his duty on the traffic, not bordering by challenges he might be facing. Mr. Charles O b u m n e m e Commenter C M Y K

inequality, which stubbornly persists all over the world. This vision of a more equal world means we must find ways to spread wealth to the billions who have almost nothing.”

The report notes that much success has been achieved in reducing extreme poverty – those living on less than a $1.25 a day.

However, the number of poor remains unacceptably high, at

just over 1 billion people (14 per cent of the world population) in 2011, compared with 1.2 billion (19 per cent of the world population) in 2008.

Forecasts in the report show that poverty will remain stubbornly high in the South Asia and SubSaharan Africa regions, where an estimated 377 million of the world’s 412 million poor will likely reside in 2030."

ANNIVERSARY: Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, guest speaker (middle), flanked from left by Miss Funmilola Olowe, Treasurer, Queen Amina Hall, University of Lagos, Maureen Mba, Sports Secretary, Yetunde Lediju, PRO, Ifelola Oluwadunsin, President, Chinyere Amunuba, General Secretary, and Rashidat Abiola, Vice-President, at the Queen Amina Hall 50th anniversary/ Hallmark seminar, at the Education Glass House, University of Lagos, yesterday.

2015: Ex-LG boss urges politicians to shun violence

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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OS—THE former Chairman of Langtang South Local Government Area in Plateau State, Hitler Dadi has called on politicians and the electorate to eschew thuggery and violence as the nation prepares for the 2015 general elections.

W h o

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Development Goals, which inspired the WBG twin goals.

“The world has made great progress in the last quartercentury in reducing extreme poverty – it was cut by a stunning two-thirds, and now we have the opportunity to end poverty in less than a generation,” said World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim. “But we will not finish the job unless we find ways to reduce

G

oodluck Ebele Jonathan and Dr. Adedevoh who was able to stop the suicide carrier of deadly Ebola virus Patrick Sawyer from killing us all. These categories of people will forever be remembered.

Mr. Clive OsarogiagbonWorker

i s

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Dadi who is aspiring for the Langtang North/ Langtang South federal constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, urged the people of the state to look beyond the narrow interest of political parties and elect credible personalities that can

y o u r

or being a democrat to the core; for spearheading the recent revolution in our power sector; for honoring very ordinary Nigerians; His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, is my hero.

Mrs Ifeoma Ayambuba- Worker

redeem the lost glory of the state.

He said he is set for a political battle with incumbent member representing the constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Hon. Beni Lar, adding that the people should be mindful of their actions so that they do not

N i g e r i a

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astor T. B. Joshua is my hero for healing the sick, for his u n p a r a l l e l e d philanthropic works that bring smiles and succor to the poor and needy.

This is what Christianity should be and not the other way. Mr. Ogbonna Chibuzor- Deck Cadet

jeopardise democracy in the country.

His words: “There may be attempt to use thugs to rig the forthcoming general elections.

Some people are trying to set a dangerous precedent and if care is not taken, we will soon get to a stage where some disgruntled people will get our beloved country into anarchy.”

h e r o ?

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ora Akunyili, Gani Fawehinmi and others that died fighting for the betterment of a common man. Out of the living ones: Fashola, Okagbare, and Marwa.

These are passionate Nigerians and patriotic citizens. Ms. Kubura Aremu- Model

I

will recommend the Minister of Agriculture,for transforming our agriculture on African level. He is relatively unknown but doing a great work and his ministry has achieved a lot for Nigeria. Ms. Esther Nonye- Student

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014—47

ACF vows to seek redress over killing of 35 IMN members

By Walter Uba

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ARIA—THE Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has promised to seek redress over the alleged killing of 35 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, by soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna State, about three months ago.

The forum made this known when its members paid a condolence visit to the IMN yesterday.

Those killed included three sons of the Zaria-based leader of the IMN otherwise known as Shi’ite, Sheik Ibrahim ElZakzaky.

The leader of the ACF delegation, Ambassador Adamu Muhammed who spoke in an interview with Vanguard during the visit said that the

ACF would continue to engage the government until justice was done in the matter. ‘’We will not fold our arms and see innocent lives being lost for no just cause,” he said.

Earlier, the Secretary General, ACF, Colonel John Uba, rtd, in a letter of condolence, sympathized with the movement over the tragic incident.

“ ACF sympathizes with deep sense of grief the tragic attack on the congregation of your followers which resulted in the death of three of your sons and many of your devoted followers,” he said, pointing out that, ‘’their death at this material time has no doubt deprived you and indeed the rest of the family very dear and promising offsprings as well as the company

of trusted confidants.”

Responding, Sheik ElZakzaky said that the soldiers who shot his members disguised in his sect’s uniform to blackmail the law abiding members of the sect.

He emphasized that the sect had never carried arms since its 40 years existence, noting that “whenever firearm was used, was not from the sect.”

Kaduna guber: Yero submits letter of intent to run on PDP platform

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ADUNA—GOVERNOR Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State has submitted his letter of intention to run for the 2015 governorship election in the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Yero made this known while addressing the state PDP executive members yesterday at the party’s secretariat, adding that his decision was based on calls from various political and other interest groups across the state urging him to contest the poll.

The PDP stakeholders from the 23 local government areas in the state had earlier adopted him as their sole candidate for election, which he is expected to run with his deputy, Nuhu Bajoga.

Reacting to the governor ’s declaration of intent, Chairman of the state chapter of the PDP, Chief Abubakar Haruna said the process of the transition had commenced.

Haruna then urged other aspirants seeking elective positions on the platform of the PDP to also follow suit saying the party would guarantee level playing field for all aspirants.

The party also announced that the sale of nomination forms would commence tomorrow, October 10, following the release of the amended party guidelines on October 1.

Yero was accompanied to the party secretariat by a large crowd of supporters including stakeholders of the party from all the local governments in the state.

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LAUNCH: From left; Mr John Woma, media consultant, Daikin Air Conditioning; Mr Suraj Rupani, promoter, Panaserv Nigeria Limited; Mr Fujioka Hiroshi, President, Daikin Middle East and Africa and Mr Mohamed Miraj Mohamed Abbas, Head of Sales for Africa, Daikin Middle East and Africa during the launching of Daikin Air Conditioners in Lagos. Photo by Akeem Salau.

Plateau trains 510 personnel on containment of Ebola

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OS—THE Plateau Government has commenced training of 510 personnel from the 17 local government areas of the state on rapid response and containment of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Fom Dakwak, said this at the opening of the training programme in Jos yesterday.

Dakwak said the workers were being trained to handle any possible outbreak of the disease.

He said the programme was part of the state government’s efforts to respond to the outbreak of Ebola or any other epidemic.

He said the participants would be trained on rapid response and surveillance on the disease to prevent its spread.

Represented by Mr Solomon Musa, Director of Administration in the ministry, the commissioner said the five-day training was taking place simultaneously across the local government areas.

Tsav cautions against massive defection to PDP

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI—FORMER Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav has cautioned against massive defection of opposition politicians to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of the 2015 polls, saying that Nigeria was gradually tilting

towards a one party state.

Tsav said the present day Nigerian politician were not only self-serving but lacking in focus and ideas, pointing out that “even when it is obvious that it is to the detriment of the poor masses; we are still witnessing what we are seeing today.”

He spoke yesterday in a telephone interview with

Vanguard in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, warning that the country would be doomed without a virile opposition.

He said, “In Nigeria, most people are into politics not to serve the masses and develop the country and their states but to look after themselves and their families financially.

