FRESH ARMS DEAL:S-Africa seizes another $5.7m

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62247

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

DE SI Y IN ODA T

400 terrorists killed in fierce battle with Nigerian troops 8 FRESH ARMS DEAL:

S-Africa seizes another $5.7m

•Both deals subject of criminal investigation—SA •S-Africa frustrating Nigeria — Security agencies •This is most corrupt govt in Nigeria — APC

By Kingsley Omonobi, Dapo Akinrefon, with Agency Reports

A

BUJA—THREE weeks after South Africa confiscated $9.3m belonging to the Federal Government over an alleged illegal arms deal, the South African authorities have seized another $5.7m arms money from Nigeria.

Last month, two Nigerians and an Israeli were arrested at Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, after they attempted to smuggle Continues from page 5

COLUMNISTS:

•P.17

What exactly is ‘clueless' about Goodluck Jonathan?

Two tales of Ebola: Nigeria vs USA

57 •P.

Mr & Mrs OJUDE OBA FESTIVAL—Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (2nd left); his wife, Olufunso (left); Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona (2nd right) and the Special Guest of Honour and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (right) at the 2014 Ojude Oba Festival held in Ijebu-Ode, yesterday.

20m Nigerians blind — Optometric association

16

2015: APC presidential candidate not bound to 13 emerge from North —Oyegun

In South-South states, LG chairmen See Inside rule from exile

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

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POCKET CARTOON

SALLAH—Fun seekers on Sallah holiday at the Bar Beach in Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday.

Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

S-Africa seizes another $5.7m Continues from page 1 $9.3m to South Africa which the Federal Government described as a legitimate business deal to purchase arms for the Nigerian intelligence services.

This is just as a statement by PR Nigeria on behalf of the Nigerian government said the report by the South African newspaper, City Press on the latest transaction has vindicated the Federal Government’s official position that the deal was legitimate.

Despite explanations

by Nigeria, the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of South Africa obtained a court order to freeze the money for allegedly being the proceeds of illegal transactions.

The latest transaction, according to a South African newspaper, City Press was between Cerberus Risk Solutions, an arms broker in Cape Town, and Societe D’Equipments Internationaux, a Nigerian company in Abuja.

The paper reported that the deal collapsed after Cerberus which had earlier received R60 million (N1.02 billion) from Nigeria in its account at Standard Bank, attempted to pay back the money because it could not resolve its registration formalities with the South African authori-

ties.

According to the paper, Cerberus was previously registered as a broker with the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), but the registration expired in May this year.

The marketing and contracting permits also expired at the same time.

The company was said to have since applied for re-registration, but the application was yet to be granted and had been in the NCACC’s mailbox for more than two months.

Following attempts by Cerberus to pay the money back to the Nigerian company, the bank became suspicious. The NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit subsequently obtained a court order in the South Gauteng High Court to seize the money.

Cerberus’ attorney, Martin Hood, was said to have declined to comment on the matter.

In the first arms deal, the two Nigerians and the Israeli national, Eyal Mesika were arrested after they failed to declare two black plastic suitcases, filled with 90 blocks each containing US$100,000 in notes, with combination locks, as well as two pieces of hand luggage also containing US currency, according to City Press.

The Israeli, Eyal Mesika, had the combination to open the locks.

The men landed at Lanseria International

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Determine what you want! How you handle life is how life will handle you.

Airport, Johannesburg, on September 5 in a private jet from Abuja.

At the time, the South Africa Revenue Service, SARS, said Customs officers became suspicious when the passengers’ luggage were unloaded and put through the scanners.

The National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, in South Africa said there was an invoice for helicopters and armaments intended to be used in Nigeria.

Under South African laws, a person entering or leaving the country is expected to carry cash not exceeding US$2,300, or the equivalent in foreign currency notes. The Nigerian government later admitted it was behind the deal meant to purchase arms with which to fight Boko Haram.

The South African paper said documents in its possession show that the first consignment was personally signed off by the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who issued the end-user certificate for the transaction.

An entire “shopping list” was supplied with the certificate, which included everything from helicopters to unmanned aircraft, rockets and ammunition, it said.

NPA spokesperson Nathi Ncube said there were no indications that the two transactions were related, adding that, “both are now the subject of a criminal investigation and all possible information and connections are being investigated”.

South Africa frustrating Nigeria Meanwhile, the Federal Government as well as top officers of security agencies in the country were worried about the increasing trend by South African authorities to frustrate efforts by Nigeria to acquire weaponry and equipment needed to contain the deadly Boko Haram terrorism in North Eastern Nigeria.

This concern came as South African media have published documents confirming the legitimacy of the $9. 3million botched arms deals between Nigeria and the former apartheid enclave.

According to sources, government is particularly concerned that South Africa has remained recalcitrant even after authoritative sources confirmed that there were official communications at the top level of the two governments and the South African media have published documents confirming the legitimacy of the botched arms deals.

According to a statement by PR Nigeria , “Reports by Rapport and City Press appeared to finally vindicate Federal Government’s official position that the transactions were legitimate as they confirmed that contrary to insinuations, end user certificates and a ‘shopping’ list accompanied the transactions as well as a note from Nigerian government authenticating the deals”.

The reports cited documents showing that the earlier consignment was approved by the Nigerian government through the Office of the National

Security Adviser (ONSA) which is officially mandated to issue the enduser certificate for such transactions that involved security agencies in Nigeria.

An entire “shopping list” was also said to have been supplied with the certificate, which included everything from helicopters to unmanned aircraft, rockets and ammunition.

A top security source in the intelligence service disclosed that “in issuing end-user certificate, the ONSA ensures that it carries all relevant agencies and stakeholders along. Therefore, such a responsibility is not a unilateral development.

The source said: “For security reasons, the chains leading to the issuance of end-user certificate cannot be put in the public domain. The recent interest in arms purchase was informed by the challenges of insurgency which our nation had been grappling with in the last few years. This is why the understanding of all Nigerians is necessary.

“Nigeria is desperate to counter activities of terrorists no matter what it takes even when some of our friends are not being fair to us.

Reactions have trailed the latest arms deal gone sour between Nigeria and South Africa.

kind of transactions have been carried out unnoticed. It is sad. Yet they talk about transparency and fight against corruption."

"This government has turned out to be the most corrupt government in the history of this country. There was also another disclosure by Italian prosecutors about Malabo deal. It said that about $533million was shared in bribes. And the money was paid to the Federal Government. We are yet to comment on that. Before then we had the subsidy scan and no one has been convicted.

The government is truly swimming inside corruption."

It’s an embarrassment to Nigeria —Afenifere

Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, described the latest seizure as an embarrassment to Nigeria.

Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin said: “We need to know who is behind it. It is an embarrassment for the country that another money is being seized by the South African authorities. We need a proper verification to ascertain those who are behind it.

Also, those who are behind it should be brought to book to serve as a ground rule.”

This is the most corrupt govt in NiI’m not surgeria —APC The Publicity Secretary prised—Fasehun of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while reacting to the latest arms deal saga said: "This is a government of scandals. While they are trying to battle with one scandal another one has just come up. It shows lack of transparency in government. It is a government of corruption.

Where is the money from? Who appropriated the money? If arms and ammunition are to be bought, why must they not follow the legal procedure? We don’t even know how many of this

Also speaking, founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr Fredrick Fasehun said he was not surprised at the latest development.

Fasehun told Vanguard that “I am not surprised that Nigeria is becoming a country that is unable to control its treasury. Looters are looting everyday with impunity. Any country that has impunity as one of its principles will not be able to keep its treasury intact. So, I am not surprised that various people are looting the treasury and stealing our common wealth”.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Military arrests 50 vandals, recovers 100 canoes, 3,000 jerrycans in Lagos

By Evelyn Usman & Bose Adelaja

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HE Military has arrested 50 persons suspected of vandalising pipelines at Majidun area of Ikorodu in Lagos.

About 100 canoes and ferries used by the vandals were reportedly recovered as at 7.30p.m. on Saturday.

Vanguard gathered that over 1,000 jerricans filled with siphoned petroleum product and over 2,000 empty ones were also recovered.

The raid, which was jointly carried out by personnel of Nigerian Navy and Army, reportedly started last Saturday.

Military sources disclosed that the action followed intelligence report on activities of pipeline vandals in the area. It was gathered that the operatives stormed the creeks while the vandals were operating.

Sources hinted that the vandals attempted to shoot, but on realising that they were military men, jumped into the river and swam away.

The presence of the military men on water and land sent fear down the spines of residents of the area.

A resident told Vanguard on phone: “The raid even caused a hitch in the flow of traffic as the military men positioned themselves in strategic points around the area.

“This paid off as some vandals, who managed to escape from the creeks, were arrested while attempting to board motorbikes. We just hope this will continue, so as to bring sanity to this area.”

Cholera hits refugees in Borno z2 dead in Senator Zannah's house, 8 in Damboa’s

By Ndahi Marama Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in the North- z30 hospitalised

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AIDUGURI— TWO of 462 Internally Displaced persons, IDPs, at the residence of Senator Ahmed Zannah and eight others at Alhaji Komi Damboa’s house were, yesterday, reported dead, following an outbreak of cholera.

Over 30 victims of the disease, which struck the IDPs, were also hospitalised at Chest Hospital in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

It would be recalled that since the capture of Bama, Gwoza, Damboa and other communities in Borno State by Boko Haram, over 56,000 people are now taking refuge at different camps established by the state government.

Several other IDPs from Bama and Damboa chose to settle at the senator ’s house located adjacent to Indimi central mosque, along Damboa road and Alhaji Komi Damboa's residence in Gomari Airport area of Maiduguri metropolis.

Senator Zannah, who represents Bornu Central senatorial district, has been one of the influential agitators for the withdrawal of the military from Borno, alleging that “the military presence on the nooks and crannies of Borno has contributed to the increasing killings and destruction of property by insurgents.”

Vanguard gathered from a reliable source that two of the IDPs, who died as a result of the epidemic were those from Bama Council Area, while eight others died at Damboa’s house during the Eid-el Kabir Sallah day, as they were trapped due to the curfew and restriction of vehicular movement imposed by security operatives.

Measures

The source added that over 30 IDPs, who contracted the disease, had been admitted at Chest Hospital, Maiduguri, for treatment, while the two affected camps and the hospital had been fumigated.

In the same vein, drugs and table water have also been provided by Emergency Response Team of the National

East zone in the state.

Responding to the development, North-East Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Kanar, said he had directed the Emergency Response Team, which include

A

29-year-old woman, Jennifer Edoya, has been charged before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, over theft of a bullet proof door belonging to one Captain Roy Ilegbodu.

Edoya was said to have committed the alleged offence

sometime in July at G.R.A. Ikeja, Lagos.

The charge sheet (No. MK/B/ 193/2014)read: “That you Jenifer Edoya ‘F’ sometime in July, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal a bullet-proof door valued at three hundred and fifty thousand naira (N350,000.00) property of Captain Roy Ilegbodu.”

admitted on Monday to provide them with drugs to checkmate the menace.

According to him, those at the house of Alhaji Komi Damboa will be visited today.

ALTERNATIVE: As fuel tankers and trailer drivers shut down Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, stranded commuters take to more ‘comfortable’ means of movement. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Uduaghan frees 77-yr-old, two others from death row

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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OVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has granted state pardon to a septuagenarian, Dickson Umukoro, and two other condemned inmates as part of activities to mark the nation’s 54th independence anniversary.

The condemned 77-year-old Umukoro and other inmates breathed air of freedom weekend, pursuant to the governor ’s power of prerogative, in line with Section 212 of the 1999

Woman, 29, docked over bullet proof door theft

By Bartholomew Madukwe

the army, civil defence corps, red cross, customs, state fire service and other critical stakeholders, to visit the two affected houses and the hospital where the affected persons were

Police prosecutor, Inspector Eranus Nnamonu, informed the court that the offence was punishable under Section 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

The magistrate granted the accused a N100,000 bail, with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till November 6 for trial.

Constitution.

Others released include 53year-old Monday Tom and an unnamed adolescent, who were sentenced to death seven years ago.

The governor also pardoned Dele Mokwunye, Ufuoma Paul Eto, Moses Orakpor, Uche Dike, Jonathan Igbi, Chukwuemeka Igwebuike, Chijioke Edeh, Augustine Okoroh and Joshua Musa, who were sentenced to various prison terms.

While Umukoro and Tom had their death sentence commuted to freedom on grounds of good conduct, Edeh, Okoroh and Musa had theirs commuted to life imprisonment.

The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Charles Ajuyah (SAN), lauded the governor ’s gesture, saying it was a rare one from him.

He said: “The governor acted pursuant to his power of prerogative of mercy and in the spirit of the celebration of Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary.”

One dead, 17 injured in Sokoto accident

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OKOTO—THE Federal Roads Safety Commission, FRSC, in Sokoto State, said that one person died, while 17 others sustained injuries in an accident that occurred along Sokoto and SabonGarin Kwannawa road, yesterday.

Mr. Kuteb Takum, Sector Commander of the commission in the state, who confirmed the accident, said the victims were returning from a ceremony at Sabon-Garin Kwannawa, on the outskirt of Sokoto.

He said: “The driver of a pick-up van, marked Edo XF 739 BEN, who is now on the run, lost control of the vehicle while on Kwannawa-Sokoto highway.

“The van somersaulted several times after the driver lost control of the vehicle and veered off the road at about 10a.m.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—7

LOADED:

Trucking it along OshodiA p a p a Expressway, L a g o s , y e s t e r d a y.

P H O T O : B i o d u n Ogunleye.

Police uncover baby factory in Anambra

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

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NITSHA—ANAMBRA State Police Command has uncovered a baby factory where women with unwanted pregnancies are harboured till delivery, after which the babies are sold to interested buyers, with or without their mothers’ consents.

Consequently, the suspected owner of the baby factory has been arrested and detained by the police for allegedly selling one of the new born babies for N700,000, without the mother's consent.

A source said the suspect, who is from Imo State, whose name was withheld by the police for security reasons, was alleged to have opened a maternity home at Odekpe in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State where she nurtured the babies after birth and then sell them to prospective buyers.

The source hinted that the deal that landed her in police custody started on August 27 when a baby boy was born.

According to the source, the suspect had on August 28, a day after the delivery, sent Adaku, mother of the baby, to a nearby compound to fetch a gallon of water to bath the baby, which she obeyed.

Disappearing act

It was gathered that on returning from the errand, she discovered that the suspect had disappeared with her baby.

Vanguard gathered that several phone calls she made to find out the whereabout of the suspect were futile as her line was switched off.

The source stated that when the suspect eventually showed up about a week later without the baby and was confronted by Adaku, she simply asked her to allow her to rest.

The suspect was later arrested by the police for another offence. When she was released from custody and was confronted again by Adaku, she replied: “Can’t you see I am just returning from police custody?”

Vanguard learnt that it was at this point that Adaku contacted one of her cousins who lodged a complaint at Police Area Command Headquarters, Onitsha, and the suspect was arrested.

She confessed to the police

zRescue baby boy sold for N.7m that she had sold the baby to someone at Obosi for N700,000, after which she took the police to Obosi where the baby boy was recovered.

The Police Area Commander for Onitsha, Benjamin Wordu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police who confirmed the arrest, said he had just transferred the matter to the State Criminal Investigations Department,

CID, Awka, for further investigations.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Uche Ezeh, also confirmed the arrest to newsmen in a telephone chat, adding that the suspect would be charged to court after investigations.

He also disclosed that the baby boy had been released to his mother.

... nab rapist, kidnapper in Delta

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Akpokona Omafuaire

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ARRI—DELTA Police Command has rescued a kidnap victim at Okpara in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, shooting one of the suspected kidnappers in the process as others fled the scene with bullet wounds.

The Police also arrested a suspected rapist, Gbenga Anaorin, 39, at Okpanam for defiling a two-year-old girl at Okpanam.

In a statement yesterday by Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu, the command said: “On October 5, at about 9a.m., the DPO, Isiokolo Division, ASP Iwok Ndifereke, received distress call that a man, later identified as one Abemu Gabriel ‘m’ of Oviore community, who is a teacher with Oruodo Primary School in Ethiope council, was kidnapped along the rail line at Okpara, by unknown gunmen.

“The DPO mobilised his men, blocked all exit routes in the area and went after the hoodlums with his patrol team.

“The team caught up with the

hoodlums at Utiuyo village in Okpara, where the criminals on sighting the policemen opened fire.

“In the ensuing gun battle one of the hoodlums was fatally wounded, while the other

suspects escaped, and the victim was rescued.”

Kalu said the victim, who is in shock, was receiving medical attention in a hospital, while efforts were on to track down the fleeing criminals.

... parade suspected criminals in Kogi

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—KOGI State Police Command, yesterday, paraded 20 suspected criminals, including Mohammed Usman, 32, alleged to have pretended to be a military officer.

The command also said the ban on masquerade festival and use of firearms throughout the festive period was still in force.

Parading the suspect yesterday, the state Commissioner of Police, Paul Okafor, said Mohammed Usman was accused of posing as a corporal in the Nigeria Army and duping unsuspecting members of the public in the name of his boss.

However, Usman denied using the Army uniform in his

possession for extortion, saying he got it from a friend in the Army to snap pictures.

He said: “The policemen that arrested me are all my friends.

“They come to my house to eat and drink. But they came and arrested me for impersonation because they saw an Army uniform in my house.”

The Police Commissioner said: “Since I assumed duty as Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, we have been guided by the vision and mission of the present Police High Command and dynamic leadership of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Suleiman Abba.

“It underscores the necessity for all police officers to be humble, honest and hardworking.”

One dead, as Delta Police nab notorious car snatchers in Asaba

By Esther Onyegbula

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ELTA State police command has killed a member of a robbery gang that specialises in snatching cars in the state, while three others were arrested.

The gang, which invades the state from their bases in Enugu and Imo states, had its activities neutralised by Delta State Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, led by a Superintendent of Police, Ademola Adebayo.

Vanguard reliably gathered that one of the robbers was shot dead by operatives of the squad during a gunfight.

One of the suspects, identified as Ifeanyi, said: “My name is Ifeanyi. I am from Nsukka in Enugu State. I am a buyer of stolen vehicles. Our target is usually Sports Utility Vehicles, SUV,.

“It was my friend, one Samuel, a.k.a. Igirigi, who called me to receive one Toyota Highlander and bring it to him at Awka Road. So far I have received three stolen vehicles.

“They call me immediately they steal any vehicle. I met Igirigi when I was working as a motor boy with one transport company in Lagos. I joined the gang because I was experiencing to much hardship.

“I sleep at the Bar Beach in Lagos because I don’t have a house. The man met me and asked me to collect his telephone number in case there is any job for me and later introduced me into armed robbery.

“As I speak with you my wife is pregnant. She will soon put to bed.”

Another member of the gang, 27-year-old Chidubem, explained his involvement: “I am a bus conductor in Onitsha but I am from Awka. It was one of our gang members, called Chimuanya that introduced me into armed robbery.”

Delta State Police boss, Alhaji Alkali Baba, said the command was ready to ensure that criminals, who came to operate in Delta State from neighbouring states faced the full wrath of the law.

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8 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Couple, one other win 2014 Nobel Prize in medicine

By Sola Ogundipe

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Norwegian couple, Professors Edvard Moser and May-Britt Moser and AmericanBritish neuroscientist, Prof John O’Keefe, have been awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for their discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain, described as an “inner GPS.” The Mosers, both professors of neuroscience, are the fifth married couple to be awarded a Nobel Prize.

May-Britt Moser is Director of the Centre for Neural Computation at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, and her husband, Edvard Moser, who is Director of the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience discovered a type of nerve cell that generates a coordinate system and allowing for precise positioning in 2005.

O’Keefe, a professor of cognitive neuroscience Director of the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre in Neural Circuits and Behaviour at the University College London, discovered the first component of the positioning system in 1971.

Announcing the award yesterday, the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet said together, the discoveries explain how the brain creates a map of space and how humans navigate their way through a complex environment.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is awarded annually to “the person who shall have made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine.”

It is one of five Nobel Prizes established by Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite in his will in 1895.

Between 1901 and 2013, more than 560 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to 876 people and organisations.

Nobel laureates receive the title, a diploma, a gold medal and about $1.2 million in award money.

If two winners are chosen for a single category, the prize is split in half.

400 Boko Haram insurgents killed in battle to retake Bazza, Michika, Madagali

By Kingsley Omonobi & Umar Yusuf

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EAVY fighting between Nigerian troops and Boko Haram terrorists ensued yesterday in Adamawa State as soldiers backed from the air by Nigerian Airforce attack helicopters launched an attack to retake territories in the possession of Boko Haram.

In the ensuing battle that continued into the night, Vanguard gathered that about 400 Boko Haram terrorist had been killed while there were casualties on the part of the Nigerian soldiers.

Military sources in Adamawa state told Vanguard that the onslaught to retake the towns of Bazza, Michika and Madagali was launched from the town of Vimtim, the hometown of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and that the General Officer Commanding 3 division of the Army, Major General Mohammed Zaruwa was coordinating the onslaught Said the source, “I can assure you that we are advancing successfully. We have dealt a heavy blow on the terrorists.

They didn’t expect what they are seeing. Our armoured tanks are blasting and they are running for their lives. The airforce is providing air cover and hitting them also.

“I cannot give you a categorical answer regarding casualties but so far about 400 of the terrorists have been killed. We have casualties among our soldiers also but the propaganda circulating that 70 of our men were killed is wishful thinking”.

“From reports on the ongoing battle, we may have lost a few soldiers but it cannot be

COMMISSIONING: From left; Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Chairman, Ekiti State Health Management Board, Chief Bayo Oriire and Senator representing Taraba North, Aisha Alhassan, during the inauguration of Oba Adejugbe Hospital, as part of events commemorating the 4th anniversary of the Fayemi Administration, in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday. confirmed because usually, they may have been injured and are holed up somewhere for first aid treatment” the source said.

Contacted on the development, Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade confirmed the fighting but stated he cannot give casualty figures or full details as operatives on ground were yet to furnish him with the situation report. He said he would give details when the operation is concluded.

Online media reports had indicated that during the fight at least 70 soldiers were killed in a fierce battle between insurgents and Nigerian troops and pointed out that the fighting was for control of the towns of Bazza and Vimtim in Adamawa State, a claim denied by the

military source.

The source further debunked claims that Boko Haram used helicopters to fight back noting that the Nigerian airforce helicopters may have been mistaken for that.

An eye witness told newsmen that the insurgents at a point on Sunday might re-grouped at the Federal Government College, (Technical) in Michika before they were dislodged and chased away.

According to him, “the army came in on Sallah day and since then fierce fighting has been on.

But, as you can see the insurgents are moving away and the military are following them”.

“The insurgents who were in their thousands came through Uba and attacked the Nigeria

troops. “The gallant Nigerians soldiers were attacked from the rear by the militants but the military men engaged them in fierce battle over five hours “.

It will be recalled that on the 7th of September, 2014 the Boko Haram insurgents overran Michika, Bazza, Madagali and other border towns between Adamawa and Borno State during which the son of the former Nigeria President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a Lieutenant Colonel, Olugbenga Obasanjo an Engineer in the Nigeria Army was shot and wounded.

During the takeover of Madagali and Michika, the insurgents also attempted to overran Vimtim, the hometown of the Chief of Defence staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh.

ANTI-TERROR WAR: Jonathan to meet heads of neighbouring countries and agree on further joint also agreed to establish joint in 1964 by Nigeria, Chad,

By Ben Agande

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will leave Abuja today for Niamey, Niger Republic to participate in an Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

A statement by the special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati said President Jonathan and other participating Heads of State and Government are expected to review ongoing collaboration against terrorism

action to curb terrorism and insurgency within and across their national boundaries.

