S-East govs divided over pro-Biafra struggle

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62623

**

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

Wanted Boko Haram chieftain arrested at Abuja airport, enroute Lagos 46

Harsh economic environment crashes corporate 9 earnings

S-East govs divided over pro-Biafra struggle •Corrupt S-East governors sponsoring Biafra — Ohanaeze, Okorocha •Obasanjo, "kettle calling pot black", says Achuzia •Protesters storm Enugu, Aba, Port-Harcourt •Anambra studies situation, Abia remains neutral, Ebonyi, Imo condemn protests

•S-East/S-South Coalition moves against Biafra

By Emma Amaize, Vincent Ujumadu, Chidi Nkwopara, Jimitota Onoyume, Francis Igata, Ugochukwu Alaribe & Jude Opara

E

NUGU— SOUTHEast governors appeared divided, yesterday over the ongoing pro-Biafra Republic protests.

While Imo and Ebonyi states kicked against the protests, Abia State remained neutral, while Anambra State said it was studying the developments.

Also the umbrella body of Igbo socio-cultural organisations, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha have distanced themselves from the ongoing protests in the South-East for the actualisation of Republic

Continues on Page 5 DANGOTE—From left: Haruna Jalo-Waziri, executive director, business development, Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE); Engr

Abdullahi Sule, acting group managing director, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc; Chioma Madubuko, company secretary/legal adviser, and Engr Mansur Ahmed, executive director, corporate communication & stakeholder management, Dangote Group, at the closing gong ceremony of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc at the NSE in Lagos, weekend. PHOTO : AKEEM SALAU

Pension funds: Court orders arrest of Maina 9 COLUMNIST : Nigeria closer Elections tribunal verdict: to oil find in 8 killed as violence Chad Basin Parliament of erupts in Taraba the Streets•P.19 — NNPC 8 9 C M Y K

Mr & Mrs

2— Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 — 3

C M Y K

4— Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015—5

POCKET CARTOON

WEDDING—Senate President, Bukola Saraki (left) with Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, during the wedding of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko's daughter in Sokoto, weekend.

S-East govs divided over pro-Biafra struggle Continues from Page 1 of Biafra, saying all genuine Igbo leaders are against the protests.

Okorocha, who is also the chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors’ Forum, said that the reported violent protests in some states’ capitals, including those of Rivers, Anambra and Delta, in the name of Biafra, do not in any way have the support or blessing of the governors and leaders of the SouthEast geo-political zone either directly or indirectly.

Meantime, the Biafra protests continued, yesterday, in Aba, Enugu and Port-Harcourt.

Okorocha said: "The ugly development is highly regrettable

especially when it is clear that such violent protests in the name of Biafra wouldn’t add any value to the development of the South-East and the progress of the people of the area.”

Continuing, Okorocha said that the governors and leaders of the SouthEast condemn the protests, especially when they were carried out in the name of Biafra.

“If a section of the people in the South-East or even the whole people in the geo-political zone protest over the bad shape of the federal roads in the area or protest over the total neglect of the geopolitical zone, every governor and leader in the area would support that but not to protest

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO AKE it a point of duty to make everyday better than yesterday, only failures reflect on the good old days. There is one timeless secret to success, it is simple, find your own path. It's up to you.

M

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Happiness is the belief that we don’t need to change; it’s the realization that we can — Shawn Achor

O

UR most commonly held formula for success is broken. Conventional wisdom holds that if we work hard we will be more successful, and if we are more successful, then we’ll be happy. If we can just find that great job, win that next promotion, lose those five pounds, happiness will follow. But recent discoveries in the field of positive psychology have shown that this formula is actually backward: Happiness fuels success, not the other way around.

When we are positive, our brains become more engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, resilient, and productive at work.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

I

T is with a smooth tongue that the snail moves on thorns.

over an issue that is neither here nor there”, Okorocha said.

According to him, the South-East remains an integral part of Nigeria and the governors and leaders from the area so much believe in the unity of the country and would always work towards sustaining the unity.

“As far as the governors and leaders of the SouthEast are concerned, those behind the campaign for Biafra have their ulterior motive, which has nothing to do with corporate interest of Ndi-Igbo in Nigeria of our collective dream”, Okorocha reasoned.

While saying that the concern of the governors and other South-East leaders “is to get what is due for us in our country”, he added that any other quest, especially for Biafra was diversionary.

He called on those behind all the protests on the basis of Biafra to give peace a chance and regretted that some Igbo people could get involved in a protest that its end – result won’t benefit Ndi-Igbo in any way, but could lead to the shooting of some of them.

“The unity of Nigeria is not negotiable, and the South-East people strongly believe in that unity and would work assiduously to ensure its sustenance”, Okorocha said.

Echoing similar views, Ohanaeze said those sponsoring the latest agitation for the creation of the state of Biafra are corrupt Igbo politicians who are trying to hide under the agitation to avoid prosecution for their alleged crimes.

This is even as a new coalition under the aegis of Neighbourhood

Watch, over the weekend in Abuja, warned against the activities of the agitators whom they also accused of hiding under the demand for the new nation to enrich themselves.

Assistant National Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo Worldwide, Mr O k p a l a u k w u Okpalaezeukwu,who noted that Ohanaeze and Igbo delegates at the 2014 National Conference articulated the challenges of the Igbo nation at the conference, traced the problem of the Igbo to some selfish and corrupt leaders from the zone who failed to use their former exalted offices to improve the lots of their people and have resorted to instigating the people to violence in the name of Biafra agitation.

In the same vein, Neighbourhood watch also accused both MASSOB and Indegenous People of Biafra,IPOB, of using violence, bloodshed and blackmail as a means of advancing the Igbo cause, adding that the only civilized way of addressing such issues is through dialogue.

While pledging its unwavering belief in one indivisible Nigeria, National Coordinator of the coalition, Comrade Charles Inko -Taniah, said the Neighbourhood Watch is against secession of any part of the country even as he regretted what he described as “unpatriotic activities of the so called IPOB against the Nigerian state,” warning that it will no longer keep quiet and watch a few he classified as disgruntled and unguided to return the country to any form of crisis.

“We condemn in unequivocal terms the increasing trends of violent protests and lawlessness in various towns and cities in the country disturbing and crating panic amongst the people and especially the proposed one million Biafra march against the Nigerian State. We condemn the so called Biafra Radio designed to blackmail, disunite and run down the Nigerian state,” Inko-Taniah added.

Kettle calling kettle black

In another development, former Biafran leader and Ikemba of Asaba, Delta State, Chief Joseph Achuzia, has berated former President Olusegun Obasanjo, for describing pro-Biafra agitators as miscreants,

saying he is a kettle calling the pot black.

In an interview in Asaba, Achuzia said: “This is a question of the kettle calling pot black.

The ex- President, Olusegun Obasanjo, is a friend and I have the greatest respect for him, but unfortunately, half or most of the times, he, out of arrogance becomes careless in the words he uses.

“They say that those living in glass houses should not throw stones.

By virtue of his being a former President, the presidential aura should always remain with him.

Consequently, we try to shy away from comments that will affect him, but when he descends outside that cocoon of presidential aura, then we use the law of level playing ground in addressing the issue.

“Obasanjo is not in a position to call people still talking about Biafra miscreants. Miscreants, being that we were parading the road, barricading Government Houses, destroying property and other places, is that the reportage from the toxic media? If that is the reportage, it means that the media has misrepresented what they saw or what they heard.

“For Obasanjo to call my people miscreants, I will say that he should look homewards, hence I say it is an issue of kettle calling the pot black.

The issue of Biafra is something we can never forget, neither our children nor our great, great, grand children after our time because it is part of history. The problem Nigeria is facing now is the inability to come to terms with the reality.

“If they wanted to come to terms with reality, they should have looked into the lopsided constitution, which they are trying to use. The war ended, how many years ago and yet, we are still using a military composed and authored constitution, the constitution was not

composed or authored by civilians; if it was, what we are seeing today will not be the issues.

“Where in the world would you see that in a democratic set up, when they are changing batons after elections, they still have a military composition where a president or person elected will run the country by himself for almost six months as a military dictator and nobody is questioning it?

But like I said, I like the present leader ’s style because it is what the people asked for that they got,” he said.

On the renewed agitation for Biafra, he said it was because nobody has addressed the issues that led to the war.

“I am still glad that the people who were present when the war ended are still in the saddle today because people like the present President was around; they were party to the so-called civil war.

I say so –called because Biafra did not declare war, it was Nigeria that imposed war on them and they had to defend themselves.

“Ask him (Obasanjo) or any of the commanders if Biafra at any time tried to carry the war outside their territory, except the situation that happened in the defunct Midwest and it was not Biafra’s making. There was no time Biafra entered the Midwest because they wanted to invade the place. What happened was that our media capitalized on the situation of some ambitious officers within the operation that went beyond the terms and bounds of their operational order.

“And for that, they paid a penalty, nobody asked why the penalty, we all know why the penalty, because they carried the war beyond Biafra territory, stepping into the Midwest. Midwest was created by the Eastern region; it was part of the Igbo speaking area, both linguistically

Continues on Page 51

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

11 die in Escravos boat mishap Many hospitalized

By Egufe Yafugborhi

W

ARRI—NO fewer than 11 persons reportedly died in the Escravos River, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, after two ferryboats collided during a downpour.

The two boats, travelling in opposite directions between Warri and Escravos, were said to have collided as a result of poor vision.

The yet-to-be identified driver of the Escravosbound boat that took off from Rex Waterfront jetty, Ugbuwangue community, Warri, Vanguard learned, survived the accident with others, who are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals in Warri.

The number of persons in the boat could not be ascertained in absence of a manifest.

Efforts to reach the Commander, Warri Area Command, Alhaji Muhammed Muazu, and the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu, were unsuccessful.

APC chieftain kidnapped in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—A chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, Rev. Emmanuel Ebomuche, has been kidnapped by unknown persons in Imo State.

Vanguard gathered that the man went to church and had not returned to his family at press

time.

A Church member told Vanguard: “The man went to church and has not returned to his family house till now. We do not know if it is a kidnap case.

“There has been no telephone call from the man or his supposed captors.”

Rev. Ebomuche, who once served as Chairman of Imo State Oil Producing Area

Development Commission, ISOPADEC, is currently the APC Chairman of Ohaji/ Egbema Local Government Area.

The stories surrounding his disappearance remained sketchy at press time, but one of such stories had it that the man was kidnapped after Sunday service at Government House Chapel, Owerri.

It was not clear why and how the Pentecostal pastor became the kidnappers’ target, but Vanguard gathered that Rev. Ebomuche was one of the top pastors that superintends at the chapel.

A police source, who did not want his name in print, confirmed the kidnap story, adding that police had commenced investigation.

Police arrest 3 traffic robbers in Lagos We're hawkers—SUSPECT O PERATIVES of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of Lagos State Police Command, have arrested three suspected members of a robbery gang that specialized in attacking motorists and commuters trapped in traffic around Ikoyi area of the state.

The suspects, as gathered, were arrested in their hideout around Bourdillon, while preparing for an operation, Saturday.

Recovered from the suspects were four cutlasses, axes and iron rods used in breaking victims’ cars’ windscreens.

The suspects according to the RRS Commander, Mr. Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, “were arrested following complaints from members of public on incessant in-traffic robbery attacks around the axis.

“Our men laid an ambush, which led to the arrest of 24year-old Joseph, 29-year-old Jamilu and 30-year-old Gambo. Others manage to escape the dragnet of the Police. When the policemen

The suspects.

combed the area, different weapons were recovered from.”

However, Jamilu, who hails from Jigawa State, said he was innocent of the allegation, saying one of his friends, Joseph, was a member of the robbery gang.

According to him, “Gambo and I are innocent. We were relaxing under a tree in the field when we were arrested.

We were selling second-hand goods under the bridge before government sent us away.

“Since then, we have been staying under the tree. We are not members of the gang that attack people in traffic. But Joseph is. They are 15 in number. He usually leaves every evening with members of his gang.

“The field is their meeting place. When they come back from any operation, they would bring travelling bags, school bags, telephones and other items stolen from their victims. Gambo and I never partook in the operation or sharing of loot.”

Man dies 5 days after threat over land dispute in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI— ONE Mr. Kenneth Njoku of Umuezuruokam, Nekede, in

Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, reportedly slumped and died five days after he was allegedly beaten up by a man

over a land dispute.

A family source claimed that while one of the persons involved in the alleged land case actually gave the

deceased a severe beating, another issued a verbal threat that Njoku would not live to cultivate or build on the said disputed land.

Trigger-happy policeman shoots ESUT student

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—A student of Enugu State University of Technology, Miss Jovita Nwakaego Ezeala, narrowly escaped death, arising from a gunshot wound she sustained from a trigger-happy policeman along Owerri-Aba Federal Highway, on October 31.

Narrating her experience to newsmen in Owerri, Miss Ezeala said she was travelling with her siblings from their Amucha, Njaba Local Government Area country home in Imo State to Aba, Abia

State, on the environmental sanitation day, when the incident occurred.

She said: “We were shot at by the policemen on duty at a checkpoint within the jurisdiction of Ngor Okpala Police Division.

“I immediately noticed that a bullet fired by the policemen hit my leg.”

Ezeala said as soon as she noticed blood gushing out of her leg, she ordered the driver to turn back to the police checkpoint.

According to her, “on arrival, the policemen using patrol van No. 9, initially denied firing

at us. However, one of them, who have 442697 as his personal identification number, later admitted firing the shot.

“They later took me to a nearby hospital and paid N1,500 for my treatment.”

DPO steps in

Continuing, Miss Ezeala said that although the policemen quickly informed the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of the area about the incident, she insisted that her father must be told.

“My parents ran an x-ray at

Umezuruike Hospital, Owerri.

It showed a bullet lodged in my leg.

“The DPO called me on the phone last Tuesday and asked after my health, but he did not say if they would underwrite my hospital bills.”

Speaking also, the girl’s father, Ichie Emma Ezeala, who noted that nobody had the right to shoot his innocent daughter, also called on the Inspector General of Police to step into the matter.

“I cannot fold my arms helplessly and watch the police kill my innocent daughter in the way they tried to do,” he said.

The source said: “One of the men actually went to the deceased man’s house on September 24, gave him a severe beating and rained all manner of abuses on him.”

He also recalled that when the man’s wife tried to intervene, she was also physically assaulted, while some valued properties were allegedly destroyed.

Vanguard was equally told that one other person, who appeared unsatisfied with the humiliation meted out on Njoku, also issued a threat that he would ensure Njoku died within seven days.

It was gathered that the man, who gave Njoku the beating, had been arrested by the police, while his colleague is said to be on the run.

At press time, efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer of Imo State Police Command, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, for comments, proved abortive.

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015—7

Suspected killer of school prefect claims victim fell on rod

By Esther Onyegbula

L

AGOS—SAKA Hameed, the 17-year-old Senior Secondary School, SSS, 2 student of Gaskia College, Amukoko, Lagos, who allegedly stabbed his school labour prefect, Saheed Jimoh, to death has denied the allegation.

The suspect said: “I pushed him; I didn’t stab him. Jimoh fell on an iron rod, which pierced his chest.”

The suspect also said one of Saheed’s classmates, Ibrahim, was a witness to the whole incident. But it was learned that the said Ibrahim, who had also been arrested by the police, denied witnessing the incident.

Meanwhile, when Vanguard visited the school, the said iron rod was bent downward.

Vanguard learned that after the fleeing suspect was arrested last Thursday evening, his father and six other students, who were initially arrested, were released.

“I was in the class when someone informed us that Jimoh has been stabbed. I don’t know why Saka said I was there.

I am innocent.”

Vanguard gathered that the case would be transferred to the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID, for further investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of the 19year-old.

AGAIN: Robbers kill 2 guards, cart away computers from Idanre school

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—TWO night guards were killed by armed robbers, who invaded Olofin Grammar School, Idanre, in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State, weekend, and carted away new sets of computers given the school.

Reports have it that the attack was the second on public secondary schools after computers were given to them by the state government.

At press time, the number of computers stolen from the school, which is 150 meters away from a police station, could not be confirmed.

Contacted, police spokesman in the state, Femi Joseph, confirmed the robbery, saying investigations had commenced.

The state Commissioner for Education, Jide Adejuyigbe, who described the incident as unfortunate, said government would ensure such an incident did not happen again in the state schools.

Suspect’s story

TRUCKED OUT: Truck pusher takes a nap in Apapa, Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

Gunmen kill Warri South Labour Party candidate

By Akpokona Omafuaire

W

ARRI—UNKNOWN gunmen, Saturday night, shot dead Mr. Akpobome Bright Obodo, Delta State Labour Party, LP, House of Assembly candidate for Warri South Constituency I in the 2015 general election.

The gunmen also injured an unidentified resident at Orhunwhorhun in Udu Local Government Area at about 7p.m.

This is just as judgement by the Appeal Court in Benin, Edo State, on a suit concerning the deceased, could be delivered today.

Vanguard gathered from impeccable sources that Obodo had challenged the victory of Dennis Omovie, the declared winner of the election at House of Assembly Tribunal sitting in Asaba.

Vanguard also gathered that the gunmen, who trailed the victim with a Volkswagen Jetta car escaped with his Toyoyta Camry, abandoning their vehicle.

An eyewitness said: “Obodo had reportedly called his wife to prepare food for him, that he was coming home, when

gunmen trailed him to his area at Orhunwhorhun town, before he was shot dead.

“The sound of gunshots brought us, residents, out. We saw the gunmen driving in Obodo’s car and shooting sporadically. One resident was injured and has been hospitalized.

“We later found Obodo lying dead after the gunmen had gone. His corpse has been deposited in the mortuary.”

Ignored SOS

Vanguard gathered that Obodo had allegedly lodged complaints in various police

stations within Warri and its environs that unknown gunmen had been trailing him and threatening his life, without any favourable response.

His Campaign Director, Mr. Ben Obire, did not respond to calls to his mobile phone.

A source said at 12p.m. yesterday, youths loyal to the deceased in Igbudu area have engaged their counterparts in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in a gun battle.

At press time, Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu, had not responded to calls and text messages to her phones.

The suspect, who was arrested by officers of Lagos State Police, Amukoko Division, said: “In the morning, I went to where Jimoh and Ibrahim were and told them that the physics teacher was coming; they were startled and made attempts to move. I then told them that I was only joking.

“Later, I started chasing him.

When I caught him, I pushed him down, I didn’t stab him.

Unfortunately, when I pushed him, he fell on an iron which pierced his chest.

“After the incident, I ran away from the school. I was on my way to my father’s shop when I heard that the police were searching for me, so I had to run. I spent the night under the bridge before the police arrested me on Thursday evening.”

Witness’ version

In his defence, Ibrahim, who initially said he was in the class, later confessed to having witnessed the incident when it happened.

He said: “I was with Jimoh when Saka played a joke on us.

“I immediately left for class, while Saka ran after Jimoh.

Vigilante kills father, son in Abia; lynched

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—A member of a local vigilante group in Aba, Abia State, has been lynched by an irate mob for allegedly killing two and injuring another person with his gun at Ohanku area of the city.

Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the mob also set ablaze a building belonging to the late

vigilante member.

Vanguard gathered that the deceased was a member of a local vigilante within Ohanku area, popularly known as Aguleri Vigilante and was alleged to have gone on a solo operation to arrest a suspected criminal.

According to a source, the vigilante had gone to the residence of a suspected

member of a criminal gang in the area, identified as Ahuama Augustine, to recover allegedly stolen items, but met stiff opposition from the young man and his father. He was said to have fired a shot that killed both father and son.

When the shot brought out residents, who saw Augustine in a pool of blood, the vigilante member fired more shots to

scare them and a stray bullet injured another person.

He was later overpowered and set ablaze, while the mob identified his residence and also set it on fire.

A resident of Ohanku, who gave his name as Onyedikachi, said since the incident occurred, people had fled the area as men of the Ndiegoro Police Division have been making arrest.

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

DSS continues siege as Dasuki goes to court today to force his rights A

BUJA — OPERATIVES of the Department of State Services, DSS, continued to lay siege to the Abuja

residence of the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd), last night even as Dasuki will be

in court today to enforce his fundamental rights.

The operatives had on Thursday stormed Dasuki’s

VISIT: President Muhammadu Buhari (right) welcoming Director Admin of the Julius Berger Plc, Zubairu Bayi (2nd left); Director, Mr George Mark; Managing Director, Detlev Lubasch and Mr Mutiu Sunmonu during a visit of the board members of Julius Berger to State House, Abuja, weekend. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida

Nigeria closer to oil find in Chad Basin — NNPC A BUJA — The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has stated that the country is on the verge of discovering significant quantity of oil in the Lake Chad area, North-East Nigeria based on analysis of recent seismic 3D data generated from the Chad Basin.

The NNPC in a statement in Abuja also stated that it was projecting the inflow of $20 billion in 2016 to enable it fund major projects and improve its bottom line going forward.

Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, who stated this during his presentation to the Petroleum Club, Lagos, over the weekend, entitled: "Ongoing Reforms in the Oil Industry: Impact of NNPC Reforms on the Nigerian Economy," also added that the NNPC is injecting a lot of energy into oil exploration in the Chad area to ensure success in this regard.

He said: “There are signs from the latest 3D seismic studies that oil may well be very close to being found now in Lake Chad after very many years of trials. I think that this is very key. It is key both for the geographical balancing of oil production and it is also very key for the purpose of refinery placement in the north in terms of access to crude.

I am optimistic that by the end of the year we should be able to announce something major on this.”

He described 2016 as a crucial year for the NNPC as it is expected to transit from historic loss environment to profit making domain.

Kachikwu noted that in driving and developing Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, certain key areas of urgent intervention have been identified thus: running production acreages with transparent and profitable partnerships to bridge capacity and funding gaps; encourage investment inflow into Nigeria’s oil and gas industry; engagement with local communities and driving regulation to develop the sector income, via encouragement of the fast track PIB to clarify direction and encourage long-term investment in the industry.

In the area of engagement with host communities, Kachikwu stated that in the years ahead, NNPC, as the senior partner in the various joint venture arrangements, must take leadership in fostering a healthy and symbiotic host community engagement outlook which must focus in what he termed “what the communities want us to do for them and not what we want to do.”

On PIB

Commenting on the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, the NNPC GMD noted that to

achieve quick passage of the bill, it is crucial to isolate the fiscal regime from the current draft and move quickly to work on other pressing aspects of the proposed oil reform legislation.

He reiterated that the corporation under his watch is rigorously executing “20 Fixes” project which identified 20 critical issues that need to be addressed in order to reposition the 37 years old national oil corporation on the track of efficiency and profitability.

He said: "The target include: Reduce and audit cost, restructure corporate centre and staffing, renegotiate existing contracts, including PSCs, streamline subsidy management, boost pipeline security, enhance transparency and accountability, achieving zero tolerance for corruption, rebrand NNPC and unbundle PPMC. “Other initiatives include: Unbundling of the Nigerian Gas Company, reduce contracting cycle, restructure refineries, improve information technology to drive business, embed staff and business performance management, restructure JV funding and reduce cash call, improve retail profitability , deploy and attract focused investments, rekit NPDC, expand crude marketing and generate power profitability.”

residence, insisting on delivering to him personally, a letter of invitation for him to appear before a committee set up by the government to probe arms purchase while he (Dasuki) held sway as NSA. The operatives' trucks have, however, reduced from two to one as at last night.

Dasuki said last night: “I told them that if it is just a letter of invite, they can drop it with my domestic staff, but they insisted that I must come out and collect it myself.

“I told them that unless they had a warrant allowing them to arrest me, I do not have to collect the letter from them and I am also not going anywhere without my lawyer.”

A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Ademola Adeniyi, last Tuesday, ordered that the international passport of Dasuki be returned to him to enable him travel outside the country for medical attention.

The former NSA said he shelved the idea of travelling on Wednesday after he received “intelligence” that the DSS planned to arrest him at the airport.

Dasuki had alleged that the DSS was determined to arrest him despite a court

order allowing him to travel.

The DSS, however, said its recent “standoff ” with Dasuki was different from the case he was being tried for.

“It may be recalled that Sambo was initially arrested and charged to court for unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering, for which reason his international passport was seized and on the order of the court, returned to the registrar for custody,” the DSS said in the statement.

“What has, however, brought the seeming standoff between Sambo and the service, despite the court-ordered release of his international passport on November 4, 2015, is his refusal to appear before a committee undertaking the investigation of an entirely different case,” the service said in a statement signed by one Tony Opuiyo.

Dasuki, however, denied the new claim by the DSS, saying he never received any invitation letter to appear before a committee set up by the present administration to investigate procurement processes relating to any arms transaction by the last administration, under which he served.

Dasuki also added that it was strange that a committee purported to be operating from the Office of the National Security Adviser could have transferred its mandates to the DSS.

Buhari to inaugurate FEC, Wednesday Swears in new INEC officials today

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA— THE nation’s 36 ministers-designate, who were recently confirmed by the Senate, will take their oaths of office in the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa on Wednesday after which President Muhammadu Buhari will preside over the first Federal Executive Council.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, yesterday stated that “the swearing-in ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00 hours and the ministers-designate are expected to be seated in the Council Chambers by 09:30

hours at the latest.”

Meanwhile, each ministerdesignate is advised to only be accompanied to the swearingin ceremony by a maximum of two guests.

Similarly, new National Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, alongside the five national federal commissioners would be sworn in today.

The five commissioners included Mrs. Amina Zakari, Mr. Solomon Adedeji Soyebi, Prof. Antonia Taiye OkoosiSimbine, Dr. Muhammed Mustafa Lecky and Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo.

The ceremony which will hold at the Council Chamber in the Presidential Villa is slated for 11 am.

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015—9

Pension funds: Court orders arrest, production of Maina  As EFCC slams him with criminal conspiracy, other charges

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

A

BUJA — MORE trouble seems to be on the way for the embattled former Chairman of the Presidential Pension Task Force Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, following a renewed bid by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to track and fish him out to answer for alleged looting of pension funds running into billions of naira.

Since he was booted out of office by President Goodluck Jonathan in the heat of allegations by pension stakeholders that he had made away with pension funds, Maina has disappeared from public view, making it impossible for the EFCC to access and bring him to court for trial.

But after many failed attempts to pin him down, the EFCC formally approached a court and obtained an order authorising the agency to arrest and produce the suspect in court.

A copy of the court order obtained by Vanguard, yesterday, indicated that the EFCC had slammed the former PPTT with charges of criminal conspiracy, pension fraud and money laundering but was yet to come face to face with the suspect.

A Chief Magistrate of the FCT, Mr. Ahmed Usman Shuaibu, issued the warrant for Maina’s arrest. It was dated October 27, 2015.

EFCC has stepped up the move to bring Maina to justice following the arrest of two major bank officials who have been warehousing alleged looted pension funds for the wanted man.

The two top bank officials under interrogation by EFCC operatives have also given details of how they have been helping Maina to hide and manage the stolen pension funds worth N2.1 billion.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, told Vanguard last night that it was after the failure of numerous efforts by the commission to locate and serve Maina with the court orders that the court authorised them to declare him wanted.

ELECTIONS TRIBUNAL VERDICT: 8 killed as violence erupts in Taraba J

ALINGO— NO fewer than eight persons died yesterday in Wukari town, Taraba State as violence broke out following the judgment of Elections Petitions Tribunal which nullified the election of Governor Darius Ishaku.

The tribunal, sitting in Abuja, on Saturday quashed the election of Gov. Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and declared Sen. Aisha Alhassan of the All Progressives Congress, APC, winner of the poll.

Some touts were said to

have taken advantage of the anti-ruling protests to unleash mayhem while some residents fled their homes to the bush for safety. Gunshots also rent the air earlier in the day before the deployment of security agents to restore order.

Former Vice Chairman of Wukari Local Government Council, Alhaji Tanimu Danlele, said at least eight people lost their lives and more than 30 others were injured in the crisis.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Joseph Kwaji, told the News

Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday, in Jalingo that the crisis broke out in the early hours of Sunday.

He said that though the police had not concluded their investigations, the crisis might not be unconnected with the ruling of the tribunal.

“Yes there was crisis in Wukari, but it is under control now. Security men have been deployed to the area and normalcy has returned to the town.

“Investigation is ongoing but it is likely that the crisis is in connection with the

verdict of the governorship election petition tribunal of Saturday,” he said.

The command’s image maker, who said that figure of casualty had not been ascertained by the police, warned the people not to take the laws into their hands.

He said the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Shaba Alkali, had moved to the area to ensure that peace was restored. He warned that the command would come hard on anyone bent on fomenting trouble in any part of the state over the verdict of the tribunal under any guise.

Harsh economic environment crashes corporate earnings

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

L

AGOS — NEGATIVE economic fundamentals overshadowing Nigeria’s business environment may have begun to take its toll on corporate financial results as third quarter earnings plunged in three key sectors, namely, oil and gas, banking and conglomerates.

Poor results announced by industry leaders in these sectors also worsened the performance of Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index last weekend.

In the oil and gas sector, Oando Plc had led the pack in corporate downturn with a record monumental loss of N179.3 billion in its late result of 2014 full year and then followed it up with another N35.1 billion loss in its interim 2015 results.

Last week other big players followed same trend with Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc announcing a third quarter result that show revenue at N43.326 billion down 25.3 per cent from N60.718 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2014 while its profit at N5.248 billion show a 33.5 per cent decline from N7.895 recorded in 2014.

Conoil Nigeria Plc and Total Nigeria Plc which are among the top players in the industry equally recorded declining fortune with Conoil recording a massive 42.28 per cent and 16.13 per cent drops in revenue and profit respectively while Total recorded 10 per cent and 5 per cent drops in revenue and profits respectively.

All the companies blamed negative economic environment and global oil price crash for their declining performance.

They also cited foreign exchange related losses, postcurrency devaluation as well as

LAUNCH: CEO, Interswitch, Kenya, Bernard Matthewman; CEO, Verve International, Charles Ifedi; Country Manager, Verve, Kenya, Richard Coate and GMD, Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe at the official launch of Verve in Kenya. delayed payments of petroleum products subsidies to downstream operators as leading causes of the bad fortune adding that year end and beyond look bleak in the face of what they call "dull policy moment in the oil and gas sector."

The banking industry presented a similar picture last week when almost all the results in the sector were announced showing that while tier-two banks show growths, big players in tier-1 league show marginal growth with a few significant declines in fortune.

Afrinvest Group, a Lagosbased investment house, in a review of the banking sector third quarter 2015 performance last weekend noted that "within the banking space, the constraining operating environment in 2015 was reflected in their levels of profitability in comparison to the corresponding period the year

before.

"The high exposure of Nigerian banks to the public sector and the oil & gas sector (which we estimate at 5.4 per cent and 27.0 per cent in first half 2015 respectively) has led to a weakness in assets quality as the revenue profiles of their key customers (government and indigenous downstream and upstream companies) were impaired by the oil price crash.

"This has led to higher nonperforming loans and impairment charges affecting profitability of banks. Our yearon-year analysis of banks’ bottom lines across tiers shows that third quarter 2015 profitability was generally affected by higher impairment charges, with Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc leading the pack at 521.3 per cent, FirstBank, 247 per cent; United Bank for Africa 129 per cent, recording the

highest increases in impairment charges, a development which ultimately depressed their profitability.

The consumer goods and conglomerate segment also followed the decline trend with key players posting significant declines in both revenue and profit except Nestle Plc which was able to deliver marginal year-on-year increases in revenue and profit despite the challenging macroeconomic landscape.

Cadbury Nigeria Plc and UAC Nigeria Plc led the pack in both sectors with Cadbury recording a massive 98.27 per cent decline in profit while UAC suffered equally heavy drop of 58 per cent in profitability.

On sector average, analysts observed that though sales growth in the last nine months shows a marginal weakening at about 0.2 per cent across top five consumer goods companies, net finance costs surged 81.5 per cent.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

Court restrains FRC from sanctioning KPMG

A

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has restrained the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRC, and its executive secretary and CEO, Mr. Jim Obazee, from taking any action, sanction or measure against KPMG Professional Services and Mr. Ayodele Othihiwa, a partner in the firm, pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed by the applicants.

The interim order by the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, was sequel to an application argued before the court by Chuka Ikwuazo, urging the court to restrain the respondents from taking any sanction and also order an accelerated hearing of the suit, now adjourned till November 12, when the respondents must have been served all the ‘originating processes’ in the matter.

The order was the second granted by the court against the FRC, within 48 hours.

On November 4, Justice Buba also ordered the FRC to maintain the status quo in a related case filed by Stanbic IBTC.

VISIT: From left— Pastor Tokunbo Adesanya, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo Dosunmu and Reverend Tola Oyediran during Osinbajo's visit to Ikenne home of late HID Awolowo, Ogun State. PHOTO: Wunmi Akinola.

LAGOS MUDSLIDE: 15 buildings marked for demolition, 50 sealed

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsuru Olowoopejo

F

OLLOWING the death of four siblings at Orisha Magodo axis, Lagos State Government has marked about 15 buildings, including the bungalow where the four died, for demolition, saying “none of the buildings had approval.”