“Besides, they have no

Nasarawa monarchs pledge to support govt on ITNs distribution

L

AFIA—TRADITIONAL rulers in Nasarawa State have pledged to support the government in the distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Mosquito Nets in all the local government areas in the state.

Malam Isa MustapherAkwai, the Emir of Lafia and the Chairman, Nasarawa State Traditional Rulers Council, made the promise yesterday in Lafia, when he played host to the staff of Malaria Action Programme.

He said the council had set machinery in motion, to enhance the campaign on the preparation of the distribution

of mosquito nets in the state.

“The royal fathers in the state will collaborate with health workers in their respective areas so as to make the distribution a success.”

He urged members of the public to cooperate with health officials and provides them with the needed information for the success of the exercise.

Earlier, Technical Consultant, Malaria Action Programme in the state, Garba Umar, said the visit was to inform the royal fathers of the plan to distribute mosquito nets.

“We have concluded plans to distribute over 1.6 million long-

lasting insecticidal mosquito nets in the state,” he said.

“We have already deployed our staff to the state to embark on house to house campaign and take inventory of all the people,” he said.

He said the records would help and guide in the distribution of the nets.

Umar said the distribution of the nets under the Presidential Malaria Initiative was meant to replace the nets distributed in 2010.

According to him, the houseto-house distribution of the nets will commence on Oct. 10 and end on Oct. 15.

ideologies. This accounts for the defection or decamping from one political party to another by politicians.

“A country like Nigeria requires a strong and formidable opposition party which will not only keep the ruling party in check, but will also standby as an alternative government.

“The idea of decamping into the ruling PDP, which is now in vogue, is detrimental to the peace, development and security of this country.

“Nigeria is gradually tilting towards a one- party state and a country operating a one party system as the Federal Government seem to want, can not develop but wallow in corruption, injustice, lawlessness, falshood, insecurity, thievery and perpetuation of the culture of impunity in governance.

“The ruling party condones and encourages criminality. Since the present dispensation came in, no armed robber has been tried and condemned to death. All known armed robbers have become thugs and above the law. Nigeria is under siege by corrupt leaders.

How can we come out of this?”

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

ECCLESIASTICAL: From left— Bishops of Diocese of Lagos West, Rt. Revd.

Olusola Odedeji; Diocese of Ijebu SouthWest, Dr. Babatunde Ogunbanwo; Diocese of Ijebu North, Dr. Solomon Kupolunu; Diocese of Awori, Dr. Johnson Atere; Diocese of Badagry, Rt. Revd Babatunde Adeyemi; Dean Emeritus, Dr. Adebola Ademowo; Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, Professor Adebayo Akinde; Bishops of Diocese of Remo, Dr. Olusina Fape; Diocese of Ifo, Rt. Revd. Nathaniel Ogundipe; Diocese of Yewa, Rt. Revd. Michael Oluwarohunbi; Diocese of Egba West, Rt. Revd. Samuel Ogundeji and Diocese of Egba, Rt. Revd.

Emmanuel Adekunle, at the Council Meeting of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Okenla in Ifo, Ogun State, yesterday.

ICT CONFAB: The Director-General of National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Mr. Chris Onyemenam (left) and Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah at the ICT centenary conference held in Abuja, yesterday.

VICTORY: From left— Mr. Ezekiel Adedibu, member, Osun House of Assembly, representing Iwo Constituency; Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, Secretary to the Government of Osun State; Alhaji Semiu Ayofe, Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Iwo Local Government Area, and Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, during the celebration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola's election victory at Iwo, Osun State.

KERO DIRECT: Chief Ayirim Emami, Chairman/CEO, A & E Petrol

(with hose), flagging off the sale of kerosene at N50.00 per litre at Ugborodo, Escravos, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State.

WATER: From left— Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise; Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, Director, Corporate Accountability International, ERA, and Mr. Abayomi Francis, Executive Director, Peace & Development Project, PEDEP, at a briefing on water resources in Lagos.

FESTIVAL: HRH Christian Nwachukwu, Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State (middle); HRH Igwe Chinedu Anekwe, Igwe di ora mma I of Isolo (2nd right), and others at Eze Ndigbo's palace during members of Orient Progressive Social Forum's visit on the forthcoming Iri-Iji festival.

INAUGURATION: Maj. Gen. Paul Omu (rtd.), President-General of Isoko Development Union, IDU (standing) and other executives of IDU, at the inauguration of Isoko National Youth Assembly, INYA, execuitves at Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta state.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014— 49

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50—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Lagos Veg Fest debuts T

HE first edition of Lagos Veg Fest, LVF, will open its gates from October 10 -12, 2014, at Freedom Park (Old Prison Ground), Broad Street, Lagos Island. Admission is free.

The LVF will welcome some of Nigeria’s most innovative businesses in the health and wellness industry, international guests, generally people interested in vegan and vegetarian lifestyle and thought leaders in sustainable living.

The Veg Fest will also be launching event for some products like 'VegMeat', a tasty plant based substitute for meat.

The event brings together people who make deliberate choices for a healthy lifestyle.

“We want to show everyone in Nigeria that a healthy lifestyle is not only better for you but also delicious and fun“, says Hakeem A. Jimo, organiser of the event.

At the heart of the Vegan and Vegetarian festival is the exhibition featuring 30 stands with a food court and innovative health, green, sustainable products and services.

The Speakers’ Forum will be the dialogue platform for topics around a healthy and sustainable lifestyle like the panel discussion on 'Corporate Health' by Live Well Initiative one of the numerous partners. The 'Yes Ve Gan! Fashion Show' featuring Kinabuti and

Hakeem Jimo’s

Ve ggie Victory

veggienaija@gmail.com

evening in collaboration with Culinary Academy Lagos.

The steadily growing awareness for health is a big opportunity for startup companies“, says Simi Lawoyin, LVF organiser and consultant at 'GoodLifeStylist' with a focus on SMEs.

National Eye Centre offers free checks

By Chioma Obinna

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L-R: Founder Veggie Victory, Hakeem Jimo (left), Executive Director, Sappor Cuisine, Theresa Atai Sappor and Founder/ Director, GoodLifeStylist, Simi Lawoyin announcing the Lagos Veg Fest holding October 10-12, 2014 at Freedom Park, Lagos Island other designers is the connection between beauty and eating well and still have fun.

Alongside the fashion show, Nigerian celebrities Nneka and Keziah Jones, both Veg dieters, are contributing. An art exhibition

by Temitayo Ogunbiyi will give the festival an intriguing intellectual dimension by making

eating habits and tradition subject for discussion. There will be a 5km run on Saturday morning in Ikoyi and anti-stress relaxation excercise during the exhibition.

The American Vegan chef Justin P. Moore, will show his skills in High-End Vegan cooking at the exhibition and at a special dinner at Terra Kulture on Sunday

The LVF is a unique opportunity for Nigerians and people living in Nigeria to experience food and produts for a healthier lifestyle. At the same time for organisations and brands in Nigeria to connect to a 21st century movement for healthy and sustainable living.

S Nigerians joined the rest of the World to mark this year’s World Sight Day, an expert in ophthalmology has said the that early detection is key in reducing avoidable blindness in the country even as he raised the alarm over increasing incidences of avoidable blindness in the country.

Chairman, National Eye Centre, Dr. Chike Anibeze who spoke on the 2014 Commemoration of World Sight Day by the Centre with the theme: “Reducing Avoidable Blindness” also disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Health has rolled out a nationwide campaign against avoidable blindness.