It will be recalled that President Jonathan and the Heads of State and Government of the neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin Republic resolved at a meeting in Paris in May this year to intensify joint efforts to curtail terrorism and insurgency.

At the Paris Summit hosted by President Francois Hollande of France in the aftermath of the dastardly abduction of the Chibok College girls, President Jonathan and neighbouring heads of state and government

anti-terrorism patrols and a system of sharing intelligence to support operations against terrorists and other cross-border criminals.

They also agreed to create a dedicated team to draw up and advise on the implementation of a regional counter-terrorism strategy under the framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

He said although Benin Republic, which participated in the Paris Summit is not a member of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, it has been invited to the Niamey talks.

The Lake Chad Basin Commission was established

Niger and Cameroon with the mandate of sustainably and equitably managing shared water resources of the Lake Chad Basin and promoting regional integration, peace and security across the Basin.

The statement added that President Jonathan will be accompanied to Niamey by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the Chief Of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh and other senior government officials and is expected to return to Abuja at the conclusion of the one-day summit.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014 — 9

Pending bills may suffer as senators kick-start campaigns for 2015 zWe'll attend to all items before end of 7th Senate, says Ndoma-Egba

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA—AS the Senate prepares to resume next Tuesday, after two weeks of self-awarded holidays to mark the Independence Day and Eid-El-Kabir celebrations, there are indications that the engagements of almost all the

senators in political campaigns to either get re-elected into the National Assembly or other higher offices, may adversely affect legislative activities.

Already, signs of what would likely happen IN the floor of the Red Chamber as the lawmakers resume next week, manifested shortly before they embarked on the two-week

break, when only a negligible number of the senators attended plenary where some issues were debated and decided upon.

Among the issues treated were the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan’s $1 billion insurgency loan request, confirmation of some appointments made by the

INSTALLATION: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN President, Mr Chidi Ajaegbu with Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) at the installation of former ICAN President, Sir Simeon Oguntimehin as the Lisa of Ondo on Friday.

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA—AHEAD of the December 6 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP where the sole candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan would be ratified, national leadership of the party is insisting that all delegates to the convention slated to hold at Eagle square, Abuja, will vote.

Meanwhile, with the 2014 Guideline as released by the PDP, all political appointees may have been sidelined as delegates to the convention where the emergence of President Jonathan as the party’s sole candidate for the party for the February, 2015 Presidential election would be sealed.

The PDP has said that having taken a decision at the National Executive Committee, NEC meeting to adopt President Goodluck Jonathan as the sole candidate, no other party member would come up as an aspirant for the position.

Confirming the position of the party that delegates will vote, PDP National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh in a telephone conversation stressed that the party will hold a presidential nomination primary

executive arm of government, as well as debates on motions sponsored by some members.

But the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, dismissed fears that the Senate may not attend to all the issues pending before it before the 7th Senate comes to an end, saying no item would be left unattended to.

“This is not the first time we are faced with several issues like what you are saying. There were times in the past where we had to sit even at night to ensure we attended to all issues pending before us. The records are there for you to see,if there is need for that, we shall repeat what we did in the past,” he told Vanguard.

Several bills and reports, chief among which include the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, Review of the 1999 Constitution and treatment of the 2014 National Conference report are currently pending before the Senate.

Among the 109 senators presently in the legislature, not less than 30 of them are currently vying for governorship elections in their various states, just as others are looking forward to contesting elections to return to the Senate.

For now, only the former governor of Kwara State and senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial zone, Bukola Saraki, is being rumoured to

eyeing presidential ticket under the platform of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. Senators who have unofficially declared for the governorship seats of their various states include, senators Enyinaya Abaribe, PDP, Abia South; Nkechi Nwaogu, PDP, Abia Central; Helen Esuene, PDP, Akwa Ibom South and Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP, Delta North.

Others are Senators Chris Anyanwu, PDP, Imo East; Benedict Ayade, PDP, Cross River North; Solomon Ewuga, PDP, Nasarawa North;Gbenga Kaka, APC, Ogun East; Ayogu Eze, Enugu North; Ganiyu Solomon, APC, Lagos West and Magnus Abe, APC, Rivers South.

Their perceived ambitions have pitched them against their various state governors, thus making them uncomfortable even to attend legislative businesses.

The Senate is expected to attend to any issue, only if the number of senators present forms a quorum, which stands at 76.

As some senators begin to stay away from the chamber to attend unofficial rallies and campaigns in their various constituencies, preparatory to the forth-coming general elections, there are fears that the number of those who will be present at the chamber as the Red Chamber resumes next week may not be significant enough to form the required quorum so as to attend to pending issues.

But speaking with Vanguard recently on the fears being expressed in some quarters, the Senate Leader, Victor NdomaEgba, insisted that it was a non issue, saying no single item would be left untreated before the 7th Senate expires.

PDP PRIMARIES: Party insists on voting at presidential primary ...Political appointees locked out as delegates election where delegates shall vote to ensure that the ratification of President Jonathan as the sole presidential candidate was carried out. According to him, “our constitution is clear on this.

There will be a convention and voting will take place. However since he has been endorsed by the NEC, we do not expect responsible and respectable loyal party members to challenge this wholesome acceptance and endorsement”.

The Party’s position is in line with the provision of the Electoral Act (2010 as amended) which said primaries must be conducted, for the nomination of presidential candidates of political parties, just as section 87 (1) stipulates that “A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Act shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elective positions.”

Same section 87 (2, 3 and 4) said , “The procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various

elective positions shall be by direct or indirect primaries. A political party that adopts the direct primaries procedure shall ensure that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the party. A political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidate shall adopt the procedure outlined below: “In the case of nominations to the position of Presidential candidate, a political party shall, hold special conventions in each of the 36 States of the Federation and FCT, where delegates shall vote for each of the aspirants at designated centres in each State Capital on specified dates, a National Convention shall be held for the ratification of the candidate with the highest number of votes.

“The aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting in the 36 States of the Federation and FCT, shall be declared the winner of the Presidential primaries of the political party and the aspirants

name shall be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the candidate of the party after ratification by the national convention”, the act specified.

The same procedure in the Electoral Act which is applicable for the nomination of governorship candidates in the state said that, “In the case of nominations to the position of Governorship candidate, a political party shall, where they intend to sponsor candidates: hold special congress in each of the local government areas of the States with delegates voting for each of the aspirants at the congress to be held in designated centres on specified dates. The aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting shall be declared the winner of the primaries of the party and aspirant’s name shall be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the candidate of the party, for the particular State.”

The PDP in its presidential

guidelines has listed the categories of members that would vote at the presidential nomination primary election on December 6 which excludes the political appointees, just as those expected to vote at the December 6 ratification primary election include the national chairman of PDP and all members of the National Working Committee (NWC), the President and the Vice President, all PDP members of the National Assembly, all PDP Governors as well as all governorship candidates that has emerged from the various congresses of November 29.

Other delegates to vote at the December 6 national congress to ratify the President include, all PDP members of the State Houses of Assembly, all members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), all working committee members of the six geo political zones, all the 36 states’ chairmen and their secretaries, all state women and youth leaders, as well as all party chairmen of the local government areas and one national delegate elected from the 774 local governments.

10— Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Lagos ends Ebola kits distribution today

SYNAGOGUE: Nigeria, S'Africa bicker

over state of mortuary facilities

By Ikenna Asomba, with

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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AGSO—AHEAD of tomorrow ’s school resumption in Lagos, the State government yesterday said it would conclude the handing over of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, preventive kits to schools today.

Governor, Babatunde Fashola last month postponed the resumption date earlier scheduled for September 21, following demands from the State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, that they would not resume until all public schools are provided with the approved EVD preventive kits.

Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye who disclosed this to Vanguard, said that larger per cent of the kits have been distributed to the public schools ahead of their resumption for the 2014/2015 academic session.

She noted that the state government is ready to ensure that the schools are safe for the pupils and their teachers, as they commence new academic session.

Oladunjoye said: “Yes, larger per cent of the Ebola preventive kits have been provided for the schools. At the moment, final detailing is ongoing at the Blueroof, Agidingbi, Ikeja between the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina and stakeholders at the primary schools' level in the state. This is where we are concluding the distribution of the Ebola preventive kits to public schools in the state.”

The commissioner stated that the concluding stage of the distribution exercise which commenced on Monday, “ will be finalised tomorrow (today).”

She explained that the two days set aside for the final process is to allow the state and the teachers to double check the preventive kits distributed.

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agency report

AGOS—THREE weeks after 116 people, of whom 84 South Africans lost their lives when a six-storey guest house attached to the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, IkotunEgbe, Lagos, collapsed, fresh indications have emerged that the SouthAfrican government and the Nigerian authorities in Lagos are bickering over alleged inadequate mortuary and facilities which may have led to the decomposition of the victims corpses beyond recognition.

South Africa Broadcasting Corporation, SABC, quoting the South African government last weekend, said that families of deceased who died in the building collapse have had an endless wait for the return of the bodies, which continue to decompose, stating that in some mortuaries, bodies were being kept cool with fans and no refrigeration.

and, in fact, in all the 25 hospitals in the state, and there are also private mortuaries which are all of world-standard.”

He added that whoever had said Lagos did not have enough mortuaries to take care of bodies of the South Africans must be saying this so that the South African government would hasten the evacuation of the bodies.

Willaim speaks

However, spokesperson of the inter-ministerial task team on the Nigerian tragedy, Phumla Williams said in a statement that the government was already finalising the process of bringing the remains of the 84 South Africans home, but expressed doubt on the timeline.

“We wish we had a timeline.

We are entirely at the mercy

of the Nigerians.”

She said the South African government had decided to have a frank discussion with the families about the state the bodies would be in when they were returned, saying, “We are appealing to you that you expect the worst. I don’t think you want to see your relative in the state that they are in.

The majority of them, I don’t think, are looking good.”

Williams said that they believed three or four of the bodies from South Africans killed were in a better state because they were embalmed quickly.

The South African government had hoped that the process of repatriation would move quickly after the post-mortems.

However, this process had been frustrated by the fact that Nigerian officials had insisted on doing DNA testing

themselves, even though the technology is unavailable.

Assistance

Williams who claimed that South Africans had hoped to at least assist in the process, said: “Nevertheless, the government was still waiting to hear if the bodies had been transported to a service provider for the testing. We don’t know when they are going to finish. We also learned that because of the state in which the bodies are in, the DNA testing is not going to be a quick process.

So, this left the government reluctant to estimate a date for the return of the bodies as it did not want to create unnecessary expectations.

However, at any stage; we the South African government are ready to go and fetch the bodies,” she said.

Lagos debunks claims

Debunking this claim, spokesperson to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Hakeem Bello, said the state felt insulted by the criticism that there were inadequate mortuaries and facilities to take care of the corpses of the South Africans.

Bello said: “We recorded a more complex disaster during the Dana air crash in Lagos in 2012 in which 153 persons were burnt beyond recognition. Did we not identify the bodies of the victims?

“In the case of the Synagogue building collapse, the State Health Commissioner even called on relations of victims to come forward and provide tissues and sample evidence for DNA tests. Does that not suggest a more sophisticated environment?”

We have enough mortuary space —Lagos Govt

A source at the Lagos State Ministry of Health also insisted the state had enough mortuary space.

“We have 24 general hospitals. The mortuary in (the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital) is of world-standard.

“We have mortuaries in Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland General Hospitals

INSPECTION: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (middle), being briefed on the state of the ongoing construction work at Eric-Moore Group of Schools, Surulere, by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Olujimi Hotonou (left), and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Government College Lagos, Old Boys’ Association, Mr. Rotimi Vaughan, during the Governor's inspection of the facility.

Lagos CP proscribes Community Youth Vanguard

By Evelyn Usman AGOS—THE Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Cornelius Aderanti, has described the Community Youth Vanguard,CYV, as an illegal group, threatening to sanction any member of the group who indulges in any act of lawlessness.

The Community Vanguard , a vigilante group in Festac Town, has been in the news following alleged harassment and victimisation of residents.

The group was also alleged to have clashed with other community based vigilante groups in the area, where scores were reportedly injured.

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The recent report on the group was its alleged invasion of the Amuwo Odofin Local Government.

However, members of the group have described the allegations against them as false, stating that it was orchestrated by some politicians in Festac Town.

In an apparent move to avoid future fracas, the command boss in a statement made available to Vanguard, announced the proscription of the Community Youth Vanguard.

According to the statement by the command’s spokesman, Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of

Police, “ The CP has formally announced the proscription of the Community Youth Vanguard, an association formed in Festac Town. This followed various complaints from members of the public against activities of the association. Such association is illegal. Members of the group are urged to desist from their illegal activities which have caused public disturbances in the past.

"Members of this proscribed association are by this announcement warned to be law abiding as any act of lawlessness will meet with commensurate action”, the statement read.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—11

Securitymen bar ex-gov Daniel from entering Obasanjo's home zAs PDP reconciles Daniel, Kashamu

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By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—SECURITY men attached to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, yesterday, prevented a former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel from gaining entry into Obasanjo’s palatial home.

Vanguard gathered last night that, Daniel who was billed to declare his defection into the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, very soon was at Obasanjo’s house to seek his blessing and possible forgiveness.

According to a source who pleaded anonymity, Daniel allegedly sat at the back of a vehicle driven by former minister of Mines and Steel, Sarafa Ishola but, was uncovered and reportedly turned back.

“Ishola who drove the vehicle, who was earlier granted entry, was also turned back when his trick was uncovered.

“The incident occurred at about 10.30 am and it reportedly left the embattled former governor humiliated and traumatised”, the source said.

Daniel was engaged in supremacy battle with the former President which caused him to vow never to return to the PDP, despite his declared interest to work for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Efforts to get Daniel or his aides to respond to the development were futile as their phones could not be reached.

Kashamu Meantime, the PDP has reconciled former Governor Daniel and Chairman of Mobilisation and Organisation Committee of the party in South West, Buruji Kashamu.

The National Secretary of the PDP, Prof. Adewale Oladipo disclosed this when Daniel made a surprise appearance at a Sallah party organised by Kashamu at the Goodluck Jonathan Political Centre, Ijebu Igbo.

Oladipo said it was important for both Daniel and Kashamu to

reconcile and work together to ensure victory for PDP in the presidential election, in particular and take total control of the state in 2015.

According to him, "I am sure that with the coming together of Buruji and Daniel, as they have demonstrated their friendship and had been seen today, they will consummate it by the special grace of God, in a few days’ time and the National Working Committee, NWC, is encouraging them to do that."

Commenting on the significance of Daniel’s unexpected visit, Kashamu said: “Although it was a private visit, it is perhaps a precursor to my prediction penultimate Sunday that Daniel had no choice but to return to PDP. “Many people have expressed their readiness to join the PDP, that is why the NWC set up an integration committee for the South West and is headed by the Senate President, David Mark”, Kashamu said.

BIRTHDAY: From left: Celebrant/Chief of Staff to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, his wife, Kafayat, former National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Bisi Akande, and former Deputy Governor of the State, Chief Sooko Adewoyin, during the Chief of Staff's 60th birthday, at Iragbiji, Osun State, yesterday.

PDP reconciles Daniel,

Atiku seeks more powers, resources for states zCommissions Ekiti's 300-bed hospital, asks voters to shun PDP in 2015

By Gbenga Ariyibi

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DO EKITI—FORMER Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has called for the devolution of powerS from the federal to the states, saying more powers and resources should be given to the states.

Atiku who was speaking during the commissioning of the 300-bed multi-million Naira Oba Adejugbe General Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, said the Federal Government has no business in undertaking some of the responsibilities currently at its disposal.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential aspirant, urged Nigerians to take advantage of 2015 general elections to vote out

the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from power.

Atiku noted that if more powers are ceded to the states, it would make power at the centre less attractive. The APC chieftain noted that the Federal Government has no business in undertaking

issues like health,agriculture and employment He said: “This is the first time Nigerians will be having an alternative platform to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party , and this opportunity must not be missed.”

Also speaking on the

occasion, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi said the multi-million naira general hospital was borne out of his commitment to wipe out poverty and attend to the health needs of the people of the state.

Empowering people should be legislative duty —Osoba

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By Daud Olatunji

B E O K U TA — POLITICIAN son of a former governor of Ogun State and a member of the House of Representatives, Olumide Osoba has said that empowering the people should be part of the legislative duties.

Osoba who is representing Abeokuta North/Odeda/ObafemiOwode Federal constituency in the state at the lower chamber said this at the empowerment programme for about 120 people in his constituency.

Osoba who spoke in the presence of the state deputy governor, Prince Segun Adesegun said the gesture was a way to encourage the people whose votes brought him to power.

“Because of the way things are in the country, I felt there should be a way to encourage people in the small and medium enterprises and the only way I could do that is to empower them.

“It is also a way to appreciate the people that voted me in and as well to empower them.

“Representative's duties entails lawmaking where you pass motions and bills in the House and then we have committee duties where we oversight different ministries, agencies and departments.

“The appropriation for the country is another duty, where the executive brings the budget estimate and we fine-tune it and thereby becoming the budget for each year.

“If a young man has a vulcanising machine, he can become useful to himself and not be idle. If a woman has a deep refrigerator, she could start making ice blocks, just like a welder with a generating set will use it effectively for his job,” he said.

Lawyers, judges pay last respect to late Justice Adio

By Ola Ajayi BADAN—JUDGES, Senior Advocates of Nigeria and lawyers assembled in Ibadan yesterday to pay their last respects to the late Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Mashood Olayiwola Adio who died last week.

Among the legal luminaries at the eighth day prayer were

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Justice Mojeed Owoade of the Court of Appeal; Justice Badejoko Adeniji, former Chief Judge of Oyo State; Justice Olagoke Ige; Justice Solomon Akinteye; Justice Mojeed Ishola; Justice Bayo Ganiyu; Justice Eni Esan; Justice A. A. Aderemi; Justice O. Boade; Justice Arasi; Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN;

Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN; Mr. Tunde Aiku, SAN; and Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, among others.

In their tributes, the legal icons said the late judge transformed the judiciary in Oyo State during his relatively short but landmark tenure of office as Chief Judge of the State.

At the prayer, Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Suarau Haroun, urged hundreds of sympathisers to use their positions in life to do good.

The cleric advised Islamic adherents to make amends for their notable wrongdoings when alive and endeavour to be pious and do good to all in all their undertakings.

12 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

2015: Zoning of Senate, House of Reps seats splits Bayelsa stakeholders

By Samuel Oyadongha

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E N A G O A — STAKEHOLDERS in Bayelsa West senatorial district have been polarised over the zoning of Senate and House of Representatives seats.

Governor Seriake Dickson is from the west senatorial district which produced the incumbent representatives in the National Assembly. They are Senator Heineken Lokpobiri from Ekeremor Local Government Area and Stella Dorgu from Sagbama Local Government Area.

While the pro-zoning camp is insisting on zoning the Senate position to Sagbama and the House of Representatives seat to Ekeremor, those in opposition are insisting that the status quo should remain.

The controversy started penultimate Sunday at Sagbama during a rally organized by the zone for the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson for 2015 and 2016 respectively.

Mr. Charles Dorgu, the pioneer chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, had during the event, read a communiqué zoning the senatorial slot to Sagbama and the House of Representatives seat to Ekeremor.

But some concerned elders and leaders of the party from the west senatorial district, weekend, at an enlarged meeting in Yenagoa, rejected the ‘purported’ zoning

of the National Assembly seats in the area insisting that the status quo be maintained since President Goodluck Jonathan needed experienced hands to support him at the Senate.

The group, in a communiqué at the end of the meeting, declared that the issue of zoning was not part of the agenda of the Sagbama rally, claiming that “the statements on zoning canvassed at the concluding part of the rally were extraneous and clearly beyond the power, scope and authority of the rally.”

While reiterating their support

for Jonathan and Dickson, they endorsed Lokpobiri as the candidate for the senatorial position for Bayelsa West senatorial district in the forthcoming National Assembly elections.

The communique read in part: “The concerned political leaders, elders and representatives of the 26 electoral wards constituting Bayelsa West senatorial district of the PDP also observed that representation of Bayelsa West at the National Assembly at this critical moment should be dictated by cognate experience, proven

track record of competence, capacity to attract infrastructural development and bring about robust perspectives to help stabilise the polity in this crucial period of national history.

“Consequently, we totally reject and unequivocally condemn the irrational resort to the matter of zoning in a rally which agenda did not include anything of the sort."

The meeting presided over by Chief Dennis Daunemighan, also had in attendance party chieftains from the zone including, Chief Abeke Ebikake, Stephen Ogullah, Fitzgerald Olorugun, Torpedo Amananaghan, Bekekeme Dick among others.

AWARD: From left: Pastor, Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; Mr. Bankole Cardoso, son of late Dr. Stella Adadevoh; Mrs. Ibidun Ighodalo, and Nneka Nwobi of Trinity House, during the post-humous presentation of national and community service award to the late Dr. Stella Adadevoh, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

2015: Ijaw group backs Oshiomhole for Presidency

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—IN what appears to be a division within the Ijaw ethnic group over the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan, a group, under the aegis of Izon Ibe Global Policy Network,, IGPN, has expressed its resolve to back Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the 2015 presidential election or any other candidate the All Progressives Congress, APC, might sponsor for the polls.

The group condemned incisive statements by some Ijaw sons, stressing the need to make comments that would unite the country irrespective of where the Presidency was ceded.

It would be recalled that youths from the South-South had last week disclosed plans to organise a one-million-man march in Akwa Ibom State, with a view to persuading Governor Oshiomhole to declare his intention to run for the 2015 Presidency.

However, the Ijaw group, in a statement by its spokesman,

Ayubalayefa Dennis, expressed optimism that the APC had qualified candidates, like Oshiomhole, capable of addressing the myriad of problems confronting the nation.

He said: “Any sincere

Nigerian will see that the APC states are more developed than those of other parties and there is more transparency in governance than they have in PDP states. That is why we are backing APC. “We want to use this medium

to warn some Ijaw leaders who threatened that Nigeria will break up if President Jonathan loses the presidential election. Such leaders should be informed that the era of ethnicity and regional politics is past."

2015: House of Reps aspirant harps on peace

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—AHEAD of the 2015 general elections, a House of Representatives aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Warri Federal constituency, Mrs. Alero Ogbemi-Barlow, has urged the people to continue to live in harmony.

Ogbemi-Barlow, who spoke during a consultation visit to some stakeholders in the area, praised Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, for bringing peace and development to the state.

She said her passion to bring sustainable development to Warri Federal constituency, informed her decision to vie for the House of Representatives

seat in the federal constituency.

While describing herself as a grassroots woman, OgbemiBarrow pledged to bring her

vast knowledge and wealth of experience in law to initiate bills that would benefit the people of Warri federal constituency.

2015: Forum denies adopting Omo-Agege, Emerhor

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HE Urhobo Media Practitioners Forum, UMPF, has dissociated itself from the adoption of Chief Ovie Omo-Agege, a governorship aspirant of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Chief Otega Emerhor, of All Progressives Congress, APC, as candidates for their parties in the 2015

governorship election in Delta State.

A statement by Prince Orhomonokpaye, of Delta Guide Newspapers and Chairman of the group, noted that the forum was made up of non-partisan media men and advised Deltans and Nigerians in general to disregard such declarations.

Dutch activist boosts Delta communities

By Egufe Yafugborhi

& Akpokona Omafuaire

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A R R I — SUCCOUR is coming the way of Delta State riverine communities as Nigerianborn Dutch activist and founder, Hope for Niger Delta Campaign, Mr. Sunny Ofehe, has promised to solicit international assistance for Okerenkoko Cottage hospital operated by Tompolo Foundation.

Ofehe made the remarks at Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State during a visit to the hospital.