The state government also sealed about 50 other

buildings in Magodo Phase 1 for construction beyond approved plans.

General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, Mr. Shola Aderibigbe, who disclosed this to Vanguard, said: “The buildings were erected in a mudslide zone.

“There is the likelihood that another mudslide would occur in the community. To avoid another tragedy, all the buildings in that zone must be

NACCIMA, LCCI task FG on Fair Village

By Naomi Uzor

T

HE Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, weekend, appealed to the Lagos State Government to intervene and impress on Federal Government to release the trade fair village on Badagry Express way to it for effective use.

President of NACCIMA, Chief Bassey Edem, said this at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair, LITF, tagged Enhancing Value Addition in the Non-Oil Economy.

C M Y K

One of the houses affected by the Magodo mudslide.

removed immediately.

“Also, none of them had approval. This is because any mudslide zone is dangerous for habitation.”

When Vanguard visited the community, it was observed that the owners of the structures were asked to remove them immediately.

On Magodo Phase I For the houses in Magodo Phase 1, the General Manager said the buildings erected on the cleavage hills were sealed to allow the state government verify their approved plans, adding “do not forget that they bought their land from the government and there was a setback behind their houses.”

He explained that the setbacks were created to avert any danger that could arise from mudslide. Aderibigbe lamented that there had been some extension, but that they would ascertain it today, when the government would begin to verify occupants’ approved plans.

Aderibigbe vowed that government will not hesitate

to order immediate removal of any structure erected on the setback.

Some of the buildings marked for demolition were at Olaiya Oladeji Street.

We served them notice — Council boss

Reacting to the collapsed building, the Deputy Executive Secretary of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Mrs. Abiodun Martins, said that residents of Orisa Magodo were, last month, warned to leave the community that there could be mudslide soon.

Her words: “I was here less than a month ago. I warned that occupants of these buildings should vacate because they were living on a setback. I spoke with the Baale and he said that he had instructed everyone to vacate.

“The owners of the buildings are living on setbacks. Definitely, government did not approve the construction of the buildings.

They were not expected to live in Orisha Magodo, considering the enormity of the danger inherent there.”

PDP accuses Aregbesola of withholding bailout funds

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO—PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, has accused Governor Rauf Aregbesola of inflicting hardship on the people of the state, especially civil servants, by withholding the bailout funds rather than using it to pay salaries.

The party, in a statement issued by its spokesperson,

Prince Diran Odeyemi in Osogbo yesterday, said the piecemeal mode adopted by state government in paying salaries was a further confirmation that the money had been fixed.

It added that workers in the state were last paid half of their July salaries, with all allowances being hitherto enjoyed by them removed, stressing that the retirees were

also being treated in same manner, with many of them still being owed up to six months despite release of bailout funds to the state in August.

‘PDP seeking relevance’

However, the consultant on information to the state government, Mr. Sunday Akere, debunked PDP claims.

He said: “PDP wants to use

our reaction to gain relevance. I am sure they have a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, the state government signed with the workers.

“The bailout covered to June and we have paid June salaries, we have paid July and August.

“We signed an MoU with the workers and we have kept to the terms of the document religiously.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 , 2015—11

FG, states to share $2bn Excess Crude fund —Fayose

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

A

D O - E K I T I — INDICATION emerged, weekend, that the Federal Government will soon disburse the over $2 billion remaining in the Excess Crude Oil Account, ECA, to state governments to fund capital projects in the states.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, gave the indication over the weekend while featuring on a radio/ television programme, Meet Your Governor, in Ado-Ekiti.

In a statement yesterday, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, said the step would be taken for the state governments to be able to embark on or complete some capital projects.

The governor, who added that Ekiti could get about N10 billion from the fund, said: “Nothing is going into the Excess Crude Oil Account again because oil is selling lower than the envisaged price in the international market.

That has badly affected all of us.

He explained that the 2015 budget for Ekiti State was based on oil selling at $65 per barrel, but it sells for a little over $40 now.

“That has left our budget performing only in the area of Recurrent Expenditure. You know that I call a spade a spade.

Ekiti is expecting about N10 billion when the ECA fund is shared. When it comes, I will tell everybody. I don’t hide things.

“The capital projects that we have embarked upon since we came on board are being executed because we are prudent, transparent and open, and also because we leverage on goodwill with corporate bodies,” he said.

Fayose said that considering the tough economic situation in the country, there was no way people could dodge paying taxes, rates

and levies, adding that government would be crippled without finances.

He implored butchers to stop protesting the N1,000 levy imposed on them for the slaughtering of cows, warning that anybody caught killing cows in unauthorised places would be fined N50,000.

“It was during my first tenure that we built the abattoir and the place is not maintained. We have to maintain the facility for hygiene, provide where cattle are kept,

provide water and yet they are complaining. The additional cost will be spread to others,” he stated.

On the reconstruction of Erekesan Market in Ado-Ekiti, the governor gave the assurance that owners of the former shops would be given top priority in the allocation of shops when the new market is built.

“We have done the accreditation of traders through the records with which we paid them compensation. So, there is no need to fear," he added.

UCH DAY OF RADIOLOGY: From left: Prof Temitope Alonge; CMD, UCH Ibadan, reading the Proclamation address held by Dr. (Mrs) Mojisola Atalabi, LOC Chairman, International Day of Radiology, at the proclamation of UCH Day of Radiology to mark this years Day of Radiology was held in Ibadan on Wednesday. Photo: Dare Fasube.

I’ll complete ongoing school projects —Aregbesola O

By Gbenga Olarinoye

SOGBO—GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has assured that his administration will complete all ongoing school projects despite the economic meltdown.

He gave the assurance in a statement by Semiu Okanlawon, his media aide, in Osogbo, yesterday.

The statement stated that Aregbesola said this during his visit to the project sites in the state.

It stated that aside the school

projects, all other ongoing projects in the state would be completed as scheduled.

It directed all the contractors handling the school projects to accelerate the completion of the projects.

According to the statement, it would be unfortunate and regrettable if the contractors handling the school projects failed to complete and handover the schools to the state within the agreed period.

It stated that the schools under construction were

financed with the Sukuk bond, saying there was no excuse for the contractors not to accelerate the work pace.

The statement charged the contractors to keep the contractual agreement with the state government by using the recommended materials for the school building project.

It noted that government would not shift grounds on the set requirement for the projects.

Next in Olubadan’s succession queue dies at 91

By Ola Ajayi

I

BADAN—THE Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Sulaimon Adegboyega Alao Omiyale, who was next to the throne of Olubadan of Ibadan is dead. The reigning Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, celebrated his centenary birthday recently.

Chief Omiyale who reportedly died on Saturday evening at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, died at the age of 91.

C M Y K

Eventhough he was ripe in age, the families and other sympathisers wept profusely during his burial rites yesterday.

The remains of the chief were interred at Ope Agbe Palace, Omiyale house, Oja’ba, Ibadan.

In his sermon at the burial ceremony, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdul-Ganiyu Abubakri Agbotomokekere, said only Allah could determine when and how

anybody would die.

The family representative, Baale Olomi village, Ibadan, Chief Samuel Layode Oyewale, said the deceased who became Mogaji of the compound in 1967 lived a fulfilled life noting that his death was a great loss to the family.

Among the dignitaries that called on the family of the deceased were the former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo AlaoAkala, High Chief Lekan Balogun and many others.

Ondo govt, APC bicker over state’s tax burden

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—THE opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State weekend, pleaded with the state government to relax its tax burden on the people of the state.

Its state party chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, in a statement in Akure, lamented the continuous exploitation of the poor masses in the guise of taxes and indiscriminate charges.

But the state government in a swift reaction said any tax imposed in the state has legislative backing of the House of Assembly.

I n f o r m a t i o n Commissioner Kayode Akinmade said the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, is a governor with a caring heart and would never inconvenience the people of the state.

Akinmade asked the opposition to look inwards and compare the heavy yoke of taxes imposed in states administered by the APC governors with what obtains in Ondo.

Paucity of funds delaying council polls in Ondo —Mimiko

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—THE hope of conducting local government elections into the 18 council areas of Ondo State has been stalled due to paucity of funds.

Consequently, the governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, said weekend, in Akure that the polls would now hold between January and February next year.

It was earlier scheduled to hold next month according to what the governor said while presenting this year ’s budget.

Dr Mimiko, answering questions during an interactive session, Mr Governor Speaks, on the state-owned radio and television channel, said the election would gulp half a billion naira.

While saying that the state is already saving some funds for the election, the governor explained that conducting the election next month would not be possible again due to lean financial situation of the state.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

DESOPADEC MD dismisses claims of frittering away N650m As Gbagi condemns protest against commission

By Emma Amaize, Egufe Yafugborhi & Perez Brisibe

A

SABA—M A N A G I N G Director, MD, of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Chief William Makinde, yesterday dismissed claims that he frittered away N650 million.

This came as Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor on DESOPADEC, matters, Chief Emuobo Gbagi, condemned the recent protest by some youths against the commission.

Makinde also denied reports that he awarded a contract to Erhitake Ibori, a member of the state House of Assembly and daughter of a former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori, to supply vehicles to the commission.

In a statement, by his Special Assistant on Media, Dr. Prince Orhomonokpaye, Chief Makinde said: “I have read through the report and I am surprised that the media could write such a frivolous report that is unfounded. The issue sited in the report that DESOPADEC MD paid a national newspaper (name withheld) N350 million as debt from advert publications, squandered N270 million and withdrew N1.5 billion DESOPADEC funds from Sterling Bank are baseless and have no iota of truth. No contract was awarded to the daughter of former Governor James Ibori to purchase vehicles for the commission as

reported in the print and social media.”

In a related development, Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor on DESOPADEC, matters, Chief Emuobo Gbagi, condemned the recent protest by some youths against the commission.

Chief Gbagi, at a meeting with the state executives of host communities, HOSTCOM, in Warri, took a swipe at the youths for not exploring available peaceful channels before embarking on their protest.

Describing his office as a

bridge between the government and parties involved in the development of oil bearing communities, Gbagi urged those aggrieved over the activities of the board to channel their complaints to the governor through his office.

Earlier, the state chairman of HOSTCOM, Dr. Peter Egedegbe, while appealing for patience with the new DESOPADEC board, described HOSTCOM as the watchdog of DESOPADEC. He said: “As an oil bearing community development

agency, DESOPADEC was established and commissioned as a result of the agitation of HOSTCOM. Our main purpose is the development and posterity of the commission and we will partner with the state government in achieving this goal.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner representing Okpe, Ethiope West and Sapele on the board of DESOPADEC, Jonathan Amitaye, has donated cash and various items, including bags of rice, garri, beans, groundnut oil, palm oil and toiletries to an Orphanage

LEGAL YEAR: From left: Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; his deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo; Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani and Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Emmanuel Aguma, during the opening of the 2015/2016 Legal Year and Re-dedication service, at St. Paul’s Cathedral Church, Port Harcourt.

Gov Emmanuel to establish coconut refining factory ...to employ 350,000 people when operational

U

By Tom Moses

YO—IN pursuance of his promise to ensure industrial revolution and create jobs for Akwa Ibom State people, Governor Udom Emmanuel, yesterday, said a coconut refining factory was in the offing and would employ no fewer than 350,000 people when operational.

Governor Emmanuel said already, 5,000 hectares of land had been acquired and cleared for the planting of 15,000 seedlings of coconut.

The governor, who spoke at his maiden media parley since assumption of office, explained that he decided to invest in coconut because of its unquantifiable socio-economic gains and medicinal values.

Besides, he disclosed that arrangements had been concluded for the groundbreaking of meter manufacturing company in the state, promising that the first set of meters from that factory would be rolled out in May 2016.

C M Y K

He said: “The thrust of this administration is based on industrialization and so far, we have had ground-breaking for car assembly plant in Itu. When completed, the plant would provide jobs to thousands of our unemployed youths. We have equally performed groundbreaking ceremonies for the construction of LED industry

also in Itu and the largest shopping mall in Africa, Shoprite, is coming to Akwa Ibom. These initiatives will also provide jobs to our people and lift a lot of people from the abyss of poverty. Foreign investors are lining up to come and invest in our state because we have provided superior and worldclass infrastructural amenities

and soon, we will be performing numerous groundbreaking ceremonies for these planned industries.”

As part of efforts to ensure steady supply of electricity, the governor recalled that the state was last Wednesday, given a licence by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission NERC, to increase its megawatts from 199 to 685.

PHCN’s liquidation: Electricity workers petition NBA

By Victor AhiumaYoung

E

LECTRICITY workers have petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, urging it to prevail on its member, Mr. Joe Gadzama (SAN), to allow due process for the labour issues agreed upon between the Federal Government and the unions in the power sector in the privatization of the defunct Power Holding Company for Nigeria, PHCN, to be resolved.

The workers, on the platform of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, in the petition to NBA General Secretary, claimed that the lawyer is insisting on liquidating PHCN eventhough his contractual agreement which he is relying on to liquidate PHCN expired on October 18, 2015, without renewal.

NUEE in the petition through its General Secretary, Mr. Joe Ajaero, dated October 30-10-15, read in part: “Our worries stem from five basic issues viz: The

so-called Contractual Agreement which he is laying claim to liquidate PHCN expired on October 18, 2015.

However, he served his notice of liquidation on October 23, 2015. It becomes a mystery the source of his power to liquidate PHCN. Meanwhile, the so called agreement has not been renewed. He claimed to have met with the employees and their representatives for their consent but this claim is totally false. We never met with them."

S-South youths drum up support for Buhari

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— SOUTH-South youths have affirmed support for President Muhamadu Buhari’s administration, insisting that he will resolve the challenges plaguing the nation.

In a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, Chairman of the group, Mr. Odiedim Amachree, also cautioned against attack on President Buhari over delay in the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, report on Ogoni, noting that the President meant well for the region.

The group called on Nigerians to ignore allegations by some youths that the President was playing politics with the implementation of the report.

“We are particularly delighted with the sudden return of discipline, respect, and accountability by public officers. This was not the case in the past when public officers were answerable only to themselvesd,” Amacree said.

Edo tackles emission of green house gases

E

DO State Government has said it will intensify effort against the burning of wastes, especially those that emit corrosive and other green house gasses which deplete the ozone layer.

Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities, Prince Clem Agba, gave the assurance in Benin City in an address to mark the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

According to the commissioner, to ensure that this was sustained, there was a law to aid the prosecution of offenders as regards the monthly sanitation exercise in addition to the Pollution Management Law, 2010, already in force.

The commissioner, whose address was read by A u g u s t i n e Akhuamheakhua, a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, said government had intensified the policing of the forest reserves to prevent indiscriminate felling of trees

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015—13

Dickson, Sylva campaign organisations bicker over endorsements Dickson's Commissioner’s father, Jonathan's loyalist join APC

By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio

T

HE Campaign Organisation of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Restoration Campaign Organisation of Governor Seriake Dickson, yesterday traded words over series of endorsements of Governor Dickson for second term by some groups and traditional rulers in the state.

While Sylva’s campaign organisation insisted that the gale of endorsements of Dickson was nothing but vanity, Dickson's campaign organisation declared that Sylva was a rejected stone, not electable and rejected by the gods of Ijawland.

This came as the father of a Commissioner for Environment in Bayelsa State, Chief Owazi Wills, weekend, joined the APC in Nembe Local Government Area, LGA, in an event which also witnessed a former loyalist to former President Jonathan, Bishop Degi-Eremienyon, defecting to APC.

The Sylva campaign Organisation, through its Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Nathan Egba, in an interview with newsmen in Yenagoa, said: “Before the Presidential election, there was a spate of endorsements. Every group, House of Assembly members, local government chairmen and traditional rulers that endorsed former President Goodluck Jonathan also endorsed Dickson. And now, there is another round of endorsements.

“The simple question now is, have those earlier rounds of endorsements expired? And if those have expired, what is the life span of these new ones? Are they not going to expire before the December 5 governorship elections?”

But the Director-General of Governor Dickson's campaign organisation, Fred Agbedi, while reacting said, “The APC is the party that has been rejected by the land of Bayelsa, and their candidate rejected by the gods and the people of Ijawland. It was not planned by anybody.

The Ijawland stated that ‘you have treated my people with high handedness, they don’t want you anymore."

Meanwhile, the father of a Commissioner for Environment in Bayelsa State, Chief Owazi

As court says it's not known to law

A

S A B A — D E LTA State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, weekend, said the setting up of Local Government Transition Committee, LGTC, was unconstitutional and unknown to law.

Okowa spoke after the National Industrial Court, NIC, sitting in Awka, declared LGTC as unlawful.

Members of the last LGTC had dragged the state government to court over the refusal of the government to pay them severance allowance.

The state counsel, Mr Thomas Anigara, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the state government, told the court that the local government transition committee was not known to law and therefore could not be agitating for severance allowance.

Dismissing the suit, the Presiding Judge, Justice Waziri Abali, said the appointment of the transition committee was illegal.

The governor, who spoke while receiving the report of the 2014 local government council

C M Y K

election in the state from the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, said: “The transition committee is not constitutional, so, if it is not set up at the state and federal levels, why should local government suffer such faith? It is undemocratic, an aberration and should not be condoned especially, in Delta

State. I believe that law specifically states in the constitution that democratically elected local government councils are guaranteed and to that extent, I believe it is an aberration at any time to have transition committees.

This is my belief and as such, we must plan early enough for elections because this is what the constitution states."

S-South women call for peaceful poll in Bayelsa

C

ONCERNED women in the South-South region have called for peaceful elections in Bayelsa state, recommending a non-violent approach to the candidates, ahead of the December 5, governorship election in the state.

It, however, expressed concern over the alleged attack on the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, and his followers during the operation clean up Bayelsa initiative.

The women, in a communique at the end of their meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State,

Mr Iniuro Wills, is a former Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the state, and serving Environment Commissioner under the Governor Seriake Dickson’s administration is the first child of the family.

PRESENTATION: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel (left) presenting the Obong Sampson Udo Etuk Excellence Award for Leadership on behalf of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio to the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, during the 19th Obong Sampson Udo Etuk Award Night, organized by the Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio.

LG Transition C'ttee illegal —Okowa

By Festus Ahon

Wills, weekend, joined the APC in Nembe Local Government Area, LGA, in an event which also witnessed a former loyalist to former President Jonathan, Bishop Degi-Eremienyon, defecting from PDP to APC.

yesterday, commended Sylva for his maturity and peaceful disposition in the conduct of his campaigns.

The meeting, which had in attendance, female political and community leaders from the region deliberated extensively on issues affecting the region in particular and women in general and noted with delight, the victory of Hajiya Aisha Jummai Alhassan of Taraba State,the first elected female governor in Nigeria and commended her tenacity and doggedness in the face of debilitating challenges.

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

Virgin Atlantic not pulling out of Nigeria —Sales Agent

CCT: Group drags Justice Umar to court

over alleged N10m bribery scandal •Seeks his removal, says he is not fit to try corruption cases

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

By Kenneth Ehigiator

V

IRGIN ATLANTIC Airways’ Sales Agent in Nigeria, Chief John Adebanjo, last night, dismissed insinuations that the airline was planning to pull out of the country due to harsh operating environment.

Online publications were awashed yesterday with reports that the airline was on the verge of withdrawing its services in the country.

The reports also indicated that the management of the airline had started issuing disengagement letters to Nigerians on its employ, as a step to discontinuing flight operations to Nigeria.

But reacting to the reports, Chief Adebanjo, however, said admitted that the airline was discontinuing with the services of Nigerian crew in its operations, stressing that it was not an indication of a pull-out of Nigeria.

He said: ‘’ Virgin Atlantic Airways has no plans to pull out of Lagos route, we are committed to continue delivering the experience our customers love, whether they are flying for business or leisure. ‘’We have decided that we will no longer have crew based in Lagos. This is by no means a reflection on our Lagos-based cabin crew, the primary purpose of our locally based cabin crew has been to provide cultural expertise and customer feedback has shown us that this is no longer a requirement on the Lagos route. ‘’The additional complexity required to operate an international crew base where there are no foreign language requirement means it is no longer sustainable going forward.

This announcement has no impact on our flying programme and we plan to continue flights between Lagos and London. ‘’After 14 years of flying the route, we remain committed to servicing the Nigeria people, whether it be for business, family or education.’’

Virgin Atlantic Airways, owned by British billionaire, Sir Richard Branson, started operations into Nigeria in 2001, and became the second largest carrier on the Lagos-London route, after British Airways.

A

BUJA—CHAIRMAN of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Justice Danladi Umar, has been dragged before the Federal High Court in Abuja over an allegation that he demanded N10milion bribe to quash criminal case against an accused person before him.

The suit was lodged before the

high court by a non governmental organisation under the platform of the Registered Trustees of the Mission for Peace and Development Initiative, through their lawyer, Chief Mike Ozehkome, SAN. The plaintiff, said it has documents showing that the CCT chairman, demanded a N10m bribe from a retired Comptroller of Customs, Mr. Rasheed Taiwo, to terminate

further hearing on a case that was pending against him at the tribunal.

According to the group, out of the total agreed bribe, Justice Umar, through his personal assistant, one Mr. Gambo Abdullahi, received the sum of N1.8million as initial deposit.

Among exhibits the group attached to the suit included the photocopy of a cheque with which the N1.8m was allegedly

From left, Mr Tayo Omidiji, Head, Strategic Planning, NEXIM Bank, Adam Nuru, Executive Director First City Monument Bank Ltd and Mrs. Obidike Evelyn, Deputy Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, at the First City Monument Bank Ltd Customer forum on Export Trade in Lagos, weekend. Photo: Akeem Salau

Court restrains FRC over KPMG, Stanbic IBTC

A

FEDERAL High Court sitting in Lagos last weekend restrained the Financial Reporting Council, FRC, of Nigeria and its executive secretary, Mr. Jim Obazee, from taking any action, sanction or measure against KPMG Professional Services, auditors of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc and Mr. Ayodele Othihiwa, a Partner in the firm, pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed by the applicants.

The court presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba, gave an interim order sequel to an application brought before the court by Barrister Chuka Ikwuazo from the law firm of Aluko and Oyebode, urging the court to restrain the respondents from taking any sanction and also order an accelerated hearing of the suit, now fixed for 12 November, when the respondents must have been served all the ‘originating processes’ in the matter.

The interim order was the second granted by the court against the FRC, within 48 hours.

On 4th of November, Justice Buba also ordered the FRC to maintain the status quo in a related case filed by StanbicIBTC. The case is now pending before the court.

KPMG and its Partner had filed an application for the enforcement of their fundamental rights

following the FRC letter of 26 October 2015, which it called a final notice and its ‘regulatory decision’ conveyed in another letter of 30 October, on the financial statements of StanbicIBTC Holdings Plc for 2013 and 2014.

FRC, in a recent regulatory decision, had suspended Othihiwa “until the investigation as to the extent of the negligence of KPMG Professional Services is ascertained”.

KPMG and Othihiwa contend that the FRC decision was published and issued without informing or notifying them of the nature of the allegations made against them and inviting them to respond to the allegations.

The FRC decision, KPMG and Othihiwa claimed not only violated their constitutional right to fair hearing but also Section 62(2) of the Financial Reporting Act, which spells out the procedure to be adopted by the FRC in investigating a professional body for any ‘complaint or dishonest practice, negligence, professional Misconduct or malpractice’.

The section states that FRC shall “ notify the professional whose conduct, act or omission is under investigation of the nature of the complaint and it shall summon or hear the professional”.

The applicants contended that

FRC and Mr. Obazee, did not only breach this section, but they also breached Section 15(2) b of the FRC Act, which states that a Technical and Oversight Committee shall review “ sanctions to be meted out to any professional accountant, professional or public interest entity”.

KPMG and Othihiwa further claimed that even where the Technical and Oversight Committee had ratified the decision of the FRC, the FRC had failed to exhaust the provisions of its own law, by allowing them to exercise their right of appeal to the Technical Committee and by subjecting its decision to the approval of the FRC board. The FRC at the moment has no board.

It was dissolved on 16 July 2015.

“In effect the respondents purported to make and they seek to enforce the aforesaid ‘regulatory decision’ at a time when the statutory means of recourse stipulated under the Act does not exist”, KPMG and Othihiwa stated in their application. KPMG and Othihiwa in asking the court for accelerated hearing averred that they have been affected and have the potential of suffering greater loss of business opportunities and turn-over, as a result of the action of the FRC, which they consider unfair, ultra vires and a breach of their rights to a fair hearing.

paid to Justice Umar through his proxy, a copy of the statement the CCT chairman made before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, where he admitted having a private meeting with Mr. Taiwo in his office, as well as the statement of his P.A Abdullahi.

Other documents the plaintiff also adduced before the court were a copy of the application with which Justice Umar was granted administrative bail by the antigraft agency, and a letter that was forwarded to former President Goodluck Jonathan by two other members of the tribunal, Justices Robert Odu and W. Agwaza Atedze, wherein they called for a thorough investigation into the bribery scandal so as “to save the CCT from embarrassment”.

Specifically, the group, is praying the high court for an order compelling Justice Umar to vacate his position as the CCT chairman on the ground that he is not fit and proper to superintend over the criminal prosecution of any Nigerian, with himself having a criminal case hanging on his neck.

Joined as defendants in the suit were Justice Umar, the CCT, EFCC and the Attorney General of the Federation.

In a bid to further justify their position that Justice Umar is not “morally and legally fit to try corruption cases”, the group, tendered before the court, a recommendation by the erstwhile AGF Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, made while he was still in office, directing the EFCC to prosecute the CCT boss over the said bribery allegation.

The recommendation followed the report of the EFCC after its investigation into the petition that was lodged against Justice Umar by the retired Comptroller of Customs, Mr. Taiwo.

Aside recommending Umar’s prosecution, the then AGF, in a letter to former President Goodluck Jonathan, dated May, 7, 2014, with reference number: HAGF/SH/2014/Vol./41, equally okayed the removal of Justice Umar as the CCT chairman owing to the allegation of corruption against him.

Adoke’s letter to ex-President Jonathan read in part: “ I am of the humble opinion that the current state of affairs by which the tribunal is unable to sit while the institution is increasingly diminished by the pall of suspicion, should not be allowed to fester, as it will expose the institution to public ridicule and undermine this administration’s efforts to combat corruption.

“In the light of the foregoing therefore, Your Excellency may wish to initiate the necessary steps for the removal of the chairman.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015—15

NBA wades into face-off between JUSUN and Anambra govt

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—THE Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has waded into the face-off between the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, and the Anambra State government over non-implementation of the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure, CONJUSS, which has led to indefinite strike by the workers.

The chairman of Idemili branch of NBA, Mr. Benjamin Okoko, in a statement in Awka, also dissociated NBA from a statement credited to the provost of Idemili branch of NBA, Mr. Pat Okolo on the strike issue, saying that the said statement did not get the approval of NBA. Okolo, however, commended the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Peter Umeadi in his efforts aimed at alleviating the suffering of the masses, especially the litigants.

He recalled that the state government entered into an agreement with the leadership of JUSUN in 2011 on the contentious issue of CONJUSS and urged the government to look into the matter because government is a continuum.

Vanguard recalls that following the strike by JUSUN, the state government set up mobile courts to decongest the mounting cases

in the various courts and detainees in prisons and police cells.

The courts, which took off last

week, operate in Onitsha, Awka and Nnewi and are being presided by the administrative magistrates of the zones.

SIGNING: From left, Director, Project Gaia International, USA, Mr. Harry Stokes; Managing Director of Project Gaia Prospects Limited, Mr. Joe Obueh; Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNEPCo, Mr. Bayo Ojulari; General Manager, External Relations, Shell, Mr. Igo Weli; and the General Manager, Production, Shell Nigeria, Mr. David Martin, at the signing of a partnership agreement for a pilot study on the use of methanol clean cookstoves, at the SNEPCo office, Lagos.

N5, 000 STIPEND: Group threatens to sue Buhari, APC

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—A pressure group, South East Progressives Assembly, SEPA, has threatened court action against President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All

Progressives Congress, APC, over the inability of the Federal Government to commence the payment of the monthly N5, 000 to unemployed Nigerian youths.

President Buhari and his party, the APC had during their campaigns promised to drive its change policy through certain programmes which include payment of N5, 000 monthly stipend to unemployed Nigerian youths.

The group said it is worried by the antics of APC senators who rejected a motion at the floor of the senate seeking to compel President Buhari to fulfill his campaign promise on the payment of 5000 Naira monthly stipend to unemployed Nigerians.

In a statement by its president, Ebere Uzoukwa, the group insisted that having successfully entered into bond with Nigerians including the youths through its campaign promises, President Buhari and his party owe Nigerians the obligation of fulfilling their promises including the immediate payment of the N5,000 monthly stipend to unemployed youths.

The statement read, “The South East Progressives Assembly, SEPA, wishes to convey its intention to challenge the non-payment of the monthly N5000 stipend promised unemployed Nigerian youths by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and President Buhari during the campaigns.

“Our decision to explore legal option on this very particular issue is largely hinged on the overriding fact that APC’s manifesto which contains some of its campaign promises and that of President Buhari undoubtedly remains the real bond between Nigerians and the governmental the day."

Ejiogu condoles with Ibegwam’s family

By Chidi Nkwopara

S

ECRETARY TO the Government of Imo State, Mr Jude Ejiogu has commiserated with Ibegwam’s family of Umuoyiri Okwu Emekuku in Owerri North Local Government area of Imo State on the sudden demise of Hon Sir Anthony Onyemuche Ibegwam, describing it as a big loss.

Ejiogu expressed his con dolence after the church service at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Emekuku before the deceased was committed to mother earth in his compound.

He was accompanied by Honourable members representing Owerri North, Hon. Chukwuemeka Lloyd; Owerri Municipal, Hon Lugard Osuji (House Leader), and Owerri West state constituencies, Hon. Victor Onyewuchi Ikonne respectively.

Others in his entourage include former Transition Committee Chairmen of Owerri Municipal, Hon. (Nze) Joe Ago, and Nze Nnadi Okenwa amongst others.

Addressing newsmen, Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Sir Jude Ejiogu expressed shock on the demise of late Sir Anthony Ibegwam, describing it as a very big loss not only to his family, but to the entire people of Owerri North and beyond.

He regretted that Sir Anthony died when his wealth of experience and fatherly care was mostly needed, appealling to those he left behind to take solace in the Lord, praying that God will give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

IPAC backs suspension of council poll

E

NUGU—THE InterParty Advisory Council, IPAC, in Enugu State, weekend, called on the state government to suspend polls at the local government level until the conclusion of the verification exercise embarked upon by it.

This came as the tenure of elected council chairmen in the state elapses in January.

C M Y K

16—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

L-r: Hon. Mayor Tomas Regalado of City of Miami, Florida, USA presenting the “Key to the City” of Miami, Florida to Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme at the historic City Hall in the Coconut Grove area of Miami, Florida

City of Miami fetes Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme

By Our Reporter

I

T was a great day for Nigeria and its international image recently when one of the top ten cities in the United States of America, the City of Miami, received Nigeria’s Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme of the Federal Court of Appeal, an erudite scholar who is the first female doctorate degree holder to serve as a judge.

As the summer months were winding down,Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme of the Calabar Judicial Division of the Federal Court of Appeal visited Miami, the largest city in the State of Florida, as part of her annual vacation. A supposedly quiet and private weekend visit turned out to be one with a pleasant surprise and an unexpected celebration. It was a providential circumstance and one auspicious occasion that the municipal government used to acknowledge the positive contribution of Nigerians and the country’s improving international image as well as the outstanding success of one of its judicial stars.

The City of Miami, through the Office of the Mayor received Justice Nwosu-Iheme in the historic City Hall building in Coconut Grove on August 10, 2015, as part of its promotion of tourism through routine recognition of august visitors. It was a good day for Nigeria’s image and the sterling impact of its diaspora community was extolled by the Mayor, Tomas Regalado, amidst pomp and ceremony, and in the presence of top city officials who witnessed the august visit to the historic City Hall.

The highlight of the extraordinary event was the presentation of the official “Key to the City “of Miami by Mayor Tomas Regalado to Honorable Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme. This is one of the few rare occasions in recent history where the city extended recognition to visiting officials from sub-Saharan Africa. The city is known for being selective in its reception program and had denied a platform to tyrants or dictators and their collaborators in the past.

But this was one opportunity that no one could pass considering the extraordinary credentials of the august visitor.

It is recalled that Justice Chioma NwosuIheme had garnered several recognitions both locally and internationally in the past.

As far back as August 2005, the fifty-ninth (59th) session of the United Nations’ General Assembly elected Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, among the 27 ad-litem

judges to the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in Eastern Europe. The ad-litem judges were elected for a fouryear term of office with their curricula vitae published as UN document A/59/888.

Justice Nwosu-Iheme who obtained her Ph.D in law has also been a recurring feature in several successful electoral panels in Nigeria. Notable among her early accomplishments in her judicial career was her adept handling of the highly celebrated case of the Otokoto murder, in Imo State, an outcome that was met with public commendation.