Anibeze noted that this year’s activity would examine possible ways of reducing blindness related problems and towards this, the Centre is looking at accurate statistics of blindness nationwide, to see what programme can be established to reduce the problem, and

ameliorate the plight of those already affected.

“We will also be empowering people with information on causes of blindness and the need for them to ensure regular eye checks. We will be educating the public on what blindness is and avoidable blindness before it gets to terminal stage.

Stating that about 3,000 people are expected to be screened by during the programme, Anibeze surgeries and treatments will be done free of charge.

On the report that about 20 million Nigerians are blind, Anibeze who neither denied the statement nor confirmed it said: “I cannot confirm or deny it but I can say that the situation is bad and a number of factors are contributing to it because people do not go for screening.

He however, announced that the centre will today begin an awareness programme to further spread the message on the need for people to embrace early eye screening in order to avoid being blind in the future.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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Thanks – Kenneth Kenneth it is normal for semen to flow out from the woman after sex. Semen is not magnetic so part of it must flow out. Women who are trying to have children are advised to lay on their backs and lift their legs after sex for 10 to 15 minutes. This will ensure that the semen gets to the egg during ovulation. So your wife should do that. But if you still want to increase the volume of your semen, then take Max Load or Explosion supplement. These are all natural semen volumizers for men that also enable men enjoy intercourse – Uche Hello sir. I have been reading your sex product reviews for the past few weeks and I am interested in something that will help me perform better in bed.

My friend just used the Hard Times supplement for strong erections and performance and he liked it. I am wondering if that is what I need as well. My problem is that when I have sex once in the night, I have no erection or energy to do it a second time –

James Yes Hard Times Enhancer can help you have multiple rounds of sex in addition to giving strong erections and days performance energy – Uche Ever since I was young, I have always experienced premature ejaculation. I am 36 years now and it is still happening to me. Can I really overcome this? I thought I was going to outgrow it – Fabian Premature ejaculation can happen to anybody at any age.

Some men learn to overcome it as they get older while others continue to suffer from it. But you can get help. Try the Kamasutra Prolonging Cream for men. It is new and can help you last longer – Uche Sex is painful and unenjoyable. I don’t understand the hype. Is it just me? – Christiana Have you tried using a lubricant during intercourse? Your problem could be a simple case of vaginal dryness. Sex is fun. Try using the Climax Intensify Orgas Gel. It is very good for eliminating vaginal dryness and it is also an arousal gel that can help you enjoy intercourse – Uche I am interested in your penis sleeves. I am using Stud Extender now and it is getting old so I need a replacement.

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The head is shaped a bit like a dragon so it is great for female stimulation because the texture and feeling is different. It is also reusable, makes you look bigger and helps control premature ejaculation – Uche That is all for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 07086754515 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 —51

BRIEFS Snowden,Pope tipped for Nobel peace prize

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Kenyatta makes appearance at ICC K

ENYAN president President Uhuru Kenyatta became the first sitting Head of State to appear before the International Criminal Court where his Attorneys called on judges to throw out allegations of crimes against humanity, saying prosecutors had failed to prove their case after five years of investigations.

Prosecutors countered that Kenyatta’s government obstructed the hunt for the evidence and requested an indefinite postponement of the trial. They said sanctions should be considered to force Nairobi to comply with its obligations to cooperate.

“The case has failed and it has failed in a way that means there is no prospect of it going further,” defence lawyer Stephen Kay said, calling on the judges to find his client not guilty. If the prosecutor doesn’t offer more evidence, “you act to terminate.”

Kenyatta was summoned to the Haguebased tribunal to answer questions about his indictment on charges of orchestrating a wave of deadly post-election violence that swept Kenya in 2007.

He is the first sitting head of state to answer a summons to the court, established 11 years ago to prosecute individuals for serious crimes when domestic courts are unwilling or unable to do so.

Judges adjourned the

hearings and are expected to make a decision about the trial’s future before the end of the year.

Kenyatta, dressed in a dark blue suit, did not speak in court, but was defiant in comments to journalists as he left the court to catch a flight back home.

“We as Kenyans, we know where we came from, we know where we are going, and nobody will tell us what to do,” he said.

Kenyatta denies charges that he acted as an “indirect coperpetrator” in crimes, including murder, deportation or forcible transfer, rape, persecution and other inhumane acts.

The legal impasse is unprecedented in international law.

Previous high officials from conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda were under

U.N. medic in Liberia tests positive for Ebola

arrest when they appeared in court, and were no longer in power at the time of their appearance.

Like his deputy and former rival William Ruto, who faces similar but separate charges, Kenyatta is attending

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•Duncan Africa to Dallas to reunite with a long-lost son and the teen’s mother, had been in isolation at Texas Health Presbyterian for 10

Ebola: U.S. toughens screening at airports viewed as the best way

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.S. health officials said on Tuesday they would unveil within days new screening procedures for the deadly Ebola virus at the country’s airports to address public concern over the possibility of an outbreak.

“We’re working very intensively on the screening process both in the places of origin and upon arrival,” Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters. “We will

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•Kenyatta voluntarily.

Prosecutors have accused Kenyan authorities of refusing to hand over bank and phone records, obstructing the case which has faced a series of delays since it was launched five years ago.

US Ebola patient, Duncan dies HE first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States died yesterday, officials with Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital announced.

“It is with profound sadness and heartfelt disappointment that we must inform you of the death of Thomas Eric Duncan this morning at 7:51 a.m.,” the hospital said in a written statement. “Mr. Duncan succumbed to an insidious disease, Ebola.”

The Liberian citizen, who recently traveled from West

•Obama absolutely look at every step that could tighten that process.”

The move would go beyond CDC efforts to augment screening for travelers leaving Ebolastricken countries such as Liberia, which it has

NOWDEN, the former intelligence analyst who revealed the extent of US global eavesdropping, was one of the joint winners of the “alternative Nobel peace prize” last month. A hero to some and a traitor to others, he would be a highly controversial choice for the 878,000-euro ($1.11-million) award.

The Pakistani girls’ education campaigner Malala Yousafzai — who was also a favourite last year — is also said to be in the running along with Pope Francis for his defence of the poor, and a Japanese pacifist group.

Predicting the winner is even harder than usual this year, as the Nobel committee has received a record 278 candidates, with experts only having the names of those made public by their sponsors to go on.

Snowden, a former National Security Agency (NSA) analyst, was proposed by two Norwegian members of parliament. Last month he shared the “alternative” $210,000 Norwegian Right Livelihood Award with The Guardian newspaper and human rights and environmental activists.

to address the potential spread of the virus. But the diagnosis of the first Ebola patient on U.S. soil last week has strengthened calls from lawmakers and some health experts to introduce stronger measures in this country.

Screening passengers upon arrival in the United States could detect passengers who may have developed a fever in flight but will also pose new challenges to border control officers and flight crews, industry experts said.

days.

“This hurts deeply,” said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings during a city council meeting. “We were hoping this was not going to happen.”

It was not immediately known what would happen to Duncan’s body, which could remain contagious for several days.

Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention call for the remains to be immediately shrouded in plastic and double-bagged in leak-proof bags at the hospital, then promptly cremated or buried in an airtight casket.

Duncan’s death comes four days after his condition was downgraded from serious to critical. Over the weekend, he had begun receiving brincidofovir, an experimental antiviral drug that recently gained emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

“He fought courageously in this battle,” the hospital said in a statement. “Our professionals, the doctors and nurses in the unit, as well as the entire Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas community, are also grieving his passing.''