He said: “I defied security warnings saying that it is not safe for me to come in. If an NGO has done well, like setting up a cottage hospital, you need to showcase the work they have done, knowing that running such hospital daily costs money and needs equipment.

“We want to show what we have seen and what we have recorded to the international community and use it as an opportunity to open doors for people to see how they can collaborate with this NGO so that the standard can continue to grow and give the ordinary people the opportunity to have access to good health.

“I have heard so many things about Chief G o v e r n m e n t Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, but I have not met him. I must tell you that for somebody to have this vision for his people to fund the cottage hospital, he deserves respect irrespective of opinion that people may have about him. He could choose not to do anything but the fact that he is spending his money shows his heart is good.”

Ofehe noted that security challenge was making it difficult to attract international attention, saying, “I came with some white people the other time, this was same type of project we came for and somewhere along the line we were kidnapped, now I am coming alone.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—13

2015: APC presidential candidate not bound to emerge from North —Oyegun

By Simon Ebegbulem

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E N I N — N AT I O N A L Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, yesterday said the party ’s presidential candidate could emerge from the South and not solely from the North as was being speculated.

He declared that President Goodluck Jonathan had “run out of steam”, asserting that “as at today, all those who have indicated interest in one form or another in the Presidency under APC, were capable of beating whoever the PDP presents, including Jonathan.”

Oyegun spoke in Benin City, Edo State, when he hosted Ijaw youths under the aegis of Izon-Ibe Global Policy Network, led by Mr. Ayubalayefa Dennis, when they came to declare their support for the APC, which they described as a progressive party that would find solution to the crisis bedevilling the country.

The APC National Chairman, who also disclosed that he refused to personally attend the National Honours ceremony to receive his Commander of the Niger, CON, award, due to the beating up of judges and lawyers in Ekiti by political thugs, declared that the nation was heading towards anarchy and that the APC had come to the rescue.

He said: “We don’t believe in forced consensus like the PDP has done by saying that Jonathan is its sole candidate.

What the PDP did was a forced consensus. I want to challenge anybody to state when it was said that our presidential candidate must come from the North. We have interested persons from the

southern part of this country.

It is even the PDP that has decided where its candidate must come from. It has even debarred any other person from anywhere from raising his head to say he wants to be president.

“For us, it is an open field.

Whoever wants to be president is free to come into the race.

In fact, I wish every state can even have a presidential aspirant. The important thing is, so long as they all appreciate that at the end of the day only one person will be the candidate, they will all unite with that one person that emerges. That is what the APC represents and that is what is going to happen."

INSPECTION: From right: Prof. Amos Utuama, Deputy Governor, Delta State; Mr. hakeem Ogunniran MD., UACN Property Development Company Plc, Mr. Yemi Ejidiran, Director, Business Development UPDC, and Mr. Brian Greenaway, Director, Technical Operations, during the site inspection of Pineville Estae in Asaba. Photos: Nath Onojake.

Aluu 4: Group laments delay in trial of suspects

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— SOCIETY for the Promotion of Better Nigeria, PBN, yesterday, decried the continued closure of the state owned courts, saying it has slowed down the wheel of justice on the brutal murder of four students of the University of Port Harcourt at Aluu, two years ago.

Executive Director of the body, Mr. Livingston Wechie, in a statement, said it was sad that two years after the murder of the students, justice was still not in sight for families of the deceased.

“It is disturbing that the Aluu 4 incident which is now two years old is still generating losses to the affected families and the society in general particularly since justice is still not in sight two years after four promising youths, Chiadika Biringa, Lloyde Toku Mike, Tekena Elkanah and Ugonna

Obuzor, all first sons of their parents and students of University of Port Harcourt, were gruesomely murdered on October 5, 2012, by their fellow countrymen in what can best be described as ritual killing without any justification. One question for us all today is: Can there ever

be justice for the Aluu 4 when our courts are perpetually shut in Rivers State?

“Thus, the Aluu 4 which is one of the several high profile criminal and public interest cases pending in Port Harcourt High courts, has denied justice to the victims, accused persons and the society in

general following the insensitivity of the Judiciary workers in alliance with the Rivers State government in shutting down our courts thus bringing the judiciary to a state of comatose and thereby supporting jungle justice in the land, as Aluu 4 is a pure case of jungle justice," he said.

Declare now, group tells Bomadi PDP Chair

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OMADI—THE Bomadi Local Government Chapter Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Pius Labo, has received the support of a renowned grassroots-based women's group, under the auspices of South-South Ladies, Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State, calling on him to declare for the state House of Assembly seat in 2015 in the interest of the constituency.

South-South Ladies, led by its president, Mrs. Esther Apare, who made the call in

Bomadi during the recent PDP sensitisation exercise in the local government area, said the call became necessary in view of the need to redeem Bomadi constituency from the burden of underdevelopment, which the group said “ was occasioned by bad leadership.”

Labo, according to the women group, is a loyal PDP stalwart who has worked hard to sustain the unity of the party in the local government, emphasising that “over the years, as chairman of the party,

has displayed leadership qualities that made him popular .

“We admire his humanitarian convictions and the political astuteness to represent the people of Bomadi Constituency in the state House of Assembly.”

South-South Ladies, whose membership cuts across all the wards in Bomadi local government is made up of mainly energetic young women who are professionals in various fields of human endeavour.

2015: Group urges Tompolo's aide to contest Delta Assembly seat

By Egufe Yafugborhi

& Akpokona Omafuaire

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ARRI—WARRI Ijaw Political Front, WIPF, has called on the Executive Secretary, Tompolo Foundation, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, to run for Delta State House of Assembly under the Warri South-West constituency for what the group termed his proven administrative records.

WIPF, in a statement yesterday by Captain Friday Denkeden and Mr. James Odu, Chairman and Secretary respectively, said Bebenimibo was an astute administrator with sound educational background and was the ideal person to bring positive change to the constituency come 2015.

“Bebenimibo as Executive Secretary of Tompolo Foundation has displayed uncommon love towards uplifting humanity," he said.

....As Sapele group backs Eyarefe for House of Reps

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POLITICAL pressure group, the Sapele Political Vanguard, SPV, has promised to support the ambition of Mr. Henry Eyarefe, a House of Representatives aspirant for Sapele, Okpe and Uvwie Federal Constituency, in next year’s general election .

Reacting to the aspirant’s call for support, SPV’s chairman, Mr. Omasan Mabiaku, also said it would back any other credible candidate who could give the people effective representation.

Earlier, Eyarefe had describe the vanguard as a strong political group with grassroots supporters in all the wards of Sapele.

He commended the group for its efforts at mobilising the people to vote for the right aspirants, irrespective of their political parties.

14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—15

Enugu speaker faces impeachment threat

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HERE were fears last night that Enugu State Government House might have moved against the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Eugene Odoh, threatening him with impeachment should he continue with his decision to go against the governor ’s anointed candidate for the 2015 governorship elections in the state.

It is feared that the speaker may have caved in as he has not uttered a word in defence of his earlier rejection of the consensus candidate, which he made strongly at the meeting of the people of Enugu North senatorial district.

The speaker’s presence at the state caucus last Saturday where the matter of the consensus candidate was tabled, was a big surprise to those privy to the speaker ’s privately held opinion against the attempt to impose a candidate on the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Investigations revealed that the speaker decided to take it easy after he discovered that the leader of the House, who coordinated the impeachment

of the deputy governor of the state, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, was busy collecting signatures to effect his removal as speaker should he continue to oppose the governor ’s anointed candidate.

A source who is familiar with the development, told our reporter that the speaker was watching the development with keen interest but was keeping details of his reaction to the unfolding drama to his heart.

It was also learnt that the relationship between the

governor and the speaker had been strained severely since the speaker joined three other governorship aspirants to condemn the governor ’s attempt to impose a candidate in clear violation of the party’s constitution and guidelines.

The governor was said to have told his close confidants immediately after the ill-fated meeting that he would deal with the speaker for having the effrontery to stand up to him in what he perceived as a rude display of crude bravado.

Fearing that if the speaker could be whipped into line that

they were not safe, some members of the House who had initially identified with those opposing the governor’s action, have withdrawn into their shells. One of them, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he did not want to risk the revocation of his landed property titles by standing up to the governor.

“These properties are the hedge I have against uncertainties in the future. If everything fails, I’ll sell them to make a living. But if they’re revoke them, I’ll be finished,” one of them said.

$9.3m scam: Imo CAN advises Christians

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—AS the c o n t r o v e r s y surrounding the $9.3 million seized in South Africa rages, Imo State branch of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, weekend, said “people want to use this incident to divide CAN, as well as get at President Goodluck Jonathan.”

At a briefing in Owerri to mark the 20th anniversary of Praise Centre Church

International, the Imo CAN Chairman, Bishop Stafford S. Nwaogu, said members had no reason to disbelieve the account of the CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

He said, “Pastor Oritsejafor is not involved in the management of the aircraft that ferried the money to South Africa. CAN Imo State, has implicit confidence in Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. '' Nwaogu expressed shock at the way Christians took delight in destroying their leaders, pleading

that “those who are in the habit of destroying their leaders should retrace their locus”.

On the collapse of one of the buildings in Pastor T. B. Joshua’s church, Nwaogu said he felt very sorry for the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident, saying “the matter is for the state to find out why the building collapsed. By the time the investigators release the result of their findings, CAN will then issue a statement.”

Abia gov asks muslims to promote peace

By Anayo Okoli

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BIA State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has urged Muslims in the country to use the celebration of Eid-El-Kabir to engage in activities that will only promote peace and unity of Nigeria.

Governor Orji in his goodwill message to Muslims wished them happy celebration and stressed the need for “peace and the continued existence of Nigeria as united entity despite our religious ideologies.”

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, the governor charged Muslims to dedicate this year ’s celebration to prayers for the peace and unity of Nigeria.

Urging them to pray against insurgency in the country, Orji said the war against insurgency was more spiritual than physical, and could only be won through prayers. He called for prayers for solders and other security agents fighting against insurgency and others in defence of the country.

IJEBU ODE HOSTS 2014 OJUDE OBA FESTIVAL

The 2014 Ojude Oba Festival ceremonies held at Afin Awujale in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, yesterday. Rtd. General T.Y Danjuma, middle, present first

prize Glo gift to Tobalase Obinrin Akile Ijebu while 3rd left Mr Yomi Ogunbamowo, Glo National Co-ordinator Business Support and others look on at the festival.

Egbe Bobakeye Okunrin Akile Ijebu at the festival

From left Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Otunba & Olori Subomi Balogun at the festival Photos: Wumi Akinola

General T.Y Danjuma, rtd , Senator Daisy Danjumo and Olori Kemi Adetona at the 2014 Ojude Oba Festival

Cross Section of Gbobaniyi Obinrin at the 2014 Ojude Oba festival

16 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Man who killed his mom to undergo psychiatric test

•Another kidnap kingpin nabbed

By Austin Ogwuda

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NUGU—THE middleaged man, Uchechukwu Ugwuozor, who allegedly stabbed his mother to death in Enugu State, may be subjected to psychiatric test to ascertain his health status in course of investigation, State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, has said.

Also, another notorious kidnap kingpin who has been on the wanted list of the State police command has been arrested.

Speaking to Vanguard in Enugu, yesterday, the police spokesman said the allegation of his being mentallyderanged actually came from his family members.

He said, “The health status was insinuated by family source. We are carrying out proper and detailed investigations to unravel the true state of the suspect cum the circumstances or the motive behind the dastardly act.”

The murder suspect allegedly hacked his mother to death when she was sleeping in the early hours at Ubiekpo Abor, Udi local government area of Enugu State.

On the arrested kidnap kingpin, PPRO Amaraizu said,

“the war on crime and criminality by the Enugu State command of the Nigeria Police Force is yielding positive dividend as there has been harvest of several suspected criminals since the renewed onslaught on criminals.

“Following the onslaught, operatives of the Central police station of the Enugu State command of the Nigeria Police Force, acting on the intelligence gathered, arrested a notorious armed robbery and kidnap kingpin who has been on the wanted list of the operatives”.

The suspect was arrested on Sunday at Udi axis of Enugu north axis of the State.

Director, Business Segments, Etisalat Nigeria, Lucas Dada; Director general, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Alhaji Bature Masari during a courtesy call to the DG of SMEDAN in Abuja

20m Nigerians blind, says Optometric association

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA— Anambra State Chapter of Nigerian Optometric Association, NOA, has said no fewer than 20 million Nigerians are totally blind.

State chairman of NOA, Dr. Ifeanyi Obi, disclosed this during a courtesy call on the Anambra State commissioner for health, Dr. Josephat

Akabuike in Awka.

He said: “The statistics are indeed startling and unfortunately getting worse. Today, over 45 million people are blind worldwide, while 135 million people have severe visual impairment. Nigeria is among the countries with the highest number of blind people and this is worrisome to optometrists” Obi noted that 80 per cent of the

blindness could have been prevented if the necessary measures were taken to prevent the situation from getting worse, lamenting that a recent survey showed that less than five percent of those involved in primary health care delivery in developing countries had little or no knowledge of the eye care.

He said the role of

Enugu DISCO enumerates consumers for power supply

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

NEWI—Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, has said the ongoing enumeration of its customers in the South East geopolitical zone is to ensure that it develops solutions for all the customers’ problems and improve distribution of electricity supply to them.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company Mr. Robert Dickerman, spoke with Vanguard after EEDC Customer Consultative Forum in Onitsha. He said EEDC had

less than 700,000 bills paying customers in the five South East states in the company’s records.

According to him, EEDC wanted to bring the large majority of yet-to-be identified customers into its system to provide meters for them and get them bills at the end of the month for them to pay or be denied access to electricity supply.

Dickerman said the company inherited backlog of unpaid electricity bills and outstanding debt of about N2 Billion, but noted that the debt would not deter it from

providing service to the customers, stressing, “We urge the customers owing the bills to come forward to talk to us on the outrageous bill, those that were not correct, those they did not accumulate and show us amounts that were fictitious, we will ensure that anyone who received the bill for energy not consumed will not be charged for it.”

He said the company was addressing issues affecting the company and its customers such as power generation, transmission and distribution, adding that EEDC was also improving its equipment to meet

2015: Guber aspirant boasts in Ebonyi

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By Peter Okutu

BAKALIKI—A governorship aspirant of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in Ebonyi State, Senator Anthony Agbo, has boasted that APGA would win Ebonyi in the 2015 general election.

At a briefing, the senator who claimed the forthcoming election would bring about lots of surprises noted that the government sponsored candidate of the Peoples C M Y K

Democratic Party, PDP, in the forthcoming election would be defeated against all odds.

Agbo also explained that he left the PDP because the present leadership of the party in the state was discharging its duties contrary to the norms, values, principles and philosophies of the constitution of the party.

He said, “I wish to declare to Ebonyi people today as an existential imperative, that

APGA shall capture the governorship seat of Ebonyi State in 2015 elections, and through it, we shall remove pain, tears, poverty, hopelessness and disillusion.

APGA captures the true essence of the Igbo classical philosophy of love, care and development of your neighbour and neighbourhood through tireless industry, selflessness and unbending patriotism, which also constitute the key to the greatness of the Nigerian State.”

the energy needs of the customers.

Earlier, Acting General Manager Operations and Maintenance Mr. Tony Ebodaghe, Acting General Manager Revenue Cycle Service, Mr. David Dogo and Mr. David Ufene of Safety Section, spoke on improvement and challenges of network, revenue cycle activities and health and safety tips respectively.

optometrists as specialists in primary eye care delivery entailed being able to identify, diagonise, treat and refer patients with eye conditions and commended the Anambra State government for the recent employment of a large number of optometrists in the state civil service.

Obi explained that the association would mount a vigorous awareness campaign on preventable blindness during this year’s World Sight Day taking place on October 9, 2014, to let the people know that there is need for them to take care of their eyes on a regular basis.

In his speech, the health commissioner, Dr. Akabuike said the state government was committed to carrying along all members of the health care team to meet the health care needs of the people.

He said that plans were afoot to upgrade some health institutions to the status of comprehensive centers that would include offering eye care services.

APGA vows to dislodge PDP in Enugu

By Austiin Ogwuda

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NUGU—ALL Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, has vowed to dislodge the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 governorship election.

Speaking to Vanguard yesterday, State Chairman of APGA, Chief Okechukwu Nkoloagu said, “to say that PDP is the only ruling party in Enugu is their own opinion. But you must know that APGA has its soul here in South east, so nobody can categorically tell you that APGA cannot win election in Enugu even with the

incumbency factor. That will not deter the support in Igboland.

APGA is also a movement that enjoys fanatic support. People who believe in it want to die there for it. ''We are on the ground and we are strategizing to be able to take over the Lion Building (Government House) Enugu come 2015. We already have two credible governorship aspirants seeking the party’s slot. We will try to give them chance to have a consensus but if they don’t agree we have no other option than to go for primaries. ''Very soon, we will start town hall meetings to sensitise our people about the need for APGA to take over the administration of the state.''

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014 — 17

T

HE English have an expression: “give a dog a bad name in order to kill it.” It refers to the malicious misrepresentation of someone in order to discredit him. This has been the strategy of the opposition to Goodluck Jonathan to date. This opposition comprises an unholy alliance between the APC, the Arewa Consultative Forum, the Northern Elders Forum as well as the Boko Haram. In complete disdain for the office of the president of Nigeria, the membership of these institutions has gone to great lengths in despising, disdaining and abusing the person of Goodluck Jonathan.

“Clueless” opposition One favoured insult is to refer to him as “clueless.” Taking a leaf out of the infamous notebook of George Bush who told all kinds of lies against John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election in the United States, now referred to as “snow boating”, President Jonathan’s traducers are seeking to establish falsehood about him and his administration just by sheer force of repetition. It is therefore necessary to ask the question if, indeed, Goodluck Jonathan can be rightly described as “clueless.”

What exactly is “clueless” about Goodluck Jonathan?

Shehu Shagari was president of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983. He had very limited formal education and never attended a university.

What exactly is ‘clueless' about Goodluck Jonathan? policies on how to govern Nigeria.

Legacy of “cluelessness”: Who can be more clueless than many of the Northern politicians who have been in power in Nigeria in the past to very little effect and are still clamouring for power today?

These men have defrauded the North and the country over the years? They have ruled for some 38 years but failed woefully to promote meaningful economic development in the North or the South.

In their years of Northern rule both at the state and the federal level, not a single model Islamic school was established in the North that teaches Mathematics.

Instead, the children of the “talakawa” are restricted to Koranic

,

,

Jonathan is the most highly-educated president in the history of Nigeria

Nevertheless, he was not called “clueless.” Olusegun Obasanjo was president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He did not go to university before becoming President: he only enrolled after he left office. Nevertheless, he was not labelled “clueless.”

But some would like us to believe Goodluck Jonathan, who has been substantive president since 2011 is “clueless.” However, Jonathan is the most highly-educated president in the history of Nigeria. He has a B.Sc. in Zoology; an M.Sc. in Hydrobiology and Fisheries Biology; and a Ph.D. in Zoology.

It is preposterous to describe such a man as “clueless.” Indeed, there are few Nigerians with comparable educational credentials. Who are those “clueful” ones ranged in opposition against him? Surprise, surprise! They are former military dictators with no university training whatsoever and dubious politicians with forged university certificates.

Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State wants to be president.

But what he displays most of the time is cluelessness. When he captures newspaper headlines, it is to shout things like: “Jonathan wants to kill me;” or “Jonathan is not qualified to contest in 2015.”

Somebody needs to advise Kwankwaso that abusing and disparaging the president is no substitute for having substantive

memorisation and recitation. No single Islamic model school was established in the North that teaches Chemistry. The singular focus was on Arabic grammar. No single Islamic model school was established that teaches Biology.

The children of the poor were limited to Islamic history.

Northern politicians failed to draw inspiration from such excellent Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, where Western education is not deemed to contradict Islamic education. Instead of educating the youth, some of our Northern politicians kept them as fodder for instigating insurgencies for their selfish power-political gain. It is no wonder therefore that, in the 21st century, when a “Third World” country like India has landed a spacecraft on Mars; an insurgency has arisen in the Nigerian NorthEast claiming that “Western education is a sin.”

Northerners opposed to Jonathan, like Muhammadu Buhari, Ango Abdullahi, Adamu Ciroma and Junaid Mohammed have never demonstrated any belief in the education of the masses.

Their children don’t attend almajiri schools and beg on the streets.

When in power, they pay no attention to the mass illiteracy in the North. This makes them no different from the Boko Haram that

maintains Western education is sinful. Now that we have a SouthSouth president from Otuoke in Bayelsa State who is committed to Northern education, these same donothing politicians are claiming he is clueless. Who needs their “cluefulness?”

Jonathan’s Northern agenda Atiku Abubakar showed remarkable cluelessness when he observed that the North would not be voting for Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. If the North would not vote for Jonathan, who then would they vote for?

In 2011, Jonathan received over eight million Northern votes.

Since then, he has bent over backwards to reward the North. He has highly favoured the region in his appointments. The former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu said: “Quote me; in a long time we have not had a government where the Northern extraction has enjoyed so many appointments like this one.”

Indeed, under Jonathan, the VicePresident, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court are all from the North.

Jonathan’s opponents would have us believe he is “clueless” but, within four years, Jonathan built 125 Almajiri Schools in 13 states in the North; something Northern rulers themselves failed to do. At the commissioning of the first Almajiri Model School in Gagi, Sokoto State, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III, observed that Jonathan’s action was unprecedented in the history of Northern Nigeria.

“Clueless” Jonathan went on to establish 10 new federal universities; seven of them in the North. It is important to list them, so Nigerians can be in no doubt how ridiculous the allegations against our president have been.

Jonathan established the Federal universities in Lafia, Nasarawa State; Lokoja, Kogi State; Kashere, Gombe State; Wakari, Taraba State; Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State; and Dutse, Jigawa State. No other president in the history of Nigeria has this kind of legacy, North or South.

The Jonathan administration has more than doubled the budgetary allocation to education in the country. It sponsored 7000 lecturers for post-graduate studies at home and abroad and licensed 100 Innovation Enterprise Institutions, while also granting 101 Presidential Scholarships for innovation and development.

Fifty one Polytechnic laboratories have been rehabilitated and 34 new NCE awarding institutions created.

The result has been remarkable.

There has been a 10 million student increase in basic education enrolment (UBEC) in the country.

There has also been a 75% increase in O’Level credit pass in Maths and English under the Jonathan administration.

Health transformation Part of the grouse of Nigerians against past governments is that when subsidies are removed (especially that of petroleum), the extra money disappears into thin air without any appreciable public benefit. For this reason, Nigerians insist on the retention of subsidies so that the man-in-the-street can at least get something out of it.

However, under the Jonathan administration, it has been possible to identify the salutary effect of the subsidy removal on the well-being of the people.

With the drastic reduction of the petroleum subsidy in 2012, the government created the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P. This is designed to invest the savings accruing from the subsidy reduction in critical infrastructure and humanresource empowerment projects across the length and breadth of the country. To this end, the scheme has included maternal and childhealth programmes.

Within two years, the Maternal and Child Health scheme of the SURE-P has reduced the maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria by 26%; reduced neo-natal mortality by 22%; increased the percentage of births by skilled attendants by 33% and increased the percent of reproductive aged women using family planning by 100%.

Road transformation: SURE-P has also been invaluable in engaging in a number of road

rehabilitation projects right across the country. For example, the Onitsha-Owerri and the VomManchok roads have been completed. Work is underway on the Apapa-Oshodi expressway in Lagos; the Benin-Ore-Sagamu dual carriage-way; the OnitshaEnugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageway; the Kaduna-Maiduguri dual carriage-way; Lokoja - Benin road; Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; Mokwa-Bida road; Akure-Ilesha road; Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega road; Enugu-Abakaliki-CrossRiverroad; Ogoja - Ikom road; VandekiyaObudu road; and the East-West road.