It was vintage Nigeria as the country and its historic leading role in aspects of international jurisprudence was recognized during the event. Key city officials that witnessed the epoch-making event included the City Manager, Daniel Alfonso; City Attorney, Victoria Mendez; Assistant City Manager, Dr. Nzeribe Ihekwaba; and NET Director, Vanessa Acosta, Esq. The visiting party included the three sons of the Justice: Mr. Uzodinma Nwosu-Iheme, Barrister Uzoma NwosuIheme, and Mr. Nnamdi Nwosu-Iheme, who is an engineer. The honor was well received as expected.

Presentation of the Key to the city In the United States, the presentation of the ‘Key to the City” of a municipality is a unique acknowledgement of the unique contributions, community service and work, as well as nature and record of the recipient. It serves to make a bold statement through the recognition of the recipient’s public vitae by bestowing a badge of civic honor to the august visitor, resident, investor, business entity, or organization, and in some cases as an acknowledgment of a worthy ambassador .

Speaking with our reporter, the Assistant City Manager and Chief of Operations for the City of Miami, Dr. Nzeribe Ihekwaba extolled the sterling qualities of the honoree as a testament of the many professional accomplishments of a successful personage from Nigeria, and even as many local Nigerians in Diaspora demonstrate in Miami through their contributions to public and community service. He extended his well-deserved congratulations to Justice Chioma NwosuIheme on the recognition.

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 — 17

C M Y K

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 FOR the umpteenth time, President Muhammadu Buhari last week at the African Summit in New Delhi, India, reaffirmed his commitment to conquer the cankerworm of corruption that has eaten deep into the fabric of the nation’s polity.

He assured that incorruptible Nigerians had nothing to be afraid of.

Rather, they should support the war and encourage him to recover funds looted by past corrupt public officers. Buhari said he wants to leave an enduring legacy as a president who fought corruption to a standstill and restored Nigerians’ hope in their country.

He had similarly vowed in New York in September to cleanse the nation’s oil industry and make it totally free of corruption and shady deals. He told his audience that the prosecution of those who misappropriated the NNPC revenue under past administrations would soon commence.

These presidential pronouncements are poignant reconfirma-

Strong institutions will fight graft tions of Buhari’s campaign promise to rid the nation of corruption.

However, the president needs to be reminded that the battle against graft cannot be fought and won by rhetoric or presidential fiat. It is one that requires tenacity and sincerity of purpose. Equally, it is not a task to be undertaken by the sheer willpower of one man, but concerted efforts of strong institutions.

President Buhari should be mindful of the fact that the method of executing the war against corrup-

tion under military rule is different from that of this democratic dispensation. Under a democracy, he will require the full institutional support of the Legislature and the Judiciary, which must operate strictly within the extant laws of the land.

So far, President Buhari’s body language and manner of speaking suggest that he would be the proverbial knight in shining armour, battle-ready to confront the corruption demon. It does not really matter how passionate the president is

OPINION Birth of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal

By Eric Teniola

T

HE Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal are both military inventions. They are part of the military legacy imposed on this nation by four military regimesMurtala Muhammed, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdusalam Abubakar.

If you look at the 1966 constitution, there is no reference on such two bodies. The nearest reference on oath is in section 96 of the 1963 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. When the idea of the code of conduct was adopted in the Constitution Drafting Committee in 1975, Nigeria was following the footsteps of Tanzania and Zambia.

For, apart from Tanzania and Zambia and of late Ghana, there are no other countries in the world where such bodies exist.

In 1967, the Tanzania leadership code was part of the Arusha declaration during the tenure of Dr. Julius Kambarage Nyerere (19221999), the Mwalimu simply referred to as the ‘TEACHER’. Originating therefore as a resolution, the code of C M Y K

conduct was adopted at a party meeting and became incorporated into the constitution and rules of the party binding on party members who are within the definition of a “leader”.

To rest its binding force on a party resolution would have made it unenforceable against leaders who are not party officials or whose officers are not dependent on party membership. “For this reason it was thought necessary to incorporate it into Constitution of the country. This was done by means of a constitutional amendment.

However the constitutional provisions have a limited application to persons; they apply only to members of the National Assembly, operating as a condition of eligibility for election or appointment to, and membership of, the Assembly, subject however to certain exceptions and safeguards. For example, the

In Zambia, the Constitution is the source of the authority of the Code for all categories of leaders

consequences of breach of the Code are not self-operating. They entail an action in the High Court instituted by the Attorney-General. Only if the Court finds the allegation of breach established, does the sanction of disqualification or vacation of seat follow.

The various regulations governing civil servants, councilors and officers of parastatal organisations were similarly amended to incorporate the code. Thus, the source of authority of the code differs for the various categories of leaders: for the M.Ps and ministers it is the Constitution, for public servants the appropriate regulations, and for party officials the party resolution. The enforcement machinery is also different for each category of leaders.”

In Zambia, on the other hand, the Constitution is the source of the authority of the Code for all categories of leaders. The Constitution establishes a Leadership Committee, and authorises it to draw up a Code in the form of regulations which are to have effect as if enacted in the Constitution. Compliance with the code is a condition for election, nomination, or appointment to offices

about the need to prosecute those who have mindlessly plundered our collective resources, there is no escaping the recourse to due process.

The presidency is an embodiment of the executive, which is one of the three arms of government that operate independently of one another. Much as the investigative and prosecuting agencies of the Federal Government operate under executive control, the adjudicating arm – the Judiciary – is independent. It is the only arm of government that the constitution vests with the power to pronounce anyone guilty of an offence.

The president should refrain from making tendentious comments, especially on his anti-corruption crusade. The impression should not be created that the Presidency is both the accuser and the judge in its own cases. Rather, institutions such as the EFCC, ICPC and the Judiciary should be strengthened to ensure a successful anti-graft campaign that will outlive this administration.

specified therein, though the President may, if of the opinion that to do so would be necessary or desirable in the public interest, authorise the nomination or appointment of a person otherwise disqualified, on condition that he complies within three months.

Breach of the Code by the holder of a specified office (other than the office of the President, judge of the Supreme Court, judge of the High Court, investigator-general, director of public prosecutions and auditor-general) operates to vacate the office, if it is established either on a written admission or by the decision of a tribunal established by the Constitution with a right of appeal to the Supreme Court. The tribunal consists of a chairman appointed by the Chief Justice and two other persons appointed by the President; the Chairman must be a judge or a person qualified to be a judge of the High Court. (The exemption of the President, Judge, etc. from the sanctions of the Code is because the Constitution provides other machinery for their removal from office).

Continues tomorrow on pg 18 *Mr. Teniola, a former director at the presidency, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015—19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Parliament of the Streets

P

ARLIAMENT of the Streets: Mass strikes and street protests that shook Nigeria in 2012 is the title of my newest book.

Although written over three years ago, it has just come off the press. It seeks to document those turbulent days when government had control of Aso Rock, the Government Houses and the apparatus of state power, while the populace took firm control of the streets in an historic power struggle.

There were no known fence sitters in the struggle which split the country between progovernment, and pro-people supporters.

Almost all governors including those from opposition parties, and the Senate under David Mark were for government while the professional groups like the Nigeria Bar Association and the Nigeria Medical Association, the Civil Society and the House of Representatives led by Aminu Tambuwal pitched camp with the populace.

The Jonathan administration had on New Year Day, January 1, 2012 increased the price of fuel(PMS) from N65 to N140 and the populace had kicked.

The historic eight-day general strike, mass rallies and street protests from January 9 - 16,

2012 brought out the best in Nigerians. The Nigerian people were angry, and they showed it; sovereignty belongs to the people from whom all power flows, they reasserted it; they displayed that the country belongs to the people and not to the government in power.

The populace showed that unity is an article of faith, a theoretical proposition and a practical demonstration of their oneness as a people.

It was the best of times; Nigerians put gender and regionalism aside; political affiliation and party loyalty melted in their hearts; no politician, jobber or government could divide them. Daily, they poured out in tidal waves of humanity in their tens of millions, walking the villages, filling the towns and occupying the cities; men and women, believers and non believers, the ordinary citizens and the movie stars, the preacher and the congregation, the dancer and the vocalist, the student and the teacher, the employer and the employee, the lawyer and the client, the doctor and the patient.

When it was time to pray and the faithful bowed down their heads or closed their eyes, protesters of other faith formed

human chains around them; guarding and protecting their comrades. Never had Nigerians been so united! It was the most undiluted, peaceful, solid and focused movement of the Nigerian people.

They willingly, voluntarily and completely shut down the entire country for eight days; the airspace and the seaports, the offices and the markets, the formal and informal economy.

Communities engaged in selfpolicing and voluntary enforcement of the strikes. A hungry populace most of whom depended on daily work or sales, endured hunger to reclaim their country. It was a beautiful sight and experience never before witnessed in the country; to crown it all, it was peaceful!

When it was time to hold strikes, mass rallies and street protests, the people poured out daily in huge, unprecedented,

The Jonathan administration learnt little or nothing from the protests only to be shocked by its rejection, or betrayal by almost all the governors that had egged it on to disregard the cries of the people and show that it is in charge

Wars: Countdown to the Apocalypse?

By Bobson Gbinije “So long as mankind/Shall continue to lavish more/Praise upon its destroyers than/Upon its benefactors war shall/ Remain the Chief Pursuit of/Ambitious minds”-EDWARD GIBBON (17371794) Decline and fall of the Roman Empire

W

HEN TRUTH is coloured, it results to divisions, conflicts, controversies and wars. Hence, the first victim of war is the TRUTH. When the truth is murdered and suppressed in any way, it stimulates the instant death of peace resulting to war.

Within the context of usage, war is the unleashing of violent martial, political, socio-economic, religious, cultural etc. hostilities against another individual, nation or collectivity. War is fighting, expedition, crusade, jihad, insurgency, terrorism, armed conflict, battle, rebellion, revolution, uprising, offensive insurrection and attack etc.

The Peloponnesians wars, the 100 days war, the First and Second World Wars, the battle of tondibi, the Nigeria/Biafra Civil War(1967-1970), the Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, Sierra-Leone, Mali, Chad, Central African Republic, Islamic State (IS), AlShaba, Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, Shite, Sunni Religious Wars, Libya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Yemen, Russia, America, Egypt, North and South Korea, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Middle East, India, Libya, Ukraine, China/Taiwan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Afghanistan, C M Y K

Syria Wars have turned our world into a theatre of doom, death, disease, quagmire and an apocalyptic dungeon of hopelessness.

Wars have plunged and will continue to plunge mankind into the abyss and labyrinth of arrested development. It is the proverbial vulture of our world waiting to consume the carcasses of the dead. It brings out and unleashes brutish bestialities, belligerent lunacy and genocidal decimations on helpless children, women and innocent men etc.

The 21st century boast of modern civilisation, with over 300,000 universities, over one billion Christians, two billion Muslims Buddhist, Hindus and nominal Traditionalists etc. It is a shame and a disgrace that wars still remain the major means and ways of settling our differences. O’ what a hypocritical World!

Seeing the evil of war, the essayist Dr. Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1937) posited in his book ‘WAR and WAR MAKERS’ that “I wish it could be fixed up, so the men that start the wars could do the Fighting”.

The Late Biafra war General Emeka Odumegu Ojukwu observed in his book

The totality of our world is sunken in the throes and cesspit of wars

and sometimes, frightening numbers in unparalleled display of sovereignty, unity of purpose and oneness in thought and action. Yet, when the burgle was sounded by Labour, the arrow head of the protests, asking the mass to return, within twenty four hours, the jammed streets, the roads that were clogged by human mass, became empty. The multitudes in another unprecedented display of consciousness and collective discipline, simply vanished from the streets.

The street protests showed that in the African peoples’ most populous country, Peoples Power is no longer a theoretical issue; the ability, capability and political will of Nigerians to fight for their rights, assert their sovereignty and reclaim their country from unaccountable elites, is no longer in doubt. Although it came at the very high cost of at least fifteen human lives and scores injured, those eight days when all Nigerians irrespective of class and distinction, religion and regionalism, political partisanship and party affiliation united, were undoubtedly, the most glorious in Nigeria’s history.

In contrast, it brought out one of the worst instincts and actions in the political class. The preaching and claims by the political elite was that Nigeria is a fractured society ridden by primordial sentiments, irreconcilable religious, cultural and ethnic differences and cancerous corruption that cannot be tackled. But the strikes, mass rallies and street protests showed that these are mainly creations of the political elites who employ them to divide the populace and ensure that there is no united action by the people to genuinely transform their country for the benefit of the populace.

‘Because Am Involved’ that “Nobody Likes blood-letting, one would certainly wish there were no more wars in all parts of the world, because no war in history has ever solved the problem it set out to solve, eventually, whatever solution there is, emerges from a conference table, and not from the battle field. It is only those who have not been involved in a war that will always push war as the first solution to any problem. War does not solve, it cowers but the problem remains”.

The people of Ife-Modakeke, Urhobo / Itsekiri/ Ijaw, Tiv-Igala, Boko Haram insurgents etc seem not to have learnt their lessons about the futility and negative consequences of war. The People who cause the war and set the stage for the war do not fight. It is the common man, the flotsams and jetsam and the poor downtrodden who die in reckless battles.

Hence, the statesman Winston Churchill (1874-1965) said that “Little did we guess that what has been called the century of the common man would witness as its outstanding feature more common men killing each other five centuries together in the history of the World”.

But in very rare cases when painstaking, mindboggling, and doggedly consummate dispute resolution and schism management alternatives have been exhaustively explored and exploited, men could be reluctantly compelled to resort to war in self-protection and selfpreservation. But it is the established philosophy of the stoics and pacifists thinkers that on no ground and condition must war be fought. But Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) in his book ‘Mein Kampf’ said “it must be thoroughly understood that the lost land will never be won back by solemn appeals to the good God, nor by hopes in any League of Nations, but by

So in a period when even the Boko Haram terrorists, ubiquitous armed robbers and kidnappers took holidays, the Government sought to plant disaffection, use ethnicity, regionalism, naked force and thugs to attack the populace.

Government wasted hundreds of millions of Naira in public funds on faceless organisations, armed thugs and divisive and illogical adverts.

In its disinformation campaigns, it claimed that the aim of the mass action was “Regime Change” and that Labour had not only been infiltrated, but also lost control of the mass action.

It claimed that the strikes, mass rallies and street protests were actually an insurrection, and are treasonable.

After this expensive and unpatriotic gambit, refusing to listen to the voice of the populace, and with the country on its knees, the government, to avoid collapse, yielded ground to the people by reducing the PMS price to N97 . But not before turning the armed forces out to take back the streets by force.

The protests exposed the underbelly of the Jonathan administration, and the subsequent Public Hearings of the House of Representatives threw wide open, the massive corruption in the oil sector which remains in place.

The Jonathan administration learnt little or nothing from the protests only to be shocked by its rejection, or betrayal by almost all the governors that had egged it on to disregard the cries of the people and show that it is in charge. It forgot a basic lesson; nobody fights its own people and win. Those protests were the beginning of the end for the Jonathan era.

They were the real change that eventually, swept it into history.

the force of arms” and George Washington (1732-1799) said that “to be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace”. They preferred war wholly and partially, but war put an end to their lives' ambitions and dreams.

The totality of our world is sunken in the throes and cesspit of wars. The United Nations, African Union, Organization of American States, ECOWAS, ASEAN, Organization of Asia/Pacific Nations, Regional Bodies, National and State Bodies can no longer checkmate and deracinate the octopoidal tentacles of wars in our World. We call on our leaders, peoples and the global communities to give peace a chance. In his October 25,1962 encyclical, Pope John Paul xxiii(18811963) admonished the world thus, “we supplicate all rulers not to remain deaf to the cry of mankind, let them do everything in their power to save peace by so doing they will spare the world the horrors of a war that would have disastrous consequences, such as nobody can foresee”.

Finally, Jesus the Christ admonished us “to beat our swords into ploughshares, and our spears into pruning-hooks that nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore”. In his Song of Hiawatha, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, said “Buried was the bloody hatchet, buried was the dreadful war-club, buried were all war-like weapons, And the War-cry was forgotten, then was peace among the nations” and corroborated John Fitzgerald Kennedy in his 1961 United Nations address said that “Mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to Mankind”. *Mr. Gbinije, a social critic, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

20— Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

C M Y K

NOVEMBER 9, 2015

CBN moves to halt ‘shylock’ lending Banks must provide terms and conditions of a loan agreement Pricing, repayment schedule, repayment amount, tenure and opt out options Banks to provide financial counseling Set guidelines for debt collection

BY OMOH GABRIEL

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria CBN will soon introduce a set of measures that will protect bank customers from unethical interest rates, illegal charges and other

manipulations by bank officials. The rules which are in draft form are aimed at protecting bank customers from excessive exploitation by banks. The draft rules are currently being discussed by stakeholders. According to the soon-to-be-introduced rules, the

“CBN shall ensure that operators (banks), establish structures to prohibit predatory lending and hence support a positive credit culture in the industry.

Financial operators shall provide credit counseling to prevent consumers’ indebtedness due to limited financial

WORKSHOP: From left, Yinka Jimoh Abdulraheem, Head, Subsidiaries Conduct and Compliance, Access Bank Plc, Paula Parkinson, Assistant Legal Attaché, FBI, US Consulate, Lagos, Obinna Nwosu, Group Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank Plc; and Pattison Boleigha, Chief Conduct & Compliance Officer, Access Bank Plc at the Bank’s Compliance Awareness Week Stakeholders workshop which held at the bank’s head offices in Lagos.

C M Y K

knowledge. Credit counseling is the process of educating consumers to prevent unnecessary debt and support in debt settlement”.

The CBN draft rules will further ensure that “Credit counseling facilities are available in Nigerian banks and accessible to all customers especially for customers that are most in need of this service or consumers that request this service. Consumers, the draft rule states “shall be made aware of such services and shall be encouraged to take advantage of such facilities provided by the operators.

When the rules become operational the rules stipulates that “Operators must provide detailed information on the terms and conditions of a loan agreement to consumers prior to executing the loan agreement. Such information must at a minimum include the pricing, repayment schedule, repayment amount, tenure and opt out options”.

According to the rules being fine tuned by monetary authorities, “The CBN shall set guidelines for ethical debt collection practices in the industry. These guidelines shall be based on dialogue, respect for the consumers’ privacy and longevity of consumer-operator relationships amongst others.

“In the event that consumers fail to meet their financial obligations, financial operators shall be encouraged to adopt ethical debt recovery practices such as recovery processes must be courteous, fair and non-coercive.

Operators shall ensure that personnel assigned to recover debts are properly trained. Consumers shall be informed in advance before a recovery process is initiated”.

The new rules that may come into effect soon states that “Sales promotions or related activities shall be conducted professionally and ethically. In a bid to generate increased business volumes or attract new customers, financial operators shall provide factual information and shall not seek to mislead consumers.

Financial operators shall also not take advantage of consumers’ inexperience, gullibility or lack of understanding. “ Financial operators shall be required to meet the demands of promotional offers. In addition, before

Continues on page 22

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

Cover

The basic guide to starting your business (4) Daring successful business man has a mindset that is willing to take risks and tread on places people would not ordinarily want to tread.

He would not chicken out at the slightest threat, so if you intend to start and own your business, you must have a diehard mentality, otherwise you would quit before you even get started. It is also very important to consider the risks involved and your ability to handle them properly, since every business involves risks.

Most business people are very comfortable with modest risk but quite uncomfortable with big risks. Although they are unwilling to gamble on long shots, they are more willing to take chances if their individual skills can affect the probability of success. Then will they have the courage to step out into the unknown and pursue their personal dreams.

Goal getter A successful business man has the mindset of not just setting goals but also achieving the desired result.

He does not settle for less but always has his eyes on the prize. To him there are no impossibilities and failure is just part of the game. He does not believe in half measures but believes that he can go all the way and this mentality inspires a lot of confidence in clients and customers and will keep them coming. A high level of energy also keeps the businessman trudging through road blocks because he has his eyes fixed on long term goals. It is important you are very energetic and vibrant as it will ensure that your business is up and running.

You need to have a motivation from within and from those around you. The man who invented electricity, tried ninety-nine times and failed; he got it right the 100th time!

I dare say, that is the spirit you must possess, no matter how many times you fail, you keep trying it out until you get it right….bottom line you must delete the word IMPOSSIBLE from your dictionary. Period!

It’s very important you move with the right people and read books and materials that will prepare your mind and reposition your mindset towards positivity, because “if you can think it then you can be it”. Never forget “you are a product of your thoughts.”

This reminds me of a Nigerian drama series that aired on the Nigerian national television network (NTA) in the early 90s, BASSEY& COMPANY.

A

INSPECTION: From left, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Dauda Kigbu; Deputy President, Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) Chief Ayoola Sadiku and Executive Secretary, NARTO, Mr. Aloga Ogbogo, during inspection of the new site for Trucks constructed by Apapa Tin Can Bridge at Apapa Lagos.

CBN moves to halt ‘shylock’ lending Continues from page 21 the launch of any sales promotion, operators must provide the CBN with evidence of capability to manage the influx of customers without diminishing service quality”.

The CBN in its draft rules said “Financial operators shall provide accurate information on financial products and services to consumers at all times to enable them make informed decisions. Such information must be timely, detailed, clear and unambiguous. The primary coverage areas to be addressed under this principle are: contract terms which “terms should contain adequate information that will enhance consumers’ decision making process prior to execution of the contract. Financial operators shall also inform consumers of the possibility of variations in terms and conditions of contracts due to changes in economic conditions before such contracts are executed.

Notice of Variations: operators shall give prior notice to consumers within the time specified in contracts, before implementing variations in terms and conditions of contracts; A d v e r t i s e m e n t : Advertisements and marketing materials must seek to convey as complete information as possible on the products and services being advertised; In this regard “The CBN shall issue guidelines to set the minimum disclosure requirements for products and services in contract agreements between financial operators C M Y K

and consumers of financial products and services. These guidelines at a minimum shall cover areas such as: fees and charges; penalties (prepayment costs and default charges); interests (payable or receivable); and payment and termination modalities “All fees, charges or payments to be made by a consumer for a product or service must be documented.

Financial operators shall also proactively inform consumers of the possibility of variations in terms and conditions of contracts should the condition upon which contract terms were reached change.

Contractual language shall be precise, clear and unambiguous. Information must be communicated in plain and simple language to limit the possibility of misinterpretation. Contract documents must be in legible font size. Where technical

Financial operators shall provide financial calculation tools on their websites to assist consumers to perform simple calculations that may be required to ascertain the suitability of certain financial products

terms are used, the financial operator shall take due care to ensure that such technical terms are clearly explained to the understanding of the consumer to avoid the occurrence of confusion or miscommunication.

According to the CBN draft rules “Financial operators shall display specific information such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates in a conspicuous place at customer engagement areas such as branches, cash centers, website and other electronic channels, on a daily basis. Financial operators shall provide financial calculation tools on their websites to assist consumers to perform simple calculations that may be required to ascertain the suitability of certain financial products. In addition, financial operators have a responsibility to make reasonable effort towards ensuring that consumers of financial products are knowledgeable about the products/service they may wish to purchase.

“The CBN shall publish rates offered by financial operators to enable Consumers make informed decisions in the selection of suitable products and services.

The rules to be applied soon said “Within a minimum timeline specified by the CBN, financial operators shall notify consumers about changes to terms and conditions of contracts prior to the implementation of such changes. Notice to consumers on variations to terms and conditions must at a minimum Continues on page 23

The lead act was fond of saying “if you want to be a millionaire, think like a millionaire”! As funny as it sounded then, it is still very true and applies to business.

So permit me to say if you want to be a successful business man, then think like one!

If you are going to run a business of your own, you should find something that makes you really happy. This should be at the core of why you are even looking at going into business of your own, because if you try and make something work and you have no passion for it, it probably won’t work out. If you have passion for the industry that you are working in, you will have a good chance of making it work out.

What make a business great are the people that run it and the passion that they have for it. Keep this in mind when you are thinking of starting a business of your own.

From experience, many just jump into business because they are excited about an idea and haven’t really thought about the ‘ whys and wherefores’. Taking a moment to reflect on your motivations and defining your purpose will be time well spent.

A lot of people go into business for the sole reason of making money; this is not a good idea. It’s not a good idea because the main ingredient for success is missing. The

if you want to be a successful business man, then think like one! main ingredient for success is passion, and it’s virtually impossible to maintain highlevels of energy when you’re doing something you don’t love. There will always be challenges in owning a business. Your love and passion is what takes you through those challenges.

Without that passion, you probably won’t make it.

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 — 23

N

igeria from historical perspective, is always playing the catch up game. It has always adopted a fire brigade approach to issues of management. In fact, crisis management has been the style of leadership in Nigeria. It is when situations get out of hand that Nigerian leaders begin to adopt panic measures at solving problems. There were warnings in the past that crude oil prices will crash and Nigeria needed to build buffer, but it was ignored and today, the economy is facing challenges because early warnings were not acted upon.

The current barbaric act of Boko Haram was well known to Nigerian leaders. When it was in its infancy and would have been easy to nip in the bud, the warnings were ignored and today, the nation is bleeding both in human and material resources. All this waste of human lives would have been avoided were Nigeria a proactive country.

At the global scene, the fourth industrial revolution is fast gaining momentum.

Industries and governments are innovating and changing the old ways of doing things.

But Nigeria has stuck to the old ways. The pace of technological innovation going on around the world will pose enormous challenges to people, companies and economies as they are fast changing the way people learn, work, live and stay alive.

With the Nigerian educational system in disarray, with poor graduate turn-out, nanotechnology, robotics and people who are trying to address real problems and the how ready is Nigeria as a 3-D printing, among others. country, its businesses and The question asked at the political show. Having closer human resource managers forum is very relevant to the accountability and judging prepared to meet the coming Nigeria situation, today. And politicians on their jobs rather challenging fourth industrial the question is “Are we than random political revolution? investing enough in narratives would help a lot.”

A trip outside Nigeria will The Fourth Industrial institutions that enable the Revolution is all about the platforms to accommodate give the reader a practical rapid proliferation of different perspectives?” asked example. In most international technologies that will have Diana Farrell, Chief Executive airports in Europe, Asia, broad and deep impact on all Officer and President of China and America, transit aspects of life. This is already JPMorgan Chase Institute in trains are no longer manned upon us, raising profound the US. “We need a common by humans. They are questions about the future, platform to connect the dots. programmed to run and stop including major ethical But we are so far away from in designated areas as challenges. At the World that.” Governments can take a programmed. Today, out there, Economic Forum’s Summit on long time to produce drones are about being the Global Agenda 2015, legislation and implement commercialised to deliver which was held in Abu Dhabi, major programmes, and once products to the doorsteps of technology-thought leaders they do, the policies may consumers. Robots are taking warned of the impending already be obsolete, Farrell over from many humans in challenges posed by reckoned. Politics can get in factories in Japan and others. innovations in artificial the way too, she noted. “We Here in Nigeria, passengers intelligence, biotechnology, have a disconnect between walk from planes to arrival

How prepared is Nigeria for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as a matter of survival?

point, if the airport authority is kind enough, it provides buses.

Now that Nigeria claims to have a government with a mantra of change as its slogan, it is very appropriate for the Nigerian political milieu to recast governance systems for the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, so that both the executive and the legislature are more responsive and responsible in addressing the major global challenges staring us in the face.

Nigerians must come to the reality that humankind is moving from physicality to a data-based world. This will mean work involving distributed teams, distance employment and the dynamic

collection and exchange of data about ourselves. The essence of the fourth industrial revolution is the need to train people in an entirely new set of 21st– Century skills, which are in fact the oldest skills – communication, collaboration, empathy, respect and how to overcome cultural boundaries.

The revolution requires a work force that can retool themselves. The Nigerian Labour Congress had better get to work now to begin to task employers of labour in the country on the retraining instead of embarking on incessant strike actions. The coming industrial revolution certainly has major implications for education.

People of a certain age will have a harder time to learn and cope with the new ways of doing things. Countries will either take off or fall behind in the new dispensation.

The advent of this new industrial revolution is raising an enormous range of questions, including ethical challenges that will be difficult to answer. Consider issues relating to self-driving cars.

Should they be programmed to avoid running into a group of pedestrians when the alternative is hitting a wall and possibly injuring the driver? There are many other ethical and security challenges, including privacy and data integrity, as well as the differential between those who have access and knowhow to use the technologies and those who do not. Is Nigeria preparing for this revolution? Will Nigerians allow this to pass them by? Is Nigeria going to play catchup in this? Nigerians must wake up to this call.

Cover

CBN moves to halt ‘shylock’ lending Continues from page 22 contain the following details: changes in rates / charges (existing rate and new rate that is being introduced); rationale for variation; commencement date of new terms and conditions; options available to the consumer.

It also said that “Variation

notice must be at no cost to the consumer and there must be evidence of receipt of notice by the consumer. Operators shall provide periodic updates to consumers on outstanding obligations. Operators shall respond to requests for waivers, concession or other variations on credit facilities within specified timelines,

failing which such requests would be deemed to have been accepted.

“Financial operators must be truthful and clear in all communication (including advertisements) with consumers. Communications/ advertisements on financial products and services must at a minimum: Not be

misleading; Be clear and explicitly state the features of the products/services; Not seek to misrepresent or exaggerate the benefits of the products/ services It further said that the CBN shall ensure that adverts by operators align with approved product features. Adverts not in line with approved product

features will attract appropriate penalty and can be recalled.

Adverts shall disclose all conditions associated with the products and services. For example, where a promotional material makes reference to interest rates, financial operators shall indicate all other applicable charges. In addition, measures shall be provided for consumers to make further enquiries.

C M Y K

24— Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

Business & Economy

Good governance, accountability roadmap to Nigeria’s economic growth

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

S

peakers at the 2015 BrandiQ symposium have said that it is only when Nigerians begin to demand good governance, public accountability and become responsible citizens that Nigeria can attain its economic growth.

The Guest Speaker, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, a senior economic advisor at Open Society Foundations, OSF, at the symposium themed: Reinventing Brand st Nigeria: For the 21 century market economy through public accountability and responsible citizenship in Lagos, said accountability and good governance goes beyond mere rhetorics of fighting corruption.

Ezekwesili who drew examples of the growth strategies of countries like Singapore, China and India, said that until Nigeria toes the line to radically revamp its economy, it will continue to remain in the doldrums of backwardness.

The Guest speaker noted that poor governance has been the major problem of the country, while she stated that until Nigerians begin to demand for good governance and public accountability, poor governance will continue to stare Nigerian in the face.

She stated that today ’s economy of the world faces a considerable difference in st contest, saying that the 21 century market economy brings along with it serious evolution that will transcend to economic growth and advancement Continuing, she restated that the above countries had to close their doors to think of what they could do to move from poverty level to their present statues, while noting that today the per capita income of Singapore is $65,000 and Nigeria’s per capita still remains at $2,000, even though bought countries were at a near per in the 1970’s.

In addition, Professor Abubakar Momoh, a panelist said that Nigeria’s problem is not much about ideology, but that the “capitalism that we have practiced in the country has not developed the country.

We have not been able to build a competitive economy in Nigeria.” he stated.

C M Y K

Opportunities still exist in capital market — NSE CEO

BY EMMA UJAH

T

he Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema, has said that opportunities still exist for investors in stocks, in spite of the current downturn in the capital market. He spoke during an interview after the Annual General Meeting, AGM, of the Kano/Kaduna Zonal Branch in Abuja.

His words, “It is important for investors to understand that just because the market is going down doesn’t mean there are no opportunities. So if you look at large cap, small cap and med cap securities; small cap securities have done pretty well, they have returned about 22 percent positive.

“Now the whole market is about 15 percent and that is because of the weight of the large cap so it is important to dig deeper and understand the dynamics of the market and if you don’t have time engage a professional to walk you through all of that.” He admitted a low investor confidence in the market but noted that it should not be a surprise given the fact that the nation’s economy had nosedived.

According to him, “Investor confidence is very low given that the market volatility we have seen and given the down turn in the all share index. Having said that, the market is reflecting the economy.

It is a barometer for the economy so it will be surprising if the market is going up when the economy is having shocks.”

The downturn in the market, notwithstanding, the D-G said that the current market situation present fresh opportunities for investors, as according to him, proper professional market analysis could be very helpful in this regard. His words, “It is important for investors to also understand that there have been significant sell-offs between last year and this year and it could present opportunity. Again it is important to do the analysis, understand where those opportunities are but certainly the opportunities, not only in the equity side but across the various asset classes we always advise investors to diversify their portfolios to have exposure in different assets classes that are not

LAUNCH: From left, National Sales Manager, Abdul Akeem Wahab; Distributor Ajeast Nigeria ,Uche Ezeaku; Country Manager, Theo Williams And Head Of Marketing, Michael Daniels, all Of Ajeast Nigeria At the company's regional commercial launch In Enugu. necessarily correlated.”

Mr. Onyema disclosed that the Kano/Kaduna zone recorded more trading outside of Lagos than all the other branch councils in the country in 2014.