N international medical official with the U.N. Mission in Liberia has tested positive for the Ebola virus and is receiving treatment, the U.N. said yesterday.The official, who was not identified, is the second member of the mission, known as UNMIL, to contract Ebola. The first died on Sept.

25.

The world’s worst outbreak of Ebola has killed more than 3,400 people, predominantly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. The staff member reported having symptoms to UNMIL medics on Sunday, a statement said.

“The UNMIL Medical team has conducted immediate and robust contact tracing to ensure all people that came into contact with both staff members while they were symptomatic are assessed and quarantined,” it said.

Hong Kong protest leaders vow to ‘stay on the streets’

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ONG Kong pro-democracy protest leaders pledged to stay on the streets Wednesday in a bid to keep pressure on the government ahead of already fraught talks on political reform. But student leader Lester Shum insisted they would stay.

“We have reached the stage of dialogue and we will be persistent in our civil disobedience campaign and stay on the streets,” he said.

Leader of the pro-democracy Occupy movement, Chan Kin-man, added: “Only if the government quickly take action and give a concrete response to students’ demands (for democracy) will the problem be resolved.”

Formal talks are set for Friday between students and Chief Secretary Carrie Lam — the deputy to Hong Kong’s embattled leader Leung Chun-ying.

Pro-democracy leaders had agreed to a dialogue earlier with Lam but called it off last Friday after what they described as “organised attacks” on protesters at the Mong Kok demonstration site.

Riots hits Turkey after ISIS attacks

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T least 19 people were reported killed in riots across Turkey, the deadliest street unrest in years, after the Kurdish minority rose up in fury at the government’s refusal to protect a besieged Syrian town from Islamic State.

Street battles raged between Kurdish protesters and police across Turkey ’s mainly Kurdish southeast, as the fallout from war in Syria and Iraq threatened to unravel the NATO member’s own delicate peace process. There were also clashes in the commercial hub Istanbul and capital Ankara.

Across the frontier, U.S.-led air strikes appeared to have pushed Islamic State fighters back to the edges of the Syrian Kurdish border town of Kobani, which the militants have been poised to capture this week after a three-week siege.

52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, OCTOBER 9, 2014

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014—53

We're ready for 2015 elections —JTF Y

By Emem Idio

ENAGOA—THE Joint Task Force, JTF, coded named Operation Pulo Shield, in the Niger Delta has allayed fears over the security situation in the creeks of the region ahead of the 2015 general elections, assuring that the JTF was fully prepared to ensure hitch-free general elections.

Commander of the JTF, Major-General Emmanuel Aweke, who spoke, yesterday, in Yenagoa while receiving the new Air Force Officer Commanding the Mobility Command of the Nigerian Air Force, Yenagoa, Air Vice Marshall Umar Omeiza, in his office, said the JTF had put in place the necessary security logistics to provide the platform for peaceful elections next year.

General Aweke said the JTF was ridding the waterways of pirates, stressing that recently the force arrested some pirates who he said were undergoing interrogation.

According to him, about 22 illegal oil bunkering vessels have been impounded and hinged the success of the JTF

on the cooperation of the component security apparatus attached to the force.

The Air Officer Commanding the Mobility Command of the Nigerian Air Force, Yenagoa,

Air Vice Marshal Omeiza, in his remarks, said he was at the JTF office to familiarise himself with the operations and to seek its collaboration.

He added that the Mobility

Command of the Airforce was fully prepared to ensure the success of the 2015 elections in the area of airlifting INEC materials and surveillance, and solicited the support of all.

LEADERSHIP SUMMIT: From left: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, his wife, Roli and the former Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Mrs. Evelyn Oputu, at the opening ceremony of the Sun Women Leadership Summit in Asaba, yesterday.

Schools' resumption: Federal Govt Colleges in Rivers remain shut

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By Jimitota Onoyume

ORT HARCOURT—THE three Federal Government Colleges in Rivers State did not resume along with other schools in the state yesterday.

It would be recalled that due to the outbreak of Ebola Virus

Disease, EVD, in the state, the state government postponed resumption of primary and secondary schools to October 8, when it was sure that there was no trace of the dreaded disease anymore in the state.

Before the outbreak of the disease, teachers of the Federal Government Colleges

all over the country had been on strike over issues relating to entitlements.

Students of the Federal Government College, Ahoada, Abuloma and Rumuokoro, who went to school yesterday, were not allowed into the premises as they were told that senior staff of the schools were

on strike.

In another development, long queues surfaced yesterday around a few filling stations selling petrol. There had been scarcity of the product in the state capital in the last three days.

Elumelu dedicates guber ambition to God ...doles out 10 vehicles, 30 tricycles to Deltans

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H A I R M A N Committee on Health in the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, has donated 10 vehicles and 30 tricycles for distribution to people in the three senatorial districts of Delta State as part of his empowerment programmes.

Handing over the items under the aegis of Ndudi Eleumelu Foundation, he urged administrators of the non-governmental organisation to ensure they were fairly distributed to enhance the fortunes of the beneficiaries in the state.

Elemelu, who gave out the items shortly after committing his governorship ambition in the state on the platform

of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to God, thanked the foundation members for their steadfastness and promised more incentives for the coordinators to facilitate their task of mobilising the electorate towards the 2015 general elections.

He advised them to avoid distractions by remaining focused and mindful of their reactions to arguments over who should become the governor of Delta State.

Earlier, the Assistant Parish Priest of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Onicha-Uku, in Aniocha North Local Government Area, Rev. Fr. Ignatius Chigbo, advised Christians to judiciously

use their talents and gifts to the glory of God and the benefit of their generation.

He commended the wisdom of the

governorship aspirant for committing the project into the hands of God stressing that all successes come from God.

Air Peace warms up for inaugural flight

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IR Peace will today commence a threeday retreat to prepare for its inaugural flight this month.

Chairman of airline, Mr. Allen Onyema, said the retreat would provide a platform for its staff to plan ahead on how to run an airline that is expected to change the face of air travel in the country.

Onyema said the retreat, holding at Eko Tourist Resort, would provide opportunity to inculcate in the airline personnel the need to pursue safety, both on the ground and in the sky.

He said the event would also provide a platform for both technical and non- technical staff of the airline to plan on how to use technology and other offline platform to leverage the carrier, which is expected to run like South West Airline of the United States of America.

54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Africans should suppor e supportt and appreciat appreciate ar t/culture — Igwe Alfred Achebe, Obi of Onitsha art/culture Igwe Alfred Achebe (Agbogidi) The Obi of Onitsha is one of the Art and culture loving monarchs in Nigeria. He worked in many organisations at top management level, served in Shell International Company Limited, London, was managing director of Diamond Bank, chairman of Universal Insurance Ltd and Omak Maritime Ltd. But among all these,the revered monarch is a good collector of art works, promoter of artists and that is why he is seen in many exhibitions in Nigeria. As a result of his love for art and numerous contributions towards the growth of Art in Africa, the organisers of Life in My City Art Festival (LIMCAF) recently installed him as the Patron of the body, an offer he easily accepted. In this interview, the art loving monarch talks about his plans for the development of art in Onitsha, Nigeria, why he accepted the offer and other issues. Excerpts:

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ou are a good collector of art works, and seen in almost all exhibitions in Lagos, why do you have much interest in Arts, especially for a man coming from the oil sector?