The Kano-Maiduguri and the Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja roads are currently undergoing dualisation.

The Onitsha Head-Bridge Flyover (Ojukwu Gateway) and the Oweto Bridge across River Benue have been completed. The Second Niger Bridge is under construction and the government is also undertaking the dredging the River. There is also on-going seaport construction and the expansion of existing ports, including Warri, Baro, Calabar, Onne, Owerri and Onitsha.

Rail transformation TherailwaysysteminNigeriahad been comatose for over 30 years.

However, the “clueless” Jonathan administration has managed to revive this within two years. The Lagos-Kano line has been rehabilitated and is now functional again. The Port HarcourtMaiduguri line is being rehabilitated and will soon be operational. Kano-Maiduguri, Kaduna-Abuja and Lagos-Port Harcourt rail-lines are also under construction.

President Jonathan inaugurated two Diesel Multiple Units, DMUs, train-sets and six air-conditioned passengers’ coaches at the NRC terminus in Lagos.

His administration also launched the Mass Transit Train Service, MTTS; deploying 11 trains carrying close to 15,000 passengers daily within the Lagos metropolis. This has drastically reduced the cost of intracity train transportation within Lagos.

A return-trip from Agege to Ebute Metta under the MTTS now costs less than N150, as against the more than N1,000 it costs by taxi.

Transportation from Lagos to Kano now costs less than N1,800 as against between N4,000 and N5,000 by car or bus.

This is what Babatunde Fashola had to say about the “clueless” Jonathan administration’s contribution to mass transit in Lagos State: “It is a very welcome development to our nation, Nigeria and to the Centre of Excellence, Lagos State. No doubt, we require this infrastructure. We appreciate it and we will continue to give every moral support that the corporation requires as we now have complementary services in the transport system of Lagos State.”

These are by no means the tokens of a “clueless” presidency.

To be continued

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014 BY now, it must be abundantly clear to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that its proposed allocation of extra polling units to the various states of the federation is unpopular and has been rejected by the generality of Nigerians.

The INEC had created additional 30,000 polling units bringing to 150,000 the total for the whole nation. Its intention, according to the Chairman of the electoral body, Prof. Attahiru Jega, was to increase the number of polling units to areas where voter turnouts have lately been noted to be bigger than the prescribed maximum number of voters per unit. But the sharing of the new units defied INEC’s self-defined logic and put out the Commission as though it had a ploy to shortchange some parts of the country while favouring the others ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Since this issue became a subject of public discourse, large sections of the country have come out fully against it.

These include political parties and interests, geopolitical groups, civil society groups and a broad spectrum of public commentators. Most of them have admitted

INEC must stop polling units allocation that INEC’s intention to make polling units available to ease the pains of electors is noble, but the manner of allocation and the timing so close to the general polls demand that the idea be suspended for now.

We are happy that the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has dutifully waded into this contentious matter. In a letter titled: “Creation of Polling Units by INEC” and signed by the Chairman of the Committee on INEC, Senator Andy Uba, the Senate advised the Commission to postpone the project till after the election

given the unfavourable response to it from the public and the short time before the next big elections. Senate sources added, however, that should the Commission go ahead with the programme it will be forced to issue a formal resolution against it.

We are fully in support of the call for the postponement of this scheme. After the election, the Commission can repackage it, ensuring equitable and acceptable distribution. We are now in a democracy, and the voice of the people must be respected when public institutions sustained on public funds make policies that will fundamentally affect the lives of the people.

We already have too much on our plate with the Boko Haram crisis and the usual flutters that go with transitional elections.

We do not want to add to it an attempt to impose an unpopular measure that could precipitate unpleasant consequences.

The INEC should address itself to the residual matters that people always complain about on polling days, such as late arrival of electoral materials and officers. The Commission should not bite off more than it can chew.

OPINION Interrogating the minister's health agenda in FCT

By Rogers Ochela

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S Nigerians rolled out the drums and cymbals in celebration of the nation’s 54th Independence anniversary on October 1, 2014, expectations are rife that analysts will put several public officials on the spotlight on account of their stewardship.

It is on this note that I have elected to interrogate Senator Bala Mohammed’s health agenda in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. We interrogate public officials bearing in mind that epochal moments in great democracies all over the world are issue defined, not just by the presence of towering and inspiring political leaders, but by great issues that represent a clear break from the past, the old method. In order words, the defining moment of great democracies all over the world are issuedefined.

Prior to his appointment as the Minister of the FCT by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2010, the state of the territory’s health sector was simply nothing to write home about, efforts of preceding administrations notwithstanding.

The situation was so pathetic that residents of the territory were constantly reminded of December 31, 1983 Sani Abacha’s coup broadcast, which described the nation’s hospitals as ‘’mere consulting clinics.’’

So, when Senator Bala Mohammed took over the driver’s seat at the FCT, he did so with the aggressiveness of a man determined to right the obvious wrongs that had conspired to sentence the territory to a virtual state of underdevelopment. Three years down the road,

the Kauran Bauchi is unmistakably working to leave the territory better than he met it. In a nutshell, providence is smiling on his efforts to reposition the territory in all ramifications.

On assumption of office in 2010, Bala ignited the refurbishment of all the General Hospitals in the six Area Councils in the territory and went a step further by ensuring the procurement of drugs and equipment for them, a development that has succeeded in endearing these hospitals to the populace. To make these efforts more meaningful, the administration recruited doctors and other highly experienced medical personnel to man the hospitals.

The most inspiring of the minister ’s achievements in the health sector is the introduction of the Mobile Integrated Primary Healthcare initiative (Mailafiya), which earned the minister the ‘’Most Outstanding Leadership in Africa Award’’ from the Constituency for Africa, CFA in Washington, USA last year.

The success of this project has been so profound that several countries across the globe enamoured of it have wholeheartedly adopted it.

According to the minister: ‘’Our aim in creating the MAILAFIYA programme is to establish a world class model of primary healthcare delivery through an integrated data managed mobile health strategy, especially in the inaccessible areas of the 8,000 square kilometres that comprise the FCT.’’ The central plank of the initiative is the recruitment and posting of foreign doctors to rural areas in the

FCT with a view to boosting the territory’s health care delivery system.

It is a strategic health programme aimed at addressing the healthcare needs of rural communities and fast-tracking the attainment of MDGs 4, 5, and 6 in the FCT. It was conceived as a means of addressing the wide disparities in health services between dwellers of urban centres and the rural poor as demonstrated by the baseline survey conducted in 2007 by the FCT MDGs Project Support Unit; existing health access problems due to factors both natural and preventable in the midst of available technology and adoption of new technology (ICT) to improve on the poor status of Primary Health Care Management data base through partnership with the private sector.

Still talking about equipment, the FCTA has also procured state-of-the-art Endocopic towers manufactured by Karl Storz, Germany, to improve the quality of healthcare in the territory. The equipment has since been installed at Asokoro District Hospital, thereby making it possible for the hospital to carry out minimal access surgery like appendicectomy, cholecystectomy and ovarian cystectomy to mention just a few.

Other new medical services provided by the Bala-led administration include intensive care services; computerised tomography services; digital fluoroscopy; heamo-dialysis services; automated laboratory investigations and mammography. These services were previously

non-existent in FCTA-owned hospitals until the inception of the present administration.

The main advantage of this new surgical procedure over open surgery is that it is minimal access surgery resulting in a small scar and the patient’s shorter stay in the hospital.

Laudable as these achievements are, the point must however be stated that it has not been a bed of roses all through as there are challenges of increased patient attendance at the hospitals as result of the comprehensive health services available as well as the limited bed space for admission of patients in the hospitals.

Another fundamental challenge is shortage of staff, which has created a wide disparity in the ratio of patients/ health workers. It is expected that this challenge will be alleviated by the recent approval by the Minister for the replacement and appointment of healthcare workers, just as the challenges of space and accommodation of patients would be frontally tackled when the Karu and Zuba General Hospitals are eventually opened.

To further boost provision of healthcare services, the FCT Administration has approved the sum of N900 million to be spent on recapitalising the territory’s Central Medical Store.

Efforts are equally been intensified to establish School of Health Technology in the territory before the end of 2014,which will help to curb the challenges faced by primary health care centres in the FCT. The school will help to produce trained manpower for the health sector in the territory. *Mr. Ochela, a public affairs analyst, wrote Abuja.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—19

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HAVE followed the series of reactions trailing the disaster at the Synagogue Church of all Nations with a sense of shock and disbelief. It is as if some people have been waiting in the wings for the man of God to fail, forgetting that he is a mortal indeed, like the rest of us. No human can be God, so we must make our comments with a great sense of responsibility, in the spirit of fairness and objectivity.

Take away the religious aspect, TB Joshua is not a small man in the society, judging by the impact he has made to people's lives all over the world. Apart from the entertainment industry, as represented by Nollywood and our musicians, no single sector has made more impact to the world like our men of God. The Adeboyes, Oyedepos, Oyakhilomes and, yes, TB Joshua and their likes, yet we treat them with disdain. Little minded individuals, criticising only for the purpose of bringing down and not to build. We use to have our men of God running to America for crusades of the Kenneth Hagins, TL Osborne, Billy Graham, Oral Roberts and others but, now they come to Nigeria. They, indeed, preached prosperity and this has made America great but, I never saw a write up that ridiculed, for example a Billy Graham.

In 95 per cent of cases - if not more- the religion we practise are

determined by our places of birth and environment we grow up from; therefore, the religion or faith that we practise were already determined before our birth. You only escape this either through migration or interactions with other faiths. All religious denominations preach piety and righteousness; even the animists are more decisive with backsliders.

To me, the biggest edge Christianity has is its elimination of all types of blood sacrifices forever. Psychology and other behavioural sciences have, very often, emphasised the importance of faith to the success of any venture we engage in, including, of course, healing. Faith is a very strong weapon, that is why so-called 'infidels' thrive when they practise simple Christian doctrines of fasting and praying; whereas, the so-called brothers and sisters, or brethren in the faith, do not conjure up anything.

We have an abundance of sanctimonious and self-righteous critics in this country, especially those of the Christian faith; they want only their opinion to hold sway. When the Bible says that we should not judge, our sanctimonious Christians are busy raining down judgements. It is not for us to condemn anyone as long as he or she confesses Christ. In the Gospel of Luke chapter 9 verses 49 to 50, it says: "...Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbade him because he

Why are fellow Christians criticising TB Joshua when he openly uses the name of Jesus Christ in his ministrations? I repeat, it is not for us to judge, let us leave judgement to God

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followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, forbid him not; for he that is not against us is for us...".

Why are fellow Christians criticising TB Joshua when he openly uses the name of Jesus Christ in his ministrations? I repeat, it is not for us to judge, let us leave judgement to God.

I

have also followed the barrage of criticism following Joshua since I arrived Lagos in the eighties, attacks that were purely meant to destroy him. But God has given him grace to rise above all his critics and, you will never hear him respond in kind.

Some have taken his humble beginnings for granted; it is the almighty God who chooses whom he wishes to bless, never mind the cunning devices of man. In the Acts

Nigeria @ 54: Gridlock and the illusive eldorado

By Bobson Gbinije “It is a Maxim founded on the universal experience of mankind That no Nation is to be trusted farther than it is bound by its interest”-George Washington (1732-1799) letter to Congress.

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ITH peremptory magistracy and awesome gallantry our founding fathers fought for the political independence of our glorious country, Nigeria. They were like the Roman hero Horatius, who fought with Spartan intrepidity in defending Rome from the Etruscan invaders. Horatius asked like our founding fathers: “And how can a man die better than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his gods”?

Our founding fathers invested their dreams on Nigeria, but whither goeth Nigeria today? After 54 years of political independence Nigeria is still silhouetted in the sordid saga and tapestry of progressivistic labyrinth. We are still rumbling in the cabbage of unthinkable corruption, arrant poverty, HIV/AIDS, malaria scourge and arrested development.

We are submerged in the cocoon of human rights violations, including politically motivated assassinations, extra- judicial killings and excessive use of force. The arrest and detention of people for political reasons, restriction on freedom of the press, speech and assembly, prolonged pre-trial detention and aiding and abetting of electoral malpractices still constitute some dark characteristics of our nation. We are still sunken in blatant illegalities, tragic criminalities, prebendalistic graft and wallowing in unmitigated sleaze. After 54 years of independence Nigeria still remains shipwrecked in the island of gloom and doom, leadership doppelgangers, political gridlocks, socio-economic cliffhangers, C M Y K

tribal jingoism and utter planlessness. We have no functional hospitals, no roads, no affordable houses, no jobs and no food security, no light, no effective transport system, no water, no affordable education and no roadmap and viable blueprint for strategic repositioning of our country, Nigeria. The statesman, Alfred Rewane, captures the scenario thus: "Yesterday, we yearned for a better tomorrow. Today, we mourn the loss of a better yesterday. How sad”? Whither goeth Nigeria after 54 years of political independence?

The politicians and their military cohorts have completely bastardized our psyche. We are crestfallen and despondent. They have made and continue to make half-hearted efforts aimed at salvaging our prostrate fatherland from the abyss of consummate despair. We have seen endless constitutional reforms, adjustments of economic policies based on the Bretton institution’s conditionalities like FEM, SFEM, economic liberalisation, deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector, Operation Feed the Nation, OFN, Green Revolution, school -to-land project, privatisation, liquidity mop-up, cash squeeze, devaluation, Universal Basic Education scheme, civil war, MAMSER, KAI, War Against Indiscipline, subsidy removal, industrial revolution, etc. These weird economic, socio-political policies successfully bedraggled and befuddled our nation. It asphyxiated our people and manacled them in the epicenter of parenthetical placidity. After 54years of independence Nigeria is still gallivanting and rigmaroling on an undulating political topography interjected with complex volcanic rocks. We are steeple-chasing on a horrendously deadly political land mines and cannons that will explode to consume our country, Nigeria.

We are tired of perambulating in the concentric circles of backwardness, buck-

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By Sunny Ikhioya

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Leave TB Joshua alone

of the Apostles, chapter 5 verses 34 to 40, Gamaliel, a doctor of law, with big reputation among the people, intervened in the matter of some of the apostles that were being persecuted. "...And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought...". It is over 20 years now, and the man's ministry has been growing in leaps and bounds; heads of states and rulers of men have been coming to seek his counsel. So, why are we in Nigeria trying to bring him down?

Although, it is a matter for debate, it is well known that majority of Nigerians do not receive approval from the authorities before commencement of building projects. This is because of the terribly slow bureaucracy involved in the process of securing approvals and the attendant corruption and extortions that pervade the whole system The Synagogue Church must have followed this pattern.

Do not forget that amongst the congregation are qualified architects and building engineers of all kinds; Joshua must have received professional advice from them. We should, therefore, not rush into conclusions; we must allow a thorough investigation to be done and causes of failure identified to avoid a re-occurrence; we must eschew sentiments.

Whether we like it or not, TB Joshua is an icon in Nigerian and must be accorded that respect. It is not easy to draw foreign attention to Nigeria with all the negative propaganda that has been put out about us. The likes of TB

As the 2015 election approaches, we hope and pray that our leaders will not resort to thuggery, political assassinations, vote rigging, etc to get power

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passing and trading of blames. What is the way forward? Hence, a chartered member of the Nigerian Institute of Management Chief Lea Aimiuwu once said: “First, we blamed the colonial masters, next, military blamed military. Then politicians blamed military. Now, party blames party, Legislature blames Executive, Executive blames Legislature, tribe blames tribe, zone blames zone, private sector blames public sector, public sector blames private sector, followers blame leaders, leaders blame followers.

"Who blames self? Now we turn round and say: 'Nigeria has failed us'. But who makes up Nigeria? Nigeria has not failed, we have failed ourselves! Working together, mission driven, with shared passion and vision-focus NIGERIA SHALL RISE AGAIN. Things work only if we make them work! They work only as we make them work. So LETS WORK THE WORK!!” This could be a peripheral and simplistic overview of Nigeria’s problems, but it bears a ring of the horizontal and vertical integration which Nigeria needs to move forward as a nation.

I

t is sacrosanct truism that after 54 years of independence Nigeria needs a moral rearmament, ethical revolution, attitudinal re-orientation, leadership altruism, political re-evaluation, policy screening, patriotism and change of psyche with everything and anything that has to do with Nigeria and Nigerians to enable our country make palpable progress. We must don the toga of true democracy, rule of law, dialogue and constitutionality. We must realise as a nation

Joshua and other men of God are the ones attracting dignitaries into the country, the advantages of this cannot be quantified, it goes beyond the religious; it helps the economy and posts a positive image about the country.

We notice that majority of those that met their demise in this tragedy, were foreigners, the import of this must not be lost to Nigerians. It is not only a tragedy for the individual families and South Africa, or for the Synagogue Church of all Nations, it is for Nigeria. These times calls for sober reflections and absolute patriotism. It is an unfortunate incident and the whole nation should mourn with the congregation of Synagogue.

Joshua is the chief mourner, nobody should pretend to cry more than the bereaved. The civil rights group must know when to draw a line between patriotism and agitation for human rights. What happened at the Synagogue was basically an accident; most accidents are caused by human error and nobody should feast on the Synagogue tragedy for further destructive or Phd - pull him downpurposes.

It is unfortunate that some of our brothers in the pen profession are using the opportunity to play hero.

If Joshua is involved, it is news and you are a hero, such tactics should be discouraged.

*Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

that our rancid preoccupation with monocausality merely hardens our positions, fossilizes debate and limits the boundaries of intellectual discourse. Our search for the panacea to our ever illusive El Dorado will be brought to near fruition, if we adopt a more responsible and constructive focus on: * Leadership by example: It is a quintessential fact that good leadership has been the bane of the Nigerian nation, right from 1960 till date. We need leaders that can carry the vast majority of Nigerians along through policies that will alleviate the agonies and travails of the people. Nigeria is a nation formed as a result of the agglomeration of heterogeneous peoples and the geo-political setting is complex. We need leaders who understand the political calculus inherent in the system. Leaders that can build on this melting-pot foundation by self- abnegation and patriotism.

A leader that understands that Nigeria is a microcosm in a global macrocosm and that Nigeria must hold and take an enviable seat in the comity of nations. A leader that calls the totality of Nigeria his or her main constituency. A detribalized and cosmopolitanised leader. A leader who understands that leadership is all about people’s welfare through committed and honest leadership. The essayist, Aleng G. White said: “ The greatest need of the world today is the want of men, men who will not be bought or sold, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men who in their innermost souls are true and honest, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who stand for the right though the heavens fall”.

We need such men as leaders in a new Nigeria.

As the 2015 election approaches, we hope and pray that our leaders will not resort to thuggery, political assassinations, vote rigging, etc to get power. It is clear that the political antecedents of our politicians remain hideously ghoulish, but we call on them to put Nigeria first before exercising their pathological quest for power. *Mr. Gbinije, a social critic, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY TUESDAY,, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Save us from hoodlums: Fire fighters cry out •Call for govt’s intervention

By Bose Adelaja

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HAT happens when you receive and respond to a distress call, but end up getting attacked by hoodlums who pretend to offer assistance to the victims, loot personal effects at the scene and leave you with varying degrees of injuries? The Lagos State Fire Services says this is the major challenge confronting its operation in the past two years, adding that except urgent measures are taken, the situation will continue to affect quick response of its officials to distress calls.

Speaking about the situation recently, the Director, Lagos State Fire Services, Razaq Fadipe, said officials of this emergency organisation were on 64 occasions rough handled by hoodlums between 2012 and 2014. Some of the cases he cited to buttress this claim occurred on Tuesday January 8, 2013 at No 6 Mba Street, Achapo area of

hoodlums. At every point on arrival at the various scenes, my men were rough handled and the hoodlums smashed the wind screens of the trucks and this has led to the trucks being grounded.

How do we respond to emergency calls if our tools are grounded? They don’t know the implication of what they are doing and should therefore be checked. We were not the cause of the various fire outbreaks and if we don’t want to respond to their distress calls, we would not have been present at the scene”.

Asked if arrests have been made in connection with this development, he said: ‘’We are not a security outfit but we usually contact the Police but the situation at the scene usually pose problems for any arrest to be made because our watchword is ‘’safety first”. As I speak with you, we have three stations which have their windscreens damaged and the consequence is that the affected vehicles are likely to be grounded and the

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We have recorded 64 cases of attacks by hoodlums; my men were rough handled and the hoodlums smashed the wind screens of our trucks Ajegunle, Thursday Sept 4, 2014 at Kuramo area of Ajah where over 300 lock up shops were razed and also on August 18, 2014 at Cole street, Ebute-Metta and Tuesday September 2, 2014 at No 43 Church street, Alapere, Ketu which saw his men being rough handled by criminals, while some fire services trucks were vandalised. The most alarming of these cases, according to Fadipe, was the Ebute-Metta attack where his men were operating at Kadara, Cole and Osholanke streets simultaneously but were alerted that the fire was escalating. ‘’I sent another truck which passed through Cole Street.

Unfortunately some hoodlums rough handled our men, stoned them and vandalised the trucks.

You can imagine how impatient our people are when it comes to emergency issues.”

The fire boss who described the situation as unlawful, added that such actions hamper afforts in fire fighting. He told VM thus: ‘’From 2012 till date, we have recorded 64 cases of attacks by

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stations will be unable to attend to emergencies in those locations.

This has reduced our responses because a directive has been given to seek Police’ assistance in the course of going to problemprone areas. We all know that the Police also have their own challenges and by the time we await the challenges to be sorted out, a lot of time is wasted and this falls back to the public as the fire would have ravaged or escalated before the arrival of our men.

CDA to the rescue The fire services boss also appealed to Community Development Associations, CDAs, in the state to assist in curtailing the problem. ‘’I appeal to CDAs to talk to their residents against damaging government property because it is the general public that usually bears the brunt of the repercussion,” he said.

On causes of fire outbreak, Fadipe said: ‘’There are four

Fire-fighters in action. INSET: Director, Lagos State Fire Services, Razaq Fadipe major causes of fire outbreak which are accidents, natural cause, human errors or a combination of these. But the nonchallant attitude of our people have been the major cause of disaster. For instance, most fire incidents are usually caused by human errors in the sense that many people do not care about professionalism during installation of electricity in their buildings as typified by clustered cables found everywhere, especially in the markets. Another major cause is epileptic power supply which has led to many shop owners acquiring power generating sets of various sizes. Also, many traders don’t adhere to the government directives that all markets should be closed by 6pm for security and safety reasons but some of them have been making

use of local lamps and this makes it easier for fire to degenerate in case of an outbreak”.

32 fire trucks Fadipe also told VM that any moment from now, 32 fire trucks will arrive the state to complement the existing ones. ‘’We are planning to have a stakeholders forum because 32 fire trucks are on the sea and will arrive any moment from now. It then behoves on us to see that they are protected and safe guarded while the CDAs and law enforcement agencies will soon come together to brain storm on how to ensure we put an end to the barbaric way of our people.

“Many of us, especially the elites who buy houses, do not care to check electricity wires and cables before putting the houses into use. At renovation of such buildings, they start buying

electrical equipment while forgetting that the existing cables should be changed because they have their own capacity of the machines they can power. Once you bring in more weight than a cable can carry, it will cause havoc,” he stated.

Appeal to Lagosians Fadipe reiterated his appeal that people should always be patient, and understand that “we don’t have any other business than protecting the lives and property of residents. What we expect from them is cooperation, in the outside world, people don’t cluster at the scene of an emergency. Here in Nigeria, people struggle with the hose which sometimes leads to it being twisted or uncoiled and you have no option than to straighten it before reconnecting it to the pump”.

