PORTS SECURITY: US gives Nigeria 90-day ultimatum

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61900

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013

Doctor nabbed over mutilation of baby's corpse

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UBA AGM: From left: Chairman, United Bank for Africa(UBA) Plc, Chief Israel Ogbue; Group Managing Director/CEO,Mr. Phillips Oduoza; Vice Chairman, Amb Joe Keshi; and Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; at the 51st Annual General Meeting, AGM, of UBA Plc held in Abuja on Friday.

•Tongues, eyes, other vital parts of a year-old baby removed

PORTS SECURITY:

BY GODWIN ORITSE

US gives Nigeria 90-day ultimatum •Threatens to stop shipping services to Nigeria

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AGOS—THE United States Government, through its Embassy in Lagos, has cautioned the Federal Government to improve on its ports security system within 90 days or face the stoppage of sail of vessels to Nigeria.

The Embassy, Vanguard gathered, got an audit report from the officials of the United States Coast Guards who

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150 SHOPS RAZED IN LAGOS •P.17

COLUMNISTS:

DELE SOBOWALE •P.34

LES LEBA •P.40

OCHEREOME NNANNA •P. 46

PAUL BASSEY •P.52

Mr & Mrs

FIRE—No fewer than 150 shops were razed, yesterday, at the Trinity Spare Parts Market in Ajegunle area of Lagos. Above: The raging fire and rescue operation at the scene. See story on Page 10.

Wahab Dosunmu dies in United States @ 74

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POCKET CARTOON

BRIEFING—Mr Gbenga Oyebode, Chairman Business Law section with Mr Asue Ighodalo, ViceChairman Business Law and Mrs Funmi Robert, Council member at the media briefing by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law in Ikoyi, Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

PORTS SECURITY: US gives

Nigeria 90-day ultimatum Continues from page 1 were in Nigeria about a month ago, to inspect the security at Nigerian ports.

Based on the report, the embassy sent a diplomatic note to the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Nigeria, which in turn contacted the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other relevant agencies.

Confirming the development, General Manager in charge of security at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Col Jamil Tahir (Rtd) told Vanguard that a Diplomatic Note was issued to the foreign affairs ministry to protest the poor state of security at the ports, particularly the Tin-Can Island Port.

Tahir stated that the

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

The truth is, we can do great things after we pray, but we cannot do great things until we pray. So the word for you today is, keep on praying.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

You’re going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it’s always their actions you should judge them by. It’s actions, not words that matter – Nicholas Spark

E

VERY moment is awareness and the privilege to choose the next thought is very profound, but it is going beyond, to living from the heart that makes it an awesome experience for me.

When you think about it, this ability is within our reach. The choice to feel beautiful, to express loving thoughts and to exhale joy and laughter! This transformation is ever expanding and it comes with it, a most exhilarating feeling of love.

A sweet thing is easy to admire, sweet words are easy to come by, but a sweet friend is rare and when we find special friendship, we nurture and naturally care a lot.

This much I know, a friend is like a lovely song, always endearing and meaningful, but the greater illumination is the choice to love and the freedom to do so without a tinge ...this is beautiful affection and devotion, a better expression of love.

ports authority has swung into action, following a stakeholders' meeting called by NPA to sensitise everybody on the need to be proactive on the security challenges currently facing the ports.

He said that the authority has already secured an approval to instal counter terrorism

equipment in strategic areas in and around the port premises.

The 90-day ultimatum, according to Tahir, started last month and will expire at the end of August.

He said that the US threatened to stop shipping services to Nigeria and to also mobilize its allied countries to do the same if the port security situation was not im-

proved upon.

At a Port Facility Security Officers (PFSO) Forum meeting in Lagos last week, a member of the group who preferred to remain anonymous said that the situation at the ports after the visit of the U.S coast guards has not changed as the people still hibernate under disused vehicles around the ports.

It was also said that the Tin-Can Island Port in particular is like a regular market place where all kinds of people have unrestricted access while broken down vehicles liter the port's access roads.

Besides the measures being put in place to secure the nation’s ports by the NPA, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) called for a stakeholders' meeting today (Monday) to intimate

stakeholders of the transfer of Designated Authority (D/A) responsible for the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code.

The ISPS code is the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) convention to secure and safeguard ships and port facilities around the world following the renewed global terrorism.

It will be recalled that the Executive Director in charge of NIMASA’s Shipping development, Captain Bala Agaba had said that the ISPS code has not been properly implemented in Nigeria, adding that with the transfer of Designated Authority to NIMASA, the industry will begin to see improved ship and port security in the Nigerian ports.

IBADAN PIPELINE EXPLOSION: We've resumed pumping of petroleum products — NNPC L

AGOS—THE Man agement of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday said it had successfully clamped the ruptured point along the Mosimi– Ibadan line and resumed fuel supply operation to Ibadan and its environs.

The repairs came less than 24 hours after men suspected to be oil thieves ruptured the Mosimi–Ibadan fuel supply pipeline along the crucial System 2B Pipeline network, which erupted into an inferno weekend.

The Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division,

NNPC, Ms. Tumini Green, in a statement said a team of engineers and technologists from the NNPC and its downstream subsidiary, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, worked assiduously over the weekend to restore the line to normal operation.

The NNPC spokesperson said the Corporation responded quickly because of its determination to ensure that Nigerians do not experience any form of scarcity in petroleum products supply on account of the activities of some unpatriotic citizens.

“At exactly 20.06 hrs on Saturday, the Mosimi–

Ibadan line was restreamed after repair works at the ruptured point. While we remain committed to our resolve in ensuring unimpeded distribution of petroleum products across the country despite the mounting odds, we call on members of the public to support the NNPC and the security agencies in this fight against oil thieves and pipeline hackers,” the statement read in part.

The NNPC called on Ibadan residents and the adjoining communities to refrain from panic buying or hoarding of petroleum products in anticipation of scarcity.

Litany of vandalism

Efforts by the NNPC to ensure unimpeded distribution of products through its vast artery of pipelines have come under serious threats due to the activities of oil thieves especially along the System 2B Pipeline network, which accounts for a third of products supply in the country.

The Corporation said there have been over 774 ruptured points between August and October, 2012 along the System 2B line, adding that it is currently working with the Engineering Corps of the Nigerian Army to clear the pipeline right of way from the Atlas Cove in Lagos to the Ilorin Depot in Kwara State.

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013

KILLING OF UNIBEN STUDENT

Family faults police on casefile

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BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN CITY— COUN SEL to the family of Ibrahim Momodu, who was shot dead by the police at Ogida, Benin City, Edo State, Mr Jefferson Uwoghiren, has faulted the decision by the Edo State Police Command to hand over the casefile to the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP. He said it was an attempt to shield the officer that killed the young man from prosecution.

The family demanded that Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Ogida Police Station, Mrs Carol Afegbai, and other members of her patrol team, fingered in the murder, should be charged to court for murder and robbery. They said the family would resist any attempt to exonerate the DPO and sacrifice her orderly.

However, the state Police Commissioner, Mr Folunsho Adebanjo, who vowed that the command would not shield any officer involved in extra judicial killing, explained that the case file was sent to the DPP, who will advise parties and not to shield the officer.

He said: “We are determined to get to the root of the matter. I appeal that we all remain calm and put heads together to find the truth. That is why we have redeployed the DPO and her orderly, to have a smooth investigation.”

Police kill suspected robber, 3 others escaped

Doctor nabbed for mutilation of baby's corpse

BY UJU MBANUSI

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AGOS — THE Ogun State Police Command, yesterday, said it has arrested one Dr. Babawale Joshua who owned Ajike Medical Centre at 11, Adeyemi Street, Saka, Sango Ota, for suspected ritual activities and disrespect to the corpse of a 13-month-old baby who died in his hospital, Saturday.

According the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, for the state, Mr Muyiwa Ogunjobi, the police discovered that the boy’s corpse was mutilated. He told Vanguard that the eyes, tongue, two lips, two ears, private part, nails and the left hand and veins were cut off at the hospital.

AGOS — A MEMBER of a notorious robbery gang that has been terrorizing Ikeja, Agege and Ogba areas of Lagos State, was, yesterday, killed by the police during a shootout along Oba -Akran Road, Ikeja.

The deceased suspect, whose identity is unknown, with four others, was said to have attacked a petrol station along Oba Akran Road.

Vanguard gathered that the bandits who stormed the fuel station around midday, came in a sedan car.

The bandits dispossessed the fuel attendants and their customers of valuables.

and we left, with the intention of returning yesterday morning to clear what ever bill there was, and take our child for burial.

“Also our pastor advised us to get a death certificate first before taking the corpse away for burial, so that we don’t encounter any problems with the police.

“We also needed to inform our kinsmen here about what happened. These were the reasons why we left the body of our baby at the hospital till the following morning.

“But yesterday morning, I was having a meeting with my brothers on how to get a doctor’s report on my child’s death when the nurse called me to come over

to the hospital, that it’s like they used a spiritual arrow to kill my child. I asked her what she meant by that. And at same time, followed her to the room where the body was.

“I was shocked to the bones to find my child’s body in a gory state. His ears were cut off, his private part, his tongue, his lips, and his eyes were plucked out. I am yet to recover from the shock of that sight.The police was informed and they came and took the body away.”

Meantime, when Vanguard visited the hospital, yesterday, it was under lock and key, having been shut by the police who confirmed the development.

Father's account In his account of what happened, the child’s father, identified as Obinna Oleh, a 35-yearold auto spare part dealer at Ladipo market, from Umunze village in Anambra State, said: “On Friday the 7th of June, my child took ill, my wife joined me to rush him to the hospital.

“The next day, being Saturday, I came to see them at the hospital in the morning before going to my shop while the child was actually getting better then.

“It was with this hope that I left for my shop thinking that at least before the end of the day, the child would have recovered fully.

“But in the afternoon, my wife called to inform me that the baby’s health had deteriorated, that I should rush home. When I got here, I met my child in a very critical condition.

“I asked if any medication had been administered on him and my wife told me that the doctor gave him an injection that afternoon and that the child’s stomach swelled after the injection.

“The baby was practically abandoned by the hospital manage-

The hospital

Hoodlums defecate in Oba's palace after beating him —Panel zHow he was rescued —Police

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — CHAIRMAN of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the crisis in Ado-

46 Area Boys get 50-hour community service

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

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ment in this condition until around 8p.m when he finally died.

"As we attempted to carry the corpse, the nurse in charge said we had to clear our bills before we could take the body away. She also said she needed to call the Medical Director for the full amount we were to balance before they could release the corpse to us.

"Mind you, we were not owing them before the baby died. We made some initial deposit prior to the baby’s admission and treatment. So when the nurse came up with the balance payment issue, I was not in the mood to argue that with them. I took my wife

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS — NO fewer than 46 members of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, and Area Boys arrested by the Lagos State government were, weekend, sentenced to a 50-hour community service across the state.

The NURTW officials and the touts were earlier arrested by officials of the state Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences Unit, on Ikorodu Road while allegedly misbehaving and subsequently arraigned before a magistrate court.

They were arrested while harassing commercial vehicles operators popularly called Danfo, outside the motor parks in an attempt to collect union dues.

It would be recalled that the La-

gos State Road Traffic Law 2012 prohibits collection of dues by unions and others outside their motor parks.

According to the chairman of the taskforce unit, Mr. Bayo Sulaimon, a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, the unit was acting on the directive of the state Ministry of Justice, Community Service Unit.

Sulaimon explained that after the arrest, they were charged to the Special Offences Court, Alausa, Ikeja by the state government and judgment was delivered by Magistrate Jadesola Adeyemi.

Acting on a judgment, the Taskforce Unit led the 46 miscreants convicted for constituting an environmental menace on Ikorodu road to carry out a 50hour community service as a punishment their act.

Odo-Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, Justice Oluwatosin Osinuga, has said the hoodlums who attacked the Olofin of Ado-Odo, Oba Abdul Lateef Adeniran recently also defecated in his palace before they burnt it.

A statement by the Media Officer of the commission, Ayokunle Ewuoso, said the chairman of the commission who expressed shock over what she saw during an on-the-spot assessment tour of the area, weekend, vowed to ensure that all perpetrators are punished.

Oba Adeniran was attacked by yet-to-be identified people on April 14, 2013 before they burnt his palace.

The development prompted the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to inaugurate a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the crisis on May 8, 2013.

Justice Osinuga said after the assessment: “I am short of words to describe what was done in this place, for the institution of an Oba to be treated this way. I cannot find words to describe this action. You would notice that it appears that they even def-

ecated in the palace. So I don’t know how to describe it. It's too much. The damage, the carnage is too much.”

While assuring that those involved in the dastardly act would be brought to book, Osinuga said: “The commission will recommend appropriate punishment to whoever is found to be involved because nobody is above the law.”

How he was rescued —Police Meanwhile, the Divisional Police Officer in Ado-Odo Police Station, Olukayode Ayilara, has said the prompt intervention of his men during an attack on the monarch saved his life.

The Police officer stated this while briefing members of the commission during a tour to the area, weekend, adding that the Police got hint of the attack through his driver.

He said but for the quick intervention of the police, the situation would have been worse as the hoodlums had already beaten the traditional ruler before they arrived the scene.

Vanguard , MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013—7

APC sets up 9-man Interim Mgt C'ttee

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

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ANO—NATIONAL leader ship of the yet-to-be registered All Progressives Congress, APC, has approved the appointment of a nine-man Interim Management Committee of the mega party, comprising three principal national officers each from the merging parties.

Briefing reporters in Kano yesterday, Secretary of the Central merging Committee of All Progressive Party, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, explained that the measure was adopted to facilitate the registration exercise of the mega party.

Shekarau said: “The national leadership of APC has agreed unanimously that the national principal officers of ACN, CPC and ANPP, which include the national Chairman, national Secretary, and Treasurer, respectively, should form the interim management committee of APC for the purpose of registration of the mega party with Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, only.”

Central Merging Committee relates with it as a group in the emerging party.

He said: “We in the Central Merging Committee relate with APGA and DPP as a group and we have accommodated them administratively. They are not with us as a party but as a larger group within the merging mega party.”

Shekarau added that the

central merging committee was winding up its duties in line with the dictates of their mandate, stressing that “all committees set up for the purpose of merger will cease to exist as soon as the interim management assumed its leadership role.

‘INEC has 30 days’

“INEC has 30 days to respond to our application and

we shall be counting our days right from the day we submit same to them and I am optimistic we would scale through the hurdle.”

The former Governor of Kano, who expressed optimism that the new party will secure INEC’s registration, noted that under INEC’s guidelines, the commission has 30 days to convey approval or otherwise.

Stakeholders meet

He disclosed that leaders of the merging parties are expected to meet this week to appoint chairman and other officers to run the party, stressing that “their assignment will last till we secure our registration.”

Shekarau, who is also the Chairman of ANPP merger Committee, said that principal officers of APGA and DPP were left out of the Interim Management Committee because the

ECOWAS: From left— Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Dr. Samuel Ortom, Minister of State for Trade & Investment, and Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank, at the 3rd ECOWAS Investment Forum in Lagos.

War of justices: Ogunbiyi tackles Okeke

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—SEQUEL to the allegation that she attempted to compromise justice in a case involving her daughter, a Supreme Court Justice, Clara Ogunbiyi, has accused a retired Justice of the Federal High Court, Okechukwu Okeke, of being economical with the truth.

Ogunbiyi, in an explanatory note she sent to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, accused Okeke of maligning her image during a valedictory court session that held in Lagos, recently.

Okeke had, at the said occasion, which was held to commemorate his formal exit from active judicial service, maintained that owing to his refusal to vacate an ex-parte order he made in a matter involving one Funke Amadi (nee Ogunbiyi) and convicted exManaging Director of the de-

funct Oceanic Bank, Mrs Cecila Ibru, Funke’s mother, Clara, resorted to using the National Judicial Council, NJC, to witch-hunt him.