I don't know, its natural, its natural, I grew up in an environment where art is appreciated (Onitsha). Art is part and parcel of our life in Onitsha. The way traditional houses are decorated with beads, our masquerades, dances are all very artistic, so seen in the visual art is very natural.

Recently, you were offered the position of the patron of LIMCAF, and what baffled many was the way you easily accepted the offer, why?

My instant decision to support the LIMCAF was naturally my duty and pleasure. As a royal father, I consider it my natural

responsibility to support everything that is good for man, every endeavour, effort and all laudable initiatives that can edify the human spirit and nature, and this is one of them.

Also, coincidentally, I share with all of you, and many more persons, a deep passion for the visual arts. This confluence of duty and pleasure has resulted in my happy participation.

Thus, notwithstanding my many other commitments, I will do my best to remain part of this noble initiative, just as I support other art activities around the country.

Surprisingly, in a society that is gradually going away from those humanistic values that nurtured people like you when you were growing up.

The distance is becoming very far as they tend to look toward the materialistic things. But here you are still interested in bringing back such things in a city like Onitsha that is known for its commercial

Igwe Alfred Achebe, Obi of Onitsha

enterprise, its amazing, what do you say?

Well, it is a challenge, like I said earlier on, the world or life today in Nigeria is not like when we were growing up.

There is too much pressure, there is too much materialism, too much craving for money, power etc., but at the end of the day you ask yourself, what really is the essence of life and you have all the money in the world, it does not make you happy or you have a little bit of of knowledge of your culture,

where you come from, what your ancestors do, how the creativity in men, art, drama, poetry, literature all bring out

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By JAPHET ALAKAM

As a traditional ruler, I consider it my natural responsibility to support every thing that is good for man and all laudable initiatives that can edify the human spirit and nature

the intrinsic qualities of man and the enjoyment of these and the sponsorship of the creativity

Nigeria Prize For Literature: And the winner is...

By Prisca Sam-Duru

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ODAY, October 9 marks the climax of the race for the 2014 Nigeria Prize For Literature, sponsored by Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG). One out of these writers; Sam Ukala (Iredi War), Friday John Abba (Alekwu Night Dance) and Jude Idada (Oduduwa the King of Edos) who were announced the last three standing, will become richer by $100,000. The winner of the much coveted $100,000 prize money will be announced before noon at a world press conference at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

This year’s Prize which focuses on drama had over 124 entries which were screened to a longlist of 11 books in July and subsequently 3 in September.

The Prize was instituted with a view to motivating Nigerian

writers in four literary genres vis a vis, poetry, prose, drama and Children’s literature.

Friday John Abba, a playwright was Chairman of Kaduna Writers’ League and former Vice Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA); Playwright, theatre director, film producer and an academic, Sam Ukala was the Chairman, Delta State Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). In addition, Ukala has to his credit, published plays such as The Slave Wife, The Log in Your Eye, Akpakaland and Break a Boil; while Jude Idada, a screen writer, filmmaker and dramatist, has published works in the three genres of literature.

Jude is the author of Flood, Brixton Stories and Lost. He is

also the winner of the 2013 Association of Nigerian Authors’ Prize for Drama with his entry book, Oduduwa: King of the Edos. Idada, a graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan, lives in Canada.

The three contenders seem to share a common history in this year’s literary contest. Idada who echoes a strong voice for Diaspora writers though has not held ANA post, won ANA Prize in drama while the other two contenders have held positions in the Association.

Given the background of the trio, moreso, the authors’ works in such a tight contest come with so much engrossing, captivating and professional approach that impact tremendously on Nigerians, the winning work is sure to stand out as a priceless

of these has its own reward spiritually .

If you go to all the countries in the world, countries spend fortunes on their culture, not only their own culture, they even try to bring up other people's, go to Smithsonian museum which is the official museum of United States of America, they have a whole section for African art, African literature. They want the Americans to appreciate the art and culture of the world, it should be the same, as a traditional ruler, it is my duty to support the revival of these, not just me, but every Nigerian should become part of this transformation. Money is good but money is not everything.

The intrinsic values of human beings are also very important.

Presently, Nigeria is fighting a religious battle with insurgents. How much do you think the patronage of art by every Nigerian should help in mitigating against these types of uprisings?

If we are really committed, art is a universal language, music, poetry, creativity are all universal languages, if we focus on our culture just like what LIMCAF is trying to do

masterpiece.

Although there are female writers; Mabel Segun, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chika Unigwe and Ken Agary, who have won the Prize in the past, Nigerian male writers; Gabriel Okara, Late Ezenwa Ohaeto, Ahmed Yerima, Irobi Esiaba, whose Cemetery Road was awarded the prize posthumously and Adeleke Adeyemi who wrote under the pen name, Mai Nasara, have dominated winning since inception. They are set once again to repeat history as the trio are all males.

Nigeria and indeed the entire Africa, look forward to the canonisation of another NLNG laureate this morning at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos as male writers maintain the patriarchal order.

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with exhibitions in Kaduna, Abuja, Lagos etc., then they will bring together these young artists from other parts of the country to share with one another. I have been at the grand finale of LIMCAF in two occasions and saw how they hug each other, exchange works etc., it can bring the country a lot of good, these are things that can bring us closer to each other.

Any where there is conflict, people are talking to other people and they are not listening to them, the more we can listen to others as we talk to one another, the more we can get the country better.

You said that you have commenced plans to eventually build a museum/ cultural centre in Onitsha, can you throw more light on it?

The plan is just at the concept stage, but the idea is to have a museum and culture centre in Onitsha, where people can go and relax and feel at ease and appreciate the culture of the whole world.

Vanguard, THURDDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014—55

CLO tasks Anambra govt over alleged illegal tax collection

Enugu moves to fix erosion scourge

By Austin Ogwuda

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI—CIVIL Liberties Organisation, CLO, Anambra State chapter, has alleged that the era of intimidation, battery, extortion and daylight robbery by illegal and criminal revenue collection was back in the state, and called on Anambra State government to check the trend before it consume all the achievement recorded in the area of security in the state.

CLO said Governor Willie Obiano took laudable step towards ridding the state of all manner of violent crimes which elicited commendation from both supporters and critics of his government, but regretted that the activities of hoodlums hiding under revenue collectors were making nonsense of the achievements of the governor in the area of security.

In a statement by its Legal Secretary, Mr. Justus Ijeoma, CLO said it had received several complaints from people in and outside the state on the activities of the hoodlums operating under the guise of revenue collectors and vehicle emblem agents and taskforce in the commercial city of Onitsha, despite radio announcements by the state government that such activities were not only illegal but also criminal.

“Our independent investigation coupled with our personal encounter with two of such many groups on Friday October 2, 2014, revealed that if such activities are not halted, the city of Onitsha will sooner than later be into turmoil as the people will have no option than to revolt against them. We are saying this because few of their victims who recounted their experience did so with sense of resignation to fate, many on the other hand narrated theirs with intense displeasure and resentment as to why such criminal activities will be happening with impunity in Onitsha.