116, 000 IDPs in Yobe get N500m relief items

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ELIEF has come the way of about 116, 000 internally displaced persons in Yobe State with the approval of the distribution of items worth N500 million by President Goodluck Jonathan in continuation of his administration’s humanitarian assistance to victims of insurgency in the North East part of the country. The relief was channelled through the Presidential Committee on Relief Procurement and Distribution.

Flagging off the relief distribution in Damaturu, Director General, National Emergency Management Agency, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, who is the chairman of the committee, said the items were procured based on identified basic needs of the people and that proper arrangements have been made to ensure direct distribution to the target beneficiaries. He said the items would be distributed by NEMA staff in collaboration with officials of the Yobe State Government and Red Cross throughout the state.

The NEMA boss, who was represented by the Agency’s Director of Disaster Risk Reduc-

tion, Alhaji Alhassan Nuhu, said the items have been strategically stockpiled in Damaturu for the beneficiaries in the west and central parts of the state, while another large consignment was in Gashua for easy distribution to the IDPs in the Northern areas.

He said about 15, 000 of the displaced persons were in Damaturu, while the others were in various locations across the state.

Also speaking, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Abdu Bulama said the relief items were in furtherance to the commitment of the President in the fight against insurgency and provision of necessary supports to those affected by the security challenge in the North east. In addition to the relief items, the Minister assured the people of more supports from the recently launched Victims Supports Fund that was inaugurated by the Federal Government to mobilize funds and other assistance towards their recovery.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014 — 21

Hardware dealers to quit Idumota over unfriendly business environment

By Franklin Alli

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From left: Mr. Christian Obi , Representative of Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council ,Mr. Segun Raheem , NUT Chairman Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ogundogba, Sales Director, Nigeria Enterprise GLOCom, Mr. Femisola Awosika , MD Roberts and John , Mr. Augustine Mamuro , Sales Coordinator South South / South East GLOcom. and Mr. Nagasai Viswanth during the launching of Glo Mobile Tutor in Lagos. Photo by Diran Oshe.

Nigerians warned against purchasing recalled cars

By JONAH NWOKPOKU

igeria’s online car market N place, Carmudi has warned Nigerians against purchasing used

and recalled cars. Recalled cars are cars that automakers order for their return after releasing them to the market. This is always due to some technical problems resulting from

USC 206.25 USC -2.35 USD3,070.00 USD -20.00 USC 16.13 USC 0.09

USD 92.25

USD -1.17

USD 89.71

USD 1.27

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

154.75 249.7046 195.4957 161.737 1.4217 0.2783 228.7066 25.2068 41.248 26.2595 229.8502

155.25 250.5114 196.1273 162.2596 1.4263 0.2883 229.4455 25.2887 41.3812 26.3444 230.5928

155.75 251.3182 196.759 162.7822 1.4309 0.2983 230.1845 25.3706 41.5145 2 6.4292 231.3355

CBN Exchange Rate as 06 /10 / 2014

parts omission in the factory during production.

Recall that recently, American automaker, Ford announced a major recall of 850,000 vehicles from model years 2013 and 2014 due to a problem with the “restraints control module.

Also, it was documented that Toyota Hiace YH3 buses were recalled in Australia as a result of fire in 1990 and recently in 2012. The 1990 safety recall closed August 26, 2010, the period Nigeria started recording high Toyota Hiace crashes involving fire incidents giving proof that most of these recalled cars made their way to Nigeria.

In a statement, Carmudi said such brands of recalled cars could find their way into the Nigeria market and therefore shared insights on what to do when one buys such cars.

According to the statement “Sometimes due to ignorance or oversight, many of such cars have made their way into the African auto market and eventually the Nigeria market before the recall and even after it.

“This is an issue because just last year, the Federal Road Safety Corps again raised alarm over the high rate of Toyota related crashes and accidents and even went as far as writing to the Managing Director, Toyota Nigeria calling his attention to the high rate of crashes and fires

involving Toyota automobiles. He said the study indicated that road traffic crashes involving buses had been on the increase since 2007 and that available data showed an average yearly increase of 126 crashes involving Toyota Hiace buses, representing 48 per cent of the total number of buses involved in accidents.”

Carmudi therefore recommended that to avoid being stuck with a car which has been recalled “It is important to research before buying any car. The research should include the possible defect, general problem of the car like transmitting issues, battery durability, electrical faults etc. It is also important to have an idea of the fuel consumption of the car and how stable the car ’s center of gravity is.”

The statement noted that if one buys a car that gets recalled, one should take the following steps: “Understand the reason behind the recall of the car ; Inform your car dealer and take the car back to the dealership where you bought it or the nearest show room; Complete all the necessary paper work and make sure all your car documents are complete because you have to hand this over too and do not sell your recalled car to another person as it may end up endangering the life of the driver and the public.”

VER 2,550 traders under the umbrella of Tools and Hardware Dealers Association of Nigeria (TAHDAN) have concluded plans to move their businesses from Idumota area of Lagos Island to the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, Badagry Express Way, due to unfriendly business environment.

The President of the Association, Chief Jude Chukwudi Obika, who disclosed this during an interactive session with Journalists on the status of the project, said that while the relocation will take effect from February next year, insecurity, congestion, arbitrary rent increase and poor sanitation are among the reasons why they are moving to a more conducive and business friendly environment.

“The vision to relocate the market from Agarawu- Idumota was conceived by the founding fathers of the Association and pursued by the various administrations. But it was in August 2008 when our regime assumed office that the decision to go to Trade fair was taken.

“Hence, we acquired a portion of land at Trade Fair complex in 2010 and started building. As I am talking to you, work is at finishing stages and we hope to commence business at the new place in February next year. I wish to announce to all our customers, members and the general public that a new dawn of freedom and comfort has come. No more area boys harassment, shylock rent increment, lack of movement and parking space, inadequate shops and packing stores for our members, unhealthy environment; etc,” he said.

He explained that the plaza is a state-of-the-art international business edifice housing 2,000 lock- up- shops and 26 individual plazas.

The Association’s Secretary General, Felix Nnadi, added that the project which has so far gulped an estimated N2.75billion is funded through the selfless efforts of the traders.

“Our members contributed N900, 000 each to own a shop at the new place.

There are over 2,550 members in all, excluding apprentices. So we still have enough land for expansion in the future to accommodate all our members and new comers,” said Nnadi.

In the words of Chief Josephat Ezelioha, pioneer president and one of the founding fathers of the Association, “All the traders are looking forward to the February relocation date with excitement and overwhelming joy, as it is a major fulfillment of our age long dreams and aspirations. We started this union here at Agarawu Street in 1991 as a small group of traders who specialise in technical, industrial, mechanical, safety, engineering, agricultural and domestic - tools, hardware, machines, equipments, keys, bolts and nuts, castor-wheels, etc.

Our sole aim then was to create peace, unity, security, welfare, and decent business environment for all our members and customers. Thank God that today, this dream has been actualised.”

22— Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

INVESTORS ,

They aim for the financially illiterate or semi illiterate; people who know little about investment and banking enough to detect or inquire about the illegality of their operations.

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Top 10 performing stocks

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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n the top 10 performing stocks last week were shares of Ikeja Hotels Plc, Champion Breweries Plc, International Energy Insurance Co. Plc, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, CCNN, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc and UACN Property Development Co. Plc (UPDC).

Others were Skye Bank Plc, Royal Exchange Assurance Plc, Sterling Bank Plc and UBA Capital Plc. Ikeja Hotels Plc led the chart with 31.58 percent or N0.48 price appreciation to close at N2.00 from N1.52 it started the week at. This is despite unavailability of any public information on the activities of the company and continuously defaulting in filling its financial reports with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, over which it recently earned N5.5 million fines from the Exchange.

Stockbrokers are also at a lost as to what could be responsible for recent price rally on the stock.

“Between you and me, I have also tried to find out what is behind the price rally, but I have not been able to do so,” a top market operator told Investors Forum.

“At the market, we have not gotten any price sensitive information that will be moving the share price except for the 2013 full year result, which was recently released. But then, no dividend was declared.

“There is also a rumour that the company may be planning a Rights Issue, but this I am also not sure of,” he said.

However, the 2013 audited financial statement released two weeks ago was not remarkable as it was a weak outing compared to that of the previous year. The revenue for the period fell by 6.42 percent to N6.773 billion from N7.238 billion in 2012. The gross profit margin dropped to 39 percent from 51 percent recorded the previous year, while profit after tax for the review period slumped to N994.81 million as against N2.02 billion in the corresponding period in 2012. Similarly, the company’s earning per share fell to 48 kobo from 97 kobo in 2012. Ikeja Hotel Plc engages in the acquisition and development of hotel and tourist facilities in Nigeria. It operates three hotels: Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Towers, Federal Palace Hotel, and Abuja Sheraton Hotel & Towers.

Champion Breweries followed with 27.32 percent or N2.65 gain to close at N12.35 from N9.70 per share. The

company recently undertook N11.7 Rights Issue through the issue of 6.30 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to its existing shareholders at N1.85 per share. The management of the company had earlier said that they hope to overcome the challenge of capital inadequacies with the planned recapitalisation exercise. Only recently, Raysun Nigeria Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Heineken International BV, became the new core investor in the company following the sale of 513 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each by Consolidated Breweries Plc, the previous core investor in Champion Breweries.

As a result, Raysun now owns a 57 percent equity stake in the total issued share capital of Champion Breweries, a transaction which was necessitated by continuous financial misfortune, which Consolidated Breweries claimed has been eating deep into its profitability. According to research analysis by Proshare, subsector/peer analysis revealed that the stock to closed as worst performing stock in the last one year, which suggests that investors’ sentiment within the sub-sector has been negative towards Champion.

International Energy Insurance placed third with 15.69 percent or N0.08 appreciation to close at N0.59 from N051 per share. IEI is marked by the Exchange as defaulting in rendition of its 2012 financial statement and was recently fined N5 million for the default. As at the end of 2013, when the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, gave approval to 39 insurers for scaling the International Financial Reporting Standard, IFRS, IEI was said to have not even submitted any updated IFRS report to the NAICOM, which shows that it is still having difficulties migrating its account to the new system.

CCNN advanced by 11.31 percent or N1.60 to close at N15.75 from N14.15; Stanbic IBTC Holdings followed with 9.38 percent or N3.00 gains to close at N35.00 from N32.00; UPDC rose by 9.31 percent or N1.35 to close at N15.85 from N14.50; Skye Bank appreciated by 8.71 percent or N0.23 to close at N2.87 from N2.64; Royal Exchange advanced by 7.27 percent or N0.04 to close at N0.59 from N0.55; Sterling Bank went up by 6.98 percent or N0.15 to close at N2.30 from N2.15, while UBA Capital appreciated by 6.34 percent or N0.13 to close at N2.18 from N2.05 per share.

Why wonder banks, fake capital market operators persist (2)

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

WEEK OPENING

The phenomenon of wonder banks persists because of lapses in the registration and licensing of businesses operating in the finan-

WEEK CLOSE

WEEKLY CHANGE

WtD

cial sector. Another reason for their existence is apparent in the case of the fake Liberty Asset Management Limited. ”Information available to the

MARKET NEWS

WACMI: NSE facilitates launch of Direct Market Access

By WILLIAM JIMOH

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he Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, has established a comprehensive internal process to ensure flawless incorporation of the Direct Market Access (DMA) as an interim step to the implementation of Sponsored Access - first phase of the West African Capital Market Integration (WACMI) programme.

WACMI programme is the initiative to establish a harmonised regulatory environment for the issuance and trading of securities across the West African sub-region.

The initiative would be rolled out in three phases which include; sponsored access in phase one of the programme, direct access by Qualified West African Brokers (QWABs) and thirdly, Integrated West African Securities Market (WASM).

The first phase of the programme will allow brokers in WACMI member countries the opportunity to trade securities and settle in markets other than theirs through local brokers in those domestic markets.

In addition, brokers that are not registered market operators in Nigeria will also be enabled under this phase to participate in the market by granting them remote access to the NSE’s trading facility through a local dealing member firm.

According to the Exchange, with DMA, a

dealing member firm (Sponsoring Member or SM) can allow a Sponsored Participant (SP) to submit orders to the trading system under the member firm’s trading codes via the member firm’s order management systems (OMS).

In the next sub-phase, Sponsored Access, unlike DMA, will allow a Sponsored Participant to submit orders under a dealing member firm’s trading codes to the trading system without passing through a member firm’s order management systems. Instead, their orders pass through a series of validation checks provided by the Exchange and the orders are monitored by the member firm in real-time (Exchange’s infrastructure).

As part of the process, dealing member firms that wish to provide DMA services to Sponsored Participants are required to inform the Exchange by submitting a DMA Notification, along with other required information and seek the NSE’s “No Objection” to the DMA arrangement.

Any active dealing member firm in Nigeria that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and licensed by the NSE can apply for Phase 1 under the WACMI programme. The dealing member firms must have an OMS vendor that is certified by the Exchange for sub-phase 1, DMA.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014 — 23

BY PETER EGWUATU

P

rospective and existing investors now have the chance of investing in the Nigeria capital market through an instrument known as Initial Public Offering (IPO).

IPO is an instrument through which quoted companies raise fresh funds from the capital market. For instance, in 2007 and 2008, many publicly quoted companies in the banking sector issued IPOs to raise funds to meet the N25 billion capital requirement by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. But now, IPO is gradually returning to the Nigeria capital market with Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc braving the odds to float the first IPO in recent time both on the local and international capital market that fetched the company $500 million. The company eventually made a dual listing on the London Stock Exchange, LSE, and Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. Transcorp Hotel followed with its on-going public offering that has been described as an audacious move by leading operators in the hospitality business, which seeks to expand its spread to other key parts of the country.

The company’s IPO of 800 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N10 per share, which is to fetch N8 billion, opened on September 25 and is expected to close on October 17.

Transcorp Hotels Plc is the hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) and the company has expressed its resolve to focus on Nigerian expansion in the short to the mid-term and thereafter develop a strong African footprint in high population and competitive cities.

Over the next five years, the company will take a phased approach in developing highend hotels and apartments in prime locations, including Ikoyi, Port Harcourt and Abuja.

IPO is floated by companies by issuing their shares to members of the investing public for the first time to raise fresh funds. Like earlier stated, IPOs were very common in 2007 and 2008 before the market witnessed a downturn. Since 2008, companies have been avoiding IPOs, embracing mostly rights issues and bonds.

Many investors prefer investing in IPOs because of their capital gain potential. It is

,

Understanding IPO in capital market

,

MtD

Commission confirmed that the illegal operator has been operating at No. 327 Oron Road, (upstairs) Opposite Akwaette Filling Station Uyo, and at Room 30, Ikot Ekpene LG Stall, by Old Stadium, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.”

The company chose a location that is far from the city. It is not a place like Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt, where there is preponderance of financially savvy people. The choice of the location was a deliberate strategy, aimed at the critical market segment of QtD YtD wonder banks and illegal capital market operators.

They aim for the financially illiterate or semi illiterate; people who know little about investment and banking enough to detect or inquire about the illegality of their operations. These are the people that usually fall prey to wonder banks and fake capital market operators. That is why it would be bad market for any of them to locate their business or office on Marina, Victoria Island or Ikoyi in Lagos State. The people there either know or are surrounded by people who know enough to detect that they are fraudsters.

The choice of location also has another benefit for their criminality. It takes time before the authorities could detect their existence, or even visit them for investigations. If they choose a location within the major cities, their existence and operations would easily be noticed by the authorities. But because they operate from seemingly obscure places, they are able to operate for a long time and wreck havoc on people’s finances before they are detected.

The above implies that it would be very challenging to eradicate the phenomenon of wonder banks and illegal market operators. The population of financially illiterate and semi illiterate that constitute their market segment are huge and widely dispersed across the vast territory of Nigeria. It would take a massive publicity campaign of huge financial implications to enlighten almost every Nigerian adult, irrespective of where they live, about these phenomenon. It is possible, but it would require a lot of collaborate between the regulators in the financial sector. Most importantly, it would require their willingness to commit resources and manpower for such purposes.

Such massive public enlightenment effort would however only help to significantly reduce the number of people that would fall prey to wonder banks and illegal market operators. It may not stop people from going into such fraudulent activities. It also would not stop another class of their potential customers from patronising them. The problem of these special customers is not financial illiteracy; it is the problem of greed. (To be continued).

,

FORUM

Many investors prefer investing in IPOs because of their capital gain potential. It is believed that shares offered through IPOs are under-priced and have the potential to rise after listing on the stock exchange

When IPO is issued by a quoted company, investors who are interested in having ownership stake in that company can subscribe to its shares

believed that shares offered through IPOs are under-priced and have the potential to rise after listing on the stock exchange. Hence, investors always swoop on such shares.

However, the IPO market in Nigeria has been dormant since 2008. IPO is a primary segment instrument of the capital market that companies can use to raise money at a much lower cost than borrowing from financial institutions. When IPO is issued by a quoted company, investors who are interested in having ownership stake in that company can subscribe to its shares.

If for instance, a company wants to raise N10 million and issued an IPO of say N2.00 per share. If an investor has N10,000 to invest, it means , the investor can subscribe for 5000 units of the company’s shares. The reward for investors investing in a company through IPO is dividend payment. The dividend payment occurs when the company makes profit. So, any investor

From left: Mrs. Sola Oyetade, Safety Specialist, Chevron Nigeria Ltd; Mrs. Omobolanle Adekoya, Partner, PricewterhouseCoopers; Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, Tax and Corporate Advisory Leader, PWC and Mr. Cyril Asobu, Partner, during the media training and capacity building seminar for career journalists, in Lagos.

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investing through the IPO is a risk taker and takes the highest risk than other stakeholders. Also, for taking the highest risk, the investor also gets higher returns when profit is declared by the company.

It should be noted that since the Nigeria capital market witnessed a downturn in 2008, companies have not been making IPO for fear that such issues might fail due to low investor confidence in the market.

Primary market activities of any capital market remain one of the cardinal fundamentals for gauging investors’ confidence, liquidity and health of the market.

The primary aim of the Nigeria capital market is to mobilise longterm funds. The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is the centre point of the capital market, while the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) serves as the apex regulatory body. It provides a mechanism for mobilising private and public savings and making such funds available for productive purposes. The exchange also provides a means for trading in existing securities. To enable small as well as large-scale enterprises gain access to public listing, the NSE operates the main board for relatively large enterprises and the Alternative Securities Market (ASeM) where listing requirements are less stringent for small and medium-scale enterprises.

However, many operators have said that the return of retail investors would encourage companies to issue IPOs in the very near future.

As noted earlier, many retail investors took part in IPOs during the last market boom. Although some of them got their fingers burnt, many others really reaped significant capital gains. Such investors are eagerly waiting for another round of IPOs in the market.

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Nigeria pumps 1.25bn barrels of crude via Forcados terminal T

HE Forcados Terminal in the western Niger Delta operated without a significant safety incident between September 2000 and September 2014, during which some 1.25 billion barrels of oil passed through the facility that is operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) operated Joint Venture.

The safety milestone translates into a daily average of 300 staff handling nearly two export tankers every week.

“This is a significant achievement in a work environment that involves multi-disciplinary staff teams and contractors,” said SPDC Managing Director and Countr y Chair, Shell companies in Nigeria, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu.

“Over the years, SPDC has improved work processes and trained staff leading to the introduction of the Goal Zero initiative on safety. We’re happy that the improvements continue to manifest not only at Forcados Terminal but also in other installations,” Sunmonu added.

Over the past 365 days, a number of high risk maintenance and engineering activities have

also taken place at the Forcados Terminal, including rehabilitation of crude oil storage tanks, subsea repairs to the tanker loading system and upgrade to the jetty amongst others.

The asset did not record any disruptions relating to these multiple concurrent activities, which is also evidence of the sustained and proactive engagement of the host communities.

The Forcados Terminal was inaugurated in 1971, and was

upgraded between 1994 and 1998. The terminal receives, treats, stores and exports

crude oil produced by SPDC and other operators in the western Niger Delta, and has

Group vows to resist SON's attempt to create cement monopolies

A

N economic rights pressure group, the Alliance Against Monopoly (AAM) has vowed to resist all initiatives, open or secret, to create a monopoly in the nation’s cement industry by

concentrating the fortunes of the industry in the hands of one or few individuals or group.

The group said this in Lagos at a peaceful protest rally at the head office annex of

A cross session of the members of Alliance Against Monopoly (AAM) lead by its National President Mazi Omife I. Omife during a protest march at the Head Office Annex of the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) in Lagos to protest against untoward policies in the cement industry.

FMBN restates commitment to bridging housing deficit

T

HE Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, has restated its commitment to bridging the housing deficit in Nigeria.

According to Mr. Gimba Ya’u Kumo, Managing Director, FMBN, the Federal Government, FG, through its various agencies, has kickstarted the campaign and has embarked upon programmes geared towards providing one million houses annually.

He said, ‘’The Informal Sector Cooperative Society Loan Scheme product would enable operators in the informal sector like farmers, traders, artisans to benefit from the National Housing Scheme like those in the formal sector.

Reacting to analysts’ views that re-capitalisation and corporate governance are some of the challenges the agency is grappling with, Kumo urged the FG to increase the share capital of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria from its present N5 billion to N200 billion.

“We would also urge the Federal Government to increase the

share capital of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria from its present N5 billion to N200 billion to enable the bank address the housing deficit in the country adding that addressing the over 17 housing deficit in the country would require aggressive injection of funds by the Federal Government,’’ he noted.

Continuing, he said: ‘’The bank presently has a share capital of N5 billion out of which the Federal Government has paid up its own share of N2.5 billion representing 50 per cent, while the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Social Insurance Trust Fund ( NSITF) have not paid up their 30 and 20 per cent share respectively.

The bank as it is grossly undercapitalised, compared to other countries even in West Africa disclosing that the government is currently working on ways to improve its capitalisation.’’

Expatiating on the cooperative loan scheme, Kumo explained thus: ‘’Those in the lowest strata of the society have not benefited

an installed storage capacity of 6.3 million barrels of product.

from loans, because they have limited capacity to pay for houses as the income they generate is very small. This led to the introduction of the Cooperative Loan Scheme.

“It was brought about to extend the bank’s services to people who can be termed disadvantaged in the society because their income is low, irregular and difficult to access under the NHF loan window.

What the bank has now done is to use corporative societies in the informal sector. The services to people who can be termed disadvantaged in the society because their income is low, irregular and difficult to access under the NHF loan window.”

Speaking in the same vein, Isaiah Dualong, Managing Partner, Havillah Shelter, stated that if the policies initiated in this dispensation are executed overwhelmingly, the mortgage challenge would be surmounted to a large extent.

He said: ‘’It is quite promising that we have seen programmes, which if fully implemented, would provide

answers to the various housing questions in Nigeria. I am not in doubt that they are not on the right path. All we demand for is for the FG to keep faith in FMBN. Policy somersaults would not be in the interest of the good policies that have been put in place in the sector.’’ ‘’I am aware that the FMBN, is working on mass housing schemes with a rent-to-own option for workers, to reduce the housing deficit in the country. If that is done, there will be mass housing scheme.

It will also increase the number of completed mortgages from the current 20,000 housing units more than 200,000 units in three years. You can see that there are prospects in all these.’’

Similarly, Chief Chike Chiekwena, Managing Director, Chiekwana Homes, observed that there is a new direction for the bank and the nation’s mortgage sector, adding that there is need for a comprehensive database for generating statistics.

industrial regulator, the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) in Lagos.

President of the Group, Omife I. Omife while addressing its members and other participants at the rally said, “Our members will remain committed to their constitutional duties to seek the welfare of our fellow citizens as members of our national community under Section 24 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to him “As we have done before, we shall continue to denounce the so called new cement standardization and pigmentation policy of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) as being illegal, anti-people and unreasonable for the reason that the policy was not generated from within the SON establishment through its statutory channels and organs or according to the procedure laid down by the SON Act but was imposed from outside.