He however noted that the quantum of trading was much lower than the 2013 recorded, as he described last year as “very difficult,” especially towards the end of the year giving the oil price shocks. He

added that the bulk of the trading activities recorded in the branch during the year under review took place in Abuja.

The NSE boss described Nigerian investors as “typically momentous traders,” adding, “If the market is going up you see a lot of people coming out to buy, if the market is going down people stay on the side line selling and that hasn’t

changed.”

The exchange, he said have stepped up its sensitization campaign activities and that there were 200 financial literacy programmes throughout the nation last, year. He disclosed that most of the programmes were held in the south and that the security challenges in the North, negatively affected the organisation’s public awareness in that part of the country.

N42bn alleged Railway fraud: Memos flood House Committee Former SGF, 2 ex-PDP chairmen fingered

M

emoranda from various stakeholders have started pouring in before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee set up to investigate contract awards for the Rehabilitation of Railway tracks and the procurement of Coaches and Locomotives between 20102014.

“Nigerians would be shocked at the level of massive frauds committed by highly placed government functionaries when the findings of this committee are made public,” a source close to the committee told Vanguard, yesterday.

According to the source, already, many good spirited members of the public have submitted detailed momeranda on how a few government functionaries

literally stole several billions of Naira under the guise of rehabilitating the nation’s Railway network.

Sources said that a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF and two former National Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who held very key positions on the Board of the NRC were said to have been fingered as having taken decisions that were less than in public interest in the rehabilitation project.

It was learnt that while it would be difficult for top management of the corporation and the Federal Ministry of Transport to claim ignorance in what went wrong some of them who were not involved have come forward to volunteer information on how much of

the infractions were carried out.

It was learnt that there were cases were coaches and locomotives procured were way far from specifications for which public funds were paid and that in some cases, payments which had already been made through the regular budgetary provisions were repeated through the SURE-P window.

As learnt the worse method through which those involved fleeced the nation was complete refusal to do jobs after collecting money for them.

Consequently, out of a total contract sum of N79.337 billion for various segments of the rehabilitation, N42. 086 billion had allegedly been paid to the contractors but with very little work done.

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 — 25

Corporate Report

Unilever Nigeria: The pain of high interest rate

U

nilever Nigeria is reeling in pain inflicted on its operations by high interest rates. The consumer goods manufacturer is compelled to surrender to its lenders the revenue it desires to save for shareholders. Rising finance charges are responsible for the major profit drops the company has experienced in the past two years. Interest expenses doubled at the end of the company ’s third quarter operations this year, which has increased the speed of the profit drop.

Unilever lost nearly one-half in its preceding year’s profit at the end of 2014 to the lowest figure in six years. It closed the third quarter operations in September with a crash of 92% in after tax profit year-onyear. Finance charges gulped about N2.4 billion, double the N1.19 billion it paid in the same period last year.

The company ’ after tax profit of N590 million in the first quarter was lowered by a loss in the second quarter to N85.6 million at the end of June. The loss followed the rise of 137% in interest expenses to over N1.6 billion.

After tax profit improved to about N141 million in the third quarter.

Based on the growth rate in the third quarter, after tax profit is projected at N200 million for Unilever in 2015.

This will be a big fall from the net profit figure of N2.41 billion the company posted at the end of 2014. Unilever maintained profit growth every year since 2007 to a peak of N5.60 billion in 2012.

A decline of N15.6% in 2013 lowered the company’s after tax profit to N4.72 billion,

which accelerated to a drop of 49% in 2014.

Sales revenue declined by 2% to N42.70 billion year-onyear at the end of the third quarter but a moderate growth in turnover still looks likely for the company at full year. We expect turnover to be in the region of N58 billion for Unilever at the end of 2015, which will be an improvement of about 5% over the 2014 closing figure of N55.74 billion. The company suffered a drop of N4.25 billion in turnover last year from its sales revenue peak of over N60 billion in 2013.

Profit margin has thinned down to a vanishing point from 4.2% in the same period last year and from 4.3% at the end of 2014 to 0.3% at the end of September. The declining

profit margin is a reflection of inability to grow sales revenue and rising operating costs led by finance charges.

Apart from interest expenses, cost of sales is also encroaching into sales revenue. It grew by 4% yearon-year in the third quarter against a 2% decline in sales revenue. This has lowered gross profit margin from 38.4% in the same period last year to 34.8% at the end of the third quarter. However, distribution/administrative expenses, which proved difficult to control last year, are now in check with a decline of 4% at the end of the third quarter.

The company ’s total borrowings have declined slightly to N16.67 billion from the closing figure in 2014,

which cannot explain the doubling of interest expenses so far in the current year.

While bank overdraft has expanded by 87% to N7.38 billion from the closing figure last year, short-term borrowings have dropped by 32% to N8.26 billion and longterm debts are only moderately up by at N799 million at the end of September. How a decline of 1.4% in total borrowings led to the doubling of interest charges may have to be explained by the details of the company’s accounts.

The cost-income relationship of the company during the review period resulted in a decline in net profit margin from 4.2% in the same quarter last year to 0.3% at the end of September. The

company earned 4 kobo per share at the end of the third quarter, down from 48 kobo in the same period last year.

Other major developments in the balance sheet include a drop of 25% in inventories, an increase of 11% in trade debtors and other receivables and a rise of 203% in cash and bank balances. Trade and other payables rose by 29% during the period.

The company is facing cash flow difficulties induced mainly by cash utilisation for financing activities. There is however a major improvement with a shift from a net cash utilisation of over N1.82 billion from operating activities at the end of last year to a net cash generation of N9.78 billion from operating activities at the end of the third quarter. This was still insufficient to meet cash requirements for investing and financing activities, resulting in a net cash decrease at the end of the reporting period.

FORUM: From left, Marketing Manager, Commercial Air Conditioning, Mr. Sandeep Koul; General Manager, Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions, Mr. Cholyong Park, both of LG Electronics West Africa operations; Managing Director, Blue Ocean Technical Services, Mr. Anupam Ghosal; and Marketing Head, Blue Ocean Technical Services, Mrs Jennifer Onoyom, during Africa Hotel and Resort Expansion Forum, in Lagos.

Africa Prudential Registrars speeds up earnings growth

A

frica Prudential Registrars is steering another strong growth in profit this year. It closed third quarter operations with a bigger profit figure than it earned in all of 2014. Its growth engines are fired on stable growth in revenue and a big gain in profit margin. The company looks good to grow profit by up to one-half this year.

The share registration company is outstanding among all the companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in terms of ability to convert revenue into profit.

It ended 2014 operations with a leading net profit margin of 54%, which has stretched out further to over 61% at the end of the third quarter.

The company raised gross earnings by 17% year-on-year to N1.76 million at the end of the third quarter. Net investment income, which grew by 33.4% year-on-year to N1.15 billion, led revenue growth during the period.

Registrar ’s fee income declined, as dividend payments by client companies dropped sharply during the period.

Based on the third quarter

growth rate, turnover is projected to grow by 34% to N2.50 billion for Africa Prudential Registrars at the end of 2015. The company closed last year’s operations with a revenue figure of N1.86 billion.

The company announced an after tax profit of N1.08 billion at the end of the third quarter, which is a year-on-year growth of 30.5%. This is already above the N1.03 billion after tax profit it posted at the end of 2014. After tax profit is projected at N1.6 billion for Africa Prudential Registrars in 2015, an

increase of 55% over the net profit figure in 2014. This will be an accelerated growth from the growth of 33.2% in after tax profit in 2014.

Africa Prudential Registrars continues to improve net profit margin from 49.3% at the end of 2013 to 54% in 2014 and further to 61.4% at the end of the third quarter of the current year. The company earned 54 kobo per share at the end of the third quarter, rising from 41 kobo in the same period last year and already ahead of the 52 kobo it earned at the end of 2014.

It is expected to close the

current financial year with earnings per share of 80 kobo.

The company has maintained a cash dividend of 35 kobo per share in the past two years.

The company ’s earning assets are its portfolios of financial assets. At the end of the third quarter, it had over N7.4 billion in financial assets held to maturity and about N3.66 billion in financial assets available for sale. The critical element of the company ’s over N19 billion balance sheet is the over N14 billion of customers’ deposits at its command C M Y K

26 — Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

Corporate Report

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 — 27

Corporate Finance

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

T

he need to integrate Africa Exchange and explore in-depth the strength emanating from integration of Africa’s securities exchange will be the key focus of African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) conference scheduled to hold later this month.

The conference with the theme: “Africa Evermore: Growth for Sustainability” will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa from November 15-17, 2015.

According to Oscar Onyema, ASEA President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the theme embodies the potential, growth, and stability of Africa’s capital markets.

He added that capital markets have been the key drivers of Africa’s economic transformation and continue to play a central role in the continent’s growth story.

“The conference is important as it features high level discussions covering themes that are relevant to

ASEA confab to x-ray integration of African exchanges

PRESENTATION - From left, Jeffery Akor, MTN Project Fame 8 Winner, Richard Iweanogbe, General Manager, Consumer Marketing and Akinlolu Oludiran, Segment Manager, Medium Value Marketing and Strategy Division, both of MTN Nigeria during the formal presentation of a car to the MTN Project Fame Season 8 winner at MTN Headquarters in Lagos. our capital markets and opportunities to network with leading industry players from across the continent,” Onyema said.

In his own contribution, Nicky Newton-King, Chief Executive Officer, Johannesburg Stock Exchange ( J S E ) , s a i d : “Those w h o operate in t h e regulated market need to know that we are part of the g l o b a l financial markets.

“We are already beginning to see this for example in East Africa, where they are driving significant regional connectivity.”

One of the topics up for discussion will be to look at the “Role of the Exchange as a Corporate Citizen”.

Increasingly, investment decisions are being driven by considerations of risk, impact, and sustainability that are far wider than just financial returns. ASEA assists in promoting and educating members and stakeholders on the importance of socially responsible investments and the need to pay attention to

environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues,” she stated.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to explore how to attract Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) investors and examine how they see Africa’s exchanges. Malawi Stock Exchange CEO John Kamanga, who will be moderating the discussion, said the conference will play a large role in focusing attention on what was happening on the African stock exchanges.

A number of ASEA’s member countries have already launched SWFs, including Angola, Ghana, and Nigeria.

SWFs invest surplus revenues and can be an effective fiscal stabilisation mechanism, enabling governments to access liquid assets, and channel investment into specific projects like infrastructure development.

“The ASEA conference serves to confirm that we are open and ready to do business,” said Kamanga.

“There are, of course, the inherent benefits of being able to network and interact with our colleagues, with the international fund managers and stock exchange members, and with all this comes the transfer of skills and knowledge.”

Newton-King concurred. “It is about finding ways to share knowledge and experiences so as to build depth and sophistication of African markets across the continent that will allow linkages to develop over time.”

Alade highlights importance of adoption of IFRS

By DAVID OKPE

T

he Deputy Gover nor, Economic Policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sarah Alade, has called for greater compliance to globally accepted financial standards among stakeholders in the capital market.

She spoke at the launch of Africa IFRS Academy (AIA) by KPMG Nigeria and Shasat (UK) Limited to address the shortage of skills and to offer world class International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) training to Nigerian and African accounting professionals.

While commending KPMG and Shasat UK for setting up the academy, Alade said the move would help address one of the major challenges to compliance among Nigerian and

African business entities by breaching the skills gap and ensure that the continent was abreast of global best practices.

“Attempts at standardizing financial reporting have become universal with many countries jettisoning their national standards for the IFRS. The IFRS Foundation in 2014 completed a research on the use of IFRS around the world. Of 129 countries reviewed, nearly all made a public commitment to IFRS,” she said.

She explained that global investors were more attracted to markets that they could understand, trust and have confidence in. For this reason, she added, countries that adopt internationally accepted accounting standards are at an advantage over those that do not.

28— Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 — 29

30— Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

“The bail-out is a temporary assistance to the states to pay salaries. The bail-out is the calculation of arrears of salaries being owed by states. The truth of the matter is that because of the ongoing fall in revenue, accruals to states from the Federation Account and IGR is reducing.”

Governor Mimiko of Ondo State, October 15, 2015.

I

f there is one thing uniting the thirty-six state governors, irrespective of political affiliation, it is the fact that the two bail-out arrangements fashioned out by the Federal Government have not solved the problem. Doctors in the medical field know the phenomenon too well. It is called treating the symptom instead of the cause(s) of a disease. And, like cancer, which starts as a small lump and becomes bigger on lifethreatening, economic tumour starts slowly; get bigger; and eventually might lead to economic calamity.

One State, Zamfara, is already feeling the pains of procrastination. Its creditors secured a court order to seize the funds in all its bank accounts.

Suddenly, insufficient funds have become no funds at all for Zamfara. It might not be the last. Banking sources inform me that two states in the South-West might soon receive the same treatment.

And, even they will not be the last. Nigerian States might find it increasingly hazardous to keep their money in banks.

Then what? Economic paralysis; that is what.

Let me quickly remind the reader about the two bail-out

Why monthly allocations to states will never be enough — 1. packages approved by the Federal Government for the states – after President Buhari first turned out the appeal from the state governors. Let me also confess my role in promoting the bail-out decision. However, while supporting bail-out to the states as inevitable, it was also pointed out that it would not solve the problem unless the state governments become more responsible. Mostly, they are short-term in their orientation and are mostly irresponsible. A few examples will illustrate the point.

Pilgrimages, Christian or Moslem, represent the classic waste because the expenditure is not expected to yield any returns —unlike investments which should be self-liquidating while hopefully yielding returns as well.

To the best of my knowledge, as a Christian, there is nothing in the Bible mandating a Christian to travel to Jerusalem or any other place on pilgrimage. So, why have state governments been undertaking the sponsorship of Christian Pilgrimage?

Right on my working table is a copy of The Quran in English. It is my third copy – the first two developed wings mysteriously. My first was purchased in 1967 in the Middle East. While the Quran made it one of the five pillars of Islam that those who can afford it should proceed on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, there is nothing in it which passed the obligation to fund the pilgrimage to a third party. So, why do governments sponsor pilgrims to Mecca?

It is noteworthy that no government in the First Republic considered it a duty to sponsor pilgrims — Christians or Muslims.

Nigerian politicians for purely selfish political reasons have latched on to sponsorship of the pilgrimages and have turned them into avenues for corrupt practices. Born and bred in Lagos, I am too familiar with the corrupt practices attending the exercise each and every time they embarked on it. Other States cannot be different because promotion of religion had never been the motivation for sponsoring pilgrims. When

huge sums of state funds are wasted annually doing what should not be done, there is that much less to spend on the crucial matters.

Among those with salaries unpaid for several months were the staff of the Pilgrims Welfare Board (or some such unnecessary unit) who still remain in office draining funds needed for education for instance. No state which collected any of the bail-out packages has announced the dissolution of its Pilgrims Welfare Board – meaning they continue to act as a drain on resources.

Granted, because the incumbent governors met the Boards in place and they have used them for personal political advantage, it will be difficult for them to close those shops. Those benefiting immensely from the waste will also resist the dissolution. But, the governors and the people of the states have a choice.

They can admit that this nonsense is no longer sustainable or they can run their states to the ground.

Then, not only will sponsorship of pilgrimages stop; everything else will

grind to a halt as well. As Bernard Malamud had told us in THE FIXER, “In a sick country, every step to health is an insult to those who live on its sickness.” Pilgrim Welfare Boards are populated by people who live on the misguided notion that government should fund religions.

Finally, one should ask if Christianity and Islam are the only two religions in Nigeria.

To the best of my knowledge, with the possible exception of Osun State’s sponsorship of Osun Osogbo Festival, no other state extends the courtesy to our traditional religions. Even Lagos State stands aloof as the Egungun, Eyo, Igunu Festivals are funded and celebrated by the believers. Yet Nigeria is supposed to have no state religion. The hypocrisy is apparent. What is nor so clear is the colossal financial waste by a poor country on this fundamental mistake. As long as we continue to throw billions of naira at Saudi and Israel every year, there will never be enough money for the states henceforth….

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 — 31

Banking & Finance

Keystone Bank Empowers Female Entrepreneurs

K

eystone Bank, through its Pink Network has organised a training program aimed at growing the businesses of its array of female entrepreneurs. The training is part of its continuous effort in supporting female entrepreneurs, The training, which held in Lagos, was termed PinkPreneur and it’s the first edition of sessions that would be held regularly. Various facilitators taught on efficiently using social media to promote businesses, business education and importance of creating a sustainable business structure as well educating the participants on the benefits of the flagship Pink Account.

Forex Rally debuts in Nigeria

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

F

orex Rally, an international forex brokerage company has officially launched its operations in Lagos.

Apart from providing an array of free educational resources to empower traders with access to global forex industry expertise through local experience, Forex Rally has also introduced the first ever Nigerian Forex Championship.

The championship will offer attractive prizes and educational resources to participants.

The competition is designed to encourage local traders to achieve their financial goals.

For three months beginning November 2nd to 29th January 2016, traders have the opportunity to win one of the thirty prizes from a fund worth over $100, 000. The Champion will be awarded a grand prize of luxurious Toyota Hilux. To participate, traders must be over 18 years and be resident in Nigeria.

According to Forex Rally, participants can register by opening a contest account at www.forexrally.trade and deposit a minimum of $500 dollars, about N100, 000. The winner will be the trader with the highest number of points determined by three categories: ROI (Return on Investment), Deposits amount and Turnover.

Effective judicial process critical to financial stability –NDIC

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

T

he Nigeria Deposit I n s u r a n c e Corporation (NDIC) has reiterated that the Nigerian Judiciary is a critical institution towards achieving its core mandate of depositor protection and its contribution to financial system stability.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim stated this at the opening ceremony of the Corporation’s 2015 Sensitization Seminar for Judges of States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Courts in Abuja. Alhaji Ibrahim said that no matter how robust the NDIC’s extant laws, the Corporation needed the legal support from the judiciary to achieve its mandate, adding that the Corporation would continue to seek the cooperation and understanding of the judiciary, given that the Judiciary is constitutionally vested with the powers of interpretation of statutes and laws in the Federation.

The theme of the seminar was, “Challenges to Deposit Insurance Law and Practice in Nigeria”.

Represented by the Corporation’s Executive Director Operations, Prince Aghatise Erediauwa at the seminar Ibrahim said that the forum was intended to address the challenges being faced by the

Corporation in its bid to successfully discharge its mandate.

Prince Aghatise enumerated some of the major challenges such as the menace of protracted and complex bank liquidation related litigations as well as their attendant consequences, the execution of court judgments against the assets of the Corporation as the liquidator of failed banks and lack of proper understanding of its proper legal status on its role as a Deposit Insurer which is distinct from its status as a bank liquidator. He urged the participants to critically examine these challenges

with a view to proffering a lasting solution in order to empower the Corporation to effectively discharge its mandate.

While declaring the seminar open, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, noted that some of the esoteric legal issues bordering on the established rights of creditors, shareholders and depositors of failed financial institutions were genuine matters before the courts. Hon. Justice Mohammed therefore called for a clear and proper understanding of the concept

and operation of bridge banks as well as the execution of assets of failed banks within the context of deposit insurance system (DIS). This, according to him, would facilitate better appreciation of the legal issues by the judiciary and eventually lead to more informed court judgments. He urged the participants to actively utilize the knowledge gained at the seminar in the course of their duties and also enjoined them to continue to uphold the highest standards of ethics and integrity. About sixty (60) Judges of States and FCT High Courts attended the seminar.

PROMO: From left, Chidinma Lawanson, Head, MSME and Agency Banking, Diamond Bank Plc; Ayoola Yusuf, Prize Winner; Hauwa Abdullahi, Prize Winner; and Ebere Nwaolikpe, Assistant Marketing Manager ,Western Union, ECOWAS Region, at the Back To School WESTERN UNION prize presentation ceremony held in Lagos.

Access bank leadership confab focuses on technology, innovation

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

T

he second edition of Access bank’s international leadership conference which is billed for December 10, 2015 in Lagos is expected to focus on technology and innovation as imperatives for driving economic transformation in Nigeria.

The conference which is themed: ‘Leading in a transformational world: The imperative of innovation’ will feature international leaders in technology, business and politics as speakers.

These include: Co-founder of Facebook, Chris Hughes, CoFounder of Apple, Steve Wozniac and Air Asia Co Founder/CEO, Tony Fernandes.

Others include: Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, USA, Ben Bernanke, Professor of Global Health, Sweden's Karolina Institute, Hans Rosling, Professor of Economics, University of Sussex, Mariana Mazzucato, F O u n d e r / C E O , Gigameet.com, Chinedu Echeruo and Founder of Infosys, Narayana Murthy, amongst others.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Bank’s head office in Lagos, Executive Director, Personal Banking Division, Victor Etuokwu said these inspirational leaders from the global private and public sectors will be discussing the major themes facing Africa, the world economy and the social transformation created

by changing technology.

He said the event will be moderated by several renowned speakers including Jose-Maria Figueres, former President of Costa Rica and now a leading campaigner on environmental issues.

He added that the presence of other global leaders including past Presidents and Prime Ministers as witnessed during the inaugural conference in 2013 are also expected.

According to him, “Lifechanging innovations popping up in unexpected places around the globe with breakthrough developments in sectors such as nanotech ,biotech, artificial intelligence, robotics and more, will affect every sector of the global economy in such

a way that businesses will have nowhere to hide.

Innovation means big change and even bigger opportunities for those who decide to be part of it.”

Also speaking, keynote speaker and Access Bank Chief Executive, Herbert Wigwe, said: “I am delighted to welcome such a distinguished line-up of individuals to the Access Conference 2015. We founded the event in recognition that Africa must now play a central role in the global debates that matter to its citizens. Whether it is technology, entrepreneurship or the impact of financial regulation on growth, the future direction of the world is increasingly being played out in this continent.

32 — Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

Banking & Finance

AWARD: From left, Ms. Foluke Aboderin, Ag. Deputy Managing Director, Corporate BankEcobank Nigeria presenting Industrialist of the Year for West Africa Award (sponsored by Ecobank) to representative of Alhaji Aliko Dangote (Winner), Mr. Knut Ulvmoen, Group Executive Director, Dangote Group and Frederic Van de Vyver, Head, West Africa - CNBC Africa, during the All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) in Lagos last week.

Banks extort excessive CoT, upfront interest charges from SMEs STORIES BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

B

anks participating in the N220 billion Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Fund have been found to subject SMEs to excessive

Commission on Turnover (CoT) charges and upfront payment of interest on loans.

These violations of the guidelines for the MSME fund were highlights of a verification exercise conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to

monitor disbursement of loans to SMEs under the Fund.

Reviewing activities of the Fund in the first half of 2015, the CBN in its Financial Stability Report for June 2015, stated, “During the period under review, activities carried out by the CBN under

the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) included: “The review of the Guidelines to address some key issues including: reduction of interest rate for PFIs from 3 per cent to 2 per cent; reduction of the financial asset collateral requirement from 75 per cent to 50 per cent; removal of corporate governance structure from the checklist for PFIs; and reduction of the required audited accounts from two to one year.

“The CBN also collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee to organize a workshop that addressed the issue of low access to MSMEDF by banks.

The learning points from the workshop included: the need to increase the list of eligible activities provided for in the Guidelines; annual bank performance survey report on lending to SMEs; excellence awards to deserving banks under the MSMEDF; and the need for review of SME credit policies in banks.

“As part of the efforts to improve outreach to MSMEs and increase liquidity to fund providers nationwide, an additional sum of N45.42 billion was released.

Specifically, 9,663 male and 15,547 female micro enterprise owners and 67 SMEs benefitted from the Fund during the review period. In addition, the Scheme elicited the participation of 24 State Governments, 13 Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and 56 microfinance banks (MFBs)”.

Union Bank boosts saving culture with UnionKorrect U

nion Bank of Nigeria Plc has launched UnionKorrect, a savings account called designed to boost savings culture in the country.

Speaking at the launch of the product in Lagos on Monday, the Head of Retail Banking, Union Bank, Mr. Carlos Wanderley, said the product is available at any Union Bank branch.

He explained that the UnionKorrect account will be opened as a sub-account linked to the current or savings account of a customer.

All a customer need to do transfer N5,000 every month from his or her main account at Union Bank to the UnionKorrect account.

Wanderley explained: “When I came to Nigeria, One thing I noticed is that a lot of Nigerians use their savings account as a transaction account. So, at the end of the day, their monies do not stay in their account

for the purpose of saving for the future as they want. And there are no incentives for such account holders.

“So, what we have done is to improve the ability for people to maximise their savings, and that is what the UnionKorrect account is all about. You save for a tenor of two or four years, enjoy interest on your savings and you stand a chance of winning

a fantastic cash prize every quarter.

“So, at the end of the period, 300 people among 10,000 customers of Union Bank would be getting cash reward of between N100,000 and N1 million. A customer can have as many UnionKorrect accounts as they wish.”

Wanderley said the UnionKorrect is the first of

many innovative products that the bank would introduce to the market.

Union Bank is here to win, he added.

Also, the Head, Retail Products, Union Bank, Mr. Sheahan Arasaratnam, explained that the idea of having 10,000 customers participate in the first tranche is to make it possible for a lot of customers to have a chance to win.

Skye Bank employees donate to displaced people

E

mployees of Skye Bank Plc have donated relief materials worth N20 million to the displaced people in Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory.

The Skye Bank employees under the aegis of the of its ‘Employees Volunteerism Initiative’, distributed relief materials to over 120 families consisting of about 800 individuals in New Karshi, Nasarawa State, in addition to reaching out to another 100 families of Chibok people at their camp in Kuje, Federaal Capital Territory.

The relief materials include 2000 bags of rice, 2000 bags of Indomie noodles, beverages,

blankets, tooth paste, pampers, semovita, sanitary pads, among others. Skye Bank partnered with two non- governmental organisations that have been working with the displaced people, Likeminds Initiative and Ombus Organisation, to achieve the feat.

Speaking during the distribution of the items to the beneficiaries, the Executive Director, Abuja and Northern Directorate of Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Idris Yakubu, said the bank staff took the noble initiative to positively affect the lives of the displaced people who have gone through tough times and trauma.

FCMB pledges support for export growth

F

irst City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has pledged funding support to the growth of export trade business and the ongoing efforts of the government to diversify the Nigerian economy with focus on non-oil products.

The pledge was made by the Bank’s Executive Director, Business Development, Mr. Adam Nuru, at the Customer Forum on Export Trade with the theme, “Enhancing Capacity for Export Growth”, held in Lagos on Thursday, (November 5, 2015). The interactive and capacity building forum was organised by FCMB in partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigeria ExportImport Bank (NEXIM), Bank of Industry (BoI), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS), Federal Inspection Agency for Solid Minerals (FIASM).

Speaking at the forum, Mr. Nuru said that the Bank has created various windows of opportunity to assist Nigerian exporters benefit optimally from the exportation of products. He listed some of the offerings of the Bank in this regard to include pre and postshipment financing/ refinancing and discounting, provision of market information as well as advisory services.

The Executive Director explained that, ‘’the customer forum is another way we demonstrate just how much we value our customers. It is also an opportunity to inform the Market that we are truly on ground to support government and stakeholders in their efforts towards driving and growing export trade to boost non-oil revenue in the economy. Our alignment with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and other sister agencies is a proof of the commitment to go the extra mile to contribute significantly towards the realisation of the business aspirations of our customers and that of the country’’.

Mr. Nuru urged exporters to ensure that products they export meet set the standards. so as to compete favourably in the international market as it would in turn, increase their income and have multiplier effect on the country.

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 — 33

Homes & Housing 28—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 Stories by YINKA KOLAWOLE

Wells Fargo to pay $81.6m mortgage settlement

M

anaging Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, Mr. Gimba Ya’u Kumo, has called for intervention in the housing sector through provision of affordable interest, and long-term finance for construction and mortgage in a bid to bridge the housing deficit in the country.

Ya’u Kumo noted that most Nigerians are unable to own houses due to high and unaffordable interest rate systems used by many mortgage institutions as well as lack of long-term finance for housing development and mortgages. “The housing gap is very wide, with deficits of 17 to 20 million units needed to address the housing needs of Nigerians.

For this to be achieved, there must be a serious intervention in the housing sector by way of affordable interest, and provision of long-term finance for both construction and mortgage, and thirdly, government introducing special taxes like tax holiday, amongst others,” he stated.

Meanwhile, about 105 naval personnel contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF) is set to benefit from the mortgage scheme being managed by FMBN, in fulfilment of its mandate to facilitate home ownership in Nigeria. The FMBN boss who he led a management team on a courtesy visit to Defence Headquarters in Abuja, noted that the bank has already disbursed the sum of N471.922 million to about 86 naval personnel from the NHF contribution. He added that an additional N102.2 million already approved was being processed for disbursement to other contributors, while another N45.9 million was being processed for approval. He described the Nigerian Navy

W

Housej built with alternative technology

FMBN canvasses housing fund intervention Disburses N602m to Navy beneficiaries; partners Imo on 2,000 houses as one of FMBN’s strategic partners under the NHF scheme, adding that FMBN

There must be a serious intervention in the housing sector by way of affordable interest, and provision of long-term finance for both construction and mortgage

also provided NHF loans to civilian off-takers of the Naval Housing Estate in Kurudu.

In his response, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, called on FMBN to assist in bridging the 60 percent housing deficit existing in the organisation while pledging his readiness to support the bank towards achieving its goals.

In a related development, FMBN is partnering with the Imo State government to build more than 2000 housing units for workers in the state. The project which will be carried out by the under the Imo Model Scheme is expected to offer different categories of houses for its workers, ranging from semi-

detached duplexes and blocks of flats.

Governor Rochas Okorocha said the state government would provide about N10 billion, 60 percent of the cost, while FMBN would commit 40 percent to the project. He disclosed that FMBN would pay the developers and recover the money on behalf of the state government and itself. The first phase of the scheme will commence 1,000 housing units. In his own remark, Executive Director of FMBN, Charles Ajifa, said some housing units constructed already by the bank, would be handed over to state government soon, adding that state’s contribution to NHF has hit N1 billion.

Lamudi emphasises agents training to boost customer satisfaction

N

igeria’s real estate portal, Lamudi marked its second anniversary of doing business both globally and in Nigeria last month, with a promise to focus on improving customer satisfaction by scaling up training of its agents.

At a press briefing to mark the anniversary, Lamudi Nigeria’s Managing Director, Mr. Obi Ejimofo, discussed the company’s C M Y K

exceptional growth in the Nigerian real estate market and also highlighted its focus for the coming year.

He noted that the company recently carried out a survey which measured its users’ impressions of the quality of their website, mobile application and search features of the platform.

According to him, over 90 percent of users polled voted favourably for the design of the website, while more than

80 percent of users surveyed indicated that they were pleased with the search and filter options of Lamudi’s online property platform. He further disclosed that survey revealed that 15 per cent of Lamudi’s site users believe the response time from its agents was poor necessitating the downsizing of the company’s agents from 7000 to 3000.

With innovative features such as Nigeria’s first toll-free

property hotline, Dial4Home, and its recent online mortgage calculator, Ejimofo said Lamudi has continually sought to make finding a dream home easier, quicker and more convenient for Nigerians. He however, noted that for the company to maintain its position as the nation’s leading real estate portal, it must pay special emphasis on providing quality customer solutions at every point.

ells Fargo Bank has agreed to pay $81.6 million in a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department over allegations it failed to provide homeowners with legally required notices, denying them the ability to challenge the accuracy of mortgage payments.

The Justice Department in a statement on Thursday said the settlement funds would go out to homeowners who were in bankruptcy between December 1, 2011 and March 31, 2015.

“We believe we have made the necessary investments and improvements in our systems and processes to ensure that payment change notices for the bankruptcy court and escrow analyses for customers in bankruptcy are properly prepared and delivered in a timely fashion,” stated Michael DeVito, executive vice president for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. “We will work with the U.S. Trustee’s office and an independent reviewer to demonstrate the effectiveness of our improvements and to provide payments to customers, as required.”

US mortgage rates surge Fed rate hike fear

M

ortgage rates in the US surged last week, according to the latest data released by Freddie Mac, after the Federal Reserve signalled that a December interest rate hike was a possibility. What the Fed does with interest rates doesn’t have a direct relationship to mortgage rates since they are more closely tied to long-term U.S. Treasury yields. Bonds are more likely to move ahead of a Fed action than in response to it.

The 30-year fixed-rate average jumped to 3.87 percent with an average 0.6 point. (Points are fees paid to a lender equal to 1 percent of the loan amount.) The 11basis point rise - a basis point is 0.01 percentage point – was the biggest one-week spike since June. The 30-year fixed rate was 3.76 percent a week ago and 4.02 percent a year ago. The 15-year fixed-rate average climbed to 3.09 percent with an average 0.6 point, rising above the 3 percent mark for the first time in three weeks. It was 2.98 percent a week ago and 3.21 percent a year ago.