It will be recalled that NJC had on the day it recommenced the compulsory sack of two High Court Judges, issued a stern warning to Okeke, who it said was spared owing to the fact that his retirement was in view.

However, in his speech at the valedictory court session on May 27, Okeke insisted that contrary to the impression created by NJC, it was Justice Ogunbiyi who tried to influence her orders in a case before him.

Okeke said his travails started on March 1, when he issued an order empowering Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, to take possession of some property forfeited to the Federal Government by Cecilia Ibru.

However, while refuting her

alleged involvement, Justice Ogunbiyi, in her letter to the CJN, said she did not at anytime contact retired Justice Okeke, either directly or indirectly on any matter.

She said: “It is extremely ridiculous, absurd and malicious for Justice Okeke to insinuate that it is the forgoing circumstances that formed the basis for the warning letter given to him on three petitions deliberated upon by NJC, which I know nothing about.

“The alleged petition by all the residents of 5A George Street, Ikoyi, to NJC has nothing to do with me.”

Justice Ogunbiyi maintained that she did not ask her daughter to see Justice Okeke and that she did not try to influence Justice Okeke on any matter.

She said, however: “In view of the grey areas surrounding the case, I therefore contacted Justice Ibrahim Auta, the Chief

Judge of the Federal High Court and narrated my daughter’s ordeal and therefore enquired about the laws governing AMCON case.

“On the allegation of the encounter between Justice Okeke and my daughter, Funke, in his chambers, I wish to state categorically that I never instructed her to see Justice Okeke for any reason whatsoever.

“If she had done so in company of the evicted residents of all the flats, she acted on her own volition. She is an adult, a married woman with a family, and she has a right to protect the interest of her family.

“I wish to emphasise further that I was reliably informed that my daughter was not on her own while in Justice Okeke’s chambers, but in company of the other residents, their lawyer, and also the lawyer to one of the parties.”

Order proscribing Boko Haram, Ansaru wrong, says ACN

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CTION Congress of Ni-geria, ACN, has said that the recent proscription order against Boko Haram and Ansaru, desirable as it may be in tackling the terrorist organisations, violates the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by stifling the press and tampering with the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.

A statement in IlaOrangun, yesterday, by ACN's National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the order also makes it easy for an increasingly intolerant government to clamp down on the opposition, which its sees more as an irritant .

In the alternative, ACN called on the Federal Government to clarify the knotty and vague areas of the open-ended order, that may end up punishing journalists and infringing on the civil liberties of the citizens more than it will curtail activities of the sects.

Stakeholders worry over new aviation law

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TAKEHOLDERS in the aviation sector have again expressed concern over the new aviation law, which has generated controversies in the country in recent times.

The law, as it concerned private owners, stipulated, among others, that such aircraft must not carry friends and business associates of owners unless the aircraft was registered as a commercial plane and must carry the necessary insurance covers.

It stipulated further that henceforth, every aircraft flying the nation’s airspace must file a flight plan that must also contain the manifest of passengers on board.

Experts' current position on the issue was again brought to the front burner, following the grounding of the chopper which was to take Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to Awka, Anambra State, for the burial of wife of Senator Ben Obi.

8 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013

2015: INEC orders arrest of campaigners

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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BUJA—FOLLOWING campaign posters pasted in strategic places in Abuja and other states, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, ordered security agents to apprehend any political party or politicians who are seen campaigning and pasting posters towards 2015 general elections.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, the commission said it had observed that electioneering broadcasts were being aired outside the statutory provision for campaigning towards elections into various elective offices in 2015.

He stressed that such trend was unhealthy and constituted a threat to the nation’s democracy.

The statement said: “The Commission, hereby, reminds all players of the provision of Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended), which states as follows: 'For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day'.”

INEC said that the polity must not be heated up before the elections period, adding that all political parties must note that campaigning outside this provision is a violation of the law.

It warned that the Commission will not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions against culprits as provided by relevant sections of the law.

The statement added, “INEC has observed that some politicians and registered political parties have begun unbridled campaigns towards the forthcoming general election, thereby heating up the polity.

“It is observed that campaign posters are being indiscriminately displayed, while electioneering broadcasts are being aired outside the statutory provision for campaigning towards elections into various elective offices."

WEDDING: From left— Justice Mary Odili and Dr. Peter Odili, parents of the bride; President Goodluck Jonathan; his wife, Dame Patience; Hajiya Amina Sambo, wife of Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme and Chief Uzoma Nwosu-Iheme, parents of the bridegroom, at the wedding of the daughter of Dr. Odili, former governor of Rivers State, in Abuja, Saturday. STATE HOUSE PHOTO.

6-year single tenure: Reps disagree with Senate

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

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BUJA—THERE were in dications, yesterday, that members of the House of Representatives were against the proposition by the Senate for a six-year single tenure for the president and governors in their constitution amendment being finetuned for adoption by the National Assembly.

A senior leader of the House of Representatives told Vanguard in an exclusive interview that the members would not support the Senate to replace the two terms of four-year tenure with six-year single tenure.

The lawmaker, who is a Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, member, made it clear that the proposal by the Senate would not serve the best interest of the nation and was capable of causing ripples in the country if not well handled.

The lawmaker said: “We, in the House of Representatives, are not going to support what the Senate has proposed because we know that such a proposal can bring about a serious problem in the polity.

“We are waiting to see how their proposal will sail through given the controversy that is already trailing it.

“We have made our position on the various issues debated upon by Nigerians, during our constituency engagement, very clear and there is no going back on them. But if the Senate insists on going ahead with a single tenure of six years for

president and governors, then we can put it to vote and see who will carry the day.

“Our position remains that it is in the best interest of the nation for the provision of two terms of four years to be retained in the constitution.”

Peterside’s opinion

Adding his voice to the issue, a member of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, said that the House of Representatives got an overwhelming endorsement from members to retain the two terms of four years and that the members were not in support of anything different from that.

Peterside pointed out that doing the opposite of what their constituents voted for, during the period of the exercise, would amount to short-changing their people and could cause them their mandate.

The lawmaker representing Opopo Federal Constituency said: “Our decision to stick to two terms of four years was arrived at after an exhaustive consultation with our respective constituencies and we cannot come back to change what they did not ask us to change.

“I can tell you without any fear of contradiction that we arrived at that decision based on our constituency engagement. Most of the opinions were in favour of two terms of four years and not six years.”

Ekweremadu speaks

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, while pre-

senting his report on the constitution review, maintained that if adopted, the six-year single tenure for president and governors in Nigeria, would effectively deny those aspiring for second term of their mandate.

Ekweremadu, therefore, appealed to the president and 13 governors likely to be affected by the constitutional change to make sacrifice in the interest of the nation.

The Deputy Senate President said: “For us, it would have been easy to say let’s put it six years and let whoever wants, including those who are available now, let them benefit, so long as it will keep overheating the system away.

“But we don’t want Nigerians to say that we have colluded with the executive to give tenure elongation to the president and certain governors. That means somebody, instead of staying for eight years, will now be staying for 10 years.

“I think it will be easier for someone to deal with the issue of making a sacrifice than for someone to have the period for 10 years. I am not sure what our colleagues will say.

“If they say that those who are there now should benefit, that is fine. Those who are currently serving should be able to excuse themselves and say we make this sacrifice on behalf of the system.”

‘Jonathan misunderstood’ Ekweremadu recalled that the President was one of the

persons that called for a single tenure of six or seven years.

He said: “He (Jonathan) was grossly misunderstood.

They were saying he wanted to get a third term. That he wanted to elongate his tenure and all kinds of things were said.

“Since we did not provide for any particular date, it means that as soon as the Constitution is passed, it starts. That is the implication.

“Unless you are suggesting that we put the time frame when it will start. But in the last amendment to the Constitution, we did not put any time frame for its take off. We also did not put in this one.”

Fears, affected states

Analysts fear that if passed into law, President Goodluck Jonathan and 13 governors seeking re-election in the 2015 general elections might be technically barred from participation in the next election in 2015.

According to Ekweremadu, the law, once passed, will not require presidential assent to become effective as other legislations.

That position, it was also learnt yesterday, was already agitating the minds of litigants, who fear that the move could stop Jonathan from going for a second term and give his position to a northern candidate.

The plan could also stop the governors of Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Kwara, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo, Zamfara, Gombe, Imo, Borno, Kaduna and Kogi states from going for a second term.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013 — 9

Strike: NLC threatens showdown with Ogun govt … as teachers protest non-payment of 27.5 per cent TPA

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — THE Nigeria Labour Congress in Ogun State has threatened a showdown with the state government if it fails to address the demands of the Nigeria Union of Teachers within the seven days.

Chairman of the NLC, Akeem Ambali during a protest organised by teachers in the state, weekend, disclosed that, the NLC in the state was ready to act as an intermediary between the government and the Nigeria Union of Teachers.

The state chapter of the NUT has joined other eight states in the ongoing indefinite strike to press for the implementation of the 27.5 per cent Teachers’ Peculiar Allowance, TPA, vowing not to call its members to return to classrooms unless all its demands were met.

Addressing the members of the NUT in the state during the rally, Ambali said, “ we want to appeal to the government, we want to negotiate with the government for the next seven days, I know something positive will come out.

But if that fails, we will not hesitate to continuously offer a purposeful leadership to the Nigeria Union of Teachers.

“Teachers are not well fed.

Our meagre allowance can not take us home. We are open to negotiation, we don’t have closed minds. The government must be able to come up to know the recognised and legalised union of teachers.

“Negotiation must be well documented. We are not sycophants; we are not being sponsored by government.

“What are we fighting for?

What is our government doing as regards democratic

dividend?

“The government has been seized by sycophants, that is the truth.

“Governor Amosun is from us; he is one of us, no matter what happened in OkeMosan, he got to that through Labour.

“When he lost the first election, we sympathised with him, we prayed to God Almighty; with the efforts of the downtrodden masses and Labour he is now at Oke-Mosan.

“Now, let us remind His Excellency that at a point in time

he should remember his oath with the Labour. He told us that his government is going to be a worker driven government; where is our welfare that he promised? Is 27.5 per cent not part of our welfare?

Let us pray that God Almighty will touch the heart of the governor and the government to pay the money immediately.

Meanwhile, teachers numbering about 500 led by state NUT Chairman, Comrade Dare Ilekoya, protested the alleged failure of the state government to respond to the

teachers’ agitations and grievances.

The protesting teachers carried placards with various inscriptions such as: ‘N4 billion plus Federal allocation is enough to pay,’ ‘Teachers are moulders, they deserve a lot of respect,’ ‘ASSUS is a government sponsored antiteachers progress,’ ‘Ogun teachers deserve Ogun standard’ and ‘No 27.5 per cent to teachers, no resumption,’ among others.

Doctors in Ekiti threaten strike over stoppage of special allowance day ultimatum to the state government to effect the payment or get ready for industrial action.

DO EKITI — FOR allegedly stopping Operating under the umbrella of Nigeria Medipayment of special allowances, otherwise cal Association, NMA, the body at a press briefing known as Consolidated Medical Salary Scale to in Ado Ekiti, weekend, condemned the state govmedical workers in all the 16 councils of Ekiti ernment for its alleged refusal to pay the allowState,the parent body of doctors has issued a 21- ance to their colleagues working at the local government level The association equally warned the state government to stop imposition of what it described as undue taxation of its members across the state.

The doctors said they are not satisfied with the heavy taxation on their call duty and other prof e s s i o n a l allowances.

This warning came barely a week the teachers in the state joined their counterparts in a nationwide strike over Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi (right),welcoming Swiss Am- unpaid 27.5 per bassador to Nigeria, Chad and Niger, Mr. Hans-Rudolf Hodel and the cent TPA Migration Advisor, Embassy of Switzerland, Mr. Andreas Broger, to his residence, in Ado-Ekiti.

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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Ekiti PDP urges party leaders to caution Tambuwal for praising Aregbesola

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SOGBO — THE Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has asked the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and other national leaders of the party to call the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal to order over his alleged recent utterances on the political situations in the state.

Also, the party described the recent statement credited to the state Chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that the party should look for a credible candidate ahead

of the 2014 governorship poll as careless statement, saying that the party’s aspirants are all competent individuals with good educational background to lead the state.

The call was as a result of the recent visits by Hon. Tambuwal to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State where he was said to have commended the governo for his laudable achievements.

Tambuwal alongside other prominent members of the PDP including former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar were in the state recently for the official launch of “Opon Imo,” an initiative of the Aregbesola’s government and both of them hailed Aregbesola’s achievements.

The latest visit of Tambuwal was the second time he would be visiting Governor Aregbesola this year, a development which the state chapter of the PDP considered as incredible, especially considering his commendation of Aregbesola’s programmes.

But the PDP in a statement by its Chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa at the weekend said it was unbecoming of a national leader of the party like Tambuwal to praise-sing Aregbesola each time he was in the state.

Olaoluwa, who condemned the visits and utterances of Tambuwa, asked whether the Speaker, Tambuwal is a member of the PDP or a supporter of Governor Aregbesola.

Court orders man’s detention over abduction, rape of 15 yr old girl

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO — A 22 year old man, Moyinoluwa Tosin has been ordered by an Osogbo Magistrate court to be remanded in Ilesha prison for allegedly abducting and raping a 15 year old girl, Tope Adeniyi.

The Police prosecutor, Mr. Solomon Oladele, an Inspector told the court presided over by Magistrate Olusola Aluko that the accused person and others who now at large, conspired to abduct the 15-year-old girl, while Moyinoluwa allegedly defiled her at Egbatedo area of Osogbo.

He said the offences allegedly committed by the accused person were contrary to and punishable under sections 516, 362, 221 and 360 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34 Vol. 11 laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003.

The accused told the court that the victim often slept in his house, adding that there was no way he could have raped his girl friend who had on many occasions slept with him.

He therefore pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Counsel to the accused person, Mr. Daniel Agbara prayed the court to grant the accused person bail, but the court declined the plea and asked him to make a formal application.

The case was adjourned till 20th June, 2013.

Dosunmu, former NADECO chieftain dies in US

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

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ORMER CHIEF TAIN of the Na tional Democratic Coalition, NADECO, and Second Republic Minister, Dr Wahab Dounmu, is dead.

He died at a United States of America hospital last night after a brief illness. Details of his death were sketchy at press time.

The late politician was one of those who fought for the actualization of the June 12, 1993 presidential mandate of late Chief M.K.O Abiola through NADECO. In 1999, he aspired to govern Lagos but lost the

ticket to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He won election into the Senate on the banner of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, and later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, before the end of his term in 2003.

Contacted on the Dosunmu’s demise, former Lagos State Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Murtala Ashorobi, confirmed the politician’s death. . “That is shocking to me.

I was at the club (Eko club) between 6 and 7 p.m, yesterday but I did not hear any news until I made come calls this night. he died three months after his 74 th birtday,” he said.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013

Orhii, Fagbohungbe, Oloruntoba, others for NAJUC seminar All is now set for the 2013 annual workshop of the Lagos branch of National Association of Judicial Correspondents (NAJUC).

A statement issued, weekend, by the Central Planning Committee for the workshop, explained that the two-day event would commence today, June 10, 2013 with a free health check up for all NAJUC members at the Press Centre of Lagos High Court, Igbosere.

According to the statement, Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, would educate the judicial correspondents on laws guiding the operations of NAFDAC. Director of Prosecution and Legal Services of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Femi Oloruntoba will facilitate a number of topics on the operational laws and treaties guiding the operations of the NDLEA All the sessions will be chaired by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Felix Faghohungbe.

Infrastructure Bank to fund $2bn rail project from Alagbado to Lagos T

HE INFRASTRUCTURE Bank Plc is to provide funds for the proposed $2 billion dollars Lagos Red Line Rail Project that will commute two million passengers daily from Alagbado to Marina.