“The group whose main camp is the former Federal Ministry of Works Office compound, beside Basilica of the Holy Trinity Onitsha operate with impunity and wanton braggadocio, from more than five different booths or makeshift offices, each manned by a commander with many fierce-looking boys working under him. ''The appearance of each of the commanders is greeted with what has become their traditional mode of compliment “onye isi, gbuchaaaa, onye rua uka ofu na anya” (Anyone who doubts sees), this mode of greeting they adopt is used to create a frenzy atmosphere for effective harassment and extortion of their victims” said CLO. Contacted, the Senior Special

MEDIA ROUNDTABLE: From left; Mr Diran Olojo, Head,Brand and Marketing, Nigeria and West Africa, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria; Mrs Bola Adesola, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank, Nigeria with Mr Remi Oni; Executive Director, Corporate and Institution Clients Standard Chartered Bank and Mrs Dayo Aderugbo, Acting Head, Corporate Affairs, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria during the Standard Chartered Bank Premise Consumer Price Tracker Media Roundtable in Lagos.Photo by Akeem Salau.

Assistant on Media to Governor Obiano, Mr. James Eze, said people cars could be

impounded when they broke traffic laws and be made to pay fine, but condemned using

criminal tactics to collect money from people while hiding under taskforce or any name.

Patience Jonathan donates skills acquisition equipment to 1,000 widows in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—WIFE of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday donated assorted skills acquisition equipment to over 1,000 widows in the state.

Addressing the widows before distribution of the items, Minister

of State 1, Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri, who also represented the President’s wife, said Dame Jonathan was interested in making widows economically independent.

The items doled out to Imo widows included several units of sewing machines, scores of hair driers, electric generating

Ekiti crisis: Group tasks security agencies on alleged ‘death threat’ to members

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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pressure group in Ekiti State, E-Eleven, yesterday, called on the Nigeria Police, Department of State Service, DSS, and other security agencies investigate the alleged death threat its members.

According to the group, members have received death threats through phone calls and messages over the suit it filed in an Ekiti State High Court, challenging the eligibility of the governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose to contest the June 21 election.

In a statement released in Lagos by the chairman, Mr. Femi Ajiran, the group urged the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to track and bring the masterminds of the threat calls and messages to book.

Ajiran explained that some members of the group had been receiving the threat calls and

messages after Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi was attacked and manhandled at the premise of Ekiti State High Court on September 22.

He said the threat calls and messages persisted after another attack was inflicted on a judge of the high court, Justice John Adeyeye.

According to Ajiran, the threats have been extended to Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Mr. Femi Ajayi, Mr. Niyi Ajakaiye and himself, among others.

He said the members got the threat calls and messages on September 23 via 08067368077 at 15.15pm; 08057360202 at 15.18pm; 08064961472 at 15.22pm; 07030083553 at 15.36pm; 08139463115 at 15.40pm; 080114355195 at 16.22; 08063196042 at 16.18pm; 08023518200 at 16.13pm; 07034959184 at 16.00pm; 08039427568 at 16.48pm and 08055557522 at 18.12pm.

machines, grinding machines, cartons of soap, several bundles of textile materials, about 1,000 bags of rice, insecticide treated mosquito nets and bags of salt.

“The gesture was part of the measures initiated by the President’s wife to alleviate poverty among widows, especially those in the rural communities,” Onwuliri said.

She described Dame Jonathan as “a compassionate mother, committed to championing the cause of women in Nigeria”.

After enumerating some of the projects executed by the Federal Government in the state, Professor Onwuliri noted that government had mobilised the contracting firm handling the ever busy OwerriElele-Port Harcourt dual carriage way.

Similarly, State Coordinator, Women for Change and Development Initiative, Dr Gloria Chukwukere, commended the wife of the President for positively touching lives through her pet project.

“Never before have we seen or noted this level of empowerment of widows in the state. The President’s wife has provided Medicare for children and scholarship for the needy and a lot of other goodies,” Chukwukere said.

Some of the widows, who spoke to Vanguard, commended Dame Jonathan for the donations, promising that they would stand solidly behind President Jonathan during the 2015 general election.

NUGU—ENUGU State government yesterday said it was determined to find lasting solution to the dreaded 9th Mile Corner gully and other erosion devastated sites in the state that had claimed the lives, buildings and livelihoods of residents.

At a briefing in Enugu, Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Dr. Nnaemeka Chukwuone, said: “The World Bank assisted Enugu State Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP, will be launched on Friday this week. This is a new approach at reversing the situation, help to correct erosion problem. We have more devastated sites in Enugu than any other in South east zone and our governor being proactive has keyed in.

“We have about 22 critical identified sites. Today, Enugu State has five priority erosion sites out which two sites engineering designs have been approved for site interventions this approaching dry season.''

FG re-appoints Njoku as Nekede Poly rector

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has approved the reappointment of Dr C.U Njoku as the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri, for another four-year term.

Dr Njoku, whose reappointment took effect from September 2014, was first appointed in 2010 for the first term as the 10th Rector of Polytechnic.

She holds a BB.ED (Hons.) degree in Vocation and Technical Education from Ahmadu Belllo University, Zaria (1983), Master in Vocational and Technical Education from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (1990), PhD in Vocation and Technical Education(Business option )from University of Nigeria Nsukka (1997) and holds several professional qualifications as well as international and national awards.

56 —Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014—57

The moon, seen alongside the Sydney Opera House, Australia, during the lunar eclipse witnessed around the world yesterday. AFP PHOTO.

Ex-Head of State, Abdulsalami, advocates dialogue with Boko Haram

By Gbenga Ariyibi

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DO EKITI— FORMER Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.), has stressed the need for dialogue between the Federal Government and Boko Haram insurgents, saying this was the only way of bringing peace and unity back to the country.

Abubakar said dialogue was imperative in the current situation to put an end to the blood-letting in the North-Eastern part of the country.

Abdusalami, who returned Nigeria to democratic rule in 1999 after serving as a military Head of State for about a year, also advised politicians across party lines to imbibe the culture of peace to prevent the country’s democracy from being aborted in the 2015 general elections.

The former military leader spoke in AdoEkiti, yesterday, while commissioning the administrative block of the School of Nursing, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti built

by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

He said: “As someone who was privileged to survive the Civil War and saw our country return to democracy, I am troubled by the challenges currently confronting our country.”

Abdusalami pointed out that the terror attacks have has debased the country’s integrity among the comity of nations, adding “never in history has our country been subjected to this kind of blood-letting and disrespect for the sanctity of human lives.

“There has been cruel murder and slaughtering of children as well as women, who are

Okolugbo scores Uduaghan's 3-point agenda high

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HE commissioner representing Ndokwa Nation, Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Sir Kenny Okolugbo, has commended Governor Emmanuel U d u a g h a n ’ s administration’s success in security, human capital and infrastructural development.

Making the commendation while presenting a 14-seater Hiace bus to Ndokwa West Host Communities of Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, Okolugbo pointed out that those in Ndokwa West were benefiting from the governor ’s three-point agenda because of his peace initiative.

He said: “Without peace there cannot be security, human capital and infrastructural development. Whatever you are enjoying today is as a result of peace created as part of the three-point agenda of the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.”

After the presentation of the bus, Okolugbo and his team went on an inspection tour of ongoing projects at Ogume and Obiaruku.

They include three blocks of classroom at Ogume Model Secondary School; reconstruction of two classroom blocks at Ezedogume Primary School; construction of Ogume Main Market and construction of cottage hospital at Ogume, among others.

innocent.

“As events of recent killings clearly show that no one is safe, no place is safe and no time is safe, the security problem in the country is very severe and need all of us to search for solution to.

“We must therefore cooperate and all hands must be on deck to find solution to the crisis.