34 — Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

Economy

CBN in subtle quantitative easing  Banks lukewarm to prolending policy STORIES BY EMEKA ANAETO, ECONOMY EDITOR

T

here were indications that Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, may have silently effected a major shift in its monetary policy framework and liquidity policy following over seven weeks consistent high liquidity in the banking system curtesy of the apex bank.

Consequently, money market analysts dubbed the development a pseudo quantitative easing, QE, cycle aimed at propping up the economy through increased bank lending leverage.

QE is a monetary policy popularized in the United States of America recently where the monetary authority adopts a policy that increases money supply by flooding financial institutions with capital in an effort to promote increased lending.

As at close of financial trading last weekend banking system liquidity was N514 billion in excess with average liquidity balance of over N500 billion maintained in the past seven weeks relative to less than N200 billion preSeptember.

Consequently, borrowings of banks at the CBN discount window has been on consistent decline hitting N40.5 billion last week with a weekly average of N60 billion as against over N300 billion preSeptember.

The current robust levels of liquidity in the system have resulted in money market rates reaching year low levels.

At the close of trading last weekend the Open Buy Back, OBB, and the Overnight funds, O/N, rate had hit a new low of the year at 0.6 per cent

and 1.0 per cent respectively.

The rates are now on average of less than 2.0 per cent in the past seven weeks, contrary to over 10 per cent prevailing before mid September.

With this crash in interbank rates amid excess liquidity, CBN’s easing policy was aiming at getting the banks push their excess cash into lending to the private sector for productive purposes, but instead the banks are pushing the excess resources into monetary instrument such as sovereign bonds, considered riskless.

Consequently, despite crash in yields in the bonds market induced by CBN policy and excess liquidity, banks buoyed activity in bonds market with total value of bonds traded put at weekly average of N400 billion as against N200 billion pre-September 2015, a development which has forced a yields decline massively.

The bullish run was stretched into the last trading day of last week as average yields across all tenors further declined 207 points leading to further crash in average yield across all trading instruments to 11.1 per cent, the lowest so far.

Commenting on this development financial analysts at Afrinvest Group said ‘’given the current liquidity levels in the system, the bond market is expected to remain bullish as investors continue to search for viable opportunities in the fixed income space”.

The only liquidity restraint over the last seven weeks has been the foreign exchange weekly auction which sucks in significant proportion of the liquidity while still leaving over 80 per cent circulating in the system.

Principally CBN liquidity boost over the period came

from repayment of maturing Treasury Bills without reissue of fresh ones as it had always done up until mid-September 2015.

Also the regular inflow of huge cash from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, have continued without corresponding mop up measures CBN usually do.

According to analysts at Nairametrics, a Lagos based financial information house, “after completely ruling out the devaluation of the currency, the CBN is finding that it has fewer options in its arsenal to spur growth in the economy.

Its most recent trick is to cause a flush in banking sector liquidity by staying out of the market, when it previously intervened to mop up liquidity”.

“CBN has taken an easing stance, it has reduced cash reserve requirement from 31 percent to 25 percent, to enable banks have more funds to lend to the economy (this more than offset the debit from the system due to the TSA implementation).

“CBN also did not roll-over its Open Market Operation (OMO) program in the recent past week. It did not mop-up extra liquidity from the

banking system, and banks could now be stuck with piles of cash that they have to find uses for. ‘’Interest rates across the money market and government debt market have taken a plunge in recent days, showing the extent of the new high levels of liquidity in the system”.

According to analysts at CSL Securities, “the CBN is trying out this new and experimental variant of Quantitative Easing to spur lending to the real sector to avert growth decline.

“But with the new liquidity, banks are increasing their demand for paper securities like bonds rather than increase lending to the real sector (at least for now). Bond prices have been bid up in the process due to the increase in demand from banks.

“It seems that the reason for this is that banks have not been assured of the surefootedness of this policy, given the penchant of the central bank for policy flip flops. Hence they are waiting to see how long this new liquidity drive will last”.

Cumbersome procedures, hidden charges depress lending

R

esult of a survey by Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited, a Lagos based financial investment house, has indicated that high interest rate on loans, complicated and long processes as well as hidden charges are major causes of low access to bank credit in Nigeria.

Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in recent times has been trying to encourage the banks to increase lending to the private sector and play less on channeling their funds to investment securities.

In its report, Afrinvest Survey on Nigerian Banking Experience 2015, the company said “most respondents in our list (52 per cent) agreed that loan application processes can be very tiresome and not encouraging while 56.3 per cent also noted that interest rates charged on loans come with hidden charges”.

The company also said that it attributes part of the problem to high interest rate as deducible from the responses of those who enjoyed one form of loan or the other.

Commenting on the overall responses the company said “we recognize the fact that most of the banks put in place thorough process to ascertain the credit worthiness of their customers as well as build effective risk management procedures.

Nothwithstanding, we believe the process can be made more transparent and less cumbersome.

“Also, it is our view that higher effective interest rate on loans is against the backdrop of regulatory tightening particularly around cash reserve requirement. A gradual easing of monetary policy conditions by the CBN should be considered which is in line with the agenda of the current Governor. This will creditably ensure lower pricing of risks assets and also foster better access by bank customers”.

The survey also indicated that bank customers who participated in the survey have varying opinions with regards to cost of their banking transactions.

According to the report “majority of the respondents (70.6 per cent) agree to the question that the fees they are charged by their banks are unreasonably high though majority (56.4 per cent) also noted that this reason is not sufficient for them to change their banks.

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 — 35

36 — Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

M

edia reports, from both local and foreign sources, have lately suggested that MTN, arguably, Africa’s largest mobile telephone network, may be confronting possibly, the greatest threat since its inception and its bountiful global success, particularly, in their Nigerian operations where they have over 62million registered subscribers. However, the mobile conglomerate’s well laid apple cart, presently appears threatened, by a $5.2bn fine imposed by Nigeria’s National C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission(NCC) for its failure to deactivate over 5million of its registered subscribers, whose biodata were not captured as mandated by the regulatory body.

The NCC has set the deadline for MTN to pay off the fine for November 16, 2015.

The news of the sanction quickly shaved over 25 percent off the multi-national corporation’s market value of over $25bn on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange; furthermore, trading on MTN stocks, was also temporarily suspended at the JSE to protect it from a free fall. Regrettably, when the dust settles, investors may have lost billions of dollars, with unpleasant individual and corporate consequences, because of this clearly back breaking fine.

In the light of the above circumstances, it is not surprising therefore, that NCC’s sanction of MTN was condemned, particularly in the foreign media. It is alleged that the fine is disproportionate to the offence, and worse still, it is speculated that its payment may ultimately wipe out over 2years of MTN’s annual profit; in a worst case scenario, there are fears that the company may go down, with potentially similar, socially destabilizing consequences for erstwhile shareholders and employees,

Is MTN a victim of regulatory overkill? including tens of thousands of Nigerians who make a living from its operations; conversely, however, hardliners may suggest that in such a vibrant market, any inheritor of the MTN business will quickly absorb the casualties of the erstwhile market leader ’s demise.

There is, however, the danger that foreign investors, particularly, would hesitate to bring their money to our country, for fear that they could equally become victims of similar draconian regulations.

Consequently, some critics may argue, that Nigeria’s economy and employment potential would be the ultimate losers if foreign investors stayed away.

Interestingly, although, there are some favourable comments by some journalists and analysts in the media, there is so far, clearly no significant overt overwhelming public sympathy, for the MTN cause; cynics may suggest that millions of disgruntled subscribers probably support the fine as payback time for the shabby services they have had to, helplessly, endure for so long from mobile phone operators in Nigeria.

Nonetheless, the question that however inevitably pops up, is why such negative attention is focused on MTN, as nothing so far suggests that the other major telecom operators also blatantly disregarded the NCC’s directive, to deactivate subscribers without Biometric verification since August 2015.

Conversely, could it be that the other mobile networks took the issue more seriously and therefore recorded ‘minimal’ default on their subscriber base?

Furthermore, there was no reported call by any of the operators for the need for

additional time extension on the Biometric exercise, so, the question is, why did MTN fail, big time, to respect the Sector Regulator’s policy directive?

Clearly, the failure to deactivate over 5million lines without related biodata may not easily be explained away as the result of the proverbial printer’s devil; the question is, did the MTN itself bring the notice of its failure to the attention of the NCC when it eventually discovered its default or did the NCC independently confront the company with incontrovertible evidence of their ‘crime’?

Furthermore, even if MTN

There is... danger that foreign investors, particularly, would hesitate to bring their money to our country, for fear that they could equally become victims of similar draconian regulations claims that its poor compliance was not deliberate, was there, nonetheless, a commercial or revenue advantage that accrued from the omission of over 5million active subscribers from its biometric verification, i.e. was there an intention to defraud government of

revenue on the part of MTN? Finally, what pro-active steps have been taken, so far by the telephone company to resolve the issue to mutual satisfaction.

Ironically, other phone companies who may have already paid the mandatory N200,000 fine per person for not deactivating subscribers without biodata verification, may feel cheated if MTN’s penalty is subsequently, inequitably reduced on completion of the reported ongoing negotiations between the parties. Incidentally, MTN has, not yet, proclaimed its innocence on the alleged violation of NCC’s directive in any public statement; neither has it claimed ignorance of the security implications for police investigations of its failure to deactivate related subscribers; so the question is, why did MTN disregard the Regulator ’s very clear guidelines so brazenly?

The NCC presumably set the penalty for infraction so high, so as to encourage full compliance with its directive rather than as a covert strategy designed to fleece mobile operators. Besides, the penalty has not been decried, as retroactive by any one; so, in view of the prevailing social culture of impunity, did MTN expect they could get away with breaking the law, knowing full well the severe implications of a default of such magnitude on their credibility and their operations.

A $5bn fine is obviously no chicken change, but it is certainly not unusual, as billions more are paid for serious regulatory infractions in older, more successful economies where sentiment is no defense against the letters of the law. There is often the undeniable popular suspicion

of the great promise of economic development and job creation that transcontinental investors bring to Africa; some reports have, however, suggested that significantly more funds flow out of Africa each year through myriad financial instruments than the actual inflow of real foreign direct investment and various aid interventions.

Nonetheless, despite their pervasive presence, their enviable corporate success, and the numerous social interventions and billions of Naira paid as taxes over the years, MTN is probably still not integrated in popular consciousness as a Nigerian company; it is possible that a public listing in the Nigerian stock Exchange may enhance its local image; certainly, the voices of Shareholder Associations would have been more resonant in the defence of the company if they had a stake to protect in such circumstances.

Foreign investors are definitely welcome in Nigeria but they must respect our laws and respect our institutions; in the same manner, Nigerian companies operating abroad will also be expected to abide with the rule of law in their host countries.

Clearly, if the NCC refuses to reduce the burden of MTN’s $5.2bn penalty, foreign direct investors will be served a strong signal that the Nigerian Administration has zero tolerance for any breach of our laws; conversely, a waiver of any kind to MTN may encourage other corporations to further disregard the provisions of our laws and violate our national interest with impunity.

SAVE THE NAIRA! SAVE NIGERIANS

Business & Economy

Nigeria plans rice, wheat selfsufficiency in 3 years N

igeria aims to be selfsufficient in both rice and wheat production within three years, a document by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration seen

by Reuters showed a massive undertaking given current production levels.

The policy document was circulated among Buhari’s ministers-designate, whose portfolios are yet to be announced, on a two-day retreat. It also proposes overhauling the mining sector, including efforts to “ensure local and foreign investment” in the industry.

However, the five-page document did not provide details of how the administration would fund the planned changes in Africa’s biggest economy, which has seen a slowdown in growth.

Buhari has previously stated long-term plans to encourage local manufacturing in Africa’s largest oil producer, which has been hit by a fall in global crude prices. “Self-sufficiency in rice production within 24 months” and “self-sufficiency in wheat production within 26 months” are goals in the agriculture section of the document, which also calls for

“market guarantees for farm produce”. About 3 million tonnes of rice was produced in Nigeria last year, along with 64,000 tonnes of wheat, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) figures show. Nigeria is the world’s second largest importer of rice and among the biggest buyers of U.S. wheat. In 2012 it imported 2.3 million tonnes of rice - a record high, say U.N. statistics which also show some 4.1 million tonnes of wheat was brought into Nigeria in the same year nearly double the amount imported in 2000.

Omoh Gabriel Babajide Komolafe Clara Nwachukwu Peter Egwuatu Yinka Kolawole Favour Nnabugwu Godwin Oritse Godfrey Bivbere Michael Eboh Franklin Alli Ifeyinwa Obi Rosemary Onuoha Nkiruka Nnorom CONTRIBUTORS Princewill Ekwujuru Jonah Nwokpoku Naomi Uzor Providence Obuh LAYOUT

-

Group Business Editor Deputy Business Editor Energy Editor Asst. Business Editor Snr Bus. Correspondent Insurance Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Energy Reporter Industry/Agric. Reporter Maritime Reporter Insurance Reporter Capital Market Reporter

-

Media/Marketing E-Commerce Industry Micro Finance Graphics Department

-

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 —37

Help! Nkechi needs N2m to complete liver cancer treatment that her initial treatments was paid through the money she raised from Churches, family members and friends.

Nkech who hails from Delta state is presently an applicant and her husband is only a worker in one of the branches of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, MFM. Appealing to corporate organisations and well- meaning Nigerians, philanthropists to save her life, she said: “Please help me to see my little baby grow into adulthood.”

By Chioma Obinna

W

HEN Nkechi Aforbade 30, graduated from Auchi Polytechnic in 2010, her dream was to get a job to support her family but little did she know that the dream was never meant to be.

Nkechi, a graduate of Office Technology and Management had submitted her applications to various establishments including the Nigerian Custom Service. One year after graduation without a job, Nkechi decided to take up a teaching job which hardly paid her bills. But her determination to ensure a better life for herself and family continued to lead her on.

The light Nkechi thought that was at the end of the tunnel was more darkness. She was diagnosed of Kidney Cancer, a disease even the rich dread not only because it is a killer disease but because it leaves victims and families impoverished.

According to cancer experts treating Nkechi at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Nkechi needs urgent six courses of chemotherapy which she was supposed to have completed before June, 2015. Unfortunately, out of the recommended six courses, Nkechi was only able to undergo two.

Due to nature of the illness, doctors have warned that if there is no urgent intervention, Nkechi’s treatment which is currently at the last stage may relapse. Nkechi needs N2 million to complete the chemotherapy as recommended by the oncologists.

In a medical report signed by a Consultant Radiation Oncologist from LUTH, Dr. Olatunji, Nkechi needs immunotherapy (Alpha interon day 1, 3 and 5 respectively) targeted therapy with IV and radiotherapy to Nephrectomy bed.

Olatunji said she is to take six cycles

If you are touched by Nkechi’s plight please call 08036974375, or send your donations to Fidelity Bank account number; 6550859036, Nkechi Aforbade, or Zenith Bank, 2009386613, Egbo Nkechi.

Employers tasked on work place mental depreciation

SURGERY: Mrs Nkechi Aforbade of IV Avastin 400mg at the cost of N458, 000, six cycles of IV ScaInterferon also at the cost of N150, 000 and Radiotherapy for N100, 000.

Narrating her ordeal when she visited the corporate head office of Vanguard Newspapers, Nkechi, a

Nkechi needs N2 million to complete the chemotherapy as recommended by the oncologists

mother of one, in an emotion laden voice said: “For years, I looked for a job, now, they have contacted me, I cannot even take up the job due to ill health.”

“It all began when a tumour was discovered in my kidney following a persistent stomach ache. I never knew it was the beginning of my agony. I was taken to a private hospital where I was operated on and was later referred to LUTH, where the tumour was removed and taken to the laboratory for further analysis.

Unfortunately, the results showed the tumour was cancerous and since then, I have been placed on drugs,” she said.

Nkechi who has undergone a life – saving surgery at the Robostin Medical Centre, Lagos early this year, recounts

Medtronic, Renescor sign pact on cardiac care in Nigeria

By Chioma Obinna

I

N an effort to ensure better care for heart related problems, Medtronic and Solutions Company, Renescor and Limited Liability Partnership, have signed pact to bring high quality cardiac care and healthcare managed services to the Gbagada Cardiac and Renal Centre, CRC, in Lagos.

Renescor was recently awarded a fiveyear concession agreement with the Lagos State Government to activate and bring high quality services to the purpose-built Gbagada Cardiac and Renal Centre (CRC). Renescor is partnering with Medtronic to help manage CRC’s CathLab, Operating Room (OR) and ICU. According to Chairman of Renescor, Dr Ladi Awosika, Nigeria is in desperate need for efficient Cath-Labs and operating rooms (OR) to treat more patients locally.

Unfortunately, Lagos currently has only two operational Cath-Labs to serve a population of 17 million and is in critical need of more.

Ladi explained that they decided to work with Medtronic because it has the largest medical technology manufacturer globally

C M Y K

with over 65 years of experience and positive track record of delivering value to their customers and partners.

“Our collaboration will ensure the hospital is run to the highest global standards of care quality, efficiency, patient safety, and optimized capacity to help more patients be treated.”

The agreement, which runs for a term of four years, will see Medtronic Integrated Health Solutions Department partnering with Renescor to help finance, manage,

Lagos currently has only two operational Cath-Labs to serve a population of 17 million and is in critical need of more

and optimize services in Cath-Labs, OR and ICU. The partnership consists of endto-end management of these units, which includes operational support, staffing and material management, deployment of the latest Cardiovascular Information System, operational excellence Lean/Six sigma consulting services, continuous performance assessment and benchmarking services, advising on and implementation of growth programs, as well as training and education services for cardiovascular therapies. The aim is to transform CRC into a leading regional centre that achieves global standards of care.

Head of Medtronic Integrated Health Solutions for Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Turkey, Khodor Mekkaoui, also noted that “Our involvement at CRC is a distinctive example of Medtronic’s Integrated Health Solution offerings. We are moving beyond the supply of devices, to deliver healthcare services that would ensure more access to patients in areas where it is currently not readily available.

The Integrated Health Solution model helps optimize healthcare delivery and drives greater economic value.”

By Precious Ubani

E

MPLOYERS of labour have been urged to ensure that the mental health of their employees and prospective employees are prioritised to prevent work place mental depreciation from impacting negatively on productivity.

This was the consensus at a health symposium convened in Lagos by a Health Maintenance Organisation, HMO, Novo Health Africa in commemoration of World Mental Health Day. The event which was attended by captains of industry and policy makers among others, was titled:“Salutem Reditus: What Your Competitors Don’t Know.”

In her remarks Managing Director of Customer Centricity, Mrs. Uloma Umeano, apologized on behalf of every recruiter and trainer, who never took note of people’s mental health issues.

She said: “As employers, recruiters and businesses when we list competency requirements, when do we stop to consider the mental health of these people.’’

Similarly, Dr Maymunah Kadiri of Pinnacle Medicals Nigeria stated that work place mental related issues are complex and multifaceted, saying that employees need to put things in place for a stable work environment.

“You can’t wish mental ill health away, it is not a decision made by anyone but a disorder of the mind that can be dealt with using the right treatments,’’ she noted.

Foremost Life Coach and Psychologist, Lanre Olusola, who was the last speaker, while speaking on the topic Lifestyle and Leadership: Finding Balance, challenged participants to avoid sedentary lifestyles.

“Stress is simply how you interpret and respond to events in your environment. 95 percent of diseases are caused by stress. You must change negative thinking, that which you think about, you bring about.’’

38—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

•Bankole: Those who promoted Jonathan did the greatest disservice to Nigeria

The military and their apologists have taken over government — Alani Bankole •Why I call civil servants evil servants CHIEF Alani Bankole, could be easily presented as the father of the penultimate speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole. Chief Alani Bankole, 74, however, earned his name and reputation in his own right having been a leading official of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, and the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the 1979 and 1983 elections in Ogun State.

His last bid for the governorship was on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention, NRC in 1992. Though one of the founders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, he eventually teamed with others to form the All Peoples Party, APP and became the national vicechairman and subsequently, the acting national chairman of the party.

The Oluwo of Iporo Ake and Seriki Jagunmolu of Egbaland is also a successful businessman having been the first person to start a freight company in the West African sub-region. In this interview Bankole talks on politics then and now, the intrigues that shadowed his son’s political life among other things. Excerpts:

W

By Daud Olatunji

HAT is your view on the state of the nation?

We are making progress. This time last year, you could remember where we were, you can now see that Nigerians are more disciplined. When you have cancer of the brain, the whole body would be affected, but when you heal yourself, the whole body will be in shape. What we need most in Nigeria in my opinion is good leadership, because, people would rather do what they see you doing than do what you ask them to do.

We are in the era of asking questions. If you ask someone to eat twice a day, you would be asked as a leader, how many times do you eat? If you preach against corruption, can you justify that preaching by your actions and inactions and

because of what the person of President Buhari is, people are more disciplined.

It does not mean we have got there, but we are seeing the self discipline in the change the people wanted as well as reduction in corruption.

The problem of Nigeria since we found oil has been laziness, people don’t work hard anymore because there is cheap money coming from the government.

As a politician, what do you think was responsible for the emergence of President Buhari?

It is very easy, there was no choice. People believed President Jonathan failed woefully and they needed an alternative president to change the bad and backward trend, there were only two candidates and the people chose the better. The gap was very much

between them.

For me, I saw it as no competition, people had a very straightforward choice between them, not that Buhari was a fantastic choice, he’s been out of government for 30 years and there is no justification to compare him with anyone in terms of quality.

Disciplined nature The then President was a complete failure and because of the disciplined nature of Buhari, there was no other person than him among the contestants, I even expected the gap to have been more than that.

Your view on the choice of the ministers who have just been screened, are they of quality?

I don’t want to talk about

quality or not, their performance would depend on how we Nigerians criticise, take and advise them. Their friends and family should let them perform without any unnecessary pressure. We should know that being a minister is not an avenue to enrichment; it should be seen as an opportunity to serve and to improve the quality of the generality of Nigerians.

By now, people should know that making money for themselves is not beneficial to them. Most of the money is carried to foreign lands to support the economies of those of other countries. I see looters as psychiatric patients because they are doing themselves no good. If you are looting for your children, they would be worse off.

The best legacy you can give to your children is good training, so, they can make money.

We make too much noise and lay too much emphasis on the ministers, our major problems are the civil servants. According to the constitution, the Permanent Secretary is the chairman of Tenders Committee which is the management team.

Seventy per cent of houses in the choice areas of Lagos State are owned by civil servants, in Abuja 60 per cent of the houses belong to the civil servants, go and make proper investigation, only few belong to the so called politicians. We should put our searchlight on the civil servants, they are pretenders, they are the real problems and in fact, I call them evil servants.

As long as you have military president supporting himself with military people like this one is already doing, we shouldn’t compare it with the Second Republic

Engineering companies If you look closely, no minister can get any money without the approval of the civil servants.

When ministers are appointed, they (civil servants) would give them big money and after accepting, they bring all sorts of files for approval. They would write a lot of things whenever they want to award contracts because they know they can get dollars from the foreign companies. Why is it that we don’t have Nigerian engineering companies that can do our roads till today, they are the ones that write the recommendations.

During Murtala Muhammed/ Obasanjo regime, there was a deliberate effort to encourage Nigerian contractors and certain contracts were set aside for only indigenous contractors or Nigerians operating and having their manufacturing companies in Nigeria.

Then, everyone was busy, Nigerian contractors were developing but suddenly today, we now have turnkey projects, they give the foreign people contracts, those they call specialised contractors. These people would bring electrical parts, contractors, experts from their countries and some will even bring ‘special sand’, Continues on page 39

During the First and Second Republic, Jonathan was either a learner or still a student and suddenly you want him to rule the country.

As what?

VANGUARD, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015—39

When Obasanjo became the President and he also wanted to become the National chairman, I knew PDP would collapse one day because there is no way you can run the government and a party side by side

Why I call civil servants evil servants Continues from page 38 Nigerian contractors have no job to do.

The civil servants are the ones in support of this, the minister would serve for four years, civil servants are there permanently, making these atrocities across all humanity and yet no one is looking in their direction. Our emphasis shouldn’t be on the quality of the political appointees, but what we can do to re-organise the civil service.

Why do you think your party lost the last elections?

Let me first correct you, since 2005 I have ceased to be a member of PDP. I took part in the formation of NPN, in fact I was the state Deputy-Chairman and later the governorship candidate of the party, I was in the NRC in the Third Republic, and I was among the 14 people that decided on PDP and I was among the 12 people that formed ANPP to counter PDP because we saw the PDP we formed as too big and may become a one-party system which we thought was not good for Nigeria at that level.

And when Obasanjo became the President and he also wanted to become the National chairman, I knew PDP would collapse one day because there is no way you can run the government and a party side by side. The party should be the internal watch dog of the government they install, and the moment the man who is the head of the government wants to control the party he is asking for problems for the party and for himself and that is what led to the destruction of PDP because the President was the leader of the party at the national level and the governor became the leader of the party at the state level. Who is the boss of the President? Who is the boss of the governor of the state? If the father has no more control over his children, then, what is the fruit of that family? Because we formed the party first before we started to install the government. The leadership of PDP were parading themselves as mini gods, I think God needed to tell them that all power belongs to Him and he took it from them.

What do you think was responsible for your son’s (Dimeji) alleged failure in his reported bid to contest the governorship ticket of the PDP for the last election?

My son never wanted to contest for governor. He was in school in the United States and he came home for short holiday, before then, the PDP leadership under Buruji sent an emissary to me to help them talk to Dimeji to come and contest for governorship. And when he arrived in Nigeria he told me he was not interested in being governor. I asked why? He said he did not believe in the set up in the PDP, he didn’t see anybody contesting under that party and winning. When he got to Abuja ,the then President sent for him, and he requested that he should come to Ogun State and help them reorganise the party. At that particular time, Gbenga Daniel had left the party to join Labour Party, so, my son told the then President that on the condition that the President will use his position to bring back all the people that have left including the former governor of the state, because they all left in annoyance. Then he said he will do it, then my son left.

Request of the President The next time he came, Buruji went to his house in Abuja to go and meet him and requested that he come and lead them and contest for governor, but, my son asked him under what conditions? He said everything should be between my son and himself, that if my son agrees to be governor he will choose a deputy, six House of Representatives members; somebody I don’t want to mention will also choose two and my son will have only one. My son said no problem, let us invite other leaders and tell them what you have told me, then, I will give you an answer in another one month.

So, after my son left Abuja, the President sent for him again about their previous discussion and before my son left for his place, he called Buruji that the President has called him and he (Dimeji) thinks he (Jonathan) is going to tell me the same thing you discussed with me. Buruji said no, don’t go to the president, then, my son said I am sorry, how can you say I should not answer the request of the President.

The following day, Buruji went to court to say that my son wanted to contest for governor without going through the machinery in Ogun State and they started to attack my son. When my son came back again, the then national chairman of the party invited my son and said he wants him to be involved in Ogun State but he said he will first go round and try to talk to the aggrieved leaders to come back including Gbenga Daniel and he did that, he toured the whole state went to all the local governments inviting those who left PDP to come back. So, that was what happened and throughout, I stand to be corrected if there was anywhere my son went and asked anybody to support him to be governor.

A lot of people believed if he contested he would be governor, but, he told them that he was interested in restructuring the party. And when it was clear that Jonathan did not want to work against Buruji

•Bankole: PDP leaders made themselves mini-gods my son opted out. There were meetings where they even decided that if they wanted to win they should take the candidate from Ogun Central. At a particular meeting they asked the three of them to go and decide, the three of them were my son, Buruji and Gbenga Daniel. They were told that they should go and take a candidate from the Central that can win the election, but, when they got to Daniel’s house in Abuja, Daniel made it clear that he wouldn’t support Dimeji and when they went back to the presidential committee, they asked Daniel to make suggestions, he wrote; Sharafa Ishola, GNI, Dimeji Bankole. They asked Buruji, he said, GNI, GNI, GNI and he made it clear that he did not know GNI ,that it was Daniel that introduced him (GNI) to him. When they asked my son what his suggestion was, he said they were asked to pick someone from the central but GNI is not from the central so, they left the meeting.

How do you compare the way politics was played in the second republic and now?

There is no basis for comparison, the second republic politics was led by astute, experienced politicians. The major actors were Shehu Shagari, Awolowo, Azikwe who were the architects of the First Republic. The present republic is being led by the military and their apologists.

Kitchen cabinet In 1999, governors who emerged were close to the military and to worsen it, the president that emerged was a military man, military people are trained to command and not to negotiate, they are trained to listen to orders and anyone who argues with them should be punished. Nigerians got the kind of politics they wanted by allowing Obasanjo to become the president, so, we shouldn’t complain. He made former generals like him minister of defence, National Security Adviser and Chief-of-staff which is the kitchen cabinet.

There is no basis to compare, it was a continuation of military rule from 1999 till Obasanjo left office, there was a short break of two years, but Yar’adua died trying to change things, Jonathan was put there after Yar’adua, but, you can’t give what you don’t have. During the First and Second Republic, Jonathan was either a learner or still a student and suddenly you want him to rule the country. As what? A doctor of biology or zoology, how does that relate with the way of life of any economy or any social set up?

We got what we wanted by putting Jonathan there, whoever was behind putting Jonathan there was the worst enemy of this country because like I said, you cannot give what you don’t have, he did his best. I understand he was deputy-governor later governor all within how many years? And you want him as President of the most populous African country!

To be a managing director, President or governor, your major job is to choose a team, it is not what you can do on your own. He was never a manager and you ask him to manage the best economy in Africa or second after South Africa and you are blaming him for choosing the wrong people? And this is the man we were told gets clearance from his wife if he wants to do anything. What is the background of his wife? If the wife is knowledgeable, what is the background? Buhari won because there was no other choice and I still believe we have no business with the presidential system in Nigeria. The military made sure we got the system into our political system because they see themselves coming back to be President and that is what has happened up till today, we have not been able to get out of that problem. As long as you have military president supporting himself with military people like this one is already doing, we shouldn’t compare it with the Second Republic.

We should put our torchlight on the civil servants, they are pretenders, they are the real problems and in fact, I call them evil servants

40—VANGUARD, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

2015: KOGI DECIDES I have used my position to serve God and the people — Awoniyi

By Kingsley Fanwo

K

•Wada: PDP

•Ozigi: PPA

•Audu: APC

After Audu and Wada, let’s try something different — Ozigi, PPA candidate

By Kingsley Fanwo

PPA governorship candidate, Emmanuel Enesi Ozigi has promised the people of Kogi State a visionary leadership if voted into power.

Ozigi made the pledge while addressing a rally in Anyigba, the commercial city of Kogi East where he said his government will make human development a top priority.

In his words: “We have seen

Prince Abubakar Audu before.

We are seeing Wada now.

It is obvious that both leaders do not have what it takes to move the state forward. It is time to try something different in order to make a difference.

“I am the difference Kogi has been waiting for. I am not in this race as an ethnic or religious candidate.

I am in this race because I know what it takes to make

Kogi a better place for us all.

“I know this fact: Bad governance has nothing to do with ethnic agenda. My hope is to lead a united Kogi into prosperity.

From Anyigba to Okpo, from Okene to Obangede, from Kabba to Egbe and Kotonkarfe, we are one people with one destiny. I am here to fulfil the dream for a better and prosperous Kogi State.

Relief as Smart Adeyemi endorses Wada

By Kingsley Fanwo

S

ENATOR Smart Adeyemi has endorsed Governor Idris Wada for a second term bringing relief and encouragement to the campaign team of the governor.

The former senator was alleged to have worked against the emergence of Capt. Wada prior to the governorship primaries of the party. The Iyara-born journalist turnedpolitician allegedly backed Alh. Isah Jibrin Echocho for the governorship ticket but refused to move with him to the APC preferring Wada to the APC’s Abubakar Audu.

Speaking at the governor’s campaign rally at Iyara, Senator Adeyemi said Kogi State belongs to the PDP adding that the governor has done enough to record a convincing victory during the November 21 gubernatorial election in the state.

Governorship endorsement Ecstatic at the endorsement, Wada embraced Adeyemi, assuring him of working together with all party leaders and supporters to make Kogi a better place for all.

The governor said: “I am not new to Ijumu. My government has executed a number of projects here, some of which we commissioned today. You have elected us to serve you and that is what exactly we shall continue to do until our last day here as governor. Sen. Smart Adeyemi is my brother and also

OGI Deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi, says his privileged position as the Deputy Governor of the state was a call to serve the people and not to lord over them, saying he has devoted the position to the service of God and the people of the state.

Awoniyi, made the remarks while a d d r e s s i n g members of Ijumu Progressive Group, a pressure group in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Iyara, •Awoniyi: I will not lord over you Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He said as Deputy Governor, he has allowed the fear of God and the interest of the people control his action in serving the state.

Awoniyi, who was full of confidence and optimism that the PDP would win convincingly in the forthcoming governorship election, described the mammoth crowd who graced the campaign rally at Iyara as an attestation to the fact that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would win landslide in the forthcoming November 21 governorship election in the State.

The Deputy Governor charged the IPU members and supporters of the party to work hard for the re–election of Capt Idris Wada, describing the governor as a humane and visionary leader.