Mr. Hakeem Olopade, the bank’s Executive Director (Projects), announced this in Lagos at the 3rd Economic Commission of West Africa States, ECOWAS, Investment Forum.

The bank is the chief promoter and financier of the rail project.

The fund will be sourced from the local and international markets.

Olopade said the project had been in conception since five

years ago and would be implemented by Marina Express Consortium to ease transportation in populated areas of Lagos.

According to him, the Red Line Rail project would stretch 37 kilometres with 36 pedestrian walk-over bridges to end at the Marina.

Olopade said the Red Line and the ongoing Blue Line Rail projects would converge on a “signature bridge” to link the mainland to the Marina.

He saithe bridge would cost 200 million dollars.

Olopade said the Red Line Rail project might be extended to Ogun State in the future and said the Red Line Rail project would be a two-

type infrastructure which would cost one billion dollars each.

The bank executive identified skill and training as paramount to the project and said the bank was assembling a global team to implement the

Falana seeks 50% reduction of electricity tariff — Falana

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAHI

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AGOS — LAGOS Law yer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, has called for a 50 per cent reduction in the electricity tariff currently being paid by Nigerians, arguing that the current tariff is

Chief Richard Akinjide, SAN, First Republic parliamentarian and former Minister of Justice (middle); Eric James, Delta State media consultant (left) and Ufuoma Omologe, of Delta Broadcasting Service, Lagos Office, at the presentation of Akinjide's Lecture Series, in Lagos.

Politicians, parties destroying democracy in Nigeria — Prof. Momoh

BY EBUN SESSOU

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AGOS — DEAN of the Faculty of Social Science, Lagos State University, Professor Abubakar Momoh, has said the only way democracy will yield dividends in Nigeria is for politicians to stop playing destructive politics, lamenting that the problem of democracy in Nigeria is politicians and political parties.

He spoke as a guest speaker at the 2ndLegislative/Civil So-

ciety Parley of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Speaking on the theme, “Good Governance at the Grassroots in Lagos State”, he said, “Democracy is about representation, participation and inclusion but submitted that not all the three factors were present in practice of democracy in Nigeria.”

Momoh argued that what the country had in the last 14 years was not democracy but

despotism, saying most politicians were not representing the interest of the masses even though they were supposedly elected by the same masses.

Explaining the rationale behind government at the grassroots, he said the way the Local Government Council Areas, LDCAs, were created was highly political.

He noted: “If they are community and development fo-

project, saying, “we also want to make sure that as we provide training and skill services, there is a clear system of transfer programme to ensure that within a short time, the rail would be run by Nigerians for Nigerians.”

cused, then the issue regarding bureaucracy will be a thing of the past. There are structural and behavioural issues that are wrong with our politics.”

“Chairmen of local government are like hand-bags, they are not independent in terms of finance, among others. Part of the challenges of grassroots governance includes corruption, constitutional ambiguity of tenure and powers of LGs, among others.”

not justifiable since Nigerians have practically been in darkness as admitted by government in the mid-term report.

Falana in a statement called on the Federal Government to urgently decentralise the generation and distribution of electricity without any further delay.

He said state and local governments should play a dominant role in the on-going privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN. According to him, “In a midterm report lavishly launched barely a week ago, the Goodluck Jonathan Administration claimed to have performed excellently well.

“In particular, it scored itself pass mark in the area of electricity supply. But as soon as the official celebration of deception was over, the country was totally enveloped in darkness.

“The disgraceful development was confirmed by the Federal Government which admitted that 120 million Nigerians had no access to electricity. Two days later, the remaining 47million Nigerians who are said to have access to electricity were subjected to system collapse to the extent that electricity supply fell below 2,000 megawatts from 4,000 megawatts.

“The situation became so embarrassing that President Jonathan has set up a panel to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the system collapse in the energy sector.”

Fire razes 150 shops at Trinity spare parts market

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS — NO fewer than 150 shops and goods worth millions of Naira were yesterday razed by fire at the Trinity spare parts market in Olodi Apapa area of Lagos State.

Vanguard gathered that the fire which started around 3:24 p.m., might have been caused by an electrical power surge in one of the shops on ‘B’ line of the plaza.

Eyewitnesses who spoke to Vanguard confirmed that at first a thick smoke was spotted bellowing from one shop in ‘B’ line as Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, restored power in the afternoon before finally degenerating into an inferno that engulfed the entire Speed Well Plaza.

The plaza is said to house over 200 shops dealing on motor spare parts. An eyewitness and a resident in the area who identified himself as Amechi, told Vanguard that “this whole incident started

when PHCN restored power here around 1.00p.m.

Not long after that, I saw a thick smoke coming from one of the shops on B line but I didn’t know the fire was going to be this big and spread to other parts of the plaza. Now the destruction is wanton.”

Meanwhile, some of the affected traders who could talk to Vanguard, expressed shock at the sudden inferno, lamenting that with the level of destruction, it would only take quick government intervention to help them

get back to business again.

For instance, one of the affected traders, Mr. Izuchukwu Agwu, lamented: “I am finished. As you are seeing me here, I have lost everything I have to this fire incident.

“Unless something is done, I am heading back to the village and you know what it means suicide. I sleep in my shop and I have no other business here.”

“I was lucky not to have been in there when the fire started; who knows, I might have got burnt. Now, what else do I have,

I am heading back to the village tonight.” .

Meanwhile, policemen from Trinity Police Station were seen around the plaza providing security, while fire fighters from the Lagos State fire Service and those from Julius Berger Plc were struggling to put the fire out.

However, Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, saidthe fire which occurred at 3:24 p.m. was fuelled by the inflammables materials stored in the over 95 shops in the complex.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013 —11

Godfather, PDP crisis distracted Igbinedion —Ize-Iyamu

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY—SOUTH South Vice-Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, weekend, spoke on the administration of Governor Lucky Igbinedion, saying that a godfather, who saw himself as a mini god and the factional crisis that engulfed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, then, distracted the administration.

It will be recalled that the crisis between Governor Igbinedion and Chief Tony Anenih, factionalised the PDP in the state then, which eventually led to the defeat of PDP at the general elections that brought in Governor Adams Oshiomhole of ACN. He explained that contrary to insinuations that he was part of those that ruined the administration of Governor Igbinedion, “I was not the most powerful in government then, I was the Chief of Staff and later Secretary to the State Government and I don’t award contracts or was I incharge of any ministry, but people misconstrued my simplifying the offices of the COS and SSG to a level that created industrial harmony in the state and goodwill for government to mean that I was very influential.”

Ize-Iyamu who bared his mind in a lecture entitled “Political Gov-

ernance in Edo State: 1999 Till Date,” organised by Edo Political Forum, noted, however, that it would be wrong to describe the administration of his former boss, Governor Igbinedion as a total failure, due to some remarkable achievements the administration made in the areas of health, war against human trafficking, payment of N500 million debt inherited during

the military, insisting that the PDP leadership then distracted the administration as regards infrastructural development.

“The PDP that produced the governor of the state between 1999-2007 had no manifesto, blue print or plan for governance and Edo State was actually personified by one lead character that was literally worshipped as the owner and giver of political power. The

pressure and subtle threat from the god father and his supporters was excessive and distractive in the process of project planning and execution as well as management of resources of the state.”

He said that unlike the incumbent Oshiomhole, who will quickly bare his mind on issues, Lucky Igbinedion “has always been a man of few words but silence is not always golden. In the world we live in, silence can easily be misconstrued.”

WEDDING: From left: Prof Wole Soyinka with his in-laws, Chief Lucky Ayomanor Omorofokpe of Okpe Kingdom and London based Chief Alfred Ayomanor, during the marriage of former Miss Damilola Seun and Mr. Rotimi A. Doherty in Kaduna.

Oshiomhole threatens illegal loggers

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—EDO State gov ernor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, weekend, warned

ACNPN denies exco dissolution report

BY SAM EYOBOKA ELTA State branch of Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria, ACNPN, yesterday, denied reports that its executive led by Felida Essi had been dissolved and replaced by a caretaker committee.

Public Relation Officer of ACNPN Delta State Council, Mr Anthony Ebule in a statement, said there was no such thing, adding that the purported meeting where the new caretaker committee was appointed was illegal and all the decisions taken at the meeting were null and void.

Ebule said Article 10 section D (i) of ACNPN’s constitution says the secretary lacks the power to summon a meeting or dissolve existing executive without the approval of the chairman.

Continuing, he contends that Prince Charles Umejei of the National Trumpet, was serving suspension for insubordination and disrespect to the association.

D

illegal loggers in the state that the state government will deal ruthlessly with those who contravene the laws of the state.

The governor, at this year’s “Tree Peace Planting Exercise” at the Ehor Forest Reserve in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of the state, said government would adopt pro-active measures on tree planting, environmental cleanness, erosion and flood control in the state.

He said, “I am using this occasion to warn that government will be more firm in dealing with all those involved in illegal falling of trees. We must use the carrot and stick apprach. If you are caught falling trees recklessly that have not been authorised and in clear violation of our laws and our commitment to protect the forests, government will

not only step in, but ensure you are severely punished.”

Flagging off the 2013 tree planting campaign, supported by the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Bert Ronhaar, the governor said: “it is important to begin not only to talk tough but act even tougher. We must recognise that it does not make sense to fell 10 trees and then plant two to replace them.

“I urge all genuine stakeholders not to see the forest as a place to be devastated. The government and the people must work together to protect the forest.

“In recognition of the role the forest plays in the environment, government recently revoked 109,000 hectares of de-reserved lands with the singular view to regenerating them.”

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ARRI—A resource control campaigner in the Niger Delta, Alhaji Mumakai-Unagha, weekend, said President Goodluck Jonathan has the right to recontest for President in 2015, but was not a messiah to the South-South people.

Alhaji Mumakai Unagha, in Warri, Delta State, said if

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT — THE People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State has dragged All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to court again over a disputed council election that had left the Ward 8 councillorship seat vacant for three years at Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state.

Since the council’s election in 2011, APGA’s candidate, Mr. Sunny Williams, who has won three repeated elections for Oyigbo Ward 8, has been denied occupation of the office by his PDP opponent, Mr. Chijoke Azu, through court suits to his successive victories.

Following the last rerun election victory in which the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, issued the APGA winner a return certificate, an upset Williams told Vanguard that the PDP’s determination to perpetually deny his mandate had assumed a criminal dimension.

He said: “For the third time in April this year since 2011, the Oyigbo 8 Ward voters insisted through their votes that I am the man to represent them. In departure from the first two elections, RSIEC, the election umpire affirmed the results by issuing me a Certificate of return. I can’t imagine why I am still not sworn in yet.”

My election ‘ll promote democratic dividends support for his governorship am—Obi 2015 will lead to more democratic bition.

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BY FESTUS AHON

G H E L L I — FORMER acting governor of Delta State and member of the state House of Assembly, Prince Sam Obi, has said that his election as governor come

dividends to the people of the state.

Obi, while inaugurating PDP Elite for Sam Obi 2015, a political pressure group in Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area of the state, told Deltans to remain focused and steadfast in their

Jonathan not S-South messiah —Activist

BY EMMAAMAIZE

PDP vs APGA: Oyigbo councillorship tussle returns to court

“President Jonathan cannot address the problem of the region and from available indications, the South-South will be worse at the end of his administration.

“The living standard of the people has not changed for the better and the hapless people have simply surrendered their faith to God. This is the simple truth and I

challenge the President to a debate on what achievements he has brought to the lives of people of zone in terms of social political and economic development.

“I can tell you that the President will not get the full support of the zone in 2015 unlike in 2011, when every Niger Delta took it as a challenged.”

Represented by the Director General of his campaign organisation, Mr Pius Erabor, he said: “I am overwhelmed by the group’s concern and actions of not just picking me as the only candidate divinely qualified to contest Delta gubernatorial seat come 2015 but also promising to support me until victory comes.

“The PDP Elite for Sam Obi will not regret their action of supporting me if I emerged by the Grace of God as governor of Delta State come 2015. My wealth of experience as a former Speaker of Delta Assembly and actinggovernorwillbebroughttobearin my running the state.”

Earlier in his address, National Chairmanofthegroup,MrUreighoEnirurue, said“wearecommittedtoensuringthat our dear Delta State get the best of governance in this country. “

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013

Politicians urged to emulate Mutu

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ARRI—WOMEN of Bomadi\ Patani federal constituency have described House of Representatives member, Mr Nicholas Mutu as a good and development oriented leader.

The Wise Women Association, Bomadi , Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State, made up of Agbedi Oda-ere, Wiki Betty and Oshonwah Oyas, who commended Mutu, said he has contributed immensely to the cause of women and others in the constituent.

They described Mutu as a unique political leader, who though does not believe in noise making, has translated his representation to meaningful development, which can be seen in various communities of the constituency.

The women said Mutu had use his position to influence relevant ministries and agencies to construct internal roads, concrete jetties, classrooms for schools, solar lights, drains and scholarships for students in need.

Group warns against overheating polity

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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NITED Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy, UNDEDSS, has expressed its displeasure over the utterances of some elder statesmen in the country, urging security agencies to check the dangerous trend before the political leaders heat up the polity.

Rising from a meeting in Warri, Delta State, the leaders of the group also took a swipe at the National Assembly for its continuous delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, saying that the legislature is “perpetuating artificial dichotomy of ethnicity that militate against policies and programmes that are intended to fast-track national economic development.”

In a statement by UNDEDSS Secretary-General, Mr. Tony Uranta, he warned that unless the PIB becomes law within the next three months, the Federal Government and other oil and gas exploiters will be denied access to the Niger Delta natural resources.

Kidnapping: Witnesses now testify willingly in Delta —AG A

BYAUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA—DELTA State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Charles Ajuyah, SAN, has said that witnesses have started changing their perception and are now coming out willingly to testify, especially in kidnap and other criminal cases, following the measures put in place, which includes provision of adequate security in and around the court premises.

Ajuyah in an interview with Vanguard in Asaba, said: “As much as possible, we have tried to provide security for witnesses and the courts because people have started to have confidence in the courts and they come out to, either as witnesses or to see the people who are involved because these are not spirits.

“They are neighbours and sometimes they (suspects) use pseudo or false names, when they are arrested by the police.

They say their name is John James for example, John Peter and so when people now go to court to see them arraigned, they realise that it was their neighbours that are involved in these cases.

“So, the ministry decided not to hide anybody but to show those people that have violated the law and now, people have confidence in the system.

“That is one of the reasons why in Delta State, we have succeeded more than in any

other state in the prosecution of these criminals, be them kidnappers, robbers, murders, name it. That was the strategy we adopted, we provide security for the witnesses, courts and anybody who comes to the court or make any attempt on the witnesses, of course, the person

will be dealt with accordingly.

“Our warning is that you steer clear, if you want to visit the courts, to witness the proceedings, you are entitled to do so, but don’t go there to threaten anybody because you will be certainly dealt with in accordance with the law.”

BIRTHDAY: Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Lady Valerie Ebe (2nd right); flanked from right by Head of the state Civil Service, Mrs. Cecilia Udoessien; Chief Whip of the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Alice Ekpenyong and Chairman, Okobo Local Government Area, Mrs. Felicia Bassey, after a visit to orphanages in the three Senatorial Districts of the state as part of activities to mark the 42nd Birthday Anniversary of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s wife, Mrs. Unoma Akpabio.

We’ve more illegal filling stations in Bayelsa —DPR

BY SAMUELOYADONGHA

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ENAGOA——Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, weekend, said its audit of petrol stations in Bayelsa State, revealed that illegal petrol stations out numbered legal stations in the state.

According to DPR, officials of

the Department have been empowered with new technology to detect fake filling stations and those engaged in under pricing.

The Operations Controller of DPR in Bayelsa, B. Nkanga at a stakeholders’ meeting with members of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, said the discovery

Community decries violation of Local Content Act

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BY EGUFEYAFUGBORHI

EREMI—WORRIED by continuous flouting of the Local Content Act by oil companies operating in their community, the people of Iwhrekan in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, have tasked the State and Federal Governments to intervene as they vow to fight the perceived injustice by all means necessary.