He said that the new so called Standards not having been made in accordance with Section 12 of the Act does not qualify as a national industrial standard and is not and cannot be binding on anybody.

He also pointed out “that the Ad-Hoc Committee of the House of Representatives through which the new policy was illicitly midwifed expressly acknowledged in its report that there was a consensus of all the stakeholders at the public hearing that cement quality is not responsible for building collapses in Nigeria.

“The Standard Organization itself which had certified grade32.5mpa cement had also defended that grade at the public hearing saying that it is suitable for light construction work, block making and rendering.

“The Federal Ministry of works and Housing which has built and which maintains thousands of building across the country had stated in its submissions to the Ad-Hoc Committee that a qualified structural engineer can achieve every desired construction purpose using any grade of cement.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—25

AFC, Cenpower sign deal on $900m Kpone IPP T

HE Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has executed the financing of the Cenpower Generation Company Limited which is implementing the Kpone Independent Power Project (Kpone IPP).

According to a statement by the AFC, the IPP is a US$900 million project, comprising a 350 megawatt (MW) combined cycle gas turbine power plant, a 161kV substation, liquid fuel (Light Crude Oil and Distillate) storage, delivery and supply infrastructure and working capital financing for fuel.

To be located in Tema, near Accra, AFC said the Kpone IPP will provide an additional 10 per cent of Ghana’s generation capacity when it comes onstream in 2017, 20 per cent of its available thermal generation, and supply power to approximately one million households.

The AFC said that the Kpone IPP has been in development for over ten years and registers a number of significant firsts. "It is the first greenfield project finance IPP in Ghana; it is the largest IPP in Sub-Saharan Africa in the last 10 years; it is the largest private power plant financed in Sub- Saharan Africa; and it is Sumitomo Corporation of Japan’s first thermal IPP investment in Africa. The plant will be

constructed by Group Five of South Africa," it said.

The statement noted that the AFC is the lead project developer, mandated lead arranger as well as the single largest equity investor in the project.

It said the project was initiated in 2003, by Cenpower Holdings Limited, representing a group of Ghanaian entrepreneurs. "In 2005, the group partnered with Infraco. In 2010, AFC acquired a controlling equity stake in Cenpower and assumed the role of lead project developer.

Today, following the exit of InfraCo, the equity investors in the project will together provide equity funding of circa US$250million. They include Africa Finance Corporation, through AFC Equity Investments Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AFC (31.85%), Sumitomo Corporation (28%), Cenpower Holdings Limited (21%), Africa Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) (15%) and FMO (4.15%), it explained.

AFC is the Global Lead

Arranger of the US$650 million debt funding for the project.

The debt funding comprises a $446 million 15-year commercial bank export credit backed facility, with Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), a division of FirstRand Bank Limited, as the global coordinator, initial mandated lead arranger, book runner and hedging coordinator and a 15year development finance facility totaling US$204 million, arranged by FMO, the Dutch Development Bank.

From left: David Agiddi, Senior Asset Manager; Patricia Akinlotan, Senior Manager, Administration and Corporate Affairs; Taiwo Osindero, Senior Finance Manager; Chinyere Owualah, Legal Manager; Olisa Nnajiofor, Audit & Compliance Specialist all of Seven Energy at The Nigeria Cup 2014 Gala Night organised by Ikoyi Club 1938, Golf Section in Lagos

Kano, eTranzact collaborate on e-commerce project

By Jonah Nwokpoku

T

HE Kano State Government and Nigeria’s payment processor, eTranzact has entered into a partnership to launch an eCommerce business improvement and empowerment project targeted at traders in the state. eTranzact said, “The project will kick off with a comprehensive registration of all the traders in Kano state at all levels, identifying their type of business, products, etc. Next phase will see a gradual migration of traders to e-commerce in line with state government’s drive to be the leading electronic payment/ transaction State and to align with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cashless Policy initiatives.”

An electronic traders’ ID card from the eTranzact team was also unveiled and certified by the Governor at the unveiling ceremony in Kano. The ID Card will be compulsory for all traders and businesses in the state, and will also serve as a transaction card duly accepted on POS, ATM and the internet, and a companion for a Kano state

customised version of eTranzact’s mobile money solution, PocketMoni.

Speaking at the unveiling of the project, Kano state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso explained that, “The biometric identity card was introduced for all business operators in Kano to enhance security, provide government with a database on business operators and enable traders to migrate to e-commerce, in line with best practices in the global business environment.”

He appealed to business enterprises and individuals operating in the state to cooperate with the state government on the project, in view of its importance to trade, investment and financial inclusion objectives of the state government.

Also speaking, the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II who was also present at the occasion, said: “Education and health are the key areas that every responsible government should pay attention to, and inadequate focus on these sectors is responsible for the current security and economic challenges facing the country.”

The Emir, therefore, lauded the Kwankwaso-led administration for embarking on employment generation and infrastructural development programmes,

assuring that the Kano Emirate Council will continue to work hand-in-hand with the government to achieve the set goals.

Buy Cheap Nigeria commences weekly draws

By Olawale Gabriel

I

N its bid to create a unique market in the Nigeria retail system as well as entertain through the way of gaming, Buy Cheap Nigeria is set to commence its weekly draw that will give the general public between age 18 and above the opportunity to buy diverse goods at a very low price.

Disclosing this during a media briefing prior to the draw, the Chief Executive Officer, Buy Cheap Nigeria Mr. Dominic Edokpolo said that the draw which would be broadcast live on Silverbird Television every Friday by 10:55pm was to give participants opportunity to buy any product up for sales at a certified price ranges from zero kobo to N100.

Seven 2.5 KVA petrol power

generating sets will be won by the general public across the country weekly.

Edokpolo explained, “The idea behind this lottery is to make available to the general public a diverse product at a very low price in an atmosphere of fun and excitement.

To this end, all what you need to do is to visit our website, which you will invest N50 to make a bid to buy whatever is up for sale at a price between 0 kobo and N100, with 50 kobo increase in between. Once your prediction for the amount that such product will go is right, then you stand a chance to buy that product at that amount you guess.

“When you visit our website, all you need to do is to follow the very simple instructions there.

The instructions are input your

BRIEF Coca-Cola launches initiative to promote budding artistes

By Olawale Gabriel

I

N its effort to chart a new course and new direction in the music industry, Coca-Cola Nigeria has introduced “Coke Studio” live concert to reaffirm its commitment in assisting young promising Nigerians artist by way of exploring and assist in building their career.

The initiative which aims to share happiness and put smile on the face of millions of Nigerians witnessed massive participation during the University of Lagos edition.

Speaking during the concert, the Brand Manager, Colas, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Olufemi Ashipa, said that the initiative was to create a good atmosphere where upcoming artist can make their voice heard.

He said, “As a company that is rooted across Nigeria and beyond, Coca-Cola is given young artist opportunity to blow up and explore how far they can go with music.

“We belief in vision and ‘collabo’ which is the beauty of music that is why in every location we hold our concert, we have a ‘coke studio’ bus available where every young aspiring artiste can actually go on the bus, drop their track and record their own demo and the opportunity is open to as many people as possible to explore their passion for music.”

Ashipa said that the concert also aims to excite campus communities across Nigeria with live music from established music stars, which would perform alongside upcoming and aspiring local artistes at each campus where the music platform visits.”The huge turnout by fans and the rave reviews for the Coke Studio outings at The Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), the University of Benin and the Abia State University and even University of Lagos today are indicative of the high level of consumer engagement which Coke Studio enjoys across the country.” He added that the initiative was to bring about happiness and spreading happiness across Nigeria and Africa at Large.

“We want to use this avenue to serve as a bridge that link music across Africa by ensuring that every single person’s voice is heard. In 2013, coke studio was strictly on television, but this time around we decided to expand its reach by way of making it more close to people and engage larger participation.”

26—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Abia 2015: A contest defined by zoning GOVERNOR Theodore Orji has been praised by associates as the man who liberated the state from what they describe as the bondage of the state to the family of his immediate predecessor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu.

Following the ‘liberation’ of the state, the governor is also being termed by associates as the liberator of the Ukwa Ngwa people who dominate the Abia South Senatorial Zone in the state and have never produced a governor for the state.

By Emmanuel Aziken and Anayo Okoli

I

T is in line with this messianic assignment that the governor has led the crusade to zone the governorship ticket of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to Abia South.

“I have given a sense of belonging to the Ukwa/ Ngwa people to assert themselves. In every century, God brings out a person that comes to lay a foundation. It is my belief that once you lay a good foundation as how power will rotate as far as governorship is concerned.

Once it is laid, it is going to be in the interest of Abia state,” the governor was once quoted as saying.

“No section will be marginalized in Abia. Ukwa/ Ngwa have never been governor, what is wrong in allowing them produce a governor? A lot of people from other zones have come to me to say, I want to be governor and I will tell them straight away this is my stand.

•Wogu: Under pressure to run

Insistence on power shift “Equity demands that the right thing should be done.

They may hate me but within me, I am convinced that I am doing the right thing,” the governor was also quoted as saying apparently in reference to rumours around the state that close associates of the governor including family members were opposed to the governor’s insistence on power shift to Abia South.

One ingredient of the rumour was the claim that some prominent stakeholders from Abia Central and Abia North were uncomfortable with the possible emergence of an Ngwa man as some of them expressed fears.

While the governor preached his message of power shift to

•Orji: Points the way to the south •Abaribe: Strong presence on ground Abia South, many of his followers including a prominent family member were said to have mobilised to throw up alternative candidates from outside Abia South.

It is not surprising that despite the insistence of the governor that his successor should come from Abia South, the emergence of strong

aspirants from within Abia Central and Abia North has thrown up fears that the governor could be compelled by compatriots to relax his resolve on power shift.

Perhaps to assure the citizenry, Governor Orji has almost at every opportunity with Abia South stakeholders urged them to close ranks

among themselves in order not to lose the opportunity being offered to them by the mainstream section of the PDP in the state.

“I want you people to help me, I don’t like if I convince people on this but when I come to this zone, I will start having problems. I will not like to have any problem in this zone. What

we know is Ukwa/ Ngwa. It is open for you; go and contest.

Any person who emerges as the guber candidate of our party from this zone, we are going to support that person.

People should not be afraid because this is something that involves contest; you have to

Continues on page 27

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—27

Abia 2015: A contest defined by zoning Continues from page 26 put in your best, your finances and everything you have. We have made a statement and it is in the best interest of the state”.

Several aspirants have as such emerged from Abia South in pursuit of the PDP ticket.

Among the frontline aspirants to have declared are Senator Enyinninya Abaribe, Chief Friday Nwosu, Dr. Okeize Ikpeazu, Ambassador Okey Emuchay and Chief Eric Acho Nwakanma.

The initial pronouncement did not generate much controversy as only interested aspirants from outside Ukwa/ Ngwa raised eyebrows over the governor ’s and the party ’s position on zoning. But down the line the zoning was narrowed down to only Ukwa/ Ngwa people in Abia South senatorial district, excluding the Ngwas in Abia Central district.

This later decision sparked off serious controversy in the state as aspirants from the zone rejected the arrangement and questioned the meaning of Ukwa/Ngwa with out the Ngwas from Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma Ngwa council areas.

They claimed that any talk of Ngwa without Ngwas from Isiala Ngwa North and South

•Oti: Consulting makes no meaning.

This agitation is being spearheaded by Senator Nkechi Nwaogu and Dr. Alex Oti. They argued that if the governorship seat is being zoned to Ukwa/Ngwa, then the entire Ngwa people should be involved in a free and fair

•Nwaogu: Challenged by zoning primary election to get the best.

Notable traditional rulers from the area also protested the idea of excluding their people in the contest.

Joined in their protest is the only declared aspirant from Abia North, Dr. Uche Ogah, who maintains that, PDP as a

party does not believe in zoning.

Chief Friday Nwosu A lawyer by training, Friday Nwosu has of recent become a household name in the politics of Abia State. A former police officer, he has transformed into

a grassroots politician and human rights activist and is described as a man with strong principles.

From Mgboko Umuoria in Obingwa Council Area, he is said to have fiercely battled former Governor Orji Kalu Continues on page 28

My experience of the two Orjis—Nwakanma, former deputy governor Few are in a better position to compare Governor Theodore Orji and his immediate predecessor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu than Chief Eric Nwkamnma who served both men as deputy governor.

Nwakanma who is now an aspirant for the gubernatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in this interview speaks of his experience with the two men.

W

HAT's your take on Orji Uzor Kalu’s endorsement of the PDP Reconciliation Committee visiting Abia from far away China?

Kalu’s absence during the visit of a high-powered committee of the PDP puts to question his claims that he is back to the PDP. He is not back to the PDP. But let me state once again in very bold terms that there is no opposition in Abia State, and the PDP remains one happy family which was completely reconciled in 2011 under the leadership of Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji.

Therefore, the visit of the

Reconciliation Committee to Abia is more like holidaymaking since there is no aggrieved person to reconcile in Abia. Kalu left the PDP long ago and founded the PPA. He should work towards the progress of a party that has collapsed because for him it will always be a family business.

Do you agree with Kalu that Governor Theodore Orji is blocking his chances of returning to the PDP? Long before Chief T.A. Orji became Governor and finally returned to the PDP where we all belonged in the first instance, the PDP caucus in Abia and patriotic elder

statesmen of the state who were even non-partisan had previously met several times and resolved Orji Uzor Kalu must not be allowed to play any significant role affecting the destiny of Abia.

In a similar manner, stakeholders of Abia PDP met many times to seal loopholes to make the return of Orji Uzor Kalu to the Abia PDP impossible. This was even during the time when his PPA was functioning.

Earlier decisions Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji was not party to all of these earlier decisions and cannot be held responsible for Kalu’s exclusion from the PDP. Do you agree with former Governor Kalu, that this reconciliation will boost President Jonathan’s reelection chances in the country and Abia in particular?

Do we have a problem in Abia PDP? I know we do not. How can you reconcile someone who isn’t in the party in the first place?

How do you reconcile a couple who were never married? Which grounds or what platform will you use?

That is by the way. President Jonathan is not lacking support in Abia and will find Abia the easiest state to win in 2015.

President Goodluck Jonathan polled over 95 percent of votes in Abia State in 2011, which was probably the highest or among the top three. At that time Orji Uzor Kalu had left the PDP and did not campaign for Mr. President. Jonathan’s goodwill is still intact and does not need the self-acclaimed and empty strategist to garner any vote.

What are the chances of the former governor Uzor Kalu running for a senatorial seat under the PDP? This is a fictional proposition.

It is laughable. How does a man who does not belong to a political party use the same platform to run for a senatorial seat which he tried earlier under his defunct PPA but was rejected woefully even by his Igbere kinsmen? That question was aptly presented to him in his last desperate interview with Channels Television.

The interviewer had positioned an earlier interview with the Abia PDP chairman Senator Emma Nwaka who stated it was comical for anyone to hold on to the tag of a PDP member when the same person is not even a ward member of the party, which is true of Orji Uzor Kalu.

Both the PDP chairman South East, Col Austin Akobundu and Senator Nwaka have publicly put paid to the lie being bandied by Orji Uzor Kalu that he is a member PDP. The former governor refers to a roadmap which you once stated did not exist. What is the Continues on page 28

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

My experience of the two Orjis — Nwakanma, fmr deputy governor Continues from page 27 truth?

The culture of a roadmap was non-existent under Orji Uzor Kalu. It is absurd for a man who ran the government as an extension of his group of companies to lay claim to a tradition that was ignored even by previous governors and military administrators that ran the state.

As Governor T. A. Orji’s former deputy, can you lead us into knowing more about the administration’s legacy

projects of the Governor T. A. Orji administration. First, he has used these legacies to set an agenda for in-coming administrations, something that was lacking under the Orji Uzor Kalu administration. We need to make constant reference to Ochendo’s provision of critical infrastructure, provision of security that was not there when Kalu was governor, good governance and sustenance of the physical environment. If you look at the provision made to revamp the health sector, you cannot but applaud the

,

Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji was not party to all of these earlier decisions and cannot be held responsible for Kalu’s exclusion from the PDP

projects?

As is the case with all legacies, there is a driving ideology behind the legacy

,

governor. T.A. Orji is governing Abia State very well and is leaving a huge footprint.

You happen to be talking a

lot from your experience about what an Abia governor in 2015 should do. Could you give us a peep into your programme for the state if you emerge?

I have documented a set of programmes which I have titled “My Pact with Abians”. It is copious, but an abridged or summarised version is in print and being circulated. You can also get copies on internet at my website www.achonwakanma2015.com.

You see, I see governance as very serious business and I am focused and very organised. In preparations to serve Abians, I have opened up channels to communicate and get feedback from the people. I have a saying “Communication is the water that makes life flow”. Apart from my website, I am also on a couple of internet forums like Twitter and Facebook.

I have offices in Umuahia and Aba where I am accessible and I do my best to give everyone

•Nwkamnma: Bringing experience to the race attention. Having said that, I want to place it on record that a large chunk of what we have in my manifesto, “My Pact with Abians”, was developed by

studying positively the T. A. Orji administration. We are using his achievements as building blocks.

Abia 2015: A contest defined by zoning Continues from page 27 during the ‘Otu-Onu’ struggle when he proudly stood with Abaribe in the battle against the former governor.

His stance at that time endeared him to his people and part of that trust especially as one that cannot be compromised is the confidence that is believed to be propelling his present pursuit.

He is also said to be very accessible to the people and he has been reaching out to the political stake holders and is said to have a number high contacts in Abuja which may work in his favour.

Ambassador Okey Emuchay Ambassador Emuchay is from Ukwa East and has recently declared his interest in the governorship race. An accomplished diplomat, Emuchay recently retired as the Consul General in South Africa to join in the race. The fact that he abandoned a promising diplomatic career to venture into the murky area of politics has aroused speculations of a high level backing for his effort.

Dr Okezie Ikpeazu Okezie Ikpeazu is the deputy general manager of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency [ASEPA]. He is in charge cleaning up Aba and environs. Ikpeazu’s name recently came into the governorship race like a

thunder and there were insinuations that he was the anointed. Not too long after, the government denied him and there are fears that the initial blitz of attention may work against him.

Chief Eric Acho Nwakanma Acho Nwakanma, a biochemist from Umuorji Ohanze in Obingwa Local Government Area was a member of the House of Assembly who rose up to the position of deputy speaker before serving as deputy governor to former Governor Orji Kalu. Again, he also served as deputy governor to the present governor when he fell out with his former deputy, Chris Akomas in 2010.

A very close friend to Governor Orji, he is always around in any major government function.

He is presently Chairman of the Board of National Neuro Psychiatry Hospital, Enugu on the recommendation of the governor. He has declared his interest and has been consulting widely.

Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe Senator Abaribe is an economist and a two term senator who has traversed the who at one time personified the ‘Otu-Onu’ [one term] slogan, which was the great struggle to stop Kalu from having a second term in 2003. He is

credited with the political consciousness of Ngwa people and was at one time seen as the undisputed leader of the Ngwa people.

Perhaps due to his long political battles in the state, Senator Abaribe is said to possess one of the strongest political structures in the state, though a number of his ardent followers are alleged to have over time moved over to other political camps.

Few believe that Governor Orji would be passionate about Abaribe, but the senator has since the return of the governor to the PDP tried to defer to him.

Abaribe is also counting on his relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan to provide a level playing field with which

he can sail through.

Nwadiala Emeka Wogu, Nwadiala Emeka Wogu, the minister of labour and productivity is perhaps the only one among those severally mentioned as possible contestants who has not formally declared. He is also said to be one of the most formidable on ground with a network and structure that only compares with that of Senator Abaribe.

Wogu’s advantages in the race include the closeness and confidence the governor and his family are said to regard him with. Some also remember that the minister worked under the governor when he was Chief of Staff to Governor Orji Kalu while he, Wogu was

Where is Orji Kalu?

CHIEF Orji Uzor Kalu, the immediate past governor of the state is one person that has also defined the contest. Though not directly sponsoring any of the known aspirants in the dominant Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, opposition to him has been a rallying point for all the declared aspirants. It is, however, remarkable that nearly all of the aspirants including the outgoing governor were at one time benefactors of the political machine framed by the former governor.

While it is the joy of political parties to welcome known enemies, Kalu’s attempt to rejoin the PDP in the state has been steadfastly opposed by the mainstream of the party as led by Governor Orji.

political adviser to the then governor.

Though he is yet to formally declare, Wogu has been the focus of much attention and expectation from political stakeholders who also see in him as a bridge between the expectations of the people of Abia South and the reassurance of other zones given that his maternal ancestry can be traced to Abia North.

It is remarkable that the people of Isikwuato recently conferred on him a chieftaincy title which has been said to put a mark of identity on him.

Besides the major aspirants from Abia South, a number of aspirants from other senatorial zones are also eying the ticket of the PDP. Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, representing Abia Central, has over time raised her political profile and is pushing her ambition through the prism of the Abia Charter of Equity with the claim that she is from the other part of Abia that has yet to govern the state.

Dr. Alex Oti, the managing director of Diamond Bank who is claiming dual ancestry in Ngwa land and Arochukwu and Chief Uche Ogah, the managing director of Masters Energy are two men from Abia South who some believe could pull serious weight in the contest given their financial prowess.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014 — 29

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30 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

E

VEN with the contention on whether power shift to Delta North is a desirable political option, there are new dynamics in the trends of the shaping contest that points to the fact that the key to the Government House in 2015 will go to the Anioma nation unless the political actors from the region bungles the opportunity.

As events unfold on the political scene, the critical issues remain that dominate the space are that of equity, justice and fairness for all sections of the state. There are also issues of the collective aspiration of the people to produce the next governor against the personal ego of the political actors, but above all, the need to eschew any form of imposition of aspirant, from any quarter.

Watchers of the unfolding political trends in Delta State will ignore the body language of the present occupant of the Unity House at Okpanam road, at their own peril.

It important to understand of the thinking of the man who whose tenure expires on May 29, 2015.

What is clear is that the entrance of the former Permanent Secretary, Government House,Chief Tony Obuh, into the governorship race has become the game changer.

•Chief Tony Obuh

•Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa

•Olorogun David Edevdie

•Prince Ned Nwoko

•Hon. Victor Ochei

Game changer The shape of the battle ahead are beginning to emerge and even the doubting Thomas’s will begin to accept the fact that the key to the government House in Asaba may indeed go to a Delta North person.

Who that person would be remains a matter of high level politicking First, there is going to be a resistance from the political class and entrenched interest in the politics of the state.

Secondly, there will be a realignment of forces by those who want to cling to anybody that gets into office by those whose mission in politics is stomach infrastructure.

It will mean redrawing the political map of the State in a very significant way. This will manifest in the ascendancy of minorities, who may hold the balance of power in the new process of social and political re-engineering of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan who has said that he will not hand over power to “over ambitious politicians.”

Secondly, it has redefine the content and character of the 2015 battle both for the PDP and the opposition parties that are waiting for PDP to bungle.

•Chief Great Ogboru

Delta 2015 Trends and Challenges before aspirants

BY HUGO ODIOGOR Matters arising from the entrance of Tony Obuh It is still too early to draw conclusions on the emerging trends in Delta politics, but there are some key factors must be taken into considerations.

The first will be the disposition of the national leadership of the ruling party which is now facing the crisis of managing what the political class in the state is calling imposition of an aspirant on them. But Dr. Uduaghan has tried to show that he was not imposing any aspirant on the state by staying away from Chief Tony Obuh’s thanks giving event in Agbor this last week end.