Awoniyi described the last few years of the present administration as challenging, but said the governor’s prudent use of resources, sincerity, and humility, coupled with the desire to improve on infrastructures amidst scarce resources has been his staying power.

Audu/Faleke ticket’ll rescue Kogi from poverty, underdevelopment — League of Patriotic lawyers •Describes ticket as breadth of fresh air •Adeyemi: Wada is the best candidate a leader of our great party. The difference between PDP and others is that we disagree to agree. Today, my brother, Sen. Smart Adeyemi has shown that Kogi is bigger than anybody’s interest. We know what he can do and we shall be looking forward to working with him to achieve the goals of our administration.

“What I seek from the Ijumu people is support, to enable us consolidate on our transformation agenda. For over forty months, we have redefined leadership. We have developed the state. We have given governance back to the good people of Kogi State. We will do more if this mandate is renewed on November 21.

Speaking at the rally, Sen. Smart Adeyemi urged the

people of Kogi West to vote massively for Wada. The former Senator said Wada remains the best among all the candidates jostling for the Lugard House.

He said Kogi is safer in the hands of the PDP. On his part, former Deputy Chief of Staff to Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Prince Olusola Akanmode told the teeming party faithful at the rally that Wada is better positioned to move the state forward.

The rally was attended by eminent political leaders from the state including Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Gen. David Jemibewon (rtd), Gen. Salihu Ibrahim (rtd), Alh. Ibrahim Idris, Prince Olusola Akanmode, Chief Abiodun Ojo and a host of others.

T

By Charles Kumolu

HE League of Patriotic Lawyers ,LPL, has called on the people of Kogi State to see the Audu/Faleke ticket, as a sure way of rescuing the state from the throes of poverty it said was inflicted on the state by the current Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, led government.

Briefing newsmen in Lagos, President of LPL, Mr. Abubakar Yesufu, said the choice of Mr. Abiodun Faleke as the running mate to the All Progressives Party, APC, governorship candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Audu, is reassuring and inspiring.

He further called on the youths in the state to support the APC candidate, noting that the party can be relied upon in the task of ensuring that state experiences good

governance.

His words: ‘’ The presence of Faleke in the ticket is reassuring and inspiring. As a council boss and member of the House of Representatives, the plight of the masses was the fulcrum of Faleke’s service to his fatherland. I remember how he introduced the revolving loan and scholarship scheme for his constituents in Ogba. The scheme reduced criminality in Ogba and Ika-Ira. We have no doubt that this will be replicated in Kogi state. ‘’The support of the youths, is needed to ensure that the APC is elected at the poll, because we are not in doubt that the Audu/Faleke ticket would rescue them from the bondage of the past eight years.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015—41

From left, Sales Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO (FC WAMCO) Mr. Wale Arikawe; ex-Super Eagles player Mr. Mike Onyemachara; Managing Director, FC WAMCO, Mr. Rahul Colaco; ex-Super Eagles striker Mr. Henry Nwosu; and Corporate Affairs Director, FC WAMCO, Mrs. Ore Famurewa, at the FC WAMCO Cup Final held in Lagos on Saturday

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (middle), with from left, OneDay Commissioner for Science & Technology, Miss Onikoyi Abimbola, One-Day Speaker, Master Dahunsi Fehinti, One-Day SSG, Master Musa Habeeb, One-Day Governor, Master Idowu Sonoiki, One-Day Deputy Governor, Master Abdul-Liadi Faaiz and One-Day Commissioner for Education, Miss Adesuyi Adetutu, during their visit to the Wife of the Governor at Lagos House, Marina.

Era of pupils sitting on wood and stones gone —Mushin LLG G

T

HE Mushin Local Government has distributed benches and desks for pupils in the 49 public primary schools in the area.

In a statement, Mushin LG Information Officer, Mr. Olusegun Akinyemi, said the Executive Secretary of the LGA, Hon. Jide Bello was committed to solving the infrastructural and educational problems in the council by ensuring that no child in Mushin LGA sat on stones, windows or wood to listen to teachers instructions.

Bello said,”We are aware of the infrastructural needs and challenges of the schools and are determined to confront them. Apart from the benches and desks for the pupils, efforts are in top gear to provide furniture for the teachers. We know that productivity improves when pupils and teachers are in a conducive environment”.

He recalled the introduction of ‘The Shift Method’, which he said was necessitated by inadequate provision of infrastructure in public schools, adding that “the shift system is gone for good, all school pupils can now go to school at the same time and learn under a conducive atmosphere”.

He said 200 free JAMB forms were distributed to youths who had obtained the necessary prerequisite for admission into tertiary institutions. To qualify, the beneficiary must show evidence of obtaining five credits including Mathematics and English Language.

42 —Vanguard,MONDAY —Vanguard,MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

Touching story of how family lost four children in mudslide •Lagos marks 11 buildings for demolition, seals 50 others

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

W

HEN it started raining in Lagos last Saturday, some probably welcomed it as another showers of blessing. But a blessing it certainly was not for Mr. Godwin Okeoseye Odia, a 50-year-old indigene of Edo State, who is presently heart-broken after losing four of his children.

What began as showers of rain soon turned to a downpour that later triggered an unprecedented mudslide that led to the collapse of his three-room bungalow at 50, Otun Araromi Street Orisha Magodo, in Magodo Phase I area of Lagos.

Mr Odia’s deceased children were identified as Shayo, 25 ; Dasilver, 15; Clinton, 13 and Edurance 11. Their bodies were said to have been recovered after digging through the sand.

They were immediately buried.

Victims’ mother account of incident: Mrs. Felicia Odia, the distraught mother of two of the children, still find it difficult believing that her children are dead.

For her: “They are still sleeping and soon they will wake up soon.”

Felicia who was still in shock when Vanguard Metro, VM, visited the residence, was seen outside the building calling the names of the four children, one after the other.

Mudslide from the cleavage VM gathered that of the seven children that slept in the house, only three were lucky to escape death. Felicia who escaped with a deep cut on her leg informed that much of the mud beneath the structure (staircase) on the hill adjacent to their building had been washed away, adding: “Immediately the rain subsided, there was a mudslide from the cleavage of the hill which hit our house. The section affected was the children’s room.

“So I don’t know how I escaped from the collapsed building. All I knew after I escaped was that I called my children but none has been able to answer me. I know that soon, they will do because they are still sleeping. He (Shayo) was planning on seeking admission into varsity this year. My son is still sleeping. I C M Y K

ran out when the incident occurred.”

How I lost my four childrenOkeoseye Odia, victims’ father A grief-stricken Mr. Okeoseye Odia, the father of the four siblings, initially could only mutter: “I lost four boys today (yesterday); where do I start from?”

Explaining how the tragedy occurred, Okeoseye, a police man attached to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos said: “I woke them up at about 12 am this morning while sleeping on the sofa in the parlour; to leave for their room. And they did with-

Victims’ father, Mr. Odia out objection. I also went into my room. Due to the condition of my job, I woke few minutes past 4 am to prepare for work.”

“At about 5 am while in the parlour preparing to leave for the office, I heard a loud bang, before I knew what was happening, the entire house was filled with mud and water. That was

I don’t know how I escaped from the collapsed building.

All I knew after I escaped was that I called my children but none has been able to answer me

Rescue team battling to enter the collapsed building

Victims’ mother, Mrs. Felicia Odia how I lost four children. My first son was 25 years old”.

Pausing as if to acknowledge the loud wailing from some family members, the heart-broken man sighed and continued. “As if I knew this would happen, few months ago I complained on how the residents of Magodo phase 1 channelled their waste water into our community, especially the building adjacent mine. But they didn’t yield. And today, their action has claimed my four children.”

After this disclosure a premonition of the tragedy, Okeoseye said: “I can’t talk again. If I say anything again, I will collapse.”

CDA blames Magodo residents The Chairman of the OrisaMagodo Community Development Association, Olowo Oshiyokun who had been living in the community in the last 30 years, blamed residents of Magodo Phase 1 for the tragedy, saying: “They often channel their waste water into our community because their community is on the hill while ours lies below.

“Before the tragedy, we had

sought the assistance of the Nigeria Police in 2014 to caution the occupants of the adjacent buildings ( in Magodo Phase 1). And the police directed that they desist from channelling their waste water into the community. But they didn’t comply. When we realised this, we embarked on construction of drainage channel to divert their waste water from the community. This yielded result but it wasn’t total”.

Causes of the collapse Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe and General Manager Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Mr. Micheal Akindele, while commenting on the incident said though investigation was still ongoing to determine the immediate and remote cause of the collapse, it was obvious that the heavy rainfall and nature of the area were responsible for the incident.

Also, the building was said to have been built close to a huge

water way.

According to Akindele: “Mudslide washed down by heavy rainfall early this morning led to the collapse of a three-bedroom bungalow apartment. The incident happened at about 4.50 am, burying four children in the process.”

Men of the Lagos State Fire Service, LASEMA, the Nigeria Police from Magodo and Isheri police stations responded to the emergency quickly but the victims died before help could come.

Similarly, another building collapsed in the area due to mudslide six buildings away from the Odia’s residence which occurred about 10.05 am.

Fortunately, no life was lost as the occupants of the bungalow apartment, it was gathered, evacuated the building before it finally caved-in.

Evacuation of building Akindele said the four bodies were later handed over to the family by LASEMA and the Nigeria Police Isheri Division, before the officials of State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, SEHMU, along with some members of the bereaved family, took the bodies for burial at a community cemetery around the area.

Lagos marks 11 houses for demolition, seals 11 other buildings over defect Meantime, following the tragic incident in Magodo, the Lagos State Government has marked at least 15 buildings, including the bungalow where the death occurred, for demolition, saying “none of the buildings had approvals.”

Vanguard, MONDAY , NOVEMBER 9, 2015 —43

Biafra not Nigeria’s problem UgonnaChigbundu IAFRA is a dream that must be actualised whether Nigeria likes it or not. Biafrans are sons of the most high. We are unstoppable. We are resolute. We shall all live to witness, to see the country of our dream long live Biafra Long live Nnamdi Kanu Long live IPOB

B

Pillar 2 The political configuration of Nigeria, which opens and closes its doors to few, political manipulators, and hijackers has brought apathy, backwardness, poverty and deep misery, on the landscape of the entire country. It spells doom for all in this enclave. For when lives are made miserable, people can go to any length to loose the chain of pain on their feet.

Rather than close this gap, our leaders deepen the wounds of ethnic selectivity.

We are told after six months that the nation is poor, why do we deceive ourselves, and destroy our lives, through hardship, hatred and cold-war?

The grass in this episode is truly the South East, who is being grossly marginalised. Biafra is good for Africa, and for the World.

BasilAguzie Nigerian governments have been living in illusion. The truth for any

I won’t stop talking of corruption during Jonathan’s govt—BUHARI Corruption will kill9ja UHARI, the present APC government is not different from past corrupt PDP governance and government. Go to Imo State and APC Okorocha has governed for six years with nothing to show for the six years adminstration. The present APC leadership might be worst than GEJ’s past government. The President has appointed ministers indicted for corruption and these got clearance from Senate president, Bukola Saraki.

In other countries, Saraki would have resigned or forced to resign. Nigerian leaders abhor integrity and embrace corruption.

B

AdeTony President, president, president. How many times did I called you? Three times, enhen!

Nigerians voted for change, you promised o, no be talk! So we wan start dey see action. Like roads being built, electricity resolved, corrupt funds fully recovered and corrupt politicians put away in prison. I beg sir, if you cannot deliver change, please let us know in good time.

reasonable thinker is very clear. Things have been falling apart, nobody cares, nobody takes notice. The Biafran war was supposed to make everyone think, and press the reset button. But it was ignored; just as many ignore the ticking time bomb now; the present agitation is another reminder. Who cares?

Truth is with Boko Haram in the North and Biafra in the South, with poverty everywhere and corruption on the street, with dilapidated infrastructure and millions of graduates without employment, with ethnic hatred and tribalism all across the board, the political status of this country is absolutely the wrong medication. Therefore, anyone who ignores the current agitation or who keeps castigating the Biafra reality, is living in denial.

Ogun govt raises alarm over imported ‘ponmo’ AlphonsusDicksona IGERIA is a deadly country.

And the people have low mentality.

N

Chukwudum Kelechukwu Imported ponmo? So even ponmo can be imported? Na wah oh. Very soon they will import fufu and ogbono.

Wilfred Lawrence Nigerians always want to cause problems for themselves.Why? From Facebook Oh what a shame. Soon Nigeria will start importing wind or even water. What a pity. Is this the change?

Nigerians yet to feel Buhari’s change mantra —TUC Abdullateef Olarewaju Saheed OU haven’t see any changes because of your hatred towards the Chief Executive and let me promise you one thing, if you don’t stop abusing the President, we supporters are going to make sure you guys regret it

Y

Emmanuel Emeka ` leaders are confused APC and their and sick. Buhari is the president, economic coordinating minister, and a petroleum minister. The pressure from these positions will soon begin to tell on PMB .

Onyebuchi Orji It is a mistake that many Nigeria did not ask APC what they meant by change because change can be positive or negative. So far am yet to see a positive change as promised.

Kobi Eminson This old man keeps talking . Five months on and all you got to say is.....

Nigeria is broke? Does he mean he hasn’t been selling crude all along or receiving taxes so far? He has flown more times than the birds of the air in just five months. Worse still.... He only blabs whenever he’s out of the country.

Will you quit talking and start working with that corrupt cabinet you got there!

Kingsley Da Don Obah No be only change mantra. Six months nothing to show for it. Pikin way go run, na from him waka we dey take know.

Iyke Ogadi Na wa oh! The thing tire everybody ooo? Fuel dey scarce right now, Boko Haram still dey kill, salaries not paid.... Na Jonathan cause am?

Frank Iyke Thank you TUC for saying the bitter truth.

Aidi Eje Not true. They are lot of changes since he resumed office. Did Buhari tell you during his campagin the kind of change he wants to effect?

Fuel scar city and scarcity functional refineries

F

UEL scarcity and payment of subsidy will end if we build more refineries and allow the four that were hitherto functional to be brought back to life. President Buhari is not a novice in this regard. It was during his time as military head of state that he built three additional refineries.

Other administrations neglected this, but instead we have powerful people who built refineries outside the country and in collusion with people in power they didn’t allow the four refineries we have to function effectively, hence the refining of our fuel in their private refineries abroad. What an unpatriotic act! It must stop forthwith.

Obire 08079018001

Oil theft and NNPC’s missing trillions

Gen. Buhari now has enough materials to work with regarding the rot in our oil and gas sector. From Aigboje Aig Imoukhuede Ministerial Verification Committee which metamorphosed into a Presidential Committee to the Dotun Suleiman Committee on Governance and Control Task Force to the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force headed by Nuhu Ribadu to recent Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI audit reports, the revelations are not only damning, the conclusions of all of them are that both the Upstream and Downstream operations of our oil and gas sector are in trouble. No one knows how much oil Nigeria actually produces. If there was an authoritative figure, the real horrifying scope of corruption would be exposed and those found wanting should be punished accordingly.

A.0. Obi Esq+2348056009586

The just concluded Nigerian Economic Summit

The idea to hold an Economic Summit has not benefitted Nigerians in anyway. Nigerians want action now and implementation of all communique. A governor was saying they are trying their best, what a lie?

There are a lot of land space in various states wasting away, why?

Government should go into full agriculture and provide enough food and jobs as it is done in the northern states then Nigerians will start to appreciate subsequent Economic Summit.

Happiness Aduku 08054040349

Yoruba’s recent mee meeting ting and the FFulani ulani militar y military campaign

The recent happening which seems to escape the attention of many Nigerians is the ruthless killings that is going on in Plateau and Benue states. The planned, horrific attacks on innocent citizens of our beloved country is a homicide that needs the attention of President Buhari more than the effort being lavished on recovering of stolen money. I am calling all and sundary to rise against this evil to the oppressed. God will figth for innocents and defenseless.

Prince Benson 0de Ukattu,0816873991

Legislature and executive arms of govt

The legislative and judiciary arms of government are the two major problems of this country. The executive arm is corrupt because the legistlative and judiciary were not performing their duties as expected.

What the nation needs is active judiciary and legislative arms.

Uduebor Osaro. +2348059826021

Steady power supply and corrupt pratices

Despite the huge resources injected into the power sector to provide steady supply to Nigerians, the wastage the sector has caused is pathetic that they have continued to carry on as though nothing has changed. The best step is for the police to be empowered to arrest these power officials who willingly disrupt power supply indiscriminately. Investigation has revealed that these power officials for selfish and corrupt reasons put consumers in darkness without any notice. While Nigerians continue to blame successive governments for this menace, attention are not focused on these demonic power workers.

Solo Aoba+2347052624455

Niger Delta Revenue Control

A major obstacle to finding a lasting solution to revenue derivation formula is to first eliminate the victim posture capitalised upon by Niger Deltans. They are not victims in this case. They should regard the natural resources within their land as benefits to all Nigerians. I am not saying they don’t deserve a share, but to dictate to the whole nation is not patriotic.

Chukwuma Dioka. 2347054911808

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS Anyone who sees beauty and fails to appreciate it will soon be poor - A Yoruba proverb Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs.

Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. Address your sayings to: editor@vanguardngr.com

44—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 , 2015

The Afenifere threat to secede from Nigeria: Open letter to the Sultan of Sokoto and the Caliphate’s MACBAN

By Chinweizu

P

RESIDENT Buhari’s silence and inaction on the issue of Fulani herdsmen seems to have poured petrol on the long smoldering embers of the Fulani menace in Nigeria. So there is a need to raise two questions: (a) Is Buhari’s inaction part of his Caliphate hidden agenda? (b) Is the Sultan of Sokoto, as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of MACBAN, the cattle breeders association, not the Grand Patron of a criminal enterprise - an enterprise that uses, for its economic gain, the crimes of trespassing, destruction of other people’s property, kidnapping, arson, murder, ethnic cleansing etc.?

In his Inaugural Address, President Buhari mentioned some security issues that he would solve as part of his change agenda. Among them was “herdsmen/farmer clashes”: “Boko Haram is not only the security issue bedeviling our country. The spate of kidnappings, armed robberies, herdsmen/farmers clashes, cattle rustlings all help to add to the general air of insecurity in our land. We are going to erect and maintain an efficient, disciplined people–friendly and well– compensated security forces within an over–all security architecture.” — President Buhari’s inaugural speech, on May 29, 2015.http:// www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/ read-president-buhariinaugural-speech/ Though he didn’t give it the priority and emphasis he gave to Boko Haram, these herdsmen/ farmers clashes have quickly escalated into a security problem of far greater countrywide menace than even Boko Haram.

Map of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari abduction of Chief Olu Falae, a distinguished Nigerian, Yoruba grandee and one of Afenifere’s leaders, reacted by renewing its threat of Yoruba secession from Nigeria.

Under the pressure of bad publicity and the Afenifere threat, the Caliphate has, among other measures, trotted out one of its Yoruba apologists to try to douse the political fires. Femi Falana has tried to minimize the problem by reducing it to one of effective law enforcement.

He condemns as “unfortunate” Afenifere’s escalating the matter to the constitutional and political level that threatens the integrity of the Nigerian territorial state.

According to Femi Falana: “But the crisis of insecurity of life and property in the region became exacerbated after the 2015 general elections . . . the kidnap of Chief Olu Falae, a former secretary to the federal government in his farm in the outskirt of Akure, Ondo state last month added a new dimension

Countrywide menace Yet he has said nothing and done nothing visible to solve it.

Perhaps his change agenda does not include change in this longestablished security problem in Nigeria. If so why? As we shall see further down in this x-ray, because of its territorial scope and its potential to ignite interethnic war in 5 of the 6 zones of Nigeria, this Fulani menace is by far a greater threat to the lives of Nigerians and to the peace and territorial integrity of the Nigerian state than Boko Haram. Yet President Buhari has thus far chosen to leave it unaddressed.

Why? Reports of the criminal activities of Fulani herdsmen have captured the headlines since May 29. And Afenifere, the apex socio-cultural organ of the Yoruba nationality, stung by the exceptional provocation of the C M Y K

Femi Falana has tried to minimize the problem by reducing it to one of effective law enforcement

to the kidnap saga in the region. . . . Chief Falae announced last week that his farm had been invaded . . . and taken over by a group of Fulani nomads. In a classical display of impunity, the Nigeria Police Force has failed to dislodge the lawless group.

Instead of calling on the security agencies to enforce the law by arresting and prosecuting the group some Yoruba leaders threatened that the south-west region would secede from Nigeria if Fulani nomads are not banned from entering the region!

It is unfortunate that the senior citizens who issued the threat did not address the legal implications of their demand. It ought to be pointed out that every Nigerian has a constitutional right not to be expelled from any part of the country.

Criminal gang Chief Falae is likely to be pained that the illegal occupation of his farm by a criminal gang may degenerate to civil disturbances between Yoruba farmers and Fulani nomads.

More so, that Chief Falae was at the 2014 National Conference where it was unanimously agreed by delegates that “In the long term cattle routes and grazing reserves be phased out to lay emphasis on ranching” and that states which have large livestock populations should “endeavor to maintain grazing reserves.”

It was further resolved that “An integrated development and livelihoods modernization program should be designed and implemented to address the issue of settling nomadic herdsmen into settled communities based on established cattle ranches with fodder development technologies, and including abattoirs, processors and other businesses along the livestock value chain.”

The recommendations have been ignored by the Federal

Government.

—Beyond Chief Olu Falae’s kidnap, by Femi Falana, on October 12, 2015 http:// www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/ beyond-chief-olu-falaes-kidnapby-femi-falana/ I will later return to the Confab aspect of Falana’s submission.

But let me start by quoting two newspaper reports that put the Falae matter in its countrywide and historical context. First, a February 2014 report from Benue State: Speaking with newsmen at the Government House yesterday, [Benue State Gov.] Suswam lamented that the Fulani mercenaries have continued to wreck havoc on his people despite several efforts by his administration to foster peace with the herdsmen.

He noted that the average Fulani man now goes about with AK47, and that if the situation is not quickly addressed, indigenes might be forced to defend themselves. “Yesterday morning, Fulanis numbering over 700 attacked and destroyed the Tor Tiv’s village house. For them to have targeted the Tor Tiv’s house is an affront and totally unacceptable,” he said. “I have been trying since yesterday to control the situation because emotions have risen.”

Tribal war Consequently, “our people have congenially been displaced from their homes by these Fulani herders on a daily basis. Some of our children have not been to school in the last two years because they have been displaced. If the situation is not quickly addressed, I fear that it may result into a tribal war soon.”

— Fulani attacks in Benue, Fresh attacks on Borno http:// www.ngrguardiannews.com/ index.php/news/national-news/ 150242-scores-killed-in-freshattacks-on-borno Published Thursday, 20 February 2014 Here is a more comprehensive magazine article that casts light

on the constitutional and other aspects: On Monday, 24th February, 2014, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN wrote what many Tiv indigenes in Benue State, North Central Nigeria regarded as a highly provocative letter to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Titled, Mr. President, Call Governor Suswam to Order Now Before It Is Too Late, MACBAN argued that their movement with their cattle across the country is covered by Section 41, Subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which says that “every citizen is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereof or exit therefrom.”

The group also contended that the Constitution also expressly under Section 42, Sub-section (1) (a) forbids the imposition of any disabilities or restrictions on any citizen by any executive or administrative action against any citizen of any ‘community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion…”

MACBAN whose motto is Read, Rear and Farm insisted that the herdsmen have lost hundreds of their lives and hundreds of thousands herds of their ancestral and generational wealth of cattle to what they called “criminal, genocidal marauding tribal and religious murderers who are calling themselves indigenes, farmers and Christians.”

Causes of the crisis The group also called on the federal government to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the crisis between the herdsmen and farmers in the North Central Zone. “When the committee is set up, the government would see beyond the facade of wicked falsehood and propaganda,” MACBAN said. Before the letter to the President, the Tiv also alleged that the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar said the “Fulani have been grazing on their traditional grazing land in Tiv land.”

So, it is against this background that on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state set out on inspection of Guma Local Government Area of the State which had earlier been attacked by unknown Fulani herdsmen numbering over 100. The attackers, not only burned down the entire village but also killed more than 30 people.

The governor was probably warned by his security aides not to underestimate the unknown killers, who during the invasion of the village were said to have used sophisticated weapons. As a precaution, he took on his convoy a detachment of soldiers from an army barracks in the state to strengthen his security which also included men of the Continues on page 45

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 , 2015—45

Open letter to the Sultan of Sokoto and the Caliphate’s MACBAN Continues from page 44 Nigerian Police and Department of State Security, DSS. But while approaching the besieged village, the soldiers suddenly stopped and informed the governor that they were instructed to turn back by their superiors whose names they never mentioned. The governor nonetheless proceeded on the journey but a moment after, he came under heavy gunfire from yet to be identified attackers, who laid siege at Tsekenyi where he stopped over to inspect the level of damage done by the invaders.

In trying to repel the attackers, the governor’s security engaged them in gun duel for almost an hour before they finally succeeded in whisking the governor away in his vehicle.

The attack left in its wake, 40 people dead. It was learnt that the intention of the attackers was to kill the state governor who has spared no words in his trenchant condemnation of the activities of the Fulani herdsmen which have increased in the past few weeks.

Describing the attack on his convoy, Suswam stated that the Fulani killers have become more sophisticated and needed to be tamed quickly. He called on the federal government to intervene before the crisis turns into a bloodbath.

But just few days after he gave this warning, the invaders attacked again. This time the invaders slaughtered over 22 persons at Anyii and Ayilamo and Logo villages where the governor hails from.

Sporadic attacks Also, Guma where the supervising Minister of Aviation, Samuel Ortom hails from has been under sporadic attacks from Fulani militias since the beginning of this year. Before Suswam was attacked, The Fulani gunmen late February, killed 30 persons and razed over 14 villages, including the village of a former member of the House of Representatives, Godwin Ikerave.

Also torched during the attack on Guma was the palace of the traditional ruler of the Tivs, Tor Tiv Alfred Akawe Torkula and the surrouding villages which have now been taken over by the invaders who the magazine learnt, have set up settlement in the ‘conquered’ territories.

Prominent persons from Benue state are alleging a deliberate and systemic plan to wipe out the Tiv and Beron people. They argued that the fact that the wanton killings by Fulani herdsmen of their kinsmen has persisted for this long indicates sinister motives. Senator Joseph Waku, whose village is among those C M Y K

Chief Olu Falae sacked by the attackers, accused the federal government of not doing much to restrain the invaders. According to him, the fact that the Fulani onslaught has been sustained, points to the bid of the invaders to completely eliminate the Tiv race.

A former Commissioner of Police in Lagos state, Abubakar Tsav shares this sentiment. He explained that the alleged support by uniform men for the Fulani to carry out these attacks further proved that some interests have declared a deliberate war to eliminate his people.

Since the violence started early this year, no fewer than 80,000 persons have been displaced across the three states of Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau where the recent violence took place. There are also fears that the same situation could spread to other neighbouring states where the Fulani have settled to graze their animals.

Since the attacks tension has been rising over the activities of the Fulani killers particularly in

Sultan Saad Abubakar Benue state where people now live in perpetual fear. To forestall further break-down of law and order, prominent Nigerians particularly from the northern part of the country have called for calm. The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammdu Sa’ad Abubakar III, last week called for end to bloodshed. He called for end to hostilities among the Fulani and their hosts, the Tiv. Abubakar who is also the Chairman, Board of Trustees of MACBAN condemned the crisis which he said has resulted in unnecessary bloodshed on both sides.

Recently, the President of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Ephraim Goje, lamented that government and security agencies have proven unable to protect the lives of the people of Southern Kaduna.

According to Goje, the Southern Senatorial Zone of Kaduna State has suffered 40 attacks since 2010. Atakar and Marwa, bordering Plateau State are preferred destinations for the Fulani herdsmen.

Fulani herdsmen

All the other nationalities victimized by the twin menace of Fulani herdsmen and Fulani militia should wake up from their passivity and join Afenifere on this issue

Goje promised that since the government and security agencies are unable to defend them in the face of the unofficial jihad declared on Southern Kaduna, they have no option but to defend themselves. A disturbing trend since the attacks by the Fulani started in 2010 is the alleged role played by men in uniform. In Dogo Nahawa in 2010, survivors alleged that Muslim soldiers aided the butchering of over 500 persons.

Though some argued that the Fulanis and their neighbours in the Middle Belt states of Nasarawa, Plateau and Benue have lived together in peace since the cattle breeders in the quest to find green pastures for their animals migrated to these areas, but investigations indicate that their arrival normally left in its wake frequent bloodbaths, as has been witnessed in virtually all the North Central states and

places such as Oyo, Imo, Abia, Ogun, Enugu, Delta and others.

Whenever they attack, they do so with stealth and considering the sophisticated weapons in their possession, their host communities are usually helpless during such attacks. Saki in Oyo state, Jos in Plateau state and Sagamu, Ogun state have witnessed the most deadly attacks from the invaders, who after bloody clashes with farmers left the communities desolate....the vulnerable looking Fulani man with his cattle has powerful influential people that support them, whose cows they are rearing; e.g Sultan of Sokoto, governors, ministers, senior military and government officials.

—The Fulani Militia—The rise of new warlords and why they are killing http:// www.nationalaccordnewspaper.com/ news/crime-news/1709-thefulani-militia-the-rise-of-newwarlords-and-why-they-arekilling (Accessed 22June 2014) This long excerpt is from a much longer magazine piece that presents the many issues and sides of the matter, including the sourcing of the weapons of the Fulani Militia from Turkey and Libya; and the recruiting of Fulani mercenaries from across West Africa.

Introduictory reading It should be required introductory reading for all Nigerians who wish to understand and solve this countrywide security problem.

Among its disclosures is that, in Benue state, these Fulani militia on taking over Tiv villages, “set up settlement in the ‘conquered’ territories.” This would make them a Nigerian equivalent of the ethnic-cleansing Janjaweed militia in Darfur. That means that MACBAN is an organization that, for its economic gain, has resorted not just to the crimes of trespassing, arson, kidnapping and mass murder, but also to the ICC crime of ethnic cleansing.

By the criteria of the RICO Act, the Racketeer Influenced and

Corrupt Organization Act, of the United States, MACBAN, would qualify as a syndicate, an association of gangsters, and would be prosecuted for racketeering: engaging in criminal activity as a structured group. The Sultan of Sokoto, as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of MACBAN would be seen as the grand patron of a criminal racketeering organization. All appropriate Nigerian and international prosecutors should please take note.

The territorial scope of this security problem. What is the territorial scope of this security problem? The Fulani militia has been reported active in many states of the North Central zone including Plateau, Benue, Nassarawa; and the southern parts of Kaduna state in the North West zone. The Fulani herders’ crimes have been reported from many other states and zones including Ondo, Kogi, Oyo, Imo, Abia, Ogun, Enugu, and Delta.

So the problem, if unresolved, could provoke ethnic and intercommunal wars in the SW and NC, as well as SE and SS and NW—i.e. in 5 of Nigeria’s six zones.

Criminal herders One must presume that Femi Falana, in seeking to reduce and minimize this whole matter to a law-enforcement issue, isn’t aware that his MACBAN friends, (or is it clients?) were the first to make it a political and constitutional matter when they quoted the constitution to defend the alleged right of these criminal herders to invade and destroy other people’s property everywhere in Nigeria, on behalf of the cattle of the Caliphate grandees which they herd.

From the above excerpted account, it is MACBAN who first made this problem a political and constitutional matter. Femi Falana, and all Nigerians, should please take note that Afenifere has simply followed suit and upped the ante, turned up the political heat and begun the pressure necessary to bring the Caliphate to the table for a political solution. All the other nationalities victimized by the twin menace of Fulani herdsmen and Fulani militia should wake up from their passivity and join Afenifere on this issue and let the Caliphate know that its criminal habit of murderous impunity shall no longer be tolerated.

To be continued

46—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 , 2015

Wanted suspected Boko Haram terrorist apprehended

Issues in the MMIA, Port-Harcourt Airport rating

By Lawani Mikairu

T here has been mixed reactions in the aviation sector since SleepingInAirports.net, a travel website that reviews the best and worst airports in the world, rated the airports in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos as the first, seventh and 10th worst respectively in Africa. The question many stakeholders have asked is how do you rate an airport undergoing repairs or remodeling.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government embarked on an ambitious project of constructing five new international terminals at the nation’s five international airports including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu three years ago during the tenure of the then Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah .The deplorable state of our airports then, prompted the launch of the Airport Re-modeling and Rehabilitation programme in 2012, which is on-going.

Airports all over the world are normally rated annually by SKYTRAX using 5-Star Airport rating recognised as the global Benchmark of airport standards.

According to SKYTRAX, the prestigious 5-Star Airport rating is awarded to airports “achieving the highest, overall quality performance. This 5-Star Airport rating recognizes those airports providing excellent facilities for customers, which combine with high quality airport staff service.”