President General of the community, Mr. Judge Dukpan, speaking at the swearing in of the newly elected executive of the community, at Iwhrenkan, said that several youths of Iwhrekan, particularly graduates, who are eminently qualified to work in the oil companies operating on their land are denied jobs at the Otorogun Gas Plant located in their community.

He said since Shell Petroleum Development Company, handed over operations of the plant to Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, last year, no graduate of the community had been employed as a staff in the mass recruitment exercise conducted by the company. He appealed to the Delta State Government to wade into the matter and ensure that what was due the host community gets to them.

He said: “Since 1989 creation of this gas plant in our community, no indigene graduate had been employed. When the plant was being commissioned by General Ibrahim Babangida, he assured that we will get direct electricity supply from the gas plant. Up till this moment that also has not been done.”

had led to warning of the petrol station owners in Bayelsa State over petroleum products diversion and under dispensing.

Nkanga said: “Bayelsans have continued to complain over the price regime and under dispensing by petrol stations in Yenagoa metropolis. Henceforth, any petrol station found diverting petroleum products, engaging in under dispensing and illegal price regime would face the sanctions from DPR. “DPR has uncovered illegal petrol stations in Bayelsa State, which have been reported to law enforcement agencies. DPR called the meeting to put IPMAN on notice, that it is now well equipped to detect adulterated petroleum. Any

petrol station caught engaging in wholesome practices would be sealed off without delay.

“After this meeting, all sanctions due to offending petrol stations would be meted out. Product diversion carries severe penalty. We had observed that products sent to Bayelsa State are not discharged at the designated stations. The quantity sent to Bayelsa is not much, so how on earth can some people still divert the little one sent to the state. Petrol stations under dispense in Bayelsa. This is not proper; this is bad and tantamount to cheating.

DPR will no longer tolerate under- dispensing in Bayelsa.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013—13

Inciting statement: Clerics call for Buhari's arrest

Insecurity: Imo govt debunks US report

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—IMO State govern ment has dismissed the U.S. government’s alert which listed the state as one to be avoided by Americans due to problems of insecurity.

Governor Rochas Okorocha, in a statement by Commissioner for Information, Strategy, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Chinedu Offor, weekend, described the report as “false”.

According to him, the state government’s dismissal of the report is based on the fact that hundreds of foreigners are residing and doing businesses in different parts of the state.

The governor stated: “The report issued by the United States Government is false. The United States government did not take cognizance of the fact that hundreds of foreigners are residing and doing their business in different parts of the 27 local government areas in the state and earning their living unhindered”, government stated.

“There has been prevailing peace, safety and harmony in the state” and urged everybody, including Imo people, who read the report to ignore it".

Nigercem: Ebonyi Assembly probes crisis

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BY PETER OKUTU

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State House of Assembly ad hoc committee investigating the impasse in NIGERCEM factory, Nkalagu, between the state government and core-investor, Ibeto Group, weekend, invited leaders of the host communities who called on the House to intervene in the face-off.

In a letter dated May 30, 2013, with reference number EBHA/ LAD/ADHOC/0.1/VOL.1 and signed by the Secretary of the ad hoc panel, Nwogbaga Chinyere; the committee invited the 12 signatories to the petition to a meeting with the members, urging them to treat the matter with utmost importance.

Ebonyi State government and Ibeto Group have been having a running battle over ownership of the foremost cement manufacturing company at Nkalagu, which culminated in the sacking of four traditional rulers from the four autonomous host communities of NIGERCEM. The setting up of the ad hoc committee followed a petition addressed to the speaker of the House, Chukwuma Nwazunku, by the leaders of the four autonomous communities, asking the Assembly to intervene in the impasse.

From left: Mr Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange; Emeka Emuwa, Group Managing Director, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc; and Mrs Oyinkan Adewale, Executive Director Finance/Chief Finance Officer, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, at the bank's 'Fact Behind The Figures' at the Nigeria Stock Exchange in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola; Photo Editor.

Tenant kills neighbour over electricity bill

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU — THE Police in Enugu State have arrested a tenant identified as Uzodinma Eneh for allegedly stabbing his co-tenant, Prince Uzor, to death at their Aguabor residence in Trans Ekulu area of Enugu.

Vanguard gathered that Uzor was allegedly stabbed with a knife by the suspect following a hot argument that ensued between them over sharing of electricity bill incurred by the tenants.

The victim was said to have been rushed to the Parklane Specialist Hospital, Enugu by sym-

pathizers but he gave up the ghost shortly after arriving the hospital.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect was already helping the police in their investigation.

The police spokesman also said operatives of the Igboeze North Police Division had nabbed two robbery suspects who allegedly attacked a manager of a petrol station along Igogoro road in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area and carted away N250,000.

The suspects identified as Sunday Ayogu of Ufodu, Enugu Ezike and Kenneth Kingsley of

Umuodo Aji, Enugu Ezike armed with a gun allegedly broke into the residence of their victim on June 5, 2013 and stole the money.

Amaraizu said luck ran against them as the victim raised an alarm which attracted members of the Neighbourhood Watch in the village to the scene. The group quickly intervened and drew the attention of the police who helped to cordon the entire area off and successfully arrested the two.

He said five handsets believed to have been stolen, one long machete, N197,000 and a dane gun cut to size were recovered from the suspects.

HE Forum of Niger Delta Bishops, weekend, called for the arrest of Muhammadu Buhari for questioning the special treatment given to the Niger Delta militants and condemning President Goodluck Jonathan in a radio programme in Kaduna over the state of emergency declared in Adamawa, Yobe and Bornu states.

The Bishops, speaking through their Chairman, Archbishop GoddoWell Avwomakpa, who is also the Chairman of CAN, South South zone noted that only recently the posters of Buhari flooded stategic areas in the Federal Capital Territory with the inscription” Here comes the only saviour for Nigeria”.

According to Avwomakpa, "nobody stops Buhari from contesting but he must conduct himself as an elder statesman, a general in the Nigerian Army and a former leader of this country and not make comments that are capable of inciting a section of the people when the people are in dire need of the spirit of togetherness, love, peace and progress as well as how to cater for many displaced persons in the north owing to activities of Boko Haram".

The group therefore called on the Federal government to tame Buhari’ s inflammatory remarks by arresting him, saying that this is a deliberate plot to overheat the polity.

Digital transmission launched in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

Food poisoning: Only surviving son begs for assistance to bury family

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—AN appeal has gone to Imo State Government and all good spirited individuals to assist in burying the widow, Madam Gladys Nwosu and her six children that mysteriously died after consuming an evening meal.

The gory incident, which took place recently at Umuezeukwu, Egbelu-Nguru, Ngor Okpala local council area of Imo State, has since attracted widespread commentary.

The only surviving son of the family, Mr. Maxwell Nwosu, who made the appeal while speaking to newsmen, however expressed worry that as an applicant, he did not have the financial muscle to weather the storm.

Nwosu said: “I am the only son of the family. I am an applicant and the burden of burying my mother and six sisters is emotionally and financially too much for me to bear.”

The traumatized Nwosu said he probably would have also been a victim of the meal that turned sour if he had been at home.

“I have been in Onitsha, Anambra State, for a while and painstakingly looking for a gainful employment that has remained a mirage. I would have been a victim of the family’s last supper if I had been at home,” Nwosu lamented.

Already, the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has visited the community to commiserate with

them over the death of their loved ones in suspicious circumstances.

Ihedioha lamented the way an entire family was nearly wiped out after consuming a local delicacy, stressing that he would give his support, as well as make sure that the cause of death was ascertained.

Responding, the community’s President General, Mr. Linus Eke, described the incident as “the worst incident in known history that has befallen the community”.

Meanwhile, some leaders of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, where three members of the family died, had reportedly been arrested by the state police command.

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WERRI—TELEVISION broadcasting took a positive stride weekend in Imo State, following the launching of Digital Terrestrial Transmission, DTT, in Owerri by the management of GOtv. Speaking at the event, General Manager of the establishment, Mrs. Elizabeth Amkpa, said terrestrial broadcasting in most African countries was in analogue format.

She said: “Most countries are in the process of planning and implementing the migration from analogue to digital television”.

She explained that GOtv was deploying the most advanced Digital Video Broadcast, DVB, technology in Owerri, stressing that the company’s investment in the latest technology underlined its vision and commitment to deliver family entertainment to Africa.

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14 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013

How Nigeria can attain membership of UN Security Council — Tukur

N700m scam: EFCC confiscates suspects' 44 houses

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—A Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia has granted a forfeiture order to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to seize 44 houses belonging to eight persons who defrauded Union Bank of Nigeria Plc to the tune of N700 million.

The order, which was given

by Justice F. A. Olubanjo, affects the property of Chikezie Neoma Agbara, Amarachi Iroha, Lucy Nwosu and Glo Chizzy International Limited.

Others are Nneamaka Raphael Iheabuchi, Nnamdi Nwosu, Ikechukwu Nwosu, Chukwu Chikezie and Oliver Ogbujie.

The accused were arraigned in two separate charges over criminal conspiracy, stealing by fraudulent conversion, money laundering and fraud.

The EFCC had on January 4, 2013, sought the leave of the court to seize their assets in line with sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004.

Section 28 reads: “Where a person is arrested for an offence under this Act, the Commission shall immediately trace and attach the assets and property of the person acquired as a result of such economic or financial crime and shall thereafter cause to be obtained an interim attachment order from the Court.”

Justice Olubanjo in granting the interim forfeiture request ordered as follows, “That all assets as listed in schedule 1 to 5 of the ex-parte originating summons being proceeds of economic and financial crimes held directly by or for the benefit of or on behalf of the persons named in schedule 1 to 5 of this ex-parte originating summons be temporarily attached pending the conclusion of trial in charge Nos. FHC/ UM/CR/30/2012-FRN VS. Chikezie Neoma Agbara and 3 Others; and FHC/UM/CR/ 77/2012-FRN VS. Chikezie Neoma Agbara and 6 Others” A breakdown of the assets affected by this order is as follows: A four bedroom apartment at World Bank Hosing Estate, Umuahia; twin two bedroom apartment at Amakama, Umuahia; one storey building of four flats at Umudike, Umuahia; an undeveloped plot of land at Government Station layout, Umuahia; and numerous others.

VISIT—From left: Managing Director, Kaduna Distribution Company, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris and Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo during a courtesy visit to the Emir's palace in Zaria, Kaduna State, weekend.

Suspension of govs to instill discipline — PDP

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—NATIONAL lead ership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, said suspension of some governors on the platform of the party was to instill discipline among members, irrespective of position.

The PDP was, however, quick to say that all issues would be resolved in a brotherly manner.

It would be recalled that the party a few weeks ago, suspended Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, in the wake of the crisis in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, after he won the Forum’s election, which threw up another faction, led by Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang.

Soon after Amaechi’s suspension, the party last Wednesday issued another statement suspending Governor Aliyu Wa-

makko of Sokoto State, with insinuations that other governors from the North will be affected soon.

In a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said: "We assure that all the issues would be looked into and resolved amicably, in line with the spirit of brotherliness and guiding principles of our party.

"The National Working Committee of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, hereby assures all members that the happenings in the party in the last few weeks are part of the processes of instilling discipline within the party and not to witch-hunt any member whatsoever.

"The party is not unmindful of the feelings of members, hence the need for this clarification. We assure that all the issues would be looked into and

resolved amicably, in line with the spirit of brotherliness and guiding principles of our party.

"The PDP remains a strong, united and democratic family guided by the principles of equity, justice, rule of law and love for one another and will at the end of the day definitely come out stronger than ever before.

"We, therefore, urge all members to close ranks and disregard suggestions that some individuals or groups are being targeted for certain reasons.

"We assure all members that the PDP remains the only national party committed to the welfare of the people for which it will continue to win elections across board.

“It will continue to exist as the party with structures in all wards, local governments and states in the federation where all are free to air their views and canvass their opinions.”

Imminent shake up in House Committees

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—APPARENTLY disturbed by the perceived poor performance of some House of Representatives committee chairmen in the past two years, the leadership may finally drop non-performing chairmen and replace them with more capable hands.

Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal, who made this disclosure at the ceremony held to mark his two years in office, noted that it was obvious that some committee chairmen performed creditably well, while others performed below expectations, add-

ing that those who fell within the category would be sanctioned.

Tambuwal had explained further that given the improvements in some House processes, aimed at reducing legislative red tape, it must be admitted that the times reportage by House Committees on bills and other matters referred to them for action, had been far from s a t i s f a c t o r y .

He stated further that this had impacted negatively on the accomplishment of targets.

"Henceforth, Committees will be sited for such breaches and sanctioned appropriately,” the speaker warned.

He further stressed that at the commencement of its journey, the 7th House of Representatives fashioned for itself a Legislative Agenda to guide its processes, programmes and operations.

Tambuwal said: “This agenda is consistent with the constitutional mandate of the legislature to wit: Legislation, Representation and Oversight.

"The legislative function of making laws for the peace order and good government of Nigeria appears reasonably well appreciated now by the general public, so is the function of oversight of the implementation of the laws so made pursuant to the law making function.

BUJA—NATIONAL Chair man of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday, said Nigeria’s desire to be a member of the United Nations Security Council would be determined to a greater extent by successes recorded in the fight against terrorism.

Tukur, who also stressed that political stability in the nation’s polity would also be a determining factor in realising the set target, gave assurance that the ambition would be realised due to the support from top rated countries in the world body.

He noted that plans by other countries to assist Nigeria to get the position would be judged by efforts made at home to put the country in order, stressing that the rest of the world, especially friends of Nigeria, had been eager to see the country surmount its security challenges and solidify its economy with political stability.

Tukur said: ‘’For Nigeria to get the ticket to be a member of the World Security Council depends on the success it would make out from its current war against terrorism".

NCC seizes N6bn worth of pirated items

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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BUJA—THE Nigerian Cop yright Commission, NCC, has so far seized pirated items worth over N6 billion in the last 18 months, its Director General, Afam Ezekude, said weekend.

Ezekude, who announced this while speaking with newsmen at the commission’s sensitization workshop organised for students of British Nigerian Academy, said the agency was hoping to seize pirated items worth over N10 billion by the end of the year.

He said: “We are vigorously pursuing our enforcement plan, we have carried out over 120 antipiracy enforcement in the last two years which has resulted to numerous arrests and about 35 convictions secured in the last 18 months.

“The commission is committed to its anti-piracy drive enlightenment and prosecution because we want Nigerians to respect other people’s copyrights.

“Pirated items worth over N6 billion have been sized in the last 18 months. We are hoping to seized pirated items worth over N10 billion by the end of the year.”

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013—15

UNIABUJA crisis, a case of system failure —FG

BY HENRY UMORU

A

From left: Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State; Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar at the wedding of Badriyya, daughter of former Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu and Mohammed, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Bauchi, Saturday.

Democracy has come to stay despite imperfections —Abdulsalami

BY TAYE OBATERU

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OS — FORMER Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has said democracy has come to stay in Nigeria despite imperfections still being experienced.

He, therefore, urged Nigerians to be patient as the nation wades through the learning process.

Abubakar who transited Nigeria into the current democratic dispensation in 1999 told journalists in Jos, weekend, that democracy was still on track despite various challenges which he viewed as part of the learning process.

He spoke after a courtesy call on Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State during which he commended the gradual peace being experienced in the state.

He regretted the crisis that rocked the once peaceful state in the past and called for collective effort to sustain the peace, adding: “May this evil never visit us again.”

The former military leader who was on his way to Bauchi, commended Jang for the trans-

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LORIN — NATIONAL Youths Council of Nigeria, NYCN, an umbrella body of the youths in the country, has cautioned the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, against dragging its name into politics, noting that its claim that its newly elected president, Comrade Yakubu Shendam was an aide to the National Chairman of ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, was not true.