“We should not be looking for victory, solution should be the goal. Government at all levels, the people at the crisis zone, security personnel and all aggrieved parties must dialogue and listen to one another for the sake of our future and our children.

“We must honestly look at the real issues involved and take immediate actions promptly.

“It must be accepted that dialogue is still a veritable tool under this circumstance.”

The former military leader commended the Fayemi-led administration in undertaking the projects, saying it was a clear confirmation of the governor’s love for Ekiti people.

He stressed that Fayemi’s act of good governance, equity and justice can hold the promise of restoring the people’s faith in the country Speaking at the occasion, Governor Kayode Fayemi said he undertook the project based on his determination to wipe out poverty and to ensure the well being of the people of the state.

He commended Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Dare Ogundipe, for the effective management of the hospital

58—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 —59

Keshi demands chartered flight to Sudan

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

A

HEAD of the must win 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier between Nigeria and Sudan this weekend, Super Eagles Chief Coach Stephen Keshi has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to make provision for the team to travel with a chartered flight.

Keshi told journalists in Abuja yesterday that travelling on a chartered flight will help the players to give their best because it would have reduced the trouble of travelling in a passenger aircraft in a region like Africa.

He further argued that since the team will be playing another round of the two legged encounter next week, going by a chartered flight will make movement back home easier especially after the first leg.

“Yes it will be nice to travel with a chartered flight because it is always an issue travelling within Africa in a passenger aircraft.

In a fixture like we have, the ideal thing is to move in there play the game and leave immediately to come and prepare for the return leg."

L-R Media Director NCF, Mr. Femi Solaja, the Scribe, Mrs. Bidemi Ganiyu-Opolo, President of the Federation, Mr. Lekan Adeyemi, NBL representatives, Mr. Patrick Olowokere and Edem Vindah at the formal presentation of the trophy of this year’s Chess Championship.

Eagles will cope with Sudan heat, astro turf —Echiejile

E

LDERSON Echiejile has said Super Eagles will cope with the heat and playing on an artificial pitch in Sudan on Saturday.

Nigeria visit Sudan on Saturday and then welcome the same team four days later.

Congo top Group A with six points after two rounds of matches, South Africa are second with four points, while Nigeria are third on a point.

Sudan are yet to record any points.

“Personally, I prefer playing on a natural grass pitch, but we just have to adjust, be smarter and work on our timing when we play on astro turf and we will be okay,” said Elderson, who will be visiting Sudan for the first time.

“And as for the weather, we are first and foremost Nigerians and born in Africa and so we should also be able to cope on the day.”

And the Monaco defender has said the Super Eagles are targeting wins in both

games against Sudan particularly as the last two qualifying matches, away to group leaders Congo and at home to South Africa, next month would be a lot tougher.

•Echiejile

NB Plc boost Chess players with N2.3m prize money

T

HE 37th Nigerian B r e w e r i e s International Open Chess Championship received a major boost yesterday, following the 50 percent increase in the prize monies in all the categories.

At a crowded press conference held in Lagos yesterday to usher in this year’s tournament, the Corporate Affairs Adviser, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, who was represented by the C o r p o r a t e Communication/Public Affairs Manager, Mr. Patrick Olowokere, disclosed that the total prize money in all the

Friday, McCloud win double titles at SNEPCo Junior Tennis finals

G

ABRIEL Friday from Kaduna and Dubai based Angel McCloud won titles in two age categories as the weeklong SNEPCo Junior Tennis Championship ended with fanfare at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.

Twelve year old Friday easily beat Solomon Adesida from Ogun State 9-3, in the boys 14 finals

Ex-Rangers stars plan big for USA convention F

ORMER Rangers of Enugu stars have set out to hold their maiden convention on November 8 in Maryland, USA. Disclosing this during the week, Ike OfojeI, who is the Director of Soccer and head Men’s Soccer Coach at the Uni-

•Chukwu,

versity of South Carolina , Aiken , said the convention would feature the biggest ever gathering of former stars like Christian Chukwu, Emma Okala, Dr. Patrick Ekeji and other great players, who passed through the ranks of the Flying Antelopes.

“This is a historic event. We are expecting thousands of quests from different part of the United States of America, Nigeria and around the world, including government and nongovernment officials.

Guests will also have the opportunity to celebrate and enjoy the companies of dignitaries, friends, families and ex-Rangers players, comprising Emmanuel Merenini, Samuel Onyeaka, Nnamdi Anyafu, Dr. Totty O. Totty, Donald Igwebuike, Kenneth

Boardman, Okey.ozoh, Alex Nwosu, Ike Ofoje, Charles Okoye, Vincent Chika , Azuka Harbor, Francis Okaroh, Ben Okaroh Emma Okonkwo and many more”.

Ofoje said a brochure of the convention will be produced to raise funds for the association “Our Brochure will be packed with ads from different kinds of businesses such as nursing homes, consulting, doctor’s offices, law offices, retail stores, online stores, and dentist. Families are welcome to put ads for birthday wishes, marriage wishes, anniversaries and etc. Individuals can wish families and friends good wishes on our brochure as well.

“We encourage everyone to attend but for some reason you cannot attend, you can still

place the ad for your business or your family.

The brochure will reach thousands of people both here in the States

categories of play would be N2.3m as against the N1.5m that was spent last year.

According to him, “we are pleased with the level of organisation of the championship over the years and delighted to raise the level of the event.

For us in the Nigerian Breweries Plc, this sponsorship remains a key element of our youth empowerment and talent development initiatives. It is a further demonstration of our dedication to being a responsible corporate citizen committed to winning Nigeria,” he stated.

and Nigeria. We know the rich history and records of Rangers International of Enugu”.

and then struggled to overcome Emmanuel Jebutu from Lagos, 97, in the boys 12 finals to win the two age categories.

Angel McCloud, 13, the revelation of the tournament, clinically eliminated Fortune Aniso the second seed in the Girls 16s, 9-0 in the semifinals and went on to beat Marylove Edwards 9-6 in both the Girls 14s and 16s.Edwards, on the other hand, had in the semifinals upset the number one seed Zainab Oladimeji from Ondo 98 coming from 8-4 down to clinch the tie break at 9-7. Both girls were awarded the most outstanding players of the tournament.

Wenger lost it with Mourinho, says Koscielny

L

AURENT Koscielny has acknowledged Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger lost his temper with Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho but offered an explanation for the boss’ behaviour, ESPN reports.

Wenger was angered by a challenge from Gary Cahill on Alexis Sanchez during the Blues’ 2-0 win over the Gunners on Sunday at Stamford Bridge. Wenger and Mourinho were involved in an altercation in the aftermath of the tackle, with the Frenchman appearing to shove the Portuguese.

“There’s*Keane a long friend-

EYEBALL-2-EYEBALL: Wenger (l) and Mourinho ship between them,” Koscielny said, wryly. “It’s one of those things that happens in a game. It came about after a firm tackle by Cahill on Sanchez, and the coach was an-

noyed because Alexis had had the same thing done to him three days earlier against Galatasaray and the defender had only been booked. That’s why Arsene lost it a bit.”

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Uyo stadium, gift to youth—Ebong

BY TONY UBANI

T

MAGNIFICIENT: Newly built 30,000 seater Uyo Stadium ready for commissioning by the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio. PHOTO: Tony Ubani

HE newly constructed and soon to be commissioned 30,000 seater Uyo stadium is a gift to the youth of Akwa Ibom in particular and Nigeria in general.