Quality airport Airport quality ranking “covers front-line areas for departures, arrival and transfer, including airport facilities, customer service, security, immigration, shop outlets and food and beverages facilities . Some of the other factors consider include queuing time, terminal cleanliness, terminal seating, terminal signs, food Beverages, Airport shopping, wifi connectivity, Airport staff.”.

Will it be fair or professional to use these parameters to access Nigeria airports that are undergoing remodeling ? It will be practically impossible to expect terminals that are being repaired to maintain the same world acceptable cleanliness, The Port Harcourt International Airport, for instance currently carry out some of its functions from tents erected because of the reconstruction currently taking place at the airport.

The current rating of world best One Hundred airports released

by SKYTRAX shows Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong rated number one. Munich Airport in Germany is rated C M Y K

S

ECURITY agents last night arrested one of the 100 suspected Boko Haram terrorists declared wanted as he attempted to flee. A statement by Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman said the suspect, Chindo Bello was apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja by Aviation Security as he was boarding Aero Contractors’ Airline flight to Lagos. The suspect was later handed over to the military intelligence for interrogation

and prosecution.

The military then thanked “those eagle eyed and patriotic security agents and good citizens for the tip off that led to the arrest of the suspect”.

According to the statement, “the Nigerian Army would like to reiterate the need for all well meaning Nigerians and those residing in our great country to be more vigilant and assist security agencies with information about the declared wanted terrorists, their sponsors and other criminals in our midst.

Address demands of judiciary workers, NBA tells Obiano Port Harcourt International Airport number two, Seoul Incheon International Airport, in South Korea is rated third in the world, while Singapore Changi Airport is rated Fourth , and Tokyo Haneda International Airport, Japan is rated fifth.

Previous World Airport Awards winners include King Shaka International Airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Auckland International Airport, Bangalore International Airport, Barcelona Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, Central Japan International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Copenhagen Airport, Doha International Airport, Dubai International Airport, Düsseldorf International Airport.

“Airports do not have to be large hub facilities to achieve the highest 5-Star and 4-Star Airport ratings. The rating assesses each airports target market and customer base, to determine it’s Quality success in that area. For example, a small regional airport serving point-to-point to routes is not expected to offer the same facilities as a global hub airport, but both airport types are eligible to meet the top tier, 5-Star Airport

Our stand therefore is that the said ranking was unfounded as it did not take cognisance of the fact that the Port Harcourt Airport terminal was still undergoing remodelling with some of its terminal operations still conducted in a temporary structure (tent)

rating.”SKYTRAX said.

The federal government has rejected the report which placed the Port Harcourt International Airport, at the top of the worst airports in the world. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Hajia Binta Bello, said the survey conducted by SleepingInAirports.net, was not reflective of the reality of Nigerian airports.

The website annually conducts a survey by asking air travelers to rate their airport experiences based on services and facilities available within the terminal, cleanliness, customer service, comfort and their overall airport experience.

According to the website, “voters suggested that apart from being the worst airport in the world, the Port Harcourt Airport should also be crowned the most corrupt airport in the world.”This is the first time a Nigerian airport would be ranked among the world’s worst airports on the website.

Reacting during a recent seminal organized in Lagos the permanent secretary said Nigerian airports are not as bad as portrayed in the survey. Mrs. Binta admitted that while there were challenges at some of the international airports owing to construction works that are ongoing, the challenges would be over as soon as the projects are completed.

She revealed that the ongoing new terminals in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt would be completed and commissioned by the first quarter of next year.

On the airport rating, she said, “It is up to readers to agree or to disagree on the rating. When I saw the rating, the question I asked is that do we still have touts at the airports, are our airports dirty, are we corrupt, do we agree with all those questions? It is something that I cannot categorically say, ‘yes we are corrupt, our airports are not clean, our airports are congested, and so on’. I am sure you can see if these airports are actually dirty, if they are full of touts and if they are chaotic.”

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

W K A — T H E Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has waded into the faceoff between the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, and the Anambra State government over non implementation of the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure, CONJUSS, which has led to indefinite strike by the workers, thereby keeping all courts in the state under lock for several months.

The chairman of Idemili branch of NBA, Mr. Benjamin Okoko, in a statement in Awka also dissociated NBA from a statement credited to the provost of Idemili branch of NBA, Mr. Pat Okolo on the strike issue, saying that the said statement did not get the approval of NBA. Okolo however commended the chief judge of the state, Justice Peter Umeadi in his efforts aimed at alleviating the suffering of the masses especially the litigants.

Traditional ruler congratulates Okowa

By Tare Youdeowei

A

S A B A — TR A D I T I O N A L ruler of Ejeme Unor kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Obi Godwin Nzemeke, JP, has congratulated Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, on his victory, saying it will enable the governor focus on giving the people the dividends of democracy.

The royal father who will celebrate his 27th coronation anniversary on Saturday 14th of November, appealed to the

State and Federal government to rehabilitate the Nsukwa – Ejime linked road as the deplorable condition of the road makes it difficult for his subjects to export products from their farms to neighbouring communities.

Obi Nzemeke called on Deltans irrespective of their political party differences to come together and join hands with the Okowa led administration so as to enable effective delivery of nascent democracy.

L-R: Director General, Europe Business Assembly UK, Prof. John Netting, Managing Director Afromedia Plc, Mr. Akin Olopade and Lead Expert of the programme ‘The Prime Business Destination’ Mr.Heinz Wehrle during the presentation of Best Enterprise Company Award to Afromedia Plc in Cannes, France

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015—47

We've saved money that'll pay workers' salaries for next 6 months —Jigawa

By Tina Akannam

D

UTSE — JIGAWA State government has boasted that the current financial crunch facing states and the Federal Government would not affect the state, saying it had saved salaries and pension for its workers and retirees that will last for the next six months.

The state Commissioner for Local Government, Aminu Muhammad Kanta, disclosed this in his home town, Babura, shortly before the wedding of his daughter.

He spoke in a reaction to allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that Governor Badaru Abubakar was starving local governments of funds.

Kanta, who noted that the present administration was prudent in the management of public funds, said the government was able to save money that could pay salaries of workers and pensioners for the next six months.

He explained that over 20 states could not pay salaries regularly, saying some were owing workers for four months and were only able to pay two months.

He said: "Here in Jigawa State, since we assumed office, we pay salaries on 25th of every month, while pensioners collect their money on 15th of every month."

He refuted the rumour that the state government was starving local governments due to its inability to release funds to them from the joint account.

He lamented that when the governor took over the mantle of leadership of Jigawa, he inherited only N16 million in the government’s coffers, adding that all the officials of the preceding government siphoned N2 billion meant for payment of contractors who executed development projects.

C M Y K

I'm not a thief, I’m not a criminal —Suswam M

By Peter Duru

AKURDI— Former Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, yesterday, denied stealing the state’s money during his eight years tenure in office.

Suswam spoke at a special thanksgiving service organised for him at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Makurdi, by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers at Benue State House of Assembly,, He regretted that before the last general elections, the All Progressives Congress, APC, had sold to the people that salaries were not being paid

because the state’s funds were being stolen.

Suswam said: “Today that same salary issue is persisting, that is to tell you that we are in a deep economic crisis. ‘’I am not a thief, I’m not a criminal, I did not steal government money neither did I syphon the state’s resources.

“In our time, we assumed office under tough circumstances, but we were able to achieve a milestone.

The fact is that no one can do the job of governnce at once.

“You do your best and leave the rest. I did my best. And I refused to demonize anyone when I assumed office, though

I was pushed to do so by forces and individuals but I refused.

“That seat of governor of Benue State is the hottest in the country. If you spend one day in office as a governor, and if somebody takes over, and he wants to take you to jail, he will do so.

“The fact is that nobody is a saint, we have serious economic situation. I raised the alarm, they said I was stealing money, my successor is raising same alarm today.

"Unfortunately, the Tiv man always wants to bring down his own brother, the truth is that as governor, there is no way you cannot step on toes."

FIDAU PRAYER: From left, National President, Alumni Association of National Institute (AANI), Major-General Lawrence Onoja (retd); former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, and General Secretary, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, Comrade Issa Aremu, at the 40th day Fidau prayer for Issa Aremu's mother, Hajia Hafsat Amoke Aremu, at his Zubairu Jibril Road residence, Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

My boss never told anyone he'll resign —Jigawa dep gov's aide

By Aliyu Dangida

D

UTSE— Ahmed Haruna Gumel, Director of Press to Jigawa State deputy governor, Mr Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said weekend that his boss never contemplated relinquishing his position as the number two citizen of the state.

Gumel told Vanguard in Dutse that the speculation was unfounded and untrue, adding that it was capable of jeopardizing the existing cordial working relationship between the governor and his deputy.

According to him, the rumour is the handiwork of oppositions and other people who don’t want peace to reign in the state.

He explained that it was known facts that the governor and his deputy were working together as one family for the progress of Jigawa State and its people, describing those behind the rumour as enemies of progress.

“There was never a time my

boss told anyone he will resign his position,” Gumel said.

He stated further that Ibrahim Hadejia, as a two-term deputy governor of Jigawa State, was loyal and obedient to all his bosses, Turaki and Badaru, explaining that there was no basis for the rumour.

He called on the people to stop spreading rumour to the public in the interest of peace and tranquility.

Hadeja served as deputy governor to former govenor Saminu Turaki and was alleged to have suffered political neglect from his boss, as he was denied access to act in the absence of his principal reputed for his nomadic approach to governance.

The deputy governor was said to have made several attempts to resign then but was prevailed upon by some prominent personalities, including his late father.

EFCC docks Zamfara ex-UBEC chairman

By Salisu Maradun

G

USAU—THOUSANDS of people, mainly teachers, last weekend stormed the premises of the Federal High Court, Gusau, Zamfara State, to witness the trial of the former chairman of Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Alhaji Murtala Jangebe, who was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Jangebe was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Gusau, following his subsequent arrest by the EFCC who invited him to their office but he refused to honour the invitation.

Presenting the case at the court, the counsel representing the EFCC, Mr Mohammed Sadisu Abubakar, said Jangebe was slammed a 10-count charge involving money laundering and possessing of illegal money.

There was a hot debate between the counsel to the EFCC, Abubakar and that of the accused person, Shaka, on whether or not to grant bail to the accused person.

The EFCC lawyer prayed the court not to grant bail to the accused person so that he could easily be accessed and be brought to court whenever there was need for it.

According to him, the suspect may run away if granted bail.

The presiding judge, Justice Zainab Abubakar, however, granted the accused bail in the sum of N5 million and while his surety must be a senior civil servant above grade level 12 as well as certificate of occupancy of a house in the state capital.

The suspect was also ordered to surrender his international passport.

Group accuses Yuguda of denying Sawaya people right to chiefdom

By Susan Edeh

B

AUCHI—ZAAR Development Association has accused former governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, of denying Sawaya people their right to a chiefdom by relocating the headquarters of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area to Bununu

town, saying the action was unconstitutional and not in tandem with the rule of law.

National President of the association, Bala Istifanus Garba, made this known on the occasion of the annual 2015 Zaar cultural festival held in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, weekend.

He also accused the previous government of using the state House of Assembly to pass the bill for the creation of the chiefdom on June 19, 2011, pointing out that although the chiefdom was eventually created in 2011 by the previous administration after decades of clamour, it was not in the best interest of Zaar people.

48— Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

Vanguard CLASSIFIED BALLARABE—I, formerly known and addressed as Audu Ballarabe Mallam, now wish to be known and addressed as Kassim Adebayo Audu.

All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public, please note.

UBIGHO—I, formerly known and addressed as Grace Ufueoma Ubigho, now wish to be known and addressed as Grace Allen Okeremute A. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKEKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ngozi Ihuome Okeke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ngozi Divine Otti. All former documents remain valid. General public please note.

EDUNWOYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Oluwaseun Segun Edunwoye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Oluwaseun Segun Caleb-Edunwoye. All former documents remain valid. General public please note.

MBAMALU—I, formerly known and addressed as Mbamalu Maria Nwadimma, now wish to be known and addressed as Ezeanyagu Maria Nwadimma (Nee Mbamalu). All former documents remain valid. First Bank, United Bank for Africa Plc and general public please note.

OLOTU—I, formerly known and addressed as Olotu Napoleon Alfred, Now wish to be known and addressed as Odeh Alfred Oghonemu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NNAJI—I, formerly known and addressed as Nnaji Uzoma Caroline, now wish to be known and addressed as Tony-Ojo Uzoma Caroline. All former documents remain valid. General public please note.

PETER—I, formerly

public please note.

SHOBAJO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Shobajo Bolanle Bilikisu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adekanmbi Bolanle Bilikisu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of name JOHN—I, formerly known and addressed as John Ozikabu and John Government, now wish to be known and addressed as John Government Ozikabu. All former documents remain valid.

The National Foundation Academic, Ughelli, Delta State; The Delta State Ministry of Education and general public please note.

EZEH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Obianuju Prisca Ezeh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Obianuju Prisca Umendubuisi. All former documents remain valid. General public please note.

Confirmation of name This is to inform the general public that some of my document carried the name Itodo Agatha Chineme, while others carried Itodo Agatha. That the two said names belong to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGUINE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oguine Sandra Onyinye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nwachukwu Sandra Onyinye. All former documents remain valid. General public please note.

TA B O W E I — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Tabowei Sarah Chiyenum, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sarah Chiyenum Tabowei Usuani. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

A D E B AYO R — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Adebayor Avwoghoke Perpetual, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Idje Avwoghoke Perpetual. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

A Z I E K W E — I , formerly known and addressed as Aziekwe Patricia Anuri, now wish to be known and addressed as Ofodile Patricia Anuri. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IGE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Titilayo Blessing Ige, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Titilayo Blessing Aleburu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UMAR—I, formerly known and addressed as Umar Muhammed, now wish to be known and addressed as Umaru Mohammed.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ABOH—I, formerly

EDOKA—I, formerly known and addressed as Salimetu Edoka, now wish to be known and addressed as Salimetu Jane Edoka.

All former documents remain valid.

Customary Court of Appeal Utako and general public please take note.

ONWUZULUOHA— I, formerly known and addressed as Onwuzuluoha Anderson Nonso, now wish to be known and addressed as Olisa Anderson Nonso. All former documents remain valid.

Anambra State University Uli, NYSC and general public please take note.

Confirmation of name This is to confirm that the name Omuenarhe David is the same person as Joseph David, but now wish to be known and addressed as David Johnson. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

LUKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Luke Isaac Chibuzor, now wish to be known and addressed as Kalu Isaac Chibuzor. All former documents remain valid. General Public Please take note.

ENI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eni Onoriode Joy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oberhiri Onoriode Joy. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

KORIE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Korie Nkeiruka Happiness, now wish to be known and addressed as Barrister Mrs. Eluchie-Chike Nkeiruka Happiness.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation name

Confirmation of name

I, Igelege Giobaro hereby confirm that the names Igelege Giobaro, Eghi Egonkumor and Joseph Giobaro refer to one and same. All former documents remain valid.

UBA, Skye Bank, CBN, Amnesty Office and general public please take note.

This is to confirm that the names Akannonu Christian Chinazom, Akannonu Christian and Akannonu Michael Christian, refer to one and same person. I now wish to be known and addressed as Michael Christian Chinazom. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AZIMENE—I, formerly known and addressed as Azimene Timipamoere Grace, now wish to be known and addressed as Asu Timipamoere Grace. All former documents remain valid. United Bank of Africa and general public please take note.

UZOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Uzor Samson Oyinfie, now wish to be known and addressed as Walter Samson Ekadi. All former documents remains valid. General public please take note.

E DA F E M E N A — I , formerly known and addressed as Odede Edafemena Peter, now wish to be known and addressed as Odede Efemena Peter. All former documents remain valid. First Bank and general public please take note.

OGBONNA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nkiruka Maureen Ogbonna, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ene Nkiruka Maureen and also to confirm that Mrs. Nkiruka Maureen Ene refers to one and same me. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

PADI—I, formerly known and addressed as Padi Jekito, now wish to be known and addressed as Godfrey Jekitoh Boyie. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ALFRED—I, formerly known and addressed as Alfred Chidinma Victoria, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Chukwuedozie Chidinma Victoria. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

GBOLUSERI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oru Emomotimi Gboluseri, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Wareyai Emomotimi Jane Felix. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MRS IRENE—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Irene Nwakamma Steffen, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Irene Steffen Nwakamma. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

A D E B AYO — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Adebayo Joy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eyarefe Joy. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

O N AYO M A K E — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Onayomake Aghogho Mirian, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Agabah Aghogho Mirian. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGALA—I, formerly known and addressed as Ogala Goodie Chukwuemeka Anthony, now wish to be known and addressed as Ogala G o o d i e Chukwuemeka. All former documents remain valid. Delta State University Abraka (DELSU) and general public please take note.

LOST OF MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE: I, Mrs. Eyarefe Joy (Nee Adebayo) got married to Eyarefe Henry on the 12/ 12/2002 at Idanre, Ondo State while the wedding took place at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, G.R.A. Effurun on 14/12/2002.

That the marriage certificate got lost on the 15th April 2015, all effort to recover same proved abortive. General public please take note.

Confirmation of name This is to inform the general public that some of my document carried the name S a g b o d j e Ogheneochuko, while others carried Sagbodje Ogheneochuko Florence. That the two said names belong to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWAOKORIE—We, formerly known and addressed as Godson Nwaokorie and Anayo Nwaokorie, now wish to be known and addressed as Godson Charles and Anayo Charles. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

known and addressed as Miss Helen Aboh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Helen

Ekere.

All

former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

known and addressed as John Ade Peter, now wish to be known and addressed as Adelani John. All former documents remain valid. General

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015—49

Vanguard CLASSIFIED AGU—I, formerly known and addressed as Agu Chinonyerem Iheoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Onuoha Chinonyerem Iheoma.

All former documents remain valid. UBA, Diamond Bank and general public please note.

Confirmation of Name These names Okpegboro Ediagbon Williams, Ediagbon Etadafe Williams belongs to one person but now want to be known and addressed as Okpegboro Ediagbon Williams. All former documents remain valid, any authority it may concern and general public to please take note.

Confirmation of Name These names Seliziya Febebo, Seliziya G o l d c o a s t Livingthing belongs to one person but now want to be known and addressed as Seliziya Febebo. All former documents remain valid, UBA Bank, any authority it may concern and general public to please take note.

Confirmation of Name These names, Isodje Joseph, Esebare George, and Michael Godday belong to one person but now want to be known and addressed as Isodje Joseph. All former documents remain valid, UBA Bank, Ecobank Nigeria, and First Bank Nigeria, any authority it may concern and general public to please take note.

ISIORHOVOJA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss I s i o r h o v o j a Okeoghene Excel, now wish to known and addressed as Mrs. Egorr Okeoghene Excel. All former documents remain valid. Any authority it may concern and general public to please take note.

Confirmation of name This is to confirm that the names Paulinus Sunday Nnamani and Sunday Nnamani refer to one and the person as Paulinus Sunday Nnamani. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ABOLADE—I, formerly known and addressed as Aremu Azeez Abolade, now wish to be known and addressed as Aremu Azeez Akorede. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

FABIAN-AGU—I, formerly known as Fabian-Agu Nneka Rophina, now wish to be addressed to as Mrs Nkwocha Nneka Rophina. All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public take note.

Confirmation of name This is to confirm that the name Odili Kennedy Arab and Oniyeburutan Arab refer to one and the person, but now wish to be known and addressed as Oniyeburutan Arab.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name These names Onisuru O b a k p o r o r o Emmanuel, Onisuru Blessing belongs to one person but now want to be known and addressed as Onisuru O b a k p o r o r o Emmanuel. All former documents remain valid, UBA Bank, any authority it may concern and general public to please take note.

YOU CAN BOOK YOUR ADVERT AT: TRINITY MALL, 79/81 OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAY, IKEJA. CALL: 08028289689, 08035449960 MURPHÝ'S PLAZA 27, SANUSI FAFUNWA STREET, VICTORIA ISLAND. CALL: 08038092373, 08033163424

Burundians flee capital in run-up to crackdown F AMILIES are fleeing their homes in Burundi’s capital over fears the government will unleash a fresh wave of bloodletting as part of a crackdown to stamp out resistance to the president.

International alarm has grown in advance of a deadline of midnight on Saturday for civilians to hand over weapons or face a new government crackdown, drawing warnings from the head of the UN, the US and the Haguebased International Criminal Court.

Fearing a fresh escalation of bloodshed, people on Sunday started leaving parts of Bujumbura that have seen the worst recent violence.

Burundi has been engulfed in violence, prompted by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s successful bid to win a third term in office, with bodies found dumped in the streets on a nearly daily basis.

At least 200 people have died in the latest turmoil and 200,000 have fled the country, stoking fears violence gripping the the central African country could spin into mass bloodletting and even genocide.

“Inflammatory rhetoric deployed in recent days by some government officials and President Nkurunziza’s planned security crackdown this weekend are increasing the risk of an outbreak of mass violence,” the US said.

•Families are fleeing their homes in Burundi’s capital over fears the government will unleash a fresh wave of bloodletting as part of a crackdown to stamp out resistance to the president.

Street celebrations as Sierra Leone declared Ebola free

R

ESIDENTS of Si erra Leone’s capital have celebrated the end of an Ebola epidemic that has killed almost 4,000 people since it began last year.

Following 42 days with no new cases, the West African nation’s epidemic was declared over on Saturday at a ceremony attended by President Ernest Bai Koroma and United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) representative Anders Nordstrom.

In a party-like atmosphere, thousands of people danced in the streets of Freetown to mark the occasion.

Earlier, thousands of

Finland to collaborate with NIMR on non communicable diseases

By Esther Onyegbula

T

HE government of Finland has said that it would collaborate with the National Institute of Medical Research ,NMR, on idea exchange and capacity building of research personnel in the institute.

Mrs. Pirjo Suomela Chordury, Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria said the collaboration with NIMR would be between professionals in both countries.

She said this in Lagos during a courtesy visit to the institute.

According to her: “I think the biggest collaborations is when you have a natural contact of experts from both coun-

tries interacting, meeting and discussing ideas and learning from each other.

“Finland seems so have lots of expertise on non communicable diseases.

It is an area that over a decade we have done a lot of research because some decades ago around the 70s we had these cases of non-communicable disease and so we had to put in a lot of research.”

Responding the DirectorGeneral NIMR Professor Innocent Ujah, said “It is not true that Nigeria is backward in terms of researchers. We may not be doing as good, as advanced countries, but we are not doing badly considering the infrastructural deficit that we have.”

people gathered overnight around the Cotton Tree, a massive tree in the centre of the capital for a candlelit vigil organised by women’s groups to pay tribute to health workers who lost their lives.

“They died so we could live,” university student Fatmata said, with tears in

her eyes. Many of the 220 health workers who died were infected due to inadequate protective equipment and training.

The country’s first confirmed Ebola survivor, Victoria Yillia, told the crowd she was “happy that this disease which almost killed me has finally ended”.

Egyptian journalist faces allegation by military

A

colleague of a lead ing investigative journalist and human rights advocate says he is facing accusations from Egypt’s military prosecutor.

Lina Attalah, the chief editor of independent news website Mada Masr, says on Twitter that Hossam Bahgat told her over the phone that he has been moved to military prosecution following hours of interrogation by military intelligence Sunday. She says the accusations against Bahgat remain unclear.

Bahgat founded and directed the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, a top Egyptian rights organization. He was honored with a Human Rights Watch Alison Des Forges Award in 2011.

Bahgat has recently published a series of investigative journalism reports on Mada Masr.

Egypt’s government has launched a sweeping crackdown on voices opposing the government, including the Muslim Brotherhood and secular and leftist pro-democracy activists.

Rwandan President warns of escalating violence in Burundi

R

WANDAN Presi dent Paul Kagame implored neighboring Burundi to avoid the ethnic violence that ended in genocide in his country in 1994, in an emotional speech that was shared on social media on Sunday.

Regional and world powers have grown increasingly concerned that the security situation in Burundi could lead to civil war or

mass atrocities, and that a weekend deadline for Burundians to give up weapons could spark widespread bloodshed.

At least 200 people have died and tens of thousands have left the country after months of violence and protests since President Pierre Nkurunziza declared he would seek a third term in office, which he then won in a contested vote in July.

50 —VANGUARD, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

Pope pledges to continue reforms in face of leaks

I

N his first public com paid 200,000 euros ments on the latest ($215,000) toward the renscandal rocking the Vati- ovation of the apartment of can, Pope Francis told fol- the Vatican’s No. 2 at the lowers in St. Peter’s Square time, Cardinal Tarcisio Beron Sunday that the theft of tone, and that nearly documents describing fi- 400,000 euros donated by nancial malfeasance inside parishioners worldwide to the Holy See was a “crime” help the poor was funneled but pledged to continue re- to pay for Vatican adminisforms of its administration. tration.

The pope said that pubThe pope underlined that lishing the documents in the leaked documents were two books released last week the result of the reform “was a deplorable act that course that he began and doesn’t help.” The books, that measures had already “Merchants in the Temple” been taken to address probby Gianluigi Nuzzi and lems, “with some visible “Avarice” by Emiliano Fitti- results.” paldi, detail mismanagePope Francis has made it ment and alleged greed in a top priority to reform the the Vatican, and are seen Vatican bureaucracy known as part of a bitter internal as the Curia, a hive of instruggle between reformers trigue and gossip. He apand the old guard. pointed a commission of “This sad fact will certain- eight experts in 2013 to ly not divert me from the gather information and reform work that we are make recommendations af•This woman arrived at a Moscow airport from the Egyptian resort of Hurghada on pursuing with my collabo- ter an earlier expose helped Saturday. rators and with the support drive his predecessor, Pope of all of you,” the pope said Benedict XVI, to a historic to cheers from the crowd. resignation. Two former Among the disclosures in members of that commis“Merchants in the Temple,” sion have been arrested as Nuzzi writes that the cost part of an investigation into of India’s highest malnutri- of sainthood can run up to the stolen documents. half a million dollars and Last week the Vatican NDIA’S governing for Kumar’s coalition of re- tion and illiteracy levels.

Bharatiya Janata Party gional parties, as vote countThe election for the state tells the tale of a monsignor described the books as “fruit has conceded defeat in the ing continues. assembly was seen as a crit- who allegedly broke down of a grave betrayal of the Modi had mounted a nokey state election in Bihar, ical test of Modi’s popular- the wall of his neighbor, an trust given by the pope, in what is being seen as a holds-barred campaign in ity after he swept to power in ailing priest, to expand his and, as far as the authors go, of an operation to take major blow for the prime Bihar, addressing about 30 national polls in May 2014, apartment.

Fittipaldi, meanwhile, advantage of a gravely ilrallies and promising voters promising ambitious reforms minister, Narendra Modi.

Nitish Kumar, the incom- billions of rupees for devel- to revive the faltering econo- claimed that a children’s licit act of handing over conhospital foundation had fidential documentation. ing chief minister, said on opment in a state with some my.

Twitter on Sunday that Modi had called him and congratulated him on his party’s victory in Bihar, one of India’s largest and poorest states.

“Had a telephone converITH tremendous buildings early in the and energy. year-old Suu Kyi would not sation with Shri NitishKuVote counting began im- address the crowd as exexcitement and morning to vote, well bemar & congratulated him on hope, millions of citizens fore a heavy downpour mediately, and hundreds of pected, urging the crowds the victory,” Modi said on voted Sunday in Myan- beat down in Yangon an supporters gathered under to return the next day.

Twitter of Kumar. Election mar’s historic general elec- hour before voting end- umbrellas at the opposition “We won’t be able to anCommission results showed tion that will test whether ed peacefully in the late National League for De- nounce the results yet. All Modi’s BJP leading in only the military’s long-stand- afternoon with no reports mocracy party’s office hop- I can say is that the NLD is 52 seats in the 243-seat state ing grip on power can be of major irregularities or ing to see results. But par- in a very good position,” assembly compared to 158 loosened, with opposition violence. ty functionaries an- said Tin Oo, a co-founder leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s Election monitors nounced that results of Suu Kyi’s party. “It will party expected to secure called it “a remarkable would not be available un- take a while for the results an easy victory. day” full of excitement til Monday, and that the 70- to be announced.”

In a country that was under military rule for almost peared as Democrat Bern- a half-century, many of the ie Sanders earlier in the eligible 30 million voters show - said “I heard if I cast ballots for the first time yelled that they’d give me in what was billed as the nation’s freest election $5,000".

“As a businessman,” Mr ever. It was the first time Trump said, “I can fully even for Suu Kyi, the epitome of the democracy respect that.”

The comedian’s interjec- movement who had defied tion was the only sign of the junta for decades.

Wearing her trademark protest inside the studio, thazin flowers in her hair, but Latino and other antiracism demonstrators a smiling Suu Kyi arrived chanted outside broad- at the polling station near caster NBC’s New York her lakeside residence, base as the show went where she was mobbed by hundreds of journalists. out.

When he announced She quickly cast her vote his candidacy for the Re- and left without speaking publican nomination, Mr to reporters.

Many people lined up Trump described Mexiin Buddhist temples, •Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s being escorted to the polling can immigrants as rapists schools and government booth to cast her vote in the country's historic election. and drug smugglers.

Investigators '90 percent sure’ bomb downed Russian flight in Egypt •As Russia flies back 11,000 tourists

I

NVESTIGATORS of the Russian plane crash in Egypt are “90 percent sure” the noise heard in the final second of a cockpit recording was an explosion caused by a bomb, a member of the investigation team told Reuters on Sunday.

“The indications and analysis so far of the sound on the black box indicate it was a bomb,” said the Egyptian investigation team member, who asked not to be named due to sensitivities. “We are 90 percent sure it was a bomb.”

Asked to explain the missing 10 percent, the investigator said: “I can’t discuss this now.”

Islamic State militants fighting security forces in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula have said they brought down the Airbus A321, which crashed 23 minutes after taking off from the resort of Sharm al-Sheikh a week ago en route to St Petersburg, killing all 224 passengers.

Egyptian officials say they are examining all possible scenarios on what could have caused the disaster but have cautioned against jumping to conclusions.

Meanwhile, Russia said it has flown 11,000 tourists home from Egypt in the past 24 hours, and more will return.

Moscow announced on Friday that it was suspending all flights to Egypt after a Russian plane crashed in Sinai - having initially dismissed suspicions that a bomb brought down the jet.

India’s ruling BJP concedes defeat in key election

I

Donald Trump called a racist on Saturday Night Live TV

U

S presidential con tender Donald Trump’s opening monologue on TV comedy show Saturday Night Live was disrupted by a heckler shouting “Racist!”.

But the interruption was from comedian Larry David - joking that he wanted to claim the reward offered by a Latino rights group angry at Mr Trump’s statements on Mexican immigrants.

The group, Deport Racism, tweeted that Mr David had won the “bounty”.

Mr Trump told the audience he was there “to show I can take a joke”.

David - who had ap-

MYANMAR: Aung San Suu Kyi’s party to secure easy victory •As millions vote with excitement, hope

W

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015—51

From left: Professor Johnson Falade, Chief Executive Officer, Cotosearch.com Ltd; Mr Jean-Pierre Elong-Mbassi, Secretary General, United Cities and Local Governments of Africa and Ndutimobog Enang, representative of Spaces for Change, during a press briefing in Lagos on the forthcoming 7th edition of Africities Summit to be held in South Africa. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

S-East govs divided over pro-Biafra struggle Continues from Page 5 and otherwise. Until date, there is no Urhobo man that will say that his father did not understand Igbo language, no Ijaw person within the South Eastern area that will say that they do not speak Igbo, King Jaja of Opobo, all of them,” he said.

Protesters storm Enugu, Aba demand immediate release of Kanu

Meantime, hundreds of Pro-Biafra supporters stormed Enugu metropolis at the wee hours of yesterday, protesting the continued detention of the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu and demanding urgent recognition of the Sovereign State of Biafra.

Members of IPOB, on Saturday, defied Police ban and held a peaceful protest in Aba, Abia State. The protest saw the group march through major roads of the city chanting solidarity songs in support of their detained leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

The protesters in Enugu, who were clad in Biafra red and black colours, marched through major streets of Enugu metropolis chanting anti-Federal Government slogans insisting that the Directorate of State Service, DSS, should quickly release Nnamdi following the fulfilment of his stringent bail conditions by his Lawyer, Mr. Vincent Obetta.

They were, however, peaceful as motorists were allowed to ply without any

confrontation.

In a text message to Vanguard, the factional Director of Information, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Mr. Uchenna Madu said: ”We are in full support of the ongoing massive demonstration against the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu by the DSS. “Our factional members are part of the ground breaking protest and will continue with IPOB till our demand for Nnamdi Kanu’s release is achieved. For the sake of Biafra, love for our fatherland and the spirit of brotherhood, MASSOB shall continue to identify with genuine, selfless Biafra agitation as showcased with Nnamdi Kanu.

“We warn the Federal Government to immediately release Nnamdi now or before Wednesday or face a severe action that will bring Nigeria to her knees. Ndigbo, Southsouth geopolitical zone are wiser, united and hungry for Biafra now.