According to a statement by the NYCN in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Abdulrahman Agboola, the council said the organisation is a non-political, non-religious and non-tribal organisation that had

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enjoined the people to cooperate with government to sustain peace.

Jang praised Abubakar for being the midwife of the current democracy in the country, adding that without his patriotism and personal sacrifice, democracy might have remained elusive.

Gbong Gwom Jos blames crises in North on disrespect for other’s values

BY TAYE OBATERU & HOPE OFOBIKE

J

OS — THE Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, has blamed the recurring crisis in Northern part of the country on lack of respect for each other’s religion, culture and tradition

NYCN to ACN: Don’t drag our name into politics

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

formation the state had witnessed in recent times, noting how he did not recognise Rayfield, where he once served during his military career, because of the new road network.

He urged the governor to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people and

been working for the growth of the nation’s youths.

It described the recent statement by the ACN signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, about the newly elected president of the organisation as very unfortunate.

According to the group, “the President of the NYCN, Comrade Yakubu Shendam is a former President of the National Association of Polytechnic Students and currently a youth rights advocate and has never met the PDP National Chairman in any official capacity. This allegation is not only unfounded but equally indicates the clandestine motive of ACN to use NYCN as a front to attack the Presidency and PDP.”

and said the situation must change if the region would know peace.

The traditional ruler who spoke while receiving the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution in the North, in Jos, said disrespect for each other’s values would remain a source of conflict.

He said: “We are a multicultural society, therefore, we must respect the culture of one another and ensure we do our best not to cross each other’s path. A lot of criminality has been brought into religion. We have allowed sentiment to take over our religion and discipline can’t be meted out to reckless religious leaders. If peace must return to the north we must take away criminality from religion.

“There are indigenous tribes that make up the state, but for some people who are settlers, they wish to take over the affairs of the state, but people are using their religious blanket to cover their ulterior motives of making troubles in the state.”

The Gbong Gwom called on the committee to review the security administration in the states and bring up conclusions from a genuine perspective.

Senator representing Plateau North, Mr. Gyang Pwajok, said the situation in Plateau had got

to an extent where the perpetrators of crimes are now victims and victims are now perpetrators.

He called on the Federal Government to compensate victims of the violence, adding: “Victims of this violence have never been compensated by the Federal Government. Destructions in this land are in billions of naira.”

The leader of the Hausa community, Mallam Sani Muazu said there were a lot of allegations against the Hausa in Jos, some of which include planned Jihad by the Hausa community and to take over the throne of the traditional ruler which he said were false.

Sani said the problem in Jos reflected the true position of Nigeria, adding that empowerment must go beyond the Federal Government.

Also speaking, the representative of the Berom community, Da Stephen Tizam, said the Beroms had been affected by the crisis and hundreds of people live in tears on a daily basis.

Earlier, Chairman of the Presidential Committee who is also the Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, had said the president constituted the committee with the aim of bringing all forms of violence in the northern part of the country to a drastic end.

BUJA— THE Federal Government has described the crisis in the University of Abuja as a system failure which has been there for several years.

Disclosing this, weekend, during a presentation of her ministry’s scorecard to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and other members of the National Working Committee, NWC, Minister of Education, Professor Ruqqayatu Ahmed Alkali, noted that it would be difficult to resolve the problem overnight, adding that it was a problem the present administration inherited.

According to her, the ministry’s target was to attain 60 per cent pass by students in public examinations by 2015, even as she said that a fouryear strategic plan had already been developed to achieve the target which would ensure passes in relevant subjects like English Language and Mathematics.

The minister also said the problems being faced by medical students would be resolved in the next two weeks, while students in other faculties would be transferred to other institutions where the programmes have been accredited.

She said: “Remember we had a Visitation Panel in the university because we have so many problems there. The university is decaying so we raised a high powered Visitation Panel; the highest level so far, over 40 members with so many committees headed by a renowned SAN. “They came up with a very good report, detailing all the issues and we have submitted the White Paper on that. I have said this over and over that University of Abuja is a clear system failure. If a system has failed for several years, then it will be difficult to say you will resolve it overnight. We have a problem we inherited.

“NUC is working with COREN and Medical and Dental Council. The students are on the streets because we cannot graduate engineering students from the University of Abuja based on what is on ground. However, we have hope that in two weeks or so, we may have accreditation for Medicine in the university.”

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013 BASIC as electricity is to modern living; there is a basic misunderstanding about reflecting this importance in the lives of Nigerians. The people are unimpressed about government trumpeted gains in managing the challenges of electricity supply.

Last week, government admitted that only 40 million Nigerians, about a quarter of the population, have access to electricity supply.

It was meant to be an indication of progress.

Nigerians wonder who the 40 million are and regularity of supplies.

Many have electricity that is useless, even for ordinary lighting, as the supply illuminates below the level of a candle flame, what is technically called a brown-out. In the Nigerian experience, a brown-out is worse than a black-out, as the sufferers are reckoned among the supplied. Many parts of Abuja are currently under this burden.

Government offices are not left out. Some have resorted to generators, or rationalised their activities to save valuable equipment from ruination.

Since the statistics were about people, did they include heavy users like industries, whose consumption in days could be what a sizeable community would require for

BY TOCHUKWU EZUKANMA

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ETER Viereck once defined barbarism as “blindness to the standards of conduct which civilization has over imposed on human nature”. Civilization is less about scientific inventions and technological advancement and their concomitant enhancement of the quality of life for the generality of humanity. It is more about what the ancient Greek writers call, “taming of the savageness of man and making gentle the life of this world”. The savageness of man is tamed by moral and ethical restraints found on the concept of justice, individual worth and personal equality. Any behaviour not restrained by these ideals is barbarism.

So, barbarism does not mean lack of knowledge, wealth or material efficiency.

It is psychological, ethical and moral.

Therefore, it is possible to strut around in Western tailored designer suit or expensive, exquisitely, tailored agbada and spout the Queen’s English, and still, be a barbarian.

One can have academic degrees and professional honours and prance around the corridors of power and the hallowed chambers of law making, and remain a barbarian. Some travel in planes, own personal jets (like some Nigerian governors), and actually, pilot the jet themselves but are barbarians. One can stand behind the pulpit of a sprawling church and enthrall thousands with insightful oration on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and still be a barbarian.

In Lagos State, officials of the Kick

Elevating Electricity To Enigma months.

Are rural Nigerians among the 40 million?

We acknowledge that concrete steps are being taken to ameliorate the deplorable power situation. However, government must understand that Nigerians are not interested in titillating statistics that still leave them in darkness. Their understanding of improved electricity supply is light in every bulb and equipment they switch on, longer presence of electricity and in a quality that serves their needs. With the billions they are spending in generating their own electricity, Nigerians can find the means to pay a little more for better electricity supply.

A chunk of the stupendous revenues of fuel marketing firms can be adduced to the

power situation as virtually everyone buys petrol or diesel to generate power, generate noise, and increase the level of carbon in the environment. High levels of carbon harm the environment.

Concerns for damages to the environment and the clearly stated prospects stable electricity supply holds for Nigeria are enough for government to target practical results in electricity projects.

More challenges lie on the long road to improved electricity. More stable power supply will increase demand as many who run on private power would patronise public electricity. Has this been factored into the demand for electricity?

Nigerians find no comfort in celebrating statistics and approximating them to action.

The number of distribution companies, the length of transmission lines or the megawatts of electricity generated are mere efforts. Nigerians have spent decades listening to these lines. They understand improved electricity to mean uninterrupted power supply.

If government has similar understanding, it would be more sober in assessing its efforts.

OPINION Fashola: Rein-in these agencies Against Indiscipline (KAI) Brigade and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) posture as roving disciplinarians and experts in traffic control, respectively. Yet, despite their colourful uniforms and pretensions, their ranks are filled with the uncultured.

To go about the city of Lagos trying to “enforce discipline” is a pointless act. And to brutalise innocent and hapless individuals in the name of enforcing discipline is criminal. Without knowing it, the masses behave like their role models the leaders. By their own behaviour, the power elite dictate the behaviour of the masses. Nigerians are generally lawless, corrupt and greedy because our leaders are lawless, corrupt and greedy. To ignore the lawlessness and indiscipline of the Lagos State power elite (elected and appointed government officials and those in the highest echelon of the state bureaucracy) and then, unleash KAI officials to impose discipline on the masses is unvarnished hypocrisy. In their barbarism: cruelty, brutality, and viciousness, KAI officials behave as though they are yet to come to terms with the fact that the era of slavery is over.

LASTMA officials, like the officials of other government agencies, abuse their powers. They accuse motorists falsely, intimidate them and extort money from them. In addition, they have, shown lamentable disdain for human lives. They have, on a number of occasions, killed motorists for minor traffic offenses.

For example, on the 24 of December 2012, two LATSMA officials allegedly beat up a 54 year old commercial bus driver, Isaac Popoola, to death. The two officials stopped Popoola’s bus, and ordered him to come down from his bus. He refused, demanding to know his offense. They refused to tell him his offense. And, evidently, incensed by his refusal to obey their order to step down from the bus, they “started beating him on the head with the iron of the seat belt and hitting his head against the steering and the door frame till he gave up the ghost”.

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gain, at Motorways bus stop, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway, a bus conductor, popularly known as “Ilorin” allegedly lost his life to LATSMA officials' uncultured behaviour. The bus conductor was hanging on the door of the bus. In an attempt to stop the bus driver, a LASTMA official threw a metal object (wrench) at the bus. Unfortunately, the object missed the bus and hit the conductor, knocking him off the bus. As he fell off the bus to the road, a LASTMA pick-up van, which was trailing the commercial bus very closely, crushed him. The conductor died on the spot.

There have been other such instances of motorists losing their lives as a result of such recklessness by these officials. Extra judicial killing is deplorable under any circumstance. It may be excusable in very dangerous situations where law enforcement agents, in combating armed

and dangerous criminals, are confronted with making on the spot decisions in defense of their own lives. But for an unarmed motorist to lose his life for reasons as seen above is unpardonable. It is an egregious case of contempt for the human life – an unparalleled act of barbarism.

Please, Governor Fashola rein-in these officilas. KAI officials should be reminded that the era of slavery is over. And as such, Nigerian citizens, though, poor, powerless and voiceless are not slaves and should, therefore, not be treated as such. They should know that assault is a criminal offense and that, as they go about beating up people, they are breaking the law. They should be taught to enforce the law without punching people in the face and kicking them in the stomach and groin and destroying their wares and stealing their money and goods.

In other words, that, in their “enforcement of the law”, they should endeavour to treat Nigerians with respect and decency.

LASTMA officials should be taught to respect the sacrosanctity of the human life.

It is thoughtlessness bordering on dementedness for a LATSMA official to think that due to his uniform, insignia and government assigned roles in traffic control that he can trifle with human lives. They should learn that no one life is superior to another.

Mr. Ezukanma, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

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Buhari’s rare romance with hypocrisy was introduced for their members. But when the Boko Haram emerged in the north members of the sect were killed".

And for that he called on the president to resign and “give way to (a) competent

,

E all have our faults and virtues.

General Muhammadu Buhari is a man whose virtues and vices are well known. Most Nigerians know him as a man of integrity. He is one of the few former leaders not widely associated with corruption and self-enrichment even though he has held juicy portfolios such as Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Executive Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and Head of State. Nigerians also know him as a disciplined leader.

In addition, most Nigerians believe that Buhari can easily arrest the security challenges plaguing the nation, including the Islamic insurgency in northern Nigeria.

His devotees believe Nigeria needs a man like that at this period to rein in a country set adrift by ineffective leadership.

Buhari’s greatest vice or drawback is his extreme provincialism. His worldview is heavily coloured – even circumscribed – by his Fulani, Muslim Arewa roots. His best effort towards growing out of this cocoon has been to extend a hand of fellowship to Western Nigeria.

Recipe for disaster In his calculations, Arewa/Muslim + O’odua = Nigeria. And Arewa/Muslim must be the Head with O’odua (preferably also a Muslim) the Deputy. He was the first to create a Muslim/Muslim ticket at the Presidency when he paired with General Tunde Idiagbon who was a Yoruba/Fulani from Ilorin, to run Nigeria between January 1984 and August 1985.

For him, the South East, South/South, Middle Belt and Christians do not count, if indeed they actually exist.

Some people often say it does not matter.

Yes indeed, it should not matter, so long as Nigerians will also accept it with the same equanimity if a Christian from the South pairs with another Christian from the Middle Belt or North to rule Nigeria.

We all know that will be a recipe for disaster. The Jihadists will simply go berserk, and this time, they will have a credible reason. The constitution and conventional wisdom in Nigeria envisage accommodation and balancing of the ethno-religious and geopolitical scales to ensure that no part is dominant over the others. Buhari’s provincialism, therefore, is a major obstacle in his quest to be elected

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Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

as president of Nigeria. The problem is compounded by the fact that he makes very little effort to overcome it. Those who say it does not matter should check Buhari’s tenure as Head of State and PTF Chairman, and how posts and public amenities were distributed. The south, particularly the former Eastern Region, was practically shut out. Even during his campaigns in 2011, he only made tame forays there, opting to campaign heavily in the North and pay regular visits to the West.

His latest utterance about President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of Boko Haram insurgents baffled even his ardent apologists. In an interview he granted Daily Trust on Wednesday, May 22nd 2013, he was quoted as saying: “When the Niger Delta militants started their activities in the South-South, they were invited by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. An aircraft was sent to them and their leaders met with the late President in Aso Rock and discussed issues. They were given money and a training scheme

BY RAY OCHE

VER the years, public officials in Nigeria have unwittingly become endangered species, usually the target of slanderers and extortionists, for reasons that are less than altruistic. The most unfortunate aspect of this sad saga is that journalists have often allowed themselves to be sucked into the vortex of this disturbing trend.

This issue reared its ugly head recently when the Abuja Chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, alerted the general public of the shameful activities of these turn-coats in the journalism profession, citing the case of a Kadunabased magazine which claimed to have written a book running into hundreds of pages chronicling alleged rot within the FCT Administration under the leadership of Senator Bala Mohammed, with a view to extorting huge sums of money from him as ‘settlement’.

The NUJ leader, Chuks Ehirim, stressed that in a glaring unprofessional manner, the said magazine went to the extent of publishing advertisement soliciting for negative articles from the general public through telephone, email and Facebook to rubbish the image of the FCTA and the Minister.

Too sad! At the same time, the publisher of the controversial magazine was allegedly putting pressure on the Minister through his aides to pay a staggering N15million into his account with a first generation bank and also allocate a choice plot of land to him in Abuja as a condition for him to suspend the publication of the book. But the corrupt publisher met a stubborn man in the Minister who swore never to bribe anybody to kill report or allocate land to any person under duress. His aides promptly reported the

not be far from what is happening in the North East. But because they surrendered and accepted amnesty it became possible for them to be invited to Aso Villa. Secondly, this Buhari who has turned himself into a human rights campaigner for Boko Haram was once appointed by the terrorists to represent them to negotiate terms with the Federal Government and he turned down the appointment. If he loved them so much why did he not accept a dialogue that could have prevented this onslaught?

Secondly, we remember very clearly, that Buhari, as the General Officer Commanding the 3rd Armoured Brigade, Jos, played a leading role when President Shehu Shagari crushed the Maitatsine riots of 1980 in the Bulumkutu area of Maiduguri. When he became the Head of State, a rump of the Maitatsine group that escaped to Jimeta in Yola, in 1984, exploded in another orgy of attacks on

Buhari’s greatest vice or drawback is his extreme provincialism. His worldview is heavily coloured – even circumscribed – by his Fulani, Muslim Arewa roots. His best effort towards growing out of this cocoon has been to extend a hand of fellowship to Western Nigeria. In his calculations, Arewa/Muslim + O’odua = Nigeria. And Arewa/Muslim must be the Head with O’odua (preferably also a Muslim) the Deputy

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hand to govern the country”.