This notwithstanding, Obuh is seen as an aspirant who enjoys the confidence of his

boss and that seems to be galvanizing osmotic pull of crowd towards his direction.

Chief Obuh may not have a pedigree as a politician but he comes without any baggage which makes his entrance attractive.

The promoters of Delta United for Tony Obuh are people who are seen to be very close to the powers that be in the state.

The expected backlash As stated earlier, it will be interesting to see how the leadership of the Party in the State and at the national level handles the emerging scenario without implosion.

Delta state is a predominantly PDP state and any candidate that gets its ticket is presumed to have a greater chances of winning but, chairman of

Anioma Agenda, Barrister Alex Onwuadiamu said the elections in Ekiti and Osun states have left some valuable lessons for the leadership of PDP to guide them in making any decision in Delta state. On the other hand the APC is watching to see where the blunder from PDP will be a blessing in disguise for it.

Okowa’s burden Chief Tony Obuh hails from Ika and many observers believe his entrance will have significant impact on the aspirations of Dr. Ifeanyi A. Okowa, the seating Senator for Delta North who was seen by many as one of the leading contenders in the race.

He is believed to enjoy a broad based support across the state and his supporters argue that he had the promise of

Chief James O. Ibori, in 2007, to step down for the incumbent governor and prepare to succeed him at the end of his eight year term.

Now, the Ika nation will have to choose between Dr. Okowa and Chief Tony Obuh. Whoever picks the governorship ticket between the will mean that the Senate seat that is presently held by Dr. Okowa, will be tossed up. Ika nation will not hold the governorship and the Senate seat at the same time.

This will bring the Aniocha/ Oshimili and Ndokwa Federal Constituencies into the fray.

Already, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi and Dr. Maryam Alli, Hon. Pascal Adigwe have lined up while many people expect Prince Ned Nwoko who contested in 2011, to stage a

Continues on page 31

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—31

, Delta 2015

While it is desirable to have female voices Nigeria’s Governor’s Forum, the truth is that Delta state may not prepared to have a female as the Chief Executive

,

Trends and Challenges before aspirants Continues from page 30 comeback.

Challenges before the Aspirants The political atmosphere in Delta State is simmering. The political class in the state is up in arms to resist what they consider to be an attempt by the governor to manipulate the issue of who succeeds him in 2015. But that notwithstanding the three Senatorial zones have lined up their men in spite of the strong agitation for equity, justice and fair play. From the Central Senatorial District, there is robust challenge to the idea of Delta North producing the next governor. From this zone we have the likes of Chief Great Ogboru, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, Olorogun Otega Emerhor, Olorogun David Edevbie, Obarisi’ Ovie Omo-Agege as the key contenders. Olorogun David Edevbie,the former Commissioner for Finance was hailed as”the man that Delta State needs and the last minute joker for Delta Central”.

Edevbie was the Principal Secretary to late President Umar Yar ’Adua and was expected to galvanize the Urhobo nation in quest to regain power in 2015. But in the event of PDP insisting that Delta North should get it, then it will be a catch 22 situation for Olorogun Edevbie for whom the option of going to fly the flag of an opposition

• Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi

•Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege ruling PDP in a situation where it has to explain why a particular senatorial zone will have a straight back to back

,

The political atmosphere in Delta State is simmering. The political class in the state is up in arms to resist what they consider to be an attempt by the governor to manipulate the issue of who succeeds him in 2015

party will be far-fetched.

This is a challenge facing the likes of Obaris Ovie Omo Agege who contested for primaries in 2007 and later joined Action Congress of Nigeria, in 2011 and mounted a stiff opposition to Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, when his election was annulled in 2011.

The former Minister of State for Education is Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi has the resources to challenge for the office but his effort to create a support base in Delta North remains an uphill task given the determination of aspirants from Delta North not to play a second fiddle.

Former Minister for Niger Delta Affairs Elder Godsday Orubebe is only notable aspirants from Delta South in the race.

Even in a fair contest the former Minister will put the

,

hold on such a sensitive position.

Delta North Train The other outstanding aspirants include: Chief Victor Ochei, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu,Chief Jackson Opone, Chief Charles Emetulu, Chief Godswill Obielum, Prof Sylvester Monye and Dr, Ngozi Olejeme who is one of the female aspirants.

Until the recent events that forced his resignation from office as the speaker of Delta Sate House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Ochei was one of the formidable aspirants for the office of the governor of the State.

The former Speaker has strength of character and courage which his detractors find very uncomfortable in the state where sycophancy had become an industry.

Ochei has the structure and the financial muscle, the vision

• Hon. Godwin Ndudi Elumelu

• Chief Peter Okocha and intellect to weather the storm. He has also fought bruising electoral battles in the past. He is an electoral asset that PDP would not toy with.

Hon. Godwin Ndudi Elumelu is another tested hand in electoral battle front. This two term member of the House of Reps, representing Aniocha/ Oshimili Federal Constituency has the political structure, financial muscle and political sagacity to clinch the ticket.

Chief Clement Ofuani has been seen many analysts as one of the aspirants in terms of his vision, level headed, forthrightness and competence o govern the state.

Prof Sylvester Monye who is the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Project Monitoring is considered to be a front runner although he has no electoral track record comparable to the likes of Okowa, Elumelu, Ochei, Utomi, Okocha, and Obielum While it is desirable to have female voices Nigeria’s Governor’s Forum, the truth is that Delta state may not prepared to have a female as the Chief Executive. This is the major obstacle to Dr. Ngozi Olejeme and Dr. Esther Uduehi who are also formidable aspirants in their own right.

With entrance of Sir Tony Obuh in the race, it will be interesting

•Prof. Sylvester Monye

• Elder Godsday Orubebe

•Prof. Pat Utomi

•Dr Ngozi Olejeme

to see who far Dr. Festus Okubor and Prince Sam Obi will manage their own aspiration when it comes to choosing between Dr. Okowa and Sir. Tony Obuh for Ika nation. It will be unwise to ignore the influence of Chief James O.Ibori and the National leadership of PDP in this race.

Also crucial will be the role of Dr. Cairo Ojugboh the South South regional Chairman of the ruling Party who hails from Ika and finally, the position of Anioma Congress in canvassing that there should be a power shift and that a qualified and tested hand should be selected from Delta North.

Barrister Alex Onwuadiamu is of the view that the election in Ekiti State and Osun States

would seem to suggest that Nigerians would defeat any policy or action that they are not comfortable with regardless of the incumbency factor. With 25 local government councils in Delta state, none of the three Senatorial zones can singularly produce the Governor for the State. A combined strength of Delta South and Delta Central will produce 16 states, but to win the require 25% spread, the winner will get 17 Local Governments. Those who claim that Delta Central alone produces 60% of the votes in the state are being economical with the truth.

The truth is that negotiation cooperation and and collaboration are the key factors.

32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

By Theodore Opara

Ford breaks all-time sales record for third time in 2014

F

Ranger, spareheading Ford good performance

Auto Policy: NAC plans local content policy T

HE Director General of the National Automotive Council, Engr.

Aminu Jalal has disclosed that a local content policy will be launched next year to support the new auto policy in Nigeria. Engr.

Jalal stated this recently during a chat with Motoring journalists at Sheraton hotel Ikeja, Lagos.

He reiterated that the country ’s newly formulated Automotive Industry Development Plan is still on track and being pursued despite hiccups experienced in its implementation so far.

It would be recalled that the new auto policy meant to develop the industry and related sectors, was introduced by the federal government one year ago.

Jalal, along side the Director of NAC in charge of Policy and Planning, Mr. Luqman Mamudu, spoke with journalists recently in Lagos. He also called on Nigerians to give VON of Nigeria, promoted by the Stallion group, and others who have taken the initiative to do local auto assembling, a chance to improve on their moves.

In recent times, the Stallion group has come under criticisms following the unveiling of its Nissan Patrol vehicle, which it claimed was locally assembled in Nigeria.

Observers reasoned that the vehicle was more or less imported Fully Built than C M Y K

locally assembled.

But throwing light on this, Jalal stated that local auto assembling is currently categorised into CKD (Complete Knock Down) and SKD (Semi Knock Down). According to him, the SKD is further divided into SKD 1 and SKD 2, even as SKD 2 is broken down into phase 1 and phase 2.

The DG explained that VON Nigeria’s locally assembled Nissan Patrol, a unit of which is displayed at the Murtala Mohammed Airport 2, has only complied with the SKD 2 category phase 1, with plans to move into the next phase.

Jalal also revealed that though many international

auto makers have indicated interest to take advantage of the new auto policy, many others may still be foot dragging, while awaiting the outcome of the bill on the policy currently before the National Assembly.

Also, as part of measures to boost the sales of locally assembled vehicles, it was revealed that NAC was working out modalities to float a car purchase scheme for this category of vehicles.

According to Mamudu, the scheme will involve a South African financial institution as well as some Nigerian banks. The aim is to make the vehicles available at single interest rate.

Moreso, the federal government, with intent to revive the activities of auto component manufacturers, had given N11.5 billion loan to 32 companies to assist them in production, the Council added.

It was also revealed that the council was working with state governments to acquire land “where we can set up clusters for the manufacture of spare parts, particularly in industrial estates. We already have offer from Osun, Delta and Cross River, we are working to get land in Kaduna, Lagos and Anambra where we already have automobile operations.”

ORD Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) had its best sales month with 7269 vehicles sold last month, recording a yearon-year improvement of 26%. As a result, Ford also posted a record market share of 13.4% this year.

“Setting a new sales record in South Africa is testament to the growing portfolio of cars, trucks and SUVs that we continue to offer our customers here. Earlier this year we entered new territory when we broke the 6 000 sales milestone for the first time,” said Rob Crouse, General Manager, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa. “We will continue to work hard to deliver the best service and a world class line-up of vehicles and technology that our customers want and value.

Naamsa reports industry sales are up 11.5%, year-on-year, and the total industry sales yearto-date are down 2.6%. Naamsa has also reported that the domestic market was expected to register a decline, in volume terms, of between 4% and 5% compared to 2013.

The record-setting sales total includes strong performances from the Ranger, EcoSport, Figo, and Fiesta.

Ranger set another all-time record with sales totalling 2629 trucks, cementing its second position in the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) market. To date, Ranger has set all-time sales records six times in 2014 and its desirability among buyers has helped it to be a consistent best-seller.

Fiesta sales were the highest since September 2005, with the compact hatchback moving more than 1238 vehicles sold in September. Boasting smart technologies including SYNC® and EcoBoost®, more consumers are finding value in a modern vehicle that meets their mobility requirements while remaining fun to drive.

“We’re offering consumers vehicles with the type of technologies that are easy to use, and complement their daily lives,” said Crouse.

“Ranger and Fiesta remain sought-after, long after their initial launches - clearly buyers continue to find value thanks to these features.”

Another vehicle equipped with an awardwinning EcoBoost engine is the EcoSport compact SUV. In September it continued its segment leadership, with 788 vehicles sold and the entry-level Figo achieved sales of 1 511 vehicles.

New Ford F-150 offers protection against fade, sun glare

W

HEN the all-new 2015 Ford F-150 has its day in the sun, it will be better prepared than ever for damaging rays both inside and out.

Much of the glare and fade testing was performed in the company’s Central Lab where Ford engineers focus on making individual parts stronger and more durable. A device known as a Therhj matron simulates damaging UV sunrays, and can be used over long periods of time on prototype parts to help identify the best design for production.

The antiglare testing took place in the Visual Performance Evaluation Lab, also known as the Ford lighting lab. The facility can replicate almost any sunlight conditions from dawn to dusk, as well as changes to natural light caused by

weather conditions.

Materials Engineer in the Central Lab, Cindy McComb, said ”We like to think our work on this truck has given it the kind of sun protection Built Ford Tough trucks require to look as good after five years of exposure to sun, wind and rain as they do when they leave the showroom floor.”

Also, in Ford Central Lab facilities located in Florida, USA, engineers place individual exterior and interior parts on outside racks for six months at a time to look for fading and other signs of degradation. The parts are examined under a special xenon light to reveal damage invisible to the human eye.

Parts are approved for production only when they meet rigorous faderesistance standards.

Direct sunlight does more than fade vehicle parts over time. It can also make it hard to see information displayed on gauges and screens used for navigation and entertainment systems. Ford engineers used advanced computeraided design software to identify the least reflective materials to use, and incorporated shaded gauges on the instrument panel of the all-new truck designed to minimize glare.

In some cases, gauges and instruments shaded from glare are enhanced with supplemental lighting throughout the Ford F-150 interior to make them readable in their recessed positions.

Indirect glare from general daylight brightness can wash out navigation and entertainment screen displays.

Engineers tested various colours for the

new F-150, ultimately choosing those that are easy to see under bright conditions.

On his part, Ford human factors Engineer, Cary Diehl, says “In addition to testing gauges and screens under these conditions, we looked at the amount of light given off by LEDs in window and steering wheel control switches to ensure they would not be distracting to the driver when lit.”

During antiglare evaluations in the Ford lighting lab, which boasts 6 000 watts of light and a planetarium-like dome, Ford tested prototype F-150s under a variety of simulated lighting conditions. Because many F-150 customers use their trucks for work at job sites, they don’t have the time or the patience to deal with hard-to-read gauges or controls inside the truck.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014 — 33

By Theodore Opara

Why Toyota dominates Nigeria roads The LC 70 series has earned an enviable reputation for versatility, ruggedness and dependability

E

VER wondered why Toyota models account for the highest number of vehicles on Nigerian roads? This is something that I have observed in the last few years.

Toyota has dominated the roads in all segments where they exist. These include the sports Utility vehicle, (SUV), sedan, pickup and mini-bus segments. There is a saying these days that five, out of every ten vehicles on Nigerian roads are Toyota. The interesting aspect of Toyota dominance is that it cuts across both new and used vehicle segments.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the secret of this Toyota dominance lies in the Toyota Technology.

Technicians and automobile engineers believe that Toyota technology is less complex and simple to handle, while most car owners believe that the durability and ruggedness of Toyota models stand them out, hence you can see Toyota cars made in the nineties, still plying the road as if they were made in this millennium. For instance, the Toyota Camry (tinny light) as it is popularly known was first built in the early or mid-nineties, that is over 20 years ago, but the model still rules the used car market, attracting

price of over a million naira.

The same goes for the old Corolla, Sienna, RAV4, Highlander, just name it.

According to Mr. Rasheed Abiodun, an Ikeja based auto technician who specialises in the maintenance of Japanese cars, the Toyota models stand out among others for many reasons.

These includes the simple technology which makes them easy to repair, availability of spare parts and durability of the engines.

He explained that Toyota vehicles outlive other models and as a Toyota technician, you are rest assured of getting business because many customers like Toyota.

“In short, I can tell you that half of the vehicles on the road today are Toyota cars, and even a half baked technician can fix any of the models”, he said.

Another technician, Mr. John Okonkwo, whose workshop is located around Berger Yard, the popular Lagos used cars market corroborated Mr. Abiodun’s position on Toyota.

According to him, we have since discovered that Toyota models have become most peoples

favourite, and you can always get something to do if you specialised in Toyota brands. He said, “there is no Toyota part you can’t find the original in the market even if you want to replace a whole engine, it is available and affordable than other brands. Besides, when you fix a Toyota, you don’t entertain fear of breakdown and return job by the customer,” he

noted.

Even Toyota used car dealers have similar stories to tell about Toyota cars. Mr. Ibukun Adeoye, a popular used car dealer in Ikeja explained to Vanguard Motoring that though he had been in the business for many years, he has since discovered that Toyota brands are preferred by customers hence he has

concentrated on the brand and Lexus which are hot cakes in the market.

“Since, I started selling Toyota, I have not had cause to quarrel with my customers. Rather, they are the ones who bring their friends to me to make more purchase and we see ourselves as a family.

“Do you know that some customers usually

come to me to make order for their Toyota and Lexus cars and wait as long as one month for the car to arrive? This is the confidence that Toyota has brought to my business”, he said.

Continuing, he said, “if you get used to Toyota, you cannot leave the brand. Have you asked why banks, insurance and others go for Toyota?

He asked and also provided the answer.

They know the secret of the brand.

“Though, it might cost a little more to acquire a Toyota car, but it is worth the price because you can resell it almost the price you bought it after using for four years. So, the resell value is another advantage coupled with the peace of mind.

In the new car segment, a friend in Mandilas once told me that having sold other brands and Toyota, she has come to the conclusion that the Toyota brand has no equal in durability and low maintenance cost.

Kemi Eruosanyi, who was the National Marketing Manger of Mandilas, one of Toyota dealers in Nigeria, explained that, though Toyota might cost a little more to acquire, it cost little or nothing to maintain. Apart from your regular service, you hardly spend anything to keep your Toyota on the road”, she said.

Abuja Motor Fair, litmus test for new auto policy’ — BKG

A

S preparations for the hosting of the 16th edition of the Abuja International auto show gets to an advanced stage, the platform of the annual event has been described as a litmus test to the shape of things in the industry with the current paradigm shift in the sector.

According to Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, the Chairman of the Organising Committee of the event; “the automobile is undoubtedly the primary yardstick of success for any auto exhibition. This means auto enterprises showcasing at any exhibition must ensure visibility and wholeness/ completeness, and not leaving anything to chance”.

“The reinvigorated auto

policy no doubt caught some stakeholders unprepared, confused and some highly prepared.

These various states have caught some on the wrong foot and they needed to stay afloat and the ready ones; all need to show that they are all ready to play big in the new era”, he said. It is this unique opportunity that the 16th Abuja International Motor Fair has been packaged to provide to all the Stakeholders. Therefore showcasing amongst others at the event will ultimately show the state of preparedness or otherwise of participants. This does not apply only to the automobile companies but equally to those which services and or products complement the

automobiles because the incidence of the policy falls on all of them”, Mr. Agwu further stated The BKG boss in a chat with Motoring Journalists, in Lagos on the level of preparedness by the organizing committee and other stakeholders, disclosed that preparations are in top gear, stressing that the 16th edition is loaded with a whole lot of content that is designed to showcase the strength and resilience of the participants as well as create an educative and fun filled atmosphere for all those that will be visiting the show.

With the theme this year, which promotes the culture and attitude of self- belief and self –confidence, the Organising Committee

head also noted that aside the known strong brands that will be at the show, a few others will be debuting, therefore creating an ambience for the debutants to rub shoulders with the big boys, which will further expose the debutants to the workings of the industry.

He also said that the build up to this event further shows the quality of an international A-level automobile exhibition in many aspects. “One of which is, the high technical content of exhibits which will represent the latest trend and the most advanced level of the world. Therefore, this exhibition plays a real role of weather vane in the Nigeria and West Africa automobile market.

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34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

the guidelines.

If we don’t do that somebody will get up one day and said they want to regulate.

They will just pick some of their friends to be on some committee. They will write the regulations processes for IVF in Nigeria.

When the experts start complaining, they will say they are complaining maybe their income is threatened. So that is why we are concerned that there should be a proper regulation for training and practice. As far as I know, no country in West Africa has regulation. Ghana was trying to put one in place; South Africa was writing theirs about three years ago I was hoping to find out from them.

We will have our own guidelines and we will now try and implement it ourselves whenever the government is ready, we prefer to have both regulations in place.

Evolution of IVF in Nigeria

• In Vitro Fertilisation, IVF, in action.

Without regulation, IVF treatment is unsustainable — Prof. Osato Giwa-Osagie, co-pioneer of IVF in Nigeria INFERTILITY remains a source of social, mental and emotional distress and especially some Sub Saharan Africa where a high premise is placed on childbearing. The treatment of infertility has advanced and a lot of hope has been brought to many families who hitherto might not have had any chance of child bearing with the advent of Assisted Reproductive Technology, ART. Nigeria has made history in this regard. Good Health Weekly spoke to co-pioneer of IVF in Nigeria, Prof. Osato Giwa – Osagie during an International Conference on Improving IVF Pregnancy rates in Nigeria, organised by the Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health, AFRH. Giwa-Osagie who is President, AFRH spoke on a wide range of issues from the genesis of IVF in Nigeria, to factors affecting the rates of IVF pregnancy among other challenges. Excerpts:

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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ACTORS that determine IVF pregnancy rates The rates of pregnancy vary from about 15-40 percent. Every clinic here or abroad has seasons of very high pregnancy rate.

Some get as high as 50 percent particularly for egg donation and cycles for older women. They have also had circles when the results are poor it can be as low as 15 percent as a result of the drugs they were also given. All these are local factors that affect results.

Secondly, almost all the requirements for IVF are all imported including water. They are all imported and used once only.

Some of the centres have two or three pieces of equipment to do the same thing because of issues of maintenance locally.

When you go there, you will find three – four scan machines, everything is duplicated and these are at a cost.

Thirdly, our women, as you know are prone to fibroids. We are the fibroids headquarters of the whole world. And fibroids reduce pregnancy rates.

Infections in women not only damage the tubes, but could damage the uterus itself.

This could also reduce pregnancy rates.

These are the local peculiarities we come across.

One is getting the appropriately trained and qualified personal, nurses, counsellors, the embryologists and the clinicians. You need all these people in an IVF clinic. The job cannot be done by

just one man. Quite often you find a gynaecologist who is in-charge of patients.

Stimulate them, recover the eggs etc, somebody else has to now do the culturing of the eggs, and that is the embryologist, the laboratory people.

Challenges in IVF practice

Many times the success of your effort depends on the laboratory rather than the clinicians. You must look at both sides of the practice and put both sides upwards all the time. You have to also have the logistics arranged properly. There are clinics ready to lend things to each other such as oxygen or media.

Those relationships exist because we are all importing all these things. From time to time, our importation process runs into problems at the airport. At one time, NAFDAC was saying everything must be tried in Nigeria and proven before it can be used. That means, you will bring the media from Sweden or whereever you are importing it from, you will now use it in Nigeria maybe on a bunch of mice and report to NAFDAC and they will say you can now use it. That didn’t make sense because you cannot by any stretch of imagination equate the standards of our science with that of Sweden, Germany, England, US or Canada.

If it is good enough for those countries to be used on their own people then it is safe enough for us to use on our people.

We do not have the money to do all those tests. I think they found a solution to that because if they enforced that regulation

all the IVF clinics will grind to a halt including the ones in the public hospitals.

We have lost batches of reagents to this sort of thing because by the time it is held for more than about 72 hours, it is gone.

Thousands of dollars down the drain.

Lack of regulation

Regulation is very important in Nigeria.

For people who watch television you find some doctors talking about what is a gynaecological disease. He or she is not a medical doctor but will be talking about endometriosis, fibroids and how he has a solution that dissolves fibroids. And now if such charlatans are allowed to get to the field of IVF, then I feel sorry for the women of this country. There are no standards to convey them to.

In Nigeria, when these people are operating and you talk, people will say doctors are jealous that is why it is very important we put in place some guidelines and regulations. We have been saying this for the last 10 years or more and nobody is listening to us. We shall keep saying it.

If we have enough funds we are going to publish it in a newspaper as paid advertisement so that everybody will see it that a group of people who are experts in this field are saying this is the way this thing should be regulated and these are

• Prof Osato Giwa-Osagie

When we started IVF, in LUTH, we were three, Prof. Ashiru, Dr. Akin Abisogu and myself. The original work to allow us to start human work was done by Prof Abisogun who was still doing a Master of Science anatomy and looking at IVF in mice. The supervisor was Prof. Ashiru.

And I was watching them if they would succeeded we will transfer to human. So when they succeeded we now said we are ready for human work.

I went to Conakry in Australia to learn human IVF and Prof. Ashiru went to America. That is how we started. Our laboratory was Anatomy Department of the College of Medicine at Idi Araba, and all our work was done in one of the theatres at the LUTH. It was very much experimental. There was no mechanism in place for the patients to be charged.