Only some few disgruntled elements and Abuja errand boys from eastern region are always against Biafra.

“MASSOB shall hold Igbo governors, National Assembly members, traditional rulers and opinion leaders responsible, if Nnamdi Kanu is not released coming week. Continued detention of Nnamdi will worsen the already fragile security situation in Nigeria. MASSOB, IPOD and other genuine groups are now ready to unleash the potency of no-violence which includes civil disobedience, civil unrest, non cooperation,

massive boycott as was done during the emancipation struggle of Gandhi of India and Martin Luther King Jnr”.

Nnamdi Kanu has met bail conditions – Obetta, his lawyer

When contacted over the telephone, Nnamdi’s lawyer, Vincent Obetta said: ”I got a call from Police authorities asking why my client should call people out on the streets for demonstration. This is happening in spite of four court orders I have secured and served to DSS instructing them to release my client who was granted bail since October 19.

“DSS has not given any reason for his continued detention. We have fulfilled his bail conditions. To worsen the matter,he is being detained in DSS facility instead of prison custody with access to his lawyer and personal physician.

Nnamdi is being detained by an executive order. Its is a clash between judiciary and executive.

“I have not seen or heard any place where a court grants bail and the person is not released.

Under UN and Africa charter, it is enshrined that once bail is granted, you release the person upon meeting the bail conditions. We are sliding to days of Decree 2 and 4 of 1984. This is pure dictatorship.”

In his reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, in a text message to Vanguard said that,”MASSOB declared a non-violent protest in Enugu.

Security operatives are

monitoring closely to ward-off violence and suspected cashes in the protest”.

Meanwhile, when Vanguard drove round the streets of Enugu metropolis, there was unusual military presence at strategic locations even as armoured tanks were deployed to the streets ostensibly to forestall possible breakdown of law and order.

Protesters defy police order in Aba

In Abia, a cross section of members of the group said that they decided to embark on the protest as a mark of respect for their leader, Kanu who is being detained by the federal government and called attention on the marginalization meted out on the South East and South South zones of Nigeria.

According to them, “we want to use this opportunity to tell the world of the level of marginalization and dehumanization the South East and SouthSouth states have suffered even when they were the goose that lay the eggs other parts of the country are enjoying today.’’

They called on the International bodies to help them realize a sovereign state of Biafra which they have been agitating for.

The group had as early as 7am gathered at a location near the Ariaria International market to take off for the protest, but were dispersed by a combined team of security agents.

Between 11am and 12noon, the group went round some lines in the

Ariaria International market with a bell warning that the market would close for business on Monday for a proposed rally.

But according to a member who later spoke to Vanguard , it was a ploy to deceive agents of security agencies who were acting as spies in the market.

They regrouped around noon at a different location where they later marched along major streets of Aba, including Faulks Road, Aba-Owerri, Ikot Ekpene, among other places, causing gridlock at intervals which made vehicles to move at snail pace on the roads.

While marching along Ikot Ekpene Road, the group made a stopover near the office of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA Channel 6 Aba, but were not allowed to get close to the gate of the television station by the police.

Spokesman of the Abia State Police Command, DSP Ezekiel Udeviotu Onyeke, could not be reached for comments; a senior police officer at the Aba Area Command told Vanguard that the Police were on ground to maintain law and order.

Passengers stranded in Port-Harcourt

Motorists and passengers were stranded last night in Obiogbo area of Rivers State as hundreds of proBiafra supporters embarked on protest march.

Some motorists and passengers who called Vanguard at about 7.15pm last night said there was no vehicular movement around Timber bus stop area because of the activities of the protesters.

“Vehicles can’t move, commuters are stranded at Timber bus stop because of the protesters. It is really difficult here”, a lady trapped at Timber bus stop told Vanguard on phone.

It will be recalled that similar protests held at Okobe community end of the East West Road in Ahoada West local government area of the state on Saturday.

Effort by the Rivers State Police command to ensure the protest did not hold in the state was futile as the protesters beat Police security to embark on the exercise.

There have been heavy Police presence in Port Harcourt, the state capital to nip any protest by the group in the bud.

Abia govt will remains neutral

unless...

Speaking on behalf of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Godwin Adindu said the governor remained neutral on the issue so long as the peace of the state was not disturbed.

He, however, promised that the governor would disturb the agitators any time they disturb the peace of the state.

No sensible govt will support such agitation – Umahi

The Ebonyi State Government condemned the agitation. Chief press secretary to the Governor, Mr. Emma Anya, said: “No sensible Government will support such agitation. The Federal Government is trying its best to keep the country together.

Remember that during the last civil war millions of lives were lost and that is not what we need now.

What is necessary is the economic prosperity of the nation.”

Anambra studying developments

Anambra State government said last night that it is still studying the activities of the pro-Biafra agitators, who have caused some disquiet in the state in the last few days.

The agitators, mainly those belonging to the group known as the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, brought the commercial city of Onitsha to a standstill, last week, while another group travelled from Agbor in Delta State to Awka where they caused traffic gridlock for several hours on their way to Ebonyi State.

A government official who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity said that Anambra State government was handling the matter with a lot of caution.

He said that since the agitators have been peaceful in their actions, there has not been any need to use force on them.

He however warned that the state government would not watch while they threaten the existing peaceful atmosphere in the state.

While in Awka weekend, the group, chanted pro Biafra songs and demanded the immediate release of the embattled director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

They were led by the Lagos State coordinator of IPOB, Mr. Raphael Ikedigwe.

52— Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 CANCER; You will be in good position to consolidate on progress made yesterday. However you will need to watch your mood from 9.46am to 12.43pm.

LEO; It is important you don’t take things for granted around mid-morning and early afternoon period so that you will not run into avoidable disappointments.

VIRGO; If you are in position to control your actions you would fare better if you can wait till after 12,43pm before you make an important move. Be family minded.

LIBRA; Your being receptive can enhance your prospects but that is not to say you have to be naïve, especially during mid-morning and early afternoon periods.

SCORPIO; Success is boldly printed on your cards and like yesterday if priority attention is given to money the scope of your success will be wider.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

A

MBITION is what you want to achieve. It could be long term,it could be medium, it could also be for the

No Future Ambition? – 1 short term.It is a good thing for every human to be ambitious. A man(woman) without ambition is like a car

TERROR MUDA

without driver.

Such a car cannot move forward.It is ambition that propels the man to strive,to stress and to challenge

in “Scavenger Elite”

himself to attain s e e m i n g l y unattainable goals. A man without ambition is a man without future. What is your ambition?

By Lanre Kehinde

SGITTARIUS; Although things may be happening around you, you are the right person to make things happen and give others opportunities.. Be wise.

CAPRICORN; Take note that others may break promises made before early afternoon period; that is to say you should not take anybody for granted before 12.43pm AQUARIUS; Although friends are willing to assist you circumstances may not allow complete help as expected.

9.46am to 12.43pm can be a bit sensitive.

PISCES; Emphasis will continue to be on career related issues. However you will not be wrong if you take matters-of-the-heart more seriously now. Be more loving.

ARIES; Mid-morning till early afternoon period may bring more promises than it can actually deliver; your being clever will see you through. Be very practical.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in “HEY’

By Andy Akman

TAURUS; Continue to attach necessary importance to your family values. Here is a day when joint ventures can bring you under pressure between 9.46am and 12.43pm.

GEMINI; Other people will continue to feature in your activities; that is to say you will need to be as co-operative as reason permits. Watch it between 9.46am&12.43pm

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Who I am ?

Dear Joshua, I don’t want my data published but tell me everything I should know about myself. Sometimes I am confused the type of a person I am, especially when others misunderstand me. Thus I am asking you who is actually in meAstrologically.

Diran-Abuja.

Dear Diran, At face value one may be tempted to wrongly take you for a very soft person but, with the preponderance of fixed quality and fire element in your Astrological make ups here is a determined and ambitious Soul with stronger will-power (actually once your mind is made up on any important issue you rarely change). Saturn as the only planet at home when you were born pointed to a person who will always take important decision when and if his career will not be put in danger; meaning my career first.

Although, the Sun is the Centre of the Solar system and wherever is placed in any given horoscope is the heart of that horoscope, by implication placement of the mighty Sun in Cancer here means that you are mainly a Cancer born person, with more than two (there were actually four) heavenly bodies placed in Kingly Leo when you were born, you are equally a Leo born person as Leo was serving as the stellium during your birth hour.

Equally it is important to point out prominence of bold Aries in your chart as it hosted your natal Moon. Anyway equal distribution of planetary placement in push-full and non-push-full positions will ensure balanced personality with powerful LEADERSHIP skill in you. Your natal Sun, Moon and Stellium in Cancer, Aries and Leo respectively are indications of your being mainly a Cancer born person and partly Aries/Leo; meaning that basic characteristics of the three Star signs mentioned (namely Cancer, Aries and Leo) are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 — 53

Nzogbu! Nzogbu!!!

Enyimba win 7th League title T

EN-man Enyimba yesterday won their seventh Nigeria league crown after they held Warri Wolves to a goalless draw in front of over 40,000 fans at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba. Enyimba needed just a point in their final home game against closest rivals Wolves and they did just enough to get the job done.

‘The People’s Elephant’ clinched the championship with a round of matches to spare as they have 69 points, six points clear of Wolves.

The best away form of the season – five wins

and seven draws earned the two-time African champions Enyimba the league title five years after their last conquest.

Warri Wolves gave a good account of themselves and they are expected to end the season as runners-up to earn a ticket to next year’s CAF Champions League with a home win over relegated FC Taraba on the final day of the season next week.

After a rather cagey first 45 minutes, the second half opened up after Nigeria U23 forward Daniel Etor was sent off for punching Gbolahan

Tottenham lead chase for Osimhen

T

OTTENHAM Hot spur are in pole position to land Nigeria under-17 ace Victor Osimhen ahead of the January transfer window, The North London club are thought to have moved ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City in the race to bring him to Europe after a string of impressive performances at the Under-16 World Cup. Talks are understood to have been opened regarding the prospect of the teenager joining the White Hart Lane outfit when the transfer window re-opens.

Osimhen has been the star of the youth tournament held in Chile so far, scoring nine goals.

His tally include a hattrick over Australia in the group stage, and a crucial winner against Mexico to send the Golden Eaglets through to the

semi-finals.

A tall, imposing striker, the scoring sensation is equally adept if deployed in wider attacking positions, though he excels as the spearhead of a frontline.

Arsenal and Manchester City are also keeping tabs on Osinhen but are focusing their attention on his Nigerian team-mate Kelechi Nwakali, which could leave Spurs in the clear to lure teenage talent Osinhem to White Hart Lane.

Palace snatch late winner at Liverpool loss as the new boss of COTT D a n n ’ s header in the final the Reds. Yannick BoS ten minutes gave visit- lasie and Phillipe ing Crystal Palace a 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield Sunday evening, handing Juergen Klopp his first

Ikpeazu congratulates Enyimba

G

OVERNOR Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State hailed Enyimba yesterday for their historic 7th Nigerian Professional League win after a barren draw with Warri Wolves at the Aba Township Stadium.

An overwhelmed Governor Ikpeazu said that the victory was good sign to show that the glory days of Aba are back. “Enyimba’s victory is a clear sign that Aba’s glory days are back again. As a government, we restate our unwavering commitment to fully restore Aba to her days of greatness.

By this time last year, Enyimba was out of con-

Salami in the 50th minute. Joseph Osadiaye had a good chance to put Wolves in front in the 54th minute when the lively Stanley Dimgba found him with a fine cross from the right, but he blasted his effort well off target.

Five minutes later, Enyimba striker Mfon Udoh fired at target from inside the box, but it missed narrowly.

In the 64th minute, Peter Onyekachi saw his powerful header off Markson Ojobo free kick scream into touch.

In the first half, much of the action was concentrated in the middle of the park and there were very few clear-cut chances in front of goal.

Very early on, Wolves midfielder Lordson Ichull risked a diving header inside his own box to ensure Mfon Udoh did not pull the trigger.

Enyimba top striker Peter Onyekachi could have done better when a long ball found him, but his control was poor to allow goalkeeper Okiemute Odah pull off a save.

At the other end of the pitch, Stanley Dimgba weaved his way behind the Wolves defence but Gbolahan Salami was quickly crowded out by three Enyimba defenders.

*Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu

tention for the title but today, we are Champions. So it shall be for Aba and Abia State.

Congratulations to the people of Aba and all citizens and friends of Abia State’’, the sportsloving Governor of Abia emphasised.

Coutinho had traded first half goals before Dann snatched the winner, rising above Roberto Fimino to a corner from the right, then putting home a secondchance header.

Klopp will have been pleased with the way his Reds continually tried to force the action against an opponent that was always dangerous, but Alan Pardew’s side was every bit as strong and will feel they deserved all three points from a pulsating contest.

The win boosted Palace to eighth in the table, above Liverpool which is now tenth after a positive showing from both.

Bolasie’s 21st minute goal was a combination of his fine finish, good approach work by Wilfried Zaha on the right and sloppy defending by both Alberto Moreno and Emre Can in the Liverpool center.

VICTORIOUS — Cuisimano House captain, Victor Omorodion receives the third place trophy at the end of his school’s, St Francis Catholic Secondary School, Idimu, Lagos Inter-House sports competition held at the weekend. He also won gold in Long Jump, High Jump and 4x100 m Relay as well as a bronze medal in the 100m Boys event

Falconets qualify for 2016 FIFA U-20 World Cup C HINWENDU Ihe zuo grabbed the winner against the hosts as the Falconets picked a precious ticket to Papua New Guinea 2016 Nigeria’s U20 women team qualified for the Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea after defeating hosts, South Africa 1-0 on Sunday, and winning 3-1 on aggregate.

Chiwendu Ihezuo’s solitary effort was all the Falconets needed to see off Basetsana in the second leg, final round at the Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa. Surprisingly, it was the Nigerians that had the brightest start against their hosts, coming close from a free kick in the seventh minute.

The Falconets kept dictating the pace in Tembisa, but the South Africans made a brave attempt on goal through Gabriela Salgado, however, her effort was thwarted by Nigeria’s goalkeeper Sandra Chiichii. In the 17th minute, the visitors snatched the precious lead through free scoring forward Ihezuo who silenced the home fans and raised her goal tally in the qualifying round to six.

The Basetsana rallied for a comeback, but struggled to contain lanky Ihezuo whose continued torment on the hosts’ defence but with her effort going over

the bar. Nigeria retained their narrow lead to end the first half.

The Falconets have now qualified for the fifth time

and will await the winner between Ghana and Ethiopia to emerge as Africa’s two representatives at the 2016 Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea.

Kwara, Taraba, Bayelsa relegated tively putting an end to

By John Egbokhan

T

HE romance of Kwara United, Taraba FC and Beyelsa United with the Nigerian Professional Football League has come to an end following their relegation to the Nigeria National League yesterday.

According to the official table of the League Management Company, the three clubs will not be playing in the top flight next season, irrespective of the results of their last matches at the weekend.

Presently,Bayelsa United sit on the 20th position of the log, with 34 points, three less than Taraba FC while Kwara United are 18th with 39 points.

With just one match left to be played by all teams, Kwara United cannot overtake their closest rivals on the table, Akwa United, with 44 points and Dolphins on 44 points.

Kwara were banking on an away win at Sharks yesterday in Port Harcourt but lost 1-0, effec-

their hopes of escaping relegation, while the home win assured Sharks of another season in the country’s top-flight.

The game between Sharks and Kwara United was played behind closed doors because of crowd trouble that erupted during a previous game in Port Harcourt.

Meanwhile, with the confirmation of Enyimba as league champions, there will be a last-day scramble for continental tickets by five teams, comprising Warri Wolves, Giwa, Nasarawa, Wikki Tourists ad Sunshine Stars.

Warri Wolves and Giwa, who both have 63 points, will be contending for the other CAF Champions League ticket while Nasarawa, Wikki and Sunshine Stars are in contention for the two tickets to play in the CAF Confederation Cup next season.

Nasarawa and Wikki Tourist are on 60 points while Sunshine Stars, who were the mid-term champions have 59 points.

54 — Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

S

ATURDAY, November 7, I drove from Uyo to Enu gu where I reunited with a long standing friend,Christian Chukwu MFR ( Chairman Chukwu, a living legend of Nigeria’s football, winner of CAF Football Legend award needs no introduction).

Before I go ahead, let me appreciate the possibility that yesterday, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria must have been crowned Champions of the World after beating fellow Africans Mali at Vina Del Mar venue of the final.

I regret having to send this write up before the match was played, but deadlines must be met. The first text message I received Sunday morning was from former Secretary General of the NFA, Alhaji Sani Toro. In it the Yerima of Toro wished me a happy Sunday and prayed that “……by the special grace of God, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria will retain the FIFA U-17 World Cup today by beating Mali” I do not know how many people he must have dispatched this message to, yet for me it was special and a demonstration of patriotism. He must have gone to bed thinking the Eaglets, he must have dreamt about the match and woke up spreading the prayer of hope and success. I chorused a loud AMEN. The odds against the Eaglets by yesterday were frightening. Mali are African Champions, South America has not been a favourite hunting ground for the Eaglets while we were yet to retain the trophy.( 1985/’87, 2007/’09, …..)

But as will always be told, Jinx are meant to be broken.

As you are reading this, Eaglets are world Champions.

Yes? Back to my trip to Enugu.

After the graduation of my son Johnson at the University of Uyo, Saturday November 7 2015, I had the privilege of driving with Akparawa Nse Ubeh to Enugu for a make or mar Premier League clash between Rangers International and Akwa United.

Akparawa Nse, the amiable chairman of Akwa United and PDP faithful who is at the Threshold of history as winner of the Federation Cup with Akwa United, joined in the lamentation of the state of the roads in the Eastern part of this country. From Uyo to Umuahia was a night mare. Then came the one they call “ Enugu Highway” Deplorable.

Anyway, by the time I hit Enugu, I quickly got in touch with Christian Chukwu. After his playing and coaching years, I was lucky to serve with Christian Chukwu in the Technical Committee of the Aminu Maigari led NFF and it is an experience I will cherish for life.

Our bond was strengthened in Morocco in 2013 when we shared an apartment during the CAF U-17 tournament. The high point of that tournament is that we (Chuk-

Enugu, two hours with Christian Chukwu (MFR) wu and I) hosted Alhaji Maigari and some Board members to a lunch of home cooked food………

In Enugu, I told him I was in town and pronto got an invitation to lunch the next day. It was nice seeing him again and in company of the Akwa Chairman, we were

As expected, the discussion was hundred per cent football, from Oliseh and the “new look” Super Eagles, The Nigerian league, referees, clubs and attitude of players hosted by a superstar of Nigerian football.

As expected, the discussion was hundred per cent football, from Oliseh and the “new look” Super Eagles, The Nigerian league, referees, clubs and attitude of players.

Generally, the professionalism of Nigeria’s football was called to question even as we tried to get back to his playing days and draw a line to what is happening today.

As an example, Chukwu who is the Technical Consultant to Rangers International believes and strongly too that chairmen of clubs can help a great deal in turning around the fortunes of our league. Addressing Akparawa Nse, he said “ Chairman sir, I believe and strongly too that if all of you Chairmen come together and resolve, as an example, not to have anything to do with the enticement of match officials, our league will improve a great deal” He gave an example of coaches, even players going as

far as asking club management on the eve of matches whether they have “seen the referee”. Believe me, if you are a player or a coach, by the time you ask such a stupid question, I throw you out of my team!

Recent decisions and disciplinary pronouncements were considered “crazy” and “abracadabric”. In our days, the moment match officials have performed walk over ceremonies, that was it. That the referee can get to the venue of the match, minutes to kick off and without any information to the contrary, performs the walk over protocol, then that match is history.

How about Plateau United, a visiting team that is about to be castigated for the sins of match officials who for one reason or the other decided to start a match later than scheduled? Did Plateau arrive late for the match?..........too many questions begging for answers…..

What about the non implementation, or the late implementation of the decision to duck points from clubs who erred in the meeting of financial obligations to their players?

There was so much to regret. We wish we had the benefit of the league top shots to “explain” to us and indeed all Nigerians about some of the current happenings that should not be allowed to ruin what has been declared and acknowledged as the best league season yet.

Then of course, the match. Rangers against Akwa United. Despite their match in hand, Rangers were not comfortable with just two points advantage over Akwa and vowed to go all out as defeat will see Akwa jumping over them. Akwa on the other hand needed at worst a draw to move further away from the drop zone.

Very competitive, exciting and nail biting encounter.

Victory could have gone either way, but let me celebrate two outstanding free kicks, the first by Chinedu Justice of Rangers while Nnamso Edo alias Cameroon converted a classical training ground effort. The two goalkeepers were rooted to the spot. 2-2 the final result, fair play reigned supreme. Players from both sides exchanged pleasantries, officials shook hands, spectators applauded good football and trooped out amicably……..the same day, all hell was let loose in Akure and Sharks abandoned their match in Lafia against Nasarawa.

As Chukwu will say, what does the rules and regulations say about match abandonment? I will get back to him on this, should there be any attempt to turn the “text of the matter” upside down. Don’t laugh.

Meanwhile the Regulations loopholes that have celebrated the manipulations and legal somersaults of this season must be plugged as we look forward to next season.

See you next week.

Nigeria wins World Scrabble Champion!

M

R Jighere Welling ton of Nigeria is the new Scrabble World Champion.

The historic feat took place in faraway Perth Australia, where in the early hours of Saturday, he pulverized Lewis Mackay of England to become World Champion.

The victory came in a blistering manner when he walloped Lewis 4-0 leaving no room for any comeback.

The duel monitored by the creme de la creme of World Scrabble kicked off around 2am Nigeria time and ended about six hours later.

Online forums were agog with blow by blow analytical steps and moves by the two Scrabble Aficionados, as Nigerians Scrabble enthusiasts kept vigil to follow the event.

According to Mr FasholaKayode,PlayersRepresentative and Board Member of theNigeriaScrabbleFederation, with this victory Nigeria justprovedtothewholeworld that she is not just 11 times

African Champion but that she is also the best Scrabble playing Nation in the whole world.

Mr Wellington Jighere have been hovering around theWorldcrownforyearsand yesterday he proved to the world that he was a force to be reckoned with.

With this victory Nigeria will gain more slots in terms of representations at subsequent world tournaments.

Nigeria also emerged as The Best Team of the Championship as her 6 representatives gave a good account of themselves with 5 of them placing in the first 50.

An elated Sulaiman Garba Gora, President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation said years of dedication, perseverance and industry has paid off. “ For us, this is one of the greatest days in the history of Nigeriansportsandweatthe NigerianScrabbleFederation are proud to produce a world champion after years of hard work and perseverance. It

had to happen one day. Today is that day” he said.

Board Member and spokesperson of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Paul Bassey hailed Jighere and indeed other players, board members and management of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation for “....this milestone.

TheDGNationalSportsCommission, our Patron Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio and indeed all other membersoftheScrabblefamily are elated. we are waiting for the triumphant return of the history makers” he said.

•L-r: Deputy Head, Channels Operations, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Lateef Aliyu; President, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club (LLTC), Mr. Rotimi Edu and the Chairman, 2015 Quadrangular Games Mr. Bowo Olateru-Olagbegi, during a press conference organized by Sterling Bank on the 2015 Quadrangular Games of LLTC in Lagos at the weekend.

Peak SCM wins WAMCO Cup Final

T

HE annual FrieslandCampina WAMCO Cup Final Season 10 ended Saturday, November 7 at the Agege Stadium in Lagos, with Team Peak SCM lifting the trophy and receivinggoldmedalsaswinners.

Following a goalless first half, Felix Odili scored the

winning goal for Team Peak SCM (Sweeteened Condensed Milk) against second place silver medal winners, Team Three Crowns Powder.

Earlier in the day, Team PeakPowderbeatTeamPeak Evap 3:1 to win bronze medals.

The third place match was

swiftly followed by a novelty match of 11-a-side, which pitched the Managing Director, FC WAMCO, Rahul Colaco, company directors, managers, drivers, office and factoryworkersagainstthemselves. It was entertaining and was decided by penalty shoot-out in favour of Team Red against White.

TonyUdunguofTeamPeak Powder scored the highest number goals of the tourney as the 2015 Most Valuable Player while Ani Gabriel of Team Peak SCM emerged Best Goalkeeper.

The tournament kicked off September 19 and featured eight teams representing FrieslandCampina WAMCO’s key brands using the knock out format for the 2015 champions to emerge.

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015 — 55

Wenger hails Gunners fight back in derby draw A

RSENAL manager Arsene Wenger praised his side’s mental response after coming from a goal behind to draw 1-1 with Tottenham in the north London derby yesterday.

Substitute Kieran Gibbs grabbed a late equaliser after Harry Kane had put Spurs 1-0 up in the first half, with the visitors dominating the majority of the Premier League game at Emirates Stadium.

Wenger admitted his side could not match their rivals in the first half, with Santi Cazorla ‘dizzied’ by the game’s intensity, but after the Gunners’ resurgence, he believes 1-1 was a fair result.

“We were a bit unlucky because Cazorla was not himself in the first half, so I changed him at halftime. He was dizzy and not at the races, so we suffered in the middle of the park .

“Maybe [for the goal] we had not the right timing to play offside, but after that in the second half it was a great mental response and we showed we were determined not to lose.

“I believe 1-1 is a fair result. We had great chances to score. Both sides had chances. Giroud could have kicked it at the end. We had restricted options on the bench because of injuries and that makes the game difficult,” he said.

“I am delighted because we gain two weeks treatment for the 10 players who are not available at the moment, and I hope that after these two weeks we do not lose more, and get some back.

M

ESUT Ozil be came the first player in history to deliver assists in six consecutive Premier League matches as Arsenal salvaged a 1-1 draw against Tottenham.

The German’s arching cross was converted by Kieran Gibbs in the 77th minute to carry him into uncharted territory.

Ozil’s assist run started in September when he teed up Alexis Sanchez in the 5-2 demolition of Leicester, before adding to his selfless haul against Manchester United, Watford, Everton, Swansea and Spurs.

*High Wire... Arsenal’s defender Mathieu Debuchy (R) fouls Tottenham Hotspur’s striker Harry Kane during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 8, 2015.

Neymar powers Barca to fourth straight win But, somewhat inevitastruck in the second half EYMAR a n d to earn Barca a victory bly, Neymar and Suarez N Luis Suarez again made light of Li- that moves them three came to the fore after the onel Messi’s absence to inspire Barcelona to a 3-0 La Liga win over Villarreal.

Usually the supporting cast to Messi’s lead role in Barca’s stellar forward line, Neymar and Suarez have been in irresistible form since the Argentina captain picked up a knee injury last month.

The deadly duo were at it again at Camp Nou on Sunday as they both

points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table ahead of Real’s trip to Sevilla later in the day.

Only Madrid and its cross-city foe Atletico Madrid had conceded fewer Liga goals this season than Villarreal prior to kickoff, and Marcelino’s men showed plenty of gritty defensive organisation in the first half to keep Barca at bay.

break, with the former breaking the deadlock after an hour with an unerring finish, before the latter made sure of the points from the penalty spot nine minutes later.

Neymar then capped off the convincing win with an outrageous touch and volley after collecting a pass from Suarez as Barca cruised to all three points to turn up the pressure on Madrid.

Klopp urges players to be focused

*Jurgen Klopp

J

URGEN Klopp has challenged his players to keep Liverpool fans in their seats until full-time following the late defeat to Crystal Palace.

Jurgen Klopp has

Ozil breaks EPL assists record

urged Liverpool to maintain their concentration after the manager suffered the first defeat of his tenure against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Having seen Philippe Coutinho cancel out Yan-

nick Bolasie’s opener in the Premier League match at Anfield, Scott Dann’s header eight minutes from time consigned the hosts to a 2-1 defeat.

Dann reacted quickest to head in a rebound following Simon Mignolet’s save, but a number of missed chances forced the former Borussia Dortmund coach to contemplate a first defeat at the helm a month after being appointed.

“When Palace scored I saw many people leave.

I felt very alone in this moment,” he said. “But we have to make them want to stay.

“It’s not the first time I’ve lost a game. We opened the door for Palace with our start.

“We defended the counter-attack well, but

a corner has cost us. I’m satisfied with some moments but my problem is that we need to play 95 minutes.

“We have to learn that we decide how strong, tired, awake we are. I decide if I am tired, nobody else.

“Of course we can do more and if anyone thinks we can’t, they’re wrong.”

Liverpool’s disappointing outing was made worse by an injury that forced Mamadou Sakho off before halftime, the in-form defender landing awkwardly on his right knee following an aerial challenge. “We don’t want to speculate, but we have to wait for a scan,” Klopp added.

“I’d rather lose 4-1 and keep him in the team.”

*Neymar

Moyes faces sack

D

AVID Moyes is on the verge of the sack from Real Sociedad as the Spanish club consider their options following a 2-0 defeat at second-bottom Las Palmas that left the side level on points with the final relegation place.

On Sunday, the former Manchester United manager was travelling back from the UK, where he had spent the weekend since the defeat on Friday night, and is expected to meet with the club’s president Jokin Aperribay upon his return, when he will be informed. His replacement is expected to be Eusebio Sacristán.

Moyes had offers to return to the Premier League in the summer.

Dortmund edge out Schalke in thriller

B

ORUSSIA Dortmund came out on top in the Revierderby, holding on to beat rivals Schalke 3-2 at Signal Iduna Park.

In a game that was simmering throughout, Dortmund prevailed with Shinji Kagawa’s opening the scoring on the half hour mark. His goal was canceled out by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar but Matthias Ginter headed home to hand the home side a first half lead.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had arguably his poorest game of a goal-laden season, netted his 14th league goal of the season to clinch the points despite Huntelaar ’s second with around 15 minutes to play giving the visitors from Gelsenkirchen a modicum of hope.

Given Dortmund’s clashes with Schalke can define a season, Thomas Tuchel was shrewd to give a rest to Shinji Kagawa and Ilkay Gundogan on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League. They both returned; as did Roman Bürki and Sokratis.

*Shinji Kagawa

Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015

Tottenham lead chase for Osimhen R-E-S-U-L-T-S

Nzogbu! Nzogbu!!!

Enyimba win 7th League title

NPL Enyimba 0 Wolves Kano Pillars 1 Akwa U. El-Kanemi 1 Wikki Dolphins 2 Heartland Giwa 1 Shooting I/Ubah 0 Nasarawa Sharks 1 Kwara Taraba 2 A/Warriors Bayelsa 1 Sunshine Lobi 2 Rangers

0 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 2 0

EPL Aston Villa 0 Man City 0 Arsenal 1 Tottenham 1 Liverpool 1 C/Palace 2 LA LIGA A/Bilbao 2 Espanyol 1 Barcelona 3 Villarreal 0 BUNDESLIGA Dortmund 3 Schalke 2 SERIE A Torino 0 Empoli 1 Frosinone 2 Palermo 1 Roma 2

Inter Juventus Genoa Chievo Lazio

1 3 2 0 0

Palace snatch late winner at Liverpool

*Osimhen

Falconets qualify for 2016 FIFA U-20 World Cup —P.53

—P.53

Nigerian is World Scrabble Champion! *CHAMPS! Enyimba players celebrate after their 0-0 draw that handed them the League title in Aba yesterday.

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Fashionable (4) 4 Child (3) 6 Creep (4) 8 Customer (6) 9 Modern (6) 10 Lair (3) 12 Outcoming (5) 14 Avarice (5) 15 Leaf (5) 18 Instrument (6) 20 Simply (6) 24 Long (5) 26 Essential (5) 28 entice (5) 30 Astern (3) 32 Pursue (6) 33 Recluse (6) 34 Discharge (4) 35 Craving (3) 36 Consider (4)

—Page 54

QUICK CROSSWORD

DOWN 2 Throw (5) 3 Defile (7) 4 Nurse (4) 5 Rotate (4) 6 Encounter (5) 7 Hide (7) 11 Epoch (3) 12 Cur (3) 13 Beverage (3) 16 Attempt (3) 17 Meadow (3) 19 Regular (7) 21 Skill (3) 22 Scoffed (7) 23 Still (3) 25 Sprite (3) 27 Apportion (5) 29 Cost (5) 30 Crooked (4) 31 Lean (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Sense 7, Devil 8, Urban Tuni 12, Eat 13, Aimed 15, Donated Headed 19, Wed 20, Deleted 23, Avid Dome 26, Cajoled 30, Wit 31, Decent Bridged 37, Money 38, All 39, Droop Asked 41, Tenet 42, Speed.

10, 17, 25, 34, 40,

DOWN: 1, Belie 2, Sited 3, Eluded 4, Said 5, Dreaded 6, Later 9, Bat 11, Cowered 13, Ahead 14, Magic 16, Net 18, Devoted 21, Dozen 22, Deity 24, Dawdled 27, Jig 28, Demote 29, Crash 32, Coped 33, Never 35, Ilk 36, Drip.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Ag.Editor: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K