Buhari not only twisted the facts of recent history (unlike the man of integrity or Mai gaskiya that his followers in Arewa call him), he also engaged in a rare romance with hypocrisy. It is not true that when the Niger Delta militants started their armed agitation, President Yar’ Adua sent an aircraft to bring them to Aso Villa and they were granted amnesty and given money.

The nation battled them and the communities where they operated, with heavy arms and there were large-scale civilian casualties. Villages were sacked and people forced to flee. They fought back and caused the nation great distress mainly by disrupting the flow of oil. The economy was suffering.

The amnesty offer was a final warning; the last carrot before and all-out onslaught. If they had rejected the amnesty as Boko Haram did, your guess is as good as mine what would have happened to the Niger Delta. My guess is that it would

Christians and moderate Muslims. Their agenda was exactly the same as that of Boko Haram. Buhari sent a military expedition and defeated the uprising, with heavy toll on civilian targets.

Musa Makaniki, the leader of the Jihadists, fled to his hometown in Gombe and Buhari pursued him there, eliminated him and stamped out the insurgency.

It is hypocritical and unpatriotic for Buhari, after this track record, to blame the Federal Government for finally taking the right steps to secure the North. Buhari has joined those using Boko Haram as a tool of blackmail against the federal government; something most Nigerians had felt was below his contempt.

Perhaps, the frustration of failing three times to win the presidential election, coupled with age, is exerting a heavy toll on him. Condition is forcing the crawfish to bend. Buhari has handed his opponents another weapon to use against him should he file again to contest for president in 2015.

OPINION FCT Minister's battle against extortion attempted extortion to the NUJ and the security agencies detailing the account number sent by the rogue publisher to a media aide of the Minister. In life, there are different types of human beings. Out of these, however, two stand out most prominently. In the first class are those who appreciate the goodness in others. These individuals look at others through the prism of objectivity, celebrating them when occasion demands and criticizing where there is the need to do so. Their criticism is usually informed and unbiased.

Conversely, at the other side of the coin are human beings that hardly see anything good in others. To this group of individuals, the world begins and ends within their tiny and narrow horizon. Often shallow-minded in their perception of events, there is the tendency for them to find fault even where none exists.

This ugly phenomenon is known in local parlance as PHD. Do not be deceived. The three letter initials do not stand for academic title, Doctor of Philosophy. Far from it! It simply means Pull Him Down, a cruel disposition targeted at celebrated achievers. This class of men are simply unprincipled, seeking out to distract hard working men and women from their noble goals.

Sadly, a member of this group, the publisher of this Kaduna-based magazine almost found a safe haven in Federal Capital Territory to ply his trade. The prime target is Senator Mohammed. Ordinarily, there would not have been any need to join issues with this journalist-turnedextortionist, who is desperately trying to survive willy-nilly.

However, in these strange times, when falsehood if left overtime, assumes the position of truth, there is the urgent need to put the records straight.

For this publisher to even contemplate zeroing in on the FCT Minister to ply his trade is saddening to say the least because the Minister has demonstrated an unprecedented heroism, coupled with inspiring bravery in transparently tackling the problems of the FCT in the last three years that he has presided over the affairs of the territory.

Secondly, his conceptualization of governance is one that espouses the lofty ideals of leadership being synonymous with moral authority as the one way to beat followership into line. Because he has insisted that all transactions be conducted in strict compliance with the Federal Government’s due process regime, Senator Mohammed has kindled the ire of some people, including this publisher, and as such deserves to be crucified. For daring to stand out of the motley crowd of those who see public office as an avenue to plunder the common patrimony at will, he must be barbecued. Spoilsports like this publisher-cum‘journalist’, no doubt has found the Minster’s style of administration which is premised on a determination to free the FCTA from the vice grip of marauders that have plundered its resources with abominable perfidy, objectionable.

*Mr. Oche, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013 — 47

E

BY EKANPOU ENEWARIDIDEKE

VERY event has a season. Agere fruit, the staple fruit of birds in Amasuomo forest in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, has its own season of bloom and harvest. So, it is with mortals, particularly mortals who have marked their footprints in the sands of time. It appears this is a season of vilification for Chief E. K. Clark the lawyer, administrator, Ijaw national leader, nationalist, and leader of South-South Peoples Assembly. A season recalcitrant sons have chosen to belittle the labours of their father who cleared the virgin forest for unperturbed hiking and rambling. A season fathers regret their labours for their sons. A season in which some amnesia-struck political sons of Chief E. K. Clark have morphed into born-again Christians of derogation and arrogance in search of relevance now on the run.

The hard-earned credentials of the man called Chief E. K Clark have just suffered derogatory inversion in the hands of a verbal voyager whose ideational confusion is announced and reinforced by the metamorphosis of the byline from Daniel AlaoweiGreen to Reno Omokri in the Vanguard of June 3, 2013 and the Vanguard of June 4, 2013. I feel challenged to clear the deliberate undulations injected into the portrait of Chief E. K. Clark so that the verbal attacks do not occupy ossified space as quotable reference points in our daily public communication and commentary. The story of E. K

Clark can best be told by a true son of Ijaw, not a person whose claim of Ijawship is falsely suggested by obvious forced adoption of the name Alaowei.

Both in words and in actions, the Ijaws demonstrate an easily identifiable aura anywhere they feature and this is an aura far beyond simulation by any manipulator. Clearly, Alaowei lacks this identifiable aura mystically and traditionally associated with Ijaw people the world over.

E. K. Clark is a scion of the Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo (not of the Clark family of Kiagbodo) whose contributions to national growth and development paved the way for his appointment first as Commissioner in the midWestern days (1968-71)and later as Federal Commissioner for Information in 1975. These appointments are indicative of Clark’s contributions and relevance to national politics In Nigeria. However, in a manner suggestive of linear political progression, Clark was electorally enthroned a senator in 1979. There is no historical record which traces the senatorship of E. K. Clark to the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. In fact, E. K. Clark’s activism, political voyage and national relevance began in the First Republic of Nigeria.

The liberation struggle of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo and other recognisable freedom fighters whose culmination point was the offer of the amnesty in 2009 by President Musa Yar'Adua is comparatively a recent development. Clark’s nationalist struggle, political involvement

E. K. Clark is not an ethnic jingoist as he is ever ready to throw stones even into his domain when the realities necessitate it

and activism far preceded this Armed Niger Delta struggle ably represented in this present circle of history by High Chief Ekpemupolo. The Niger Delta struggle of Tonpolo and others merely constituted reinforcement tools for Clark’s activism and vociferous advocacy for developed Niger Delta and United Nigeria, not as tools that lubricated his ascendancy to national politics and relevance. Again it is noteworthy that Clark’s move against Chief James Ibori is a principled stand borne out of his age-long activism and vociferous advocacy for a more transparently developed Delta State. It is sycophantic and laughable to give Clark’s move against Chief Ibori the disgusting colour of harassment because the facts of this apparent titanic struggle are open to appropriation for anyone’s analytical engagement.

The public should know that Elder Godsday Orubebe is from Ogbobagbene, not Ogboagbene, and that Ogbobagbene is geographically far from Kiagbodo in Burutu Local Government Area.

However, there is nothing suicidal and sacrilegious about Clark’s position that Elder Orubebe cannot be the governor of Delta State

Education as wheel of progress in Abia

BY MERCY OZUOBI

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DUCATION is obviously the most powerful weapon that can be use to change the world, so says the great freedom fighter and legend, Dr. Nelson Mandela. But how far have we as a people and a nation strived to promote quality and affordable education as a means of changing our great country Nigeria for better? Before now, Nigeria's education system was ranked among the best in the continent of Africa. Then the few public or government schools lived up to expectation in the funding and promotion of good and qualitative education. The country was the better for it and many Nigerians benefitted from it.

But since the inception of private ownership of schools, proliferation has become the order of the day, even though these schools which are purely set up for commercial purposes are often not affordable and fail to offer sound education.

Unfortunately, many beneficiaries of public schools who are in positions of authority today delight in looting public treasury, refuse to fund public schools and at the same time use the looted funds to establish their own private schools which they hand over to their stooges to run as proxies. In the event, the education sector has continued to dwindle with shocking performance year in, year out. That is where we are today as a country.

But happily the Abia State government has taken the bull by the horn in addressing the age-long rot and challenges that have

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bedevilled the education sector in the state.

Before the present government came into office, the state of educational infrastructures, condition of service for workers and learning environment for students in all the state owned schools were pathetic and appalling. The governor, Chief Theodore Orji, who is also a product and beneficiary of public school leaves no one in doubt of his government’s commitment to see that education is prioritised.

That is why on coming on board in 2007, the government increased the monthly subvention of all the tertiary institutions in the state. The State Scholarship Board that has been moribund was reactivated. With the reactivation of the Scholarship Board, the regular bursary disbursement to indigent Abia students was resurrected and beneficiaries have continued to enjoy it till date. The Board has also reactivated the Overseas Scholarship Scheme through which it has granted bursaries to over 40 students of Abia State origin studying in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Asia.

Not resting on his oars in providing education for the children of the state, the Governor has instituted a private scholarship scheme known as Ochendo Scholarship Scheme which took off with 25 undergraduates in various disciplines within the country as beneficiaries. The project which is strictly private has the respected Catholic Bishop of Umuahia, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji as Board Chairman.

One of the beneficiaries of the scheme, Mr

in 2015 and better still, he has not even chosen somebody in this direction. The vituperations and verbal inanities against E. K. Clark on account of this position, which he is constitutionally entitled to, are baseless. Anybody uncomfortable with Clark’s position is entitled to demand a discourse on why Orubebe cannot be governor in 2015 and I am sure Clark will give you a dissertation on this. Similarly, people are also entitled to demand from Orubebe a discourse on why he wants to become a governor in 2015 in Delta State. It is up to Chief E. K. Clark and Elder Orubebe to convince the people and win their unsolicited applause above identifiable political cant in their respective discourses. Only congenitally untutored minds let loose acidic lethal verbal arrows on Clark on account of his conviction concerning Orubebe’s political conviction. And we know E. K. Clark; we know Elder Orubebe. The discerning ordinary people know where the ominous wind howls between the two.

Ethnic jingoists and chauvinists are easily recognised anywhere they are found: Their thoughts, preoccupations, prescriptions and public pronouncements distinguish them. It is such ethnic champions who are pathologically marked by streaks of hesitation when they want to throw stones into their domain with deadly accuracy.

E. K. Clark is not an ethnic jingoist as he is ever ready to throw stones even into his domain when the realities necessitate it. On this plane it is, therefore, sacrilegious to derogate Clark with the deployment of lexemes like ‘chauvinist’, ‘jingoist’ etc, and skillfully but casuistically engage hesitating words to instigate Chief Alamieyeseigha Diepreye, Mujahid Asari Dokubo, Ateke Tom, Henry Orkar and Others against Clark. Even Egbesu, the Ijaw god of war, can bear witness

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Chief E.K. Clark's season of vilification

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RIGHT OF REPLY

The interventions in the education sector have started bearing fruits as can be seen from the plethora of awards garnered by the state at various national and zonal competitions

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Solomon Odochi Chibuzo of the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Abia State University, Uturu emerged the overall best graduating student of the university during her last convocation with CGPA 4.8. He was rewarded with automatic employment by the university authorities. That is how the poor boy through the Ochendo Scholarship Scheme became empowered.

The government has also increased the fleet of buses in its Free-School-Bus Scheme for students in secondary and primary schools and had also repackaged the scheme to ensure effective and efficient service delivery. Teachers salaries and allowances are being paid regularly. The same goes with their promotions and entitlements which hitherto were stunted by past governments. That is why as teachers were on strike in some states over the nonpayment of 27.5% “teachers peculiar allowance” by their state governments, teachers in Abia State are presently doing their work happily and wholeheartedly.

Besides, all the state-owned tertiary institutions have remained citadels of academic excellence with full accreditation

to the fact that Chief E. K. Clark was a dependable supportive pillar on the physical plane while the liberation struggle lasted. For this deliberate inversion of facts, may the inverterate liar enjoy the soothing supplicatory incantations of Egbesu!

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redicated on available his torical data, the likes of Chief Harold Dapa Briye, Chief E. K. Clark, Major Jasper Isaac Boro and others variously played significant roles in the Ijaw struggle and the struggle for united Nigeria.

These are personalities who could be correctly referred to as the ‘leading lights’ of the Ijaw struggle. It would be a historical and semantic misnomer to cast Henry Orkar, John Togo, Soboma George and others mentioned as the leading lights of the Ijaw struggle. The leading lights of the Ijaw struggle are the personalities who intellectually built the framework for the struggle and actually played remarkable roles in the 1950s. Maybe Alaowei is fired by an irrational sycophantic zeal to inveigle or ingratiate himself into the favour of Chief Alamieyeseigha, Henry Orkar, Ateke Tom and others, forgetting the fact that sophistry is a fragile bridge to the hearts of these personalities. Only the undiluted truth helps in matters like this.

The son of E. K. Clark, Ebikeme, electorally sought to be a member of the Delta State House of Assembly in 2011 on the platform of DPP but he was electorally murdered by the voters. Ebikeme and E. K. Clark are differently destined as both parade different credentials which the people draw on for their evaluative judgement.

Ebikeme’s electoral failure has nothing to do with E. K. Clark’s leadership credentials; it does not even demean or diminish him as a national leader. *Mr. Enewaridideke, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

and excellent student performances.

Similarly, approximately N2 billion has been expended in massive renovation works in primary and secondary schools to ensure their suitability for learning with the project spread across the three senatorial zones in Abia State. Recently, foundation was laid for the construction of modern schools in three senatorial zones of the state.

The state government had released the sum of N5.4 billion to the management of the state university, ABSU, to tackle infrastructure projects in the school. The government had also restored peace and harmony between the university and its host community, completed liquidation of the arrears of six month salaries of staff which gulped a whopping sum of N960 million.

The government had also redeemed her promise to implement the 2009 FGN/ University Staff Union’s package in the university from January 2011 which cost the government an additional N528 million.

Before now, the University Surgery and Medicine programme was facing the threat of de-accreditation by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. Government promptly rescued the university by providing all the requirement for the full accreditation of the programme. The Governor approved and awarded contracts for two major projects for the school, namely: Medical Complex and an Auditorium for Abia State University Teaching Hospital located in Aba. The projects are going on rapidly.

The interventions in the education sector have already started bearing fruits as can be seen from the plethora of laurels and awards garnered by the state at various national and zonal competitions. *Mrs. Ozuobi , a teacher, wrote from Umuahia, Abia State.

48 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013

When you see a stable leadership it means that there was minimal or no external interference, and you know this is the most stable leadership we have had in the history of this democracy.

For the first time, well not the first time because Dr. Joseph Wayas was the first Senate President to be reelected as senate president.

But this is the first time that we have had a senate president who served out his first term and in the next few days he will be exactly midway into his second term, it is the first time in our political history when you are having a senate president serve out his first term with a particular deputy senate president and that deputy senate president is still serving another term with that senate president.

Why there's stability in leadership of NASS— Ndoma-Egba CHIEF Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, is the Senate leader. He represents Cross River Central on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with Vanguard, he gives his assessment of Nigeria’s democracy since 1999, the reason for stability in the leadership of the National Assembly and other teething challenges facing the country. Excerpts:

W

HAT is your assessment of the democratic exercise in the country 14 years after?

When we are doing an assessment on how the country has fared since 1999, I will like to categorize the assessment into tangibles and intangibles and the tangibles are those aspects people can construct with any of their senses, either with the sense of vision or the sense of touch, then the intangibles are of course those imperceptible things you cannot see or touch.

Now for the intangibles, I think the most remarkable is that this is the longest episode of our democracy in our post-independence history, we have had a number of episodes of democracy in our long years of military rule.