Conducting the sporting media round the wonderful edifice on yesterday , the state commissioner of youth and sports Mr Monday Ebong Uko said “ this is a legacy to be handed over to our youths, not only in Akwa Ibom but

NFF election: Danagogo, Maigari escape court contempt T

HE Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Dr Tammy Danagogo, immediate past President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji

Aminu Maigari and others yesterday escaped a court contempt charge as Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court sitting in Jos the Plateau State capital, refused to grant the

Keshi continues from B/P team.

The former national team captain who was explaining why he chose to invite young and inexperienced players while ignoring established players like Uche and Obafemi Martins, Keshi said hence forth he would not entertain any question about Uche again.

“This will be the last time I will speak about Ike Uche and I will not speak about him again, we are not quarreling.

Before the match against Congo, i gave them the list because I never thought I will come back to handle the team. I told them I will not do the list because I am not your coach they say no, so I did the list.

“Ike Uche’s name was in the 24-man list. He didn’t even know about it, I did not tell him.

Uche called me four days later and I was like ah, we spoke and that was it. The next time I told the team secretary

to ask the players if they had South African visa and if they don’t have it so that they can get the visa. When Uche was asked, he said why are you asking me, what do you need my passport for? I hate to speak without Uche not being here. You can call him and put it on speaker, if I’m telling lies let him say it.

“Please nobody should ask me about Uche again; Uche said he wants somebody to explain to him why they said he was a bad kid, and if not he is not playing. I said ok take his name out. I am not going to beg Uche, I’m not going to ask Daniel to beg Uche. We all played for this country for twenty something years and nobody begged us to play. We were begging to play.

So let it be the end today, don’t ask me about Uche. Why not encourage the kids who have come here to play for their country. Why must it be Ike Uche, is

prayer of the Chris Giwa-led faction to them to prison for allegedly disobeying the court orders.

Ruling on application by the duo of Ogba and Adamu, Justice Ambrose Allagoa said the earlier application which the plaintiffs brought did not apply in the present circumstance.

Accordingly, the honourable Justice adjourned the case to the 23rd of October, 2014.

The presiding judge said that adjournment was meant for the plaintiffs counsel to personally serve the it only him, Obafemi is not saying anything, we have hundreds of other players who are not here,” Keshi warned.

He also admonished the media to support the young players who are eager to play for the country instead of always talking of Uche.

“I don’t know when we will be appreciated, we win, they say we didn’t play well, we lose they say ah, kill them and we draw, they say they are bad players. We really don’t know where we stand, when will we be appreciated?”.

Many analysts have been calling for the recall of Uche after the poor start of the Super Eagles to the 2015 Morocco AFCON qualifiers.

defendants with the contempt of court orders.

According to him, the court could not grant the prayer of the plaintiffs’ counsel to commit the defendants to prison for failure to appear in

court in their absence.

He therefore asked them to choose the option of serving the defendants personally or approaching the court for a new order to serve them by substituted service.

Nigeria as a whole” He was all praise for the visionary leadership of His Excellency the Executive Governor of the state Dr Godswill Akpabio whose u n c o m m o n transformational agenda has become a legendary trademark world wide when governance is the topic of discussion.

Earlier, Architect Ime Ekpo project consultant who took the sports writers round the facility explained that it compared favourably with any of its kind in the world.

He spoke about the training pitch annex, the eight lane Olympic sized track and revealed that already the state is in custody of an IAAF certification to host any world class track and field event.

He said outside perhaps the Abuja national stadium size wise, “ this was the best stadium in the land” Facilities in the stadium include hospitality suites, bullet proof state box that sits 70, state of the art dressing rooms, sick bay and enough parking spaces.

Delta NUJ congratulates Pinnick •Danagogo

•Maigari

Galadima continues from B/P reconcile the football fraternity.

Rising from its maiden Executive Committte meeting held yesterday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF also adopted a proposal by a joint meeting of the League Management Company and owners of the 20 Premier League Club to have seven directors to be appointed by a Selection Committee.

Chairman of the Communique Drafting Committee, Emeka Inyama, said the Executive Committee also unanimously

agreed to contract a top financial advisory firm to assist in seeking support from Corporate Nigeria, to move the country ’s football forward.\ Inyama added in the communique that “Executive Committee adopted a proposal by a joint meeting of the League Management Company and owners of the 20 Premier League Club of 6 th September, 2014, to the effect that henceforth, the League M a n a g e m e n t Company shall have seven directors to be appointed by a Selection Committee.

T

HE Nigeria union of journalists NUJ ,Delta state council has described the election of the new president of Nigeria football federation ,Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick as the beginning of a glorious era in the nation ‘s soccer history.

A statement by the chairman of Delta state council of the NUJ ,Mr Norbert Chiazor and the secretary ,Churchill Oyowe said the newly elected NFF president ‘s age long passion for sports ,from his undergraduate days in the University of Benin marked him out as a visionary sports patron who would take Nigerian football to enviable international standards. It expressed optimism that Nigeria would win series of outstanding laurels in continental and global soccer tournaments under the new NFF boss.

Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, OCTOBER 9, 2014— 61

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Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, OCTOBER 9, 2014— 63

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

NFF ELECTION: Danagogo, Maigari escape court contempt — Pg.60

I’ll never invite Ike Uche as long as I’m in charge — Keshi

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

NO MORE...I'm through with you, Super Eagles coach, Keshi (l) seems to be telling Ike Uche.

S

UPER Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi yesterday warned that he will not be interested in talking about out-offavour striker, Ikechukwu Uche who is yet to play for the national team since after the 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) win.

A visibly angry Keshi said that he will never beg any player to play for the country because during his time he was never begged by any coach to play for the national Continues on Page 60

Galadima heads NFF peace committee ...LMC to have seven directors

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

T

HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has set up a Peace and Reconciliation Committte, chaired by former NFF President, Ibrahim Galadima to Continues on Page 60

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Bird-house (6) 5 Defeat (4) 8 Heaped (5) 9 Free (3) 10 Face (4) 11 Existence (4) 12 Restrict (5) 13 Cupboard (6) 16 Lake (4) 20 Finish (3) 22 Vehicle (3) 23 Moose (3) 24 Tardy (4) 25 Formerly (4) 28 Infuriate (6) 30 Cog (5) 32 Discharge (4) 33 Jot (4) 34 Freeze 35 Intended (5) 36 Pip (4) 37 Wrote (6)

DOWN 1 Lightly (6) 2 Obscene (8) 3 Save (6) 4 Industry (9) 5 Trust (7) 6 Revise (4) 7 Pour (4) 8 Friend (3) 14 Disgusting (9) 15 Enquire (3) 17 Managed (3) 19 Dog (8) 20 Consume (3) 21 Dedicated (7) 26 Undertake (6) 27 Guard (6) 29 Muddle (4) 30 Period (4) 31 Heated (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Asked 9, Aghast 10, Ailing 11, Price 12, Ewer 15, Nice 17, Defence 20, Tot 21, Tâmed 23, Tact 25, Mood 26, Hover 28, Err 30, Diamond 33, Anon 35, Aver 36, Globe 38, Lessee 39, Office 40, Leant.

DOWN: 1, Saved 2, Chief 3, Asp 4, Strict 5, Each 6, Die 7, Digit 8, Egret 13, Western 14, Reach 16, Condone 18, Eased 19, Hem 22, Dogma 24, Tow 27, Ribbon 28, Early 29, Rouse 31, Ovoid 32, Dried 34, Glee 36, Gel 37, Eft.

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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