Major achievements 14 years unbroken is the longest that we have experienced and for me it is a major achievement and that we have achieved this long of episode without compromising any of the freedoms guaranteed in the constitution is again a major achievement. People speak freely; people move freely the rule of law largely is observed, so it is a major achievement.

In respect of the tangibles, yes, we could have done far better than we have done because people see democracy not just as an opportunity for expressing or enjoying those intangible benefits but also an opportunity for enjoying the tangibles, they want to see better roads, they want to see better schools, they want to see stable power, they want to see good healthcare and all

of that.

I think we could have done far better than we have done, but it is not something that we can redress in a day because if you take the decay in virtually all the sectors that I have mentioned, they are not decay that happened over night.

Within the power sector for instance, you remember once upon a time in this country in 20 full years there was no single new investment in the power sector so when you have that kind of situation it is not the type of situation you think you can address with a magic bullet.

Picture of stability

Security challenges

*Ndoma-Egba

Then we have of course had security challenges the worst of all being the one that we are experiencing now and my reaction to it is that what we are going through is a manifestation of certain fundamental contradictions in our polity that can be negotiated and I believe will be negotiated through the democratic process.

In order words, democracy offers us an opportunity to address those contradictions, but you know in many years of military rule, we didn’t have an opportunity to discuss them not to talk of negotiating them or resolving them, they were held under the jack boot but you know with the departure of the military and the return to democracy those contradictions have propped up and now they have been propped up we just have to face the reality and face them squarely by addressing them through negotiations or dialogue.

What type of constitution should Nigerians expect from the National Assembly?

The constitution did not envisage a monopoly of the amendment process of the

Senate. It is the National Assembly along with the state Houses of Assembly that are involved in the constitutional mechanics of the amendment process.

Constitutionally, the National Assembly is required to propose amendments and those amendments are expected to be passed by two thirds of the state Houses of assembly.

Behind the constitutional mechanics you have the political process because the process of getting the two thirds is a political process that will involve negotiations, dialogue, interfacing, advocacy and all of that so it is both a constitutional process and political process.

The political aspect of it is not limited to parliament whether at the national or the state level.

It is a process that every Nigerian is involved, that is why I had to preface my answer to this question by saying that the Senate does not have monopoly.

So, when you ask what kind of amendment Nigerians should expect; it should be

the kind of amendment that Nigerians will give to themselves because Nigerians are involved in the process.

The National Assembly for some time now has witnessed

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BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

This is the first time we are seeing a deputy leader move to the position of a leader which paints a picture of stability which means that at least in the recent past we can say categorically that there has been no external influence.

Has the National Assembly ratified the treaty that ceded Bakassi to Cameroon?

To the best of my knowledge the treaties have not been ratified. That is not to say we do not have a factual situation on ground that Bakassi is now occupied by Cameroon, that most Nigerians in Bakassi have relocated.

When you see stability in the leadership of the National Assembly it means that there was very little external influence in how that leadership emerged

stability in the leadership what is responsible?

When you see stability in the leadership of the National Assembly it means that there was very little external influence in how that leadership emerged.

When you see instability it means that there was more external influence because there are usually two contending factors: the external influence and those who canvass independence of the National Assemblyindependence in the sense that they should be given the latitude to establish their own leadership.

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The issues are no longer issues surrounding the ratification of the treaty, they are mainly humanitarian issues surrounding the people who are affected especially negatively by the ceding of Bakassi and then of course the issue of compensation to Cross River State and the people of Bakassi.

What has happened to the compensation of the state by the Federal Government?

Well, you know if government acquires your cassava farm today, government is obliged to pay Continues on page 49

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013 — 49

How APC'll change the system — Moghalu

BY GABRIEL EWEPU

N

IGERIA just celebrated 14 years of uninterrupted democracy.

What is your assessment of the country’s democracy, do you think it is worth celebrating?

It is a yes or no answer, and also we thank God that democracy has lasted this long in the light of our history.

I also must be bold enough to say that we have really not achieved as expected within the time frame of their efforts, there are things that grieve me that we have not impacted very positively as much as expected in the lives of our countrymen.

I cannot boldly say that there is an improvement in their living standards; we have security challenges, we have issues with our education, health system, power, which has remained a consistent decimal and recurring issue in our country today.

Performance of opposition parties So invariably speaking, we cannot say we have gotten there, but we must also be grateful to God to the extent we have gone, but a lot is still expected.

Do you think the opposition parties have done well in their job of checking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP? If you look at the performance of the opposition parties we must also look at the challenges. I have said it

*Moghalu time and time again, we are in a system and situation where government has become the only business, which has brought about the total collapse of the private sector. You and I know that it is the private sector that funds the opposition.

And in a situation where the private sector has practically collapsed there is no way you expect government to fund opposition against itself, rather they will do what to stifle, frustrate and kill opposition. That has been the problem in this country. Just

like any developing polity as ours, it is usually the desire of the government of the day to kill opposition and to stifle them.

Forgetting to realise that a vibrant opposition guarantees good governance.

You can only do that when the opposition is vibrant and strong, and rather than kill the opposition the expectation is rather for the government to encourage the opposition is to grow. So looking at it from that perspective, the opposition has tried.

Do you think the coming of

‘Why there's stability in leadership of NASS' Continues from page 48 you compensation for your cassava farm, not to talk of when government ceases a whole territory.

The least you expect is that Cross River should be compensated to the extent of the loss. If the loss is temporary loss, you compensate them temporarily, if the loss is in perpetuity, then you have to also compensate the state in perpetuity.

Why was Cross River de-listed from league of oil producing states?

It’s all part of the consequential loss we are talking about, if the oil wells belong to Cross River when Bakassi was part of Cross River and Bakassi is gone and the oil wells have gone as a consequence of Bakassi going then the least you can do for Cross River State is to ensure that it is not put in an aggravating situation, at least the situation shouldn’t be worse than it was when Bakassi was part of Cross River State.

the All Progressives Congress, APC, will do better?

The indices are there, APC is a mega political platform and is a coalition of individually strong platforms coming together to form a mega and strong platform that will provide both a credible and viable alternative for Nigerians.

What is the journey so far about the registration of APC with INEC? In 2015, APC will be there, and there will be a critical change, but my appeal is to the electoral umpire security agencies to see themselves as the people holding the sacred mandate, who are expected to do what is right by creating the enabling environment for free, fare and transparent elections.

We have gone very far about the registration of APC with INEC. Initially nobody gave APC or the promoters the chance of coming together, but everybody is surprised. It reached a point where all parties have concluded their conventions

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DR. George Moghalu is a former national secretary of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and presently, secretary of the party’s recently constituted National Rebuilding and Inter-party Contact Committee. A former gubernatorial candidate of the party in Anambra State, Chief Moghalu has remained faithful to the party in trouble and triumphant times and he is belived to be a mobile reference on the affairs of the party. In this interview he reviews the state of the nation and how the opposition is responding to the dominance of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Excerpts:

One thing I can say is that we are consistent and conscious of the expectations of Nigerians, and we are working towards our target, that is to get APC registered and registered as quickly as possible.

What do you envisage about 2015 as far as the country ’s democracy is concerned?

2015 will certainly throw up new challenges because there is a new kid on the block. By 2015, APC will be there, APC wasn’t there in the last election. Therefore, there will be a critical change with dynamism.

Electoral umpires The only appeal I will make and had always made is the appeal to the electoral umpires; the security agencies to see themselves as the people holding a sacred mandate, people who are expected to do what is right by creating the enabling environment for free, fare and transparent elections.

And the moment we achieve that we are on the highway to success, because all that I believe as the worst form of corruption is electoral corruption because in electoral corruption you are infringing on the fundamental right of the electoral right of Nigerians, the ability to choose who they want to lead them.

2015 will certainly throw up new challenges because there is a new kid on the block, by 2015, APC will be there, APC wasn’t there in the last election

and have endorsed the process, approved the working documents; constitution, manifesto and the logo approved by the merging parties.

The stage where we are now is to make some necessary conclusions, and INEC will be written. The process is very clear in the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and we are methodically following the process.

When do we expect the APC to come on board?

Very soon APC will be on board as a political party after INEC has done verifications.

So I cannot tell you precisely when it will be. There are guidelines we are following that have to do with INEC, and allowing the time within the law, and for INEC to do all their verifications.

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The moment you rob Nigerians on that, that is the worst thing you can do to anybody, because you have denied the person the opportunity to speak as far as I am concerned and then, you have removed the accountability from the process because it is only when the electioneering process is credible, free and fare that the candidate will be forced to enter into commitment and agreement with the electorate.

It is only when the peoples’ votes count that candidates are bound, whether they like it or not to go to their constituents and plead with the people who represent them for what they want and the people will ask them to do what they want, and will also ask for their past record if they have done anything.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013 — 50

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Africans pray as Mandela remains in hospital P RAYERS have been said in churches across South Africa for former President Nelson Mandela, who is spending a second day in hospital for treatment for a lung infection treatment.

The presidency has so far provided no update on his condition although further details are being expected . This is even as his condition on Saturday was described as serious but stable.

Mr Mandela, 94, had been ill for some days before being taken to a Pretoria hospital early on Saturday.

It is the third time this year he has been admitted to hospital.

Hundreds of worshippers attended Mass yesterday at Soweto’s Regina Mundi

•Mandela church, famous for its role in the anti-apartheid campaign. “I think it’s just a natural experience that everybody wants to hold on to him as much as possible,” acting priest Father Sebastian Rossouw said.

The BBC’s Karen Allen in Pretoria says there is a sense of calm across South

Africa, and also a quiet hope that the man who led the fight against apartheid may regain his strength once again.

Mr Mandela’s wife, Graca Machel, cancelled a scheduled appearance in London to remain at her husband’s bedside in hospital in Pretoria.

Syria opposition sticks to talks boycott

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YRIA’s opposition has reiterated its decision to boycott planned peace talks in Geneva, as rebel fighters reeled from losing a strategic city to forces of President Bashar al-

Assad.

George Sabra, the interim head of the Syrian National Coalition (SNC), however, called for urgent military assistance to help rebel forces battle the Syrian army.

US, China agree to curb N/ Korea’s nuclear pursuit

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HE US and China have agreed that they cannot accept a nuclear-armed North Korea and pledged to work closely to end Pyongyang’s weapons programme, a senior US national security official has said.

Tom Donilon said the US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached “quite a bit of alignment’’ on the subject of curbing North

Korea’s ambitions during a meeting on Saturday.

“They agreed that North Korea has to denuclearise, that neither country will accept North Korea as a nucleararmed state and that we would work together to deepen co-operation and dialogue to achieve denuclearisation,” he said on Saturday, at the end of two days of meeting between Obama and Xi at an estate in the California desert.

German dam breaks near Magdeburg

A

dam has broken on the flood-swollen River Elbe in eastern Germany, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes

around the city of Magdeburg.

Water levels in Magdeburg stood at 7.44m (24ft) yesterday , nearly four times higher

Putin’s divorce breaks taboo in Russian politics

V

LADIMIR Putin’s divorce from his wife of nearly 30 years has broken a taboo for

Russian officials, who almost never speak publicly about their personal life let alone their personal problems.

His statement came days after regime forces seized the key border city of Qusayr and other adjoining areas.

“What is happening in Syria today completely closes the doors on any discussions about international conferences and political initiatives,” Sabra told a press conference in Istanbul on Saturday.

He was referring to an initiative headed by Washington and Moscow to bring the regime and opposition to peace talks in Geneva.

“The war declared by the regime and its allies in the region has reached a level we cannot ignore,” Sabra said.

Libya army chief of staff resigns

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IBYAN army chief of staff Youssef alMangoush has reportedly resigned after 30 people died in clashes between protesters and a militia in Benghazi.

The General National Congress accepted his resignation in a session yesterday , sources at the assembly have said.

The clashes erupted when protesters gathered outside the Libya Shield Brigade premises demanding it disband.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013 — 51

Braithwaite tackles NASS over constitution amendment •Calls for Sovereign National confab to fashion new constitution

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RESIDENTIAL candidate of defunct Nigeria Advance Party, NAP, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite has called on the National Assembly to stop the ongoing constitution amendment, arguing that it would not address the current imbalance, inequality, injustice and other problems in the country.

Rather, he said the Federal Government should set in motion a sovereign national conference to fashion out a new constitution that would meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

Braithwaite said: “The electoral, judicial and administrative systems and practices are so steep in corruption to the extent that, unless the people collectively and with singleness of purpose stand up squarely to dethrone corruption before any general election, there would be a catastrophic explosion.

"The ugly phenomenon of corruption exacerbates conditions of poverty so severely and also aggravates problems of insecurity.

The masses who feel so ag-

grieved as a result of increasing levels of socio-political and socio-economic inequalities, coupled with perceived injustice, would protest violently and this can quite often lead to fatalistic proportions.’

He also argued that by next year, Nigeria’s amalgamation law of 1914 would expire and there would be need to make a

completely new constitution to govern the country.

Speaking as chairman of the occasion at the CMS Grammar School’s 154th Founder’s Day/ Thanksgiving, Braithwaite, who was an old student, gave another reason why he opposed the new amendment to the constitution. He submitted that the present constitutional amendment being carried out by the

National Assembly was an exercise in futility because any amendment made now would also expire, come 2014.

At the occasion where eminent Nigerians including Chief Olu Adebanjo, a seasoned politician, a top cleric, Rev. Bako and many others attended, Braithwaite declared: “The reality today of that amalgam-

ation is that both in legal and political contexts, it is bound to expire in 2014 by effluxion of time, unless the peoples concerned now voluntarily agree to its terms and/or modify them."

He added: "Let the word go forth that the simple minded proposal of the Jonathan Administration to celebrate the century of Nigeria’s Amalgamation in 1914 by the fiat of a British colonial officer is precisely a disgrace to the present generation”.

Access Bank appoints Awosika, Non-Executive Director

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L-R: Brigadier-General Isa Musa, representing Chief of Army Staff; Senator Paulinus Nwagwu, chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs; Dr. Martins Oni, Director-General Police Assistance Committee, PAC, and Air Commodore Samuel Paul at a one day workshop on information and intelligence gathering organized

by PAC in conjunction with Senate Committee on Police Affairs in Abuja

CCESS Bank has announced the appointment of Mrs. Ajoritsedere Awosika, as its second non-executive director following the approval of the Bank’s Board of Directors and Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Commenting on her appointment, Gbenga Oyebode, Chairman, Access Bank said: “We are delighted to have Dr. Awosika join our Board.

Her impressive credentials and vast experience will be of significant value to the Bank over the years to come.”

Analysts have described her appointment as “commendable and i m p r e s s i v e . ” Enthusiastically, a leading voice in corporate governance practice described the appointment of the experienced public servant whose service to the nation transverse several federal ministries as “ensuring gender balance on the Bank’s Board and a rich harvest of integrity.”

Dr. Awosika has over 35 years experience in public health and possesses extensive experience in public sector governance.

She was elected the first female secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and was a resource person for the World Bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria at various times in her career.

Reacting to her appointment, Awosika said “It is pleasing to serve on the Board of Access Bank Plc. I consider my appointment a great honour and assure stakeholders that I will work with other Board members as we build a world class financial institution.”

52 —

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013

I

That match against Harambee Stars

,

have heard it said and I have read again and again how The Super Eagles are a tournament team ( ? ). The tradition of struggling against teams with inferior football cultures is still with us. Drawn in Group F in the World Cup 2004 African Qualifiers against Kenya, Malawi and Namibia, one would have expected the Super Eagles of Nigeria to qualify with matches to spare, yet that is not the case here.

In Kenya last Wednesday, it was nerves galore, tension aplenty as we stood on the verge of being knocked out of the world cup by a team that has not beaten us before but was anxious to create history even if further progress was not guaranteed.

Many Nigerians do not know that this stage of the competition is just the preliminary round and that the real battle lies ahead. When we get out of this group as nine other countries will, then we will go into a home and away second round encounter that will provide the five African representatives in Brazil.

Incidentally the media has not helped to highlight hostilities in the other groups even as crucial matches were played last Saturday and yesterday. In Group A there is a titanic battle between Ethiopia and South Africa. After both sides won massively at away last Saturday against Botswana and Central African Republic respectively, there is the massive clash in Addis Ababa next week end as Ethiopia host South Africa with a two point advantage. Anything less than victory for the Bafana Bafana means Ethiopia are into the second round.

In Group D, Ghana’s dream of making it to three successive World Cups after Germany and South Africa hangs in the balance as they trail a point behind Zambia.

Last week, Ghana went to Sudan and won convincingly 3-1, while Zambia replied by thumping Lesotho 4-0.

This week end, Ghana is away to hapless Lesotho with a possible victory in mind, hoping that Sudan will do them a favour and hold Zambia in Khartoum.

Another great team that is flaunting its pedigree home and away is Cote Divoire. The Ivoriens without Didier Drogba in her line up went to Gambia and triumphed 3-0 and there is no stopping them in Group C with ten points from four matches played.

Tunisia is also poised to come to the explosive second round party. On Saturday, Sierra Leone was in the process of denting their plans but the North Africans rallied back to equalize 2 two goals apiece on the dot of ninety minutes, taking 10 points to an away game against Equatorial Guinea ( 4 ) while Sierra Leone with

The Eagles should beat Namibia and fly into Brazil for the Confederation Cup (A tournament) riding on a crest of belief.

,

five points can only hope, if they win their two remaining matches and the Tunisians flop theirs…..a tall dream. ( It has pleased FIFA to appoint me Match Commissioner for the Equatorial Guinea-Tunisia match, so I will keep you posted ) Congo, I can confirm, will make it to the next round. The Congolese lead Group E with 10 points while Gabon with four, are their closest rivals with two matches to go. ( Burkina Faso and Niger with three points each are out of the race ) When the Congolese host Burkina Faso this week end in Point Noire, victory song will ring out at the end of ninety minutes!

So much has been said about our victory on Wednesday that will guarantee qualification, depending on the ability of Kenya to hold the desperate Malawians who are still licking the wounds of their goalless encounter against Namibia in Blantyre. Other greats also proved their mettle yesterday as Egypt went to Zimbabwe to win 4-2 while Algeria beat Benin 3-1in Cotonou. Nigeria cannot be an exception.

The Kasarani display was not entirely convincing. At a point, the Eagles were playing against themselves.

But for Victor Wanyanma who struggled to be relevant in midfield, the Kenyans did not display match winning stuff, not in any department of the game. Yes it is a

match we should have wrapped up even in the first minute, yet 45 minutes crawled by with nothing to show.

In the second half, though the Eagles changed tactics, the story was not different. At a point I believed the bag of Sports Day reporter Remi Sulola contained an analgesic so I asked for a Panadol. She said she had none. ( It was the Eagles Doctor who relieved my headache, later in the team hotel ) Let the Eagles beat Namibia and spare Nigerians the stress, opening a window of shopping for relevant and key additions with the second round in view. The Eagles should beat Namibia and fly into Brazil for the Confederation Cup ( A tournament ) riding on a crest of belief. After all Haiti made Spain sweat on Saturday.

Mes que un club de Seguidors When Taye Ige spotted me at the Oriental Hotel on Saturday, he screamed. “ Oga what are you doing here.

Don’t tell me you have ported” Laughter.

He and my other colleagues knew better. When you support Manchester United, the greatest football club in the world, you die a red.

Let me commend however the public relations machinery of Penya Barca De Lagos Club whose inauguration was held last Saturday. By telephone calls, mails and text messages, they made sure you were reminded about their event. The catch for me, apart from the honour of being invited was the phrase Mes Que Un Club De Seguidors, translated to mean “ More than just a fan club”. It was that bit that drew me to Oriental Hotel and Club President Leslie, assisted by Kayode Adeleke, Ebie Loius-Domeih and Ali Baba ( Yes the same Ali Baba) and all those who put the event together the message was clearly spelt out. They emphasized that their focus and objective apart from football will be other ideals and values incorporating sportsmanship, community development, humanity and social integration.

For them, Youth development and grass roots empowerment was key in contributing to the sports environment in Nigeria. I pray the Arsenals and Chelsea’s of our supporters can toe this line that will diminish the cut throat and senseless “support” that often times lead to grievous body harm and death all in the name of blind allegiance.

With the support Skye Bank, the Spanish Embassy in Nigeria and Unicef, I thought I had seen and heard enough, skipping dinner before I forgot where I was.

See you next week.

How Kenyan media downplayed Eagles superiority

BY PAUL BASSEY

M

INUTES after the final whistle by referee Doue of Cote D’ivoire , the Kenyan electronic media went on air praising the Harambee Stars for what it called “ a fantastic display against the African Champions” It is the belief of the media that the Stars did well to hold the champions but for the “unfortunate goal” by Ahmed Musa.

Citizen’s TV in an interactive programme asked viewers to phone in, tweet, or text and majority of respondents said the Stars did well and that if they had had the services of suspended David Oliech, the Eagles would not have won.

An interesting contribution was the call for the change of name “ since Harambee Stars is foreign and does not signify anything positive” The newspapers yesterday took off from where the electronic media had stopped.

Kenya’s premier newspaper The Daily Nation in a story captioned late Musa goal but ends Kenya’s 2014 Brazil dreams, argued that “ a rare blunder by Ochieng gave Nigerian striker a sniff of goal in the 80th minute” The paper continued “ Stars had held on gallantly until 10 minutes from time when a ball that had seemed harmless was scooped by Musa into the net after he overpowered Ochieng. Stars had a great

game in both halves matching the Eagles in all departments, but it was evident the absence of David Oliech was telling “ the paper wrote.

It continued. “ Victor Wanyama......was solid in midfield, cutting out all the moves by the Eagles.

So frustrated they were that they changed their game plan again and again to no avail”, the paper concluded.

The paper also lamented the absence of coach Amrouche on the bench.

They believed his presence would have made the difference.

The Star, though the headline was “Eagles Knock out Harambee Stars”, said in the body of the news that Victor Wanyama “ was

comfortably dealing with Mikel Obi” Another paper up for review is The Standard.

It’s headline “ Down but not out” says a lot about a media that refused to acknowledge the overall superiority of the Nigerian team.

The Standard quotes assistant coach James Nandwa as saying “ luck eluded us “ that the boys played well and according to instructions, but we’re unlucky not to get something from the match.

A sub headline in the paper says “ Fans gutted as Musa scores despite Stars gallant display” also arguing that “ Celtic star Wanyama controls midfield in balanced match”

CONTEST ••• Nigeria’s Uwa Echiejile (R) vies with Kenya’s David Ochieng (L) during their 2014 World Cup Qualifying match at the Kasarani football stadium in Nairobi. Nigeria won 1-0 . Photo: AFP

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013 — 53

Eagles to take no chances with Warriors S

UPER Eagles mid fielder, Nnamdi Oduamadi believes a performance dominated by intense effort is required by the African champions, Nigeria if they are to emerge victorious against Namibia next week.

The Super Eagles will face the Brave Warriors at the Independence Stadium, Windhoek in a 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifying game on June 12.

Following a crucial 10 win against Kenya in Nairobi on Wednesday, Oduamadi insists only a performance of a similar scale will give the Super Eagles another victory in the race for Brazil 2014.

“We must put in another intense performance because that is the only way we can win (in Windhoek) on Wednesday,” Oduamadi told supersport.com.

The Nigeria team arrived Namibia on Friday and subsequently set up camp at the Country Club Resort Windhoek.

They will spend six days, training for Wednesday ’s game; a welcome change from the situation faced by the squad before their game against Kenya.

Nigeria arrived in Nairobi at 1.30am on June 4, just over 24 hours to the game against Kenya in Nairobi and the win over the East Africans left Oduamadi in ecstatic mood.

WELL DONE BOYS: Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi joins his players to celebrate a goal

before jetting off to Brazil.

The African champions are in Group B of the Fifa Confederations Cup alongside Spain, Uruguay and Tahiti.

Mikel, who is an integral member of the Nigeria team, has now taken the time to discuss the tactics of head coach, Stephen Keshi.

“He (Keshi) likes us to keep the ball and express ourselves and that’s why the results have been good for us in recent matches,” Mikel

T

HE Flying Eagles of Nigeria are due to arrive in Turkey on June 17, for the 2013 U20 FIFA World Cup that will hold in that country.

The Flying Eagles, who had just taken part in the Toulon Tournament in France, departed that country on Sunday morning and headed back to their German training base The Nigerian side will play their opening 2013 U20 World Cup group match four days later, on June 21, against Portugal in Kayseri. The Portuguese U20 defeated the Flying Eagles at the Toulon Tournament.

Keshi calls for constructive criticism

BY PAUL BASSEY

E

MBATTLED Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi has called for constructive criticism even as he seeks to make it to the next round of the qualifiers next week with a match to spare.

Talking to journalists at the Hotel Le Mada camp of the Eagles after the match, Keshi said it will be very disheartening to have journalists and Nigerians just criticizing for criticizing sake.

We cannot just start criticizing because we want to criticize or because we do not like Keshi or the President of the NFF.

” If your criticism is positive, I will take it. After all I am not God, I am a human being and I do not have all the knowledge in the world. ” I have been told that there are some Nigerians who are not happy that we won today. That they would have wanted us to lose, for whatever reason. I do not want to believe that, but if it is true then it is very unfortunate”.

Mikel Continues from BP

FIFA U20 WC: Flying Eagles land Turkey June 17

told Fifa Football Mundial.

Nigeria begin their Fifa Confederations Cup campaign against Tahiti on June 17 at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte.

Three days later, the Super Eagles will line up against South American champions, Uruguay at the Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador before rounding off their preliminary campaign against world and European champions, Spain at the Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza on June 23

•Oduamadi

Obuh Continues from BP The coach had named a ‘ weak’ side for the Toulon event, leaving out his best players. His explanation was that he needs to see the other players, who he was not very sure about.

But now, that experiment is over with the World Cup team named, and Obuh has decided to send the surplus stars home.

He said he will want to thank all those Nigerians who have been praying and fasting for the team to do well and that they should continue praying. ” If the team qualifies for the world cup, it is not Keshi or Mikel Obi that has qualified, but Nigeria and

the glory will go to all of us” he said.

On the team’s performance, he said though he would have loved to see the boys scoring more goals, he thanks God for the solitary strike that was just enough to shoot us to the top of the table.

Nadal Continues from BP watched on from the crowd.

And the super Spaniard achieved it all with a dodgy knee, which was strapped up throughout the contest.

Nadal said: “It’s one of the most special titles.

“I can only say thank you very much to everyone who have been with me throughout my whole career but especially in the last year when I had some low moments (due to injury).

“All the messages were very special to me.

“I never dreamt of this kind of thing. But here we are.”

On Ferrer ’s performance, Nadal said: “I want to congratulate David for his first final in a Grand Slam.

“I’m sorry for today but he’s a fighter and he and all his team deserve to be here.”

The match was interrupted on two occasions by protestors and a man who ran onto the court with a flare, but security guards managed to tackle the intruder before he reached either of the players.

Nadal’s Grand Slam title haul now stands at a mammoth 12 — although the 27-year-old is still five short of old rival Roger Federer.

Ferrer had not lost a set throughout the tournament going into the final yet he was facing his biggest test yet against the modern day King of Clay.

He had won just FOUR times in 23 matches against Nadal, stacking the odds against him.

But Ferrer made a solid start, winning his first service game to love, but was broken in his second and eventually lost the first set 63.

•Oduamadi They will also take on Cuba and South Korea in the first round of the tournament.

CRS govt to provide kits to primary, secondary school athletes

BY EMMA UNA, Calabar

P

RIMARY and secondary school athletes in Cross River State are to be provided with sporting canvass, jersies and other kits in the next edition of the Primnary and Secondary Schools Championships.

The deputy governor, Efiok Cobham, said this while speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2013 Primary/Secondary Schools Athletics and Swimming Championship which ended in Calabar at the weekend.

“No child in this state should be running on bare foot because they represent the future of this state in sporting competitions nationally and internationally”.

The contingent from Calabar Municipality emerged winners (athletics) in the secondary schools category with 11 gold, six silver and nine bronze.

•Imoke C M Y K

54 —

Vanguard Vanguard,,

MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013

Vanguard Vanguard,,

MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013 — 55

C M Y K

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013

All time gr-8!

All hail undisputed King of eight titles at the same Clay Nadal

R

AFAEL NADAL became the first player EVER to win

CONFED CUP

We won't play negative football — Mikel C

H E L S E A midfieder, John Obi Mikel has dropped the strongest possible hint that African champions, Nigeria will not play negative football at the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Nigeria, unbeaten from their last 16 games, will play Namibia in a 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier on June 12 Continues on Page 53

•Mikel

Obuh sends nine players home T

HE coach of the Nigeria U20 football team, the Flying Eagles, John Obuh has finally sent home the nine players he has dropped from the team that will play at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey.

The nine players dropped from the squad are expected to leave for their various bases on Monday morning from the team base in Germany.

The players are Sakiru Alimi, Lucky Omeruo, Sebastine Osigwe, Bright Ejike, Jamilu Collins, Hassan Abubakar, Daniel Etor, Samuel Mathias and Oluwasemilogo Ajayi.

Obuh had kept his squad together all the way from Lagos, first to Germany for a training camp, and then to Toulon for the tournament in which the team crashed out in the first round.

Continues on Page 53

Eagles to take no chances with Warriors Page 53

PUZZLE

SUPERSTARS: Rafael Nadal(l) is presented with the Coupe des Mousquetaires

by Usain Bolt at Roland Garros

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

Grand Slam event as he blew David Ferrer away to clinch the French Open.

The world No4, who has only lost ONE match at Roland Garros in his whole career, romped to victory over fellow Spaniard Ferrer in straight sets.

Nadal sealed an easy 6-3 6-2 6-3 win in two hours and 16 minutes as double Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt Continues on Page 53

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 3 Confess (5) 9 Entertain (6) 10 Gift (6) 11 Go in (5) 12 Bearing (4) 15 Secure (4) 17 Begged (7) 20 Circuit (3) 21 Twelve (5) 23 Require (4) 25 Chief (4) 26 Devil (5) 28 Serpent (3) 30 Devastated (7) 33 Island (4) 35 Dandy (4) 36 Dispute (5) 38 Lure (6) 39 Roof-beam (6) 40 Principle (5)

DOWN 1 Confine (5) 2 Concur (5) 3 Beer (3) 4 Negated (6) 5 Detail (4) 6 Sailor (3) 7 Lawful (5) 8 Precipitous (5) 13 Sickness (7) 14 Called (5) 16 Swooned (7) 18 Giver (5) 19 Jewel (3) 22 Nymph (5) 24 Lair (3) 27 Character (6) 28 Helped (5) 29 Sheet (5) 31 Zest (5) 32 Disparage (5) 34 Liberate (4) 36 Deed (3) 37 Consume (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

How to Play Sudoku

ACROSS: 1, Crater 5, Flaunt 9, Vague 10, Allied 11, Mascot 12, Ripen 14, Seed 17, Old 18, Hive 20, Expel 22, Limer 23, Picador 24, Troop 26, Tenor 29, Hart 30, Her 32, Dome 33, Loden 35, Untied 36, Puddle 37, Sewed 38, Harass 39, Lewdly

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Course 2, Asleep 3, Ever 4, Radio 5, Fumed 6, Lean 7, Urchin 8, Totter 13, Pleased 15, Extra 16, Depot 18, Hired 19, Venom 21, Lip 22, Lot 24, Though 25, Orator 27, Nodded 28, Remedy 30, Hades 31, Repel 33, Less 34, Nude.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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