Today, IVF is charged. We were doing it as research and grants from reagent donated from friends abroad. We recorded our first pregnancy in 1984, a young lady from Ibadan. We then had another pregnancy in 1985 and 86 through a technique called GIFT.

First IVF baby

In 1985, Dr Olatubosun and his team from St. Nicholas reported a delivery of a baby from Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer (GIFT). We reported the first delivery of a baby through IVF in LUTH by 1989. The success was reported and published widely both at national and international fora. I am talking of about 30 years ago.

There was no funding and we could not charge patients so it was not sustained.

After we succeeded we decided to say these things should be set up properly.

The Federal Government said IVF was not a priority for Nigeria.

I decided to stay in Nigeria rather than moving to Saudi Arabia or anywhere in the world. I moved my IVF practice to private practice and that is how IVF came to private practice. Then Prof. Ashiru went on sabbatical, leave of absence in Chicago.

By the time he came back, they were now the younger ones in the field talking publicly about IVF successes.

Nobody is being reported anymore to the medical council like they did to us then.

When you were reported to the medical council you felt a kind of knife dangling over your head. So many things happen these days and people are getting away with it. Right now it is very easy to practice IVF. A that time, it was only Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa that succeeded in IVF. The rest of Africa was not doing it.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014 —35

Rabies: NVMA calls for vaccination of dogs in Lagos

By Gabriel Olawale

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N honour of Master James Musa and Miss Aishat Opakunle, two promising young Nigerians who recently lost their lives as a result of bites from a rabid dog, the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association, NVMA, Lagos state chapter, recently commenced free vaccination of dogs and other household pets in Meiran area of the state under the Alimosho Local Government.

The activities aimed at consolidating global alliance for rabies control and observance of the 2014 World Rabies Day witnessed a huge turnout of the residents of Mologede Estate. Speaking during the enlightenment exercise, Association Chairman, Dr Alao Mobolaji said it is important to get dogs vaccinated annually which keep them protected against rabies, but when a person becomes a victim of dog bite whether or not such dog has rabies or not the first thing to do is to wash the spot with soap and running water before present it for proper treatment.”

“In the course of treatment, the person will be subjected to post exposure management on days zero, three, seven, 14 and 30. If the dog does not die before

Medical Consultants dismiss health workers’ fresh demands

By Victoria Ojeme

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• It is important to get all dogs vaccinated annually to keep them protected against rabies. day 14, the victim can skip days 14 and 30 and that means the dog does not have rabies so they can just treat it like a normal wound.”

Further, he explained that if the dog in question dies, the bitten person must take the full dose of the recommended drugs

• L-R: Prof Innocent Ujah, Director General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, receiving Award for Excellence from members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Mr. Ninalowo Saheed, Mr. Edwin Ogbu, Vice President, National Association of Benue State Student in Lagos.

which give such person a very good chance of survival.

“But once the clinical signs of rabies start manifesting beginning with fever, there is no known cure that can prevent death,” he added.

Mobolaji however called on Government to consolidate review of existing dog laws in the state and introduction of leash laws to encourage responsible dog ownership.

“Proper equipping and mobilisation of the stray animal rescue unit of the state veterinary department to encourage the easy removal of all stray dogs from our environment is desired,” he noted.

A study to determine the prevalence of rabies antigen in brain of dogs slaughtered for consumption and those that died in veterinary clinics in the state, revealed that a total of 196 dog bites/ suspected rabies cases were encountered between January 2006 and December, 2011 in veterinary clinics.

Majority (96.43 percent) of the offending dogs were not quarantined at the time of bite and only one out of the quarantined dogs died and was confirmed positive for rabies antigen.

The result of the study indicated that rabies antigen is present among dogs in Lagos State and may pose a threat to public health. Records showed that provocation was the major cause of dog bites and both children and adults fell victim of dog bites.

EDICAL and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, has described fresh demand and ultimatum by health workers under the auspices of Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, as "ridiculous and reactionary".

JOHESU had last week issued Federal government a two-week ultimatum to meet its demands or risk withdrawal of its services across the country. Among others, it is seeking a circular defining functions and powers of Honorary Consultants, Residency training for other health professionals, Issuance of guidelines on appointment of Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, Autonomy for teaching Hospitals and the removal of university lecturers as heads in some clinical departments.

In statement MDCAN President, Dr. Steven Oluwole, said no ideological viewpoint designed to improve health care delivery or development is represented, but reactionary viewpoints that can only set the health system back. ''Residency training is not designed for popularity contest between medical and non-medicals. The request is an anomaly when put into context of job description.

I expect the response of government to be non-political and professional.

On autonomy for Teaching Hospitals and the removal of university lecturers as heads in some clinical departments, Oluwole said, "This request borders on the ridiculous! JOHESU wants Teaching Hospitals that were established by law to serve the universities, from which they derive their names, to become autonomous of the universities? They want university lecturers employed to teach in the Teaching Hospitals to be replaced by non-academic Consultants?

He urged JOHESU to respect the National Industrial Court, calling on Federal Government to operate broad guidelines that will restore sanity to the health sector and break the cycle of strikes that are hinged primarily on the hideous claims.

Embrace community pharmacists’ home health care, Nigerians told exchange views with our

By Sola Ogundipe

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IGERIANS and consumers of medicines in the country have been admonished to embrace the ideals of the community pharmacist home health care initiative as a benefit package preferred by Home Care Pharmacists within the sector.

President, of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Pharm Olumide Akintayo, who described home care as a paradigm shift in the country, lamented that the annual increasing incidence of chronic diseases has given direct impact to an increase in medical expense as well as the public health system.

Akintayo who spoke on this year’s World Pharmacists Day, observed that most patients with chronic diseases require continuous treatment and several have faced difficulties of Drug Related Problem, DRPs, drug use risk and patient non-compliance resulting in ineffective treatment.

In a presentation entitled "Access to Pharmacists is Access to Health", he observed that to encourage safety in drug usage, enhance effective treatment of patients with chronic diseases, and promote good health in the community, participation in Community Pharmacist Home Health Care for Chronic Patients Programme proposed by the PSN has become necessary.

•Pharm Olumide Akintayo "Experiences obtained from participating in Community Pharmacist Home Health Care for Chronic Patients Programme compel developing potential and capability to learn and to

patients," he noted.

Making a case for Home Care Pharmacists, he said it helps to encourage appropriate patient’s health behaviour in their livelihood and not only their physical health, but also their mental health.

Akintayo said the changing role of pharmacists on a global level, is driving the focus of pharmacists in assuming key roles in health promotion, disease prevention and the management of systems and resources associated with health care delivery, and that greater attention is being paid to the quantity and quality of health care practitioners.

"Recognising the many benefits that can accrue to society through the optimal use of pharmacists in

health care delivery, many countries are undergoing (or planning to undergo) major transformation of pharmacy education.

“They are examining the roles and responsibilities that pharmacists can and should have in the delivery of health care services, and articulating and competencies that are required to effectively perform these roles and responsibilities.

“They are considering what levels, models and duration of education and training are needed to ensure that pharmacists achieve these competencies before entering practice, and, importantly, maintain and enhance them throughout their professional careers," he stated.

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Living with schizophrenia

By Dr. Femi Olugbile

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N the 10th of October, it will be World Mental Health Day. This is a day set aside by the World Health Organisation, WHO, for people all over the world to focus on the importance of Mental Health to human society, and to pay especial attention to the scourge represented by Mental Illness in all its varieties.

It is a truism to repeat the slogan ‘There is no Health without Mental Health’.

There are a lot of important issues associated with Mental Health and Illness that justify a constant effort to keep the subjects in the public eye. Some of the facts are as follows: Mental illness of different types, most frequently Depression, are among the highest causes of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) – which is a major measure of the loss of productive life suffered as a result of different types of illness all over the world.

In Nigeria, more than 90 percent of people with a diagnosable mental illness never get to see a doctor or receive treatment of any sort.

The cost of untreated mental illness to society in terms of lost productivity every year is humongous – estimated in the hundreds of billions of naira.

This year, the theme of the World Mental Health Day is Living With Schizophrenia.

What is Schizophrenia?

It is an illness, or a group of illnesses, in which the individual loses touch with reality, and may experience a variety of strange feelings, such a conviction that he is being controlled by others, or his thoughts are being ‘broadcast’ and made available to other people, or that thoughts are being put in his mind or taken away

hundred human beings may expect to suffer the illness at some time in their lives.

Although there are cultural differences in the content of the experience, Schizophrenia is known to occur with roughly the same likelihood in all races and cultures.

Many of the obviously mentally ill destitutes who wander about on the streets of Nigerian towns are suffering from longstanding schizophrenia. In a similar way, many of the clients who are admitted to long-stay mental health facilities are suffering from Schizophrenia.

•Dr. Femi Olugbile from him. He may hear voices of people running commentaries on his actions.

There are a whole range of other symptoms that a person suffering from this curious but common illness may experience, including some types which manifest with so-called ‘Negative Symptoms’ (flat facial expression, lack of motivation etc). There a number of different sub-types of the illness, with slightly different pictures and outcomes.

Schizophrenia is an illness that probably has been with man from the beginning of time. It is slightly more common in men than women. It may affect any age group, from childhood to late old age, although it most commonly begins in people in their 20 and 30s.

How common is it?: It is a relatively common illness – about one out of every

Causes Genetics – a person with one parent who suffers from Schizophrenia has a higher risk of developing the illness than another person who has no such history. The risk is significantly increased if both parents suffer from the condition.

Family and Social Environment – some early theories suggested that certain patterns of family interaction could predispose some people to developing Schizophrenia in later years. Mothers especially were made to feel guilty if their children went on to develop the illness.

There is no conclusive evidence on the matter. On the other hand, certain events such as Emigration, and belonging to an alienated minority are associated with a relatively higher incidence of Schizophrenia.

Drugs – some drugs of abuse such as cannabis (indian hemp) may cause symptoms similar to Schizophrenia as an acute illness, while long term use may lead to symptoms indistinguishable from Chronic Schizophrenia. Factors such as stress may precipitate the onset of

Schizophrenia in a person who is vulnerable to the condition.

Abnormalities in brain substance: certain physical changes in the brain are found on MRI and CT scan in many people who have had the condition for a long time.

Whether this is ‘cause’ or ‘consequence’ of the illness has not been fully established.

Abnormalities in Brain Chemistry: the effective activity of the first generation of drugs discovered for treating the condition was found to be due to reduction of activity at dopamine receptor sites in a part of the brain known as the ‘meso-limbic’ system.

This suggested that excessive neurochemical activity at these sights might be responsible for the symptoms of Schizophrenia. Again whether this is ‘cause’, ‘consequence’ or ‘incidental’ is not fully established, though the fact that the medicines that target those sites have the effect of improving the symptoms suggest a strong relationship.

Recognition of Schizophrenia: A person with Schizophrenia may be observed talking aloud as he responds to voices he is hearing. The speech may be incoherent. There may be a variety of false beliefs (for example that his life is in danger) and unusual experiences as earlier described. Because the individual is out of touch with reality, he may not be aware that he is ill and in need of treatment and so may resist any effort to help him.

How can I help ? The first important requirement is that a person who is showing obvious disturbance in behaviour or thinking should be assisted to get access to expert assessment and treatment as soon as possible. The fact that the sufferer may be out of touch with reality and lacking insight into his condition implies that he may not willingly submit to examination.

To be concluded.

•Dr. Femi Olugbile is Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—37

UPDC arrives Asaba with 20-unit Pineville Estate

By Kingsley Adegboye

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ACN Property Development Company Plc, has unveiled its Pineville estate in Asaba, Delta state. The estate comprising four units of five bedroom detached houses and 16 units of four bedroom semi-detached houses, is expected to be completed in 15 months.

Located on approximately one hectare of land in Asaba G. R. A, the residential estate, according to the developers, features a contemporary design which exudes grace and style. The new estate has undoubtedly added to the magnificence of Asaba, the capital of Delta state. Pineville also adds a touch of exclusiveness by offering only 20 housing units to prospective home owners and is built to instill pride and pleasure to its residents.

The facilities in the estate include swimming pool, gymnasium, children’s playground, sewage treatment plant, borehole and water treatment plant. Others are fire and alarm system, burglary alarm system, PHCN and standby generator, as well as ample parking space for residents and visitors.

Speaking at the ground breaking of the estate last week, Managing Director, UACN Property Development Company, Mr. Hakeem Ogunniran thanked the Delta State Government for its support and cooperation

•The model of one of the housing types at Pineville Estate towards the project. He noted that the Pineville Estate is the company’s footprint in the state and it hopes to do more.

“The Pineville estate would be completed in 15 months time precisely, May or June of next year. It would have first class infrastructure and facilities for families who value comfort, security and serenity. It would be a fully serviced estate. With the public introduction of the Pineville Estate, we have had official endorsement from the state government and it has encouraged us to do more”, Ogunniran said.

Mr. Ogunniran gave reasons for embarking on the project.

According to him, UPDC’s strategic thrust is to extend her developments to other parts of Nigeria aside the main cities of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

He added that Asaba has been identified as one of the emerging real estate markets including Uyo, Calabar, due to the current rapid growth and industrialization. He estimated housing deficit in Asaba to be 400,000 units, and about 2.5 per cent of the country’s housing deficit.

Ogunniran who noted that

relative security and public perception of safety in Asaba is a boost for urbanization and also a demand driver for residential and commercial real estate in the capital town, pointed out that the high level of economic activities in neighboring Onitsha also has a positive impact on both the residential and commercial real estate markets in the town.

Responding, Delta State Deputy Governor, Amos Utuama who represented Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, commended the management of UPDC for the investment in the state.

NIQS holds training workshop THE challenges of environmental sustainability and the imperatives of efficient cost management in Nigeria,”will be the theme of a three-day National training workshop billed to hold between 9 -11October in Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom state capital.

The workshop which is being organised by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), was rescheduled from 5-8 of September due to the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease EVD. A statement signed by the Institute’s Secretary, Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Mr Jide Oke, explained that the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi will be the special guest of honour while Governor Godswill Akpabio will be the chief host.

The workshop which attracts 20 CPD points, according to Mr Oke,will brainstorm on three sub-themes.

Participants expected at the training workshop include construction industry professionals, company executives, government agencies and other nonc o n s t r u c t i o n professionals.

SCOAN building collapse: Builders raise fresh posers

By Kingsley Adegboye

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LMOST one month after a Guest House at Synagogue Church of All Nations in Ikotun area of Lagos metropolis collapsed, killing over 115 persons and permanently disabling many others, reactions have continued to trail the ugly incident.

Last week, the Nigerian Institute of building, NIOB, joined the league of those calling for a probe to find out what led to the disaster.

Specifically, the builders want to know who handled the building production management of the guest house.

They also want to know if there was any approval and building

documents for raising the structure to six floors from the original two floors that was approved.

The institute also wants to know if there was a building redevelopment permit for the collapsed structure as well as the identities of professionals commissioned to guarantee the construction activities on site.

Other posers raised by the builders include whether documents such as project quality management plan, construction methodology, project health and safety plan, buildability and maintainability report and construction programme to guarantee the safety of the project were obtained.

The president of NIOB, Mr. Tunde Lasabi, who spoke on behalf of his institute, noted that these posers had become pertinent in order to ascertain who would be held responsible for the collapse.

Lasabi who said the building had progressed from the said original two floors to six floors, further asked if there was any report of contravention or stop work order from any agency of government before the collapse.

He wondered whether the relevant agencies did not notice the construction until the collapse.

Lisabi disclosed that in conjunction with the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria, CORBON, his Institute has set

up an investigative committee to find out the remote cause of the Synagogue building collapse.

The committee which he heads has the vice chairman of CORBON, Martins Dada and a Mr. V. O. Oyenuga, a council member of CORBON and a former president of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers are members.

The NIOB boss said the report of the committee will be made public as soon as it is ready.

He stated that over the years, the incidents of building collapse have remained a common phenomenon in many parts of Nigeria. “Repeatedly, we have received scary news of workers and residents trapped in debris

of collapsed buildings, this has been quite rampant. Many have died while a good number of those that survived are left without limbs. Building collapse,

though a common phenomenon all over the world is more rampant and devastating in the developing countries. The incidents of building failures and collapses have become major issues of concern to us in the building profession because of their implications on the development of this nation.

“The frequencies of occurrences and the magnitude of losses in terms of lives and property are very alarming. Building collapse no doubt has become a serious problem in Nigeria in view of what happened on Friday September 12, 2014. "he said.

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Eternit holds workshop for carpenters, builders

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Eternit Limited roadshow train in Ado-Ekiti

Nigeria seeks action-oriented new urban agenda to replace Habitat 11 •Set to host maiden National Forum in Abuja

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By Jude Njoku

IGERIA has called for a practical, pragmatic and action-oriented new urban agenda that will transcend the Habitat Agenda. The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi who made the call recently at the first preparatory conference for the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban development, Habitat 111, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA, called for the emergence of “a new Urban Agenda that will exert similar lasting influence, building on agreed relevant international sustainable development goals, and with clear goals, principles and plan of action”.

The new agenda will also ensure “that we leave future generations with a prosperous future”.

Mrs Eyakenyi who represented Nigeria at the preparatory conference, explained that the hope of a brighter,equitable and more sustainable urban future for all, demands nothing less.

“We observe, with appreciation, that already, much effort is being put into the preparations for Habitat III, with already visible, excellent results emerging, and attested to, by the level of participation at this first preparatory session. We certainly look forward, with tremendous excitement and hope, to the new directions that will be set for sustainable human

settlements development in the post-2015 era, building on the Habitat II vision and in a harmonised manner,” the Minister said.

Mrs Eyakenyi suggested that “the preparatory process for Habitat III must involve a holistic and objective review of the Habitat II Agenda, assess accomplishments, best practices and lessons learned in the process, as well as identify the gaps and challenges to date”.

In addition to this, the Minister submitted that the process “must address the growing levels of poverty,and identify and tackle new and emerging urban challenges, including the escalating safety and security concerns, social challenges, pollution, and the adverse and devastating impacts of climate change”.

Meanwhile, as part of activities to mark this year’s World Habitat

Day, Nigeria will later this month in Abuja, host the country’s maiden National Urban Forum.

The forum is part of ongoing efforts to evolve a comprehensive but inclusive urban agenda for the country.

The forum is coming at a time that the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN HABITAT has designated the month of October as Urban October The World Habitat Day is commemorated on the first Monday in October each year, in line with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 40/ 20A of 17th December, 1985.

The day was set apart for reflection on the state of cities and an assessment of progress made in efforts to ensure sustainable urbanisation and adequate shelter for all. This year ’s commemoration at the federal

level will however hold in Abuja on the 13th – 14th October, as the first Monday coincided with a designated major public holiday.

A statement by UN-Habitat’s Programme Officer, Mr. Paul Okunola explained that the hosting of National Urban Forum at country levels was conceived by the UN agency as a critical part of the preparatory process for the forthcoming third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), scheduled to take place in 2016.

“The Habitat III Conference is being convened as directed by United Nations General Assembly in line with the bidecennial cycle that saw the hosting of Habitat I in Vancouver, Canada in 1976 and, Habitat II in Istanbul Turkey in 1996”.

N recognition of the key roles carpenters, builders and other craftsmen play in the building and construction industry, Eternit Limited, a Sapele, Delta State-based housing solution providers recently held a workshop for carpenters and builders to update and enhance their knowledge in the application of modern building technology especially in the roofing and ceiling segments of the building industry.

The company, according to its General Manager, Marketing, Mr Adeniji Kayode, an engineer, explained that the forum is an annual event that the management of Eternit hosts, to boost and improve the productivity level of artisans.

“Technology is rapidly changing in the building and construction industry and we at Eternit recognise this enormous challenge, hence the need to train and retrain this category of workers for them to be fully updated in their skills and knowledge application”, he said.

Speaking further, Kayode explained that the company will continue to provide the right platform for training its manpower.

A cross-section of the participants who spoke during the training expressed their gratitude to the management of Eternit for their magnanimity and foresight in organising the workshop. Eternit Limited is Nigeria’s leading producers of quality roofing and ceiling products.

Eyakenyi inaugurates new ARCON board

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By Jude Njoku

HE reconstituted board of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria, ARCON, was last week inaugurated in Abuja by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi who charged the members to check the incursion of quacks into the profession.

She described their appointment into the board as a call to national service especially at this time when the architecture profession is “permeated with quacks

resulting in poor quality design and building collapse in the country.

The Minister who disclosed that the revised National Building Code is ready, was optimistic that very soon, it will be approved by the government for implementation.

“Architects in their traditional roles on building projects must therefore be properly informed, equipped and disciplined to deliver quality service to meet the goals and objectives of the National building Code which is to ensure that buildings are designed, constructed and occupied in such a way as to ensure that health

and safety are not compromised,” she counselled.

Mrs Eyakenyi assured them that government will do everything possible to provide the necessary guidance and support to make their work easy. The 49member regulatory board of experienced architects has the task of regulating the training and practice of architecture in Nigeria. The Council determines the standard of education and experience to be attained by all practising architects.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—39

Quantity Surveyors widen frontiers, explore opportunities in power sector

By Jude Njoku

Q

UANTITY surveying professionals have very critical roles to play in every facet of the power businesses in Nigeria by converting the sectoral aftermaths to opportunities”. This piece of information was given to the construction cost experts by the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr Sam Amadi at the 6th annual distinguished lecture organised by the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS, last week.

Amadi who delivered the keynote speech titled”Power sector reforms and the aftermaths – Appraising the impact on the economy,” explained that with the right momentum and added zeal from all stakeholders, particularly the new owners/ potential investors, oil and gas producers, policy regulators, customers and professional bodies like the NIQS as well as civil society groups, “the challenges of growth of the sectors shall be transformed to viable opportunities”.

Dr Amadi who was represented by the Director of Engineering and Safety Regulations in the Commission, Mr. Abdullahi Mohammed further explained that this measure would “steadily and speedily improve the supply

of reliable electricity to Nigerians and shall provide the platform for attracting private capital for the much desired quantum leap for Nigeria to move into the league of advanced economies”.

He enjoined private sector investors to focus more attention on other generation options including clean coal, large and small hydro, solar, wind, waste to power, biomass and tidal energy among others. The NERC boss disclosed that special government incentives have been put in place to attract investors to these renewable energy sources.

Dr Amadi who reeled out the plethora of challenges facing electricity generation, distribution and transmission in the country, was however elated because “Nigeria is finally getting it right, albeit the hard way after long years of neglect, underfunding, mismanagement, technical inefficiencies and non-aligned policy and regulatory structures in the Nigeria electricity supply industry”.

In his comments, the President of NIQS, Mallam Murtala Aliyu noted that quantity surveyors have numerous business opportunities in the ongoing

power reforms in the country.

Aliyu who is a former Minister of State for Power and Steel, was optimistic that the reforms will improve the energy situation in the country. He charged quantity surveyors to collaborate with engineers and other professionals with a view to investing in the highly capital intensive power sector.

Also speaking at the lecture, the immediate past president of the NIQS, Mr Ajele John Alufohai posited that quantity surveyors have a traditional role as cost experts to play in the power sector.

From L-R, Immediate past NIQS President, Mr Ajele John Alufohai, Lagos chapter chairman, Mr Olayemi Shonubi, NIQS President, Mallam Murtala Aliyu and Mr. Abudllahi Mohammed representing NERC chairman, Dr Sam Amadi

Onitsha shopping mall gets 2015 completion deadline

By Kingsley Adegboye

T

HE multi-million Onitsha shopping mall being promoted by Messrs African Capital Alliance, a private equity investment company in collaboration with the Anambra State Government, has attained a 64 percent completion level and would be ready for commissioning by mid 2015. The project is anchored by Shoprite, the popular South African retail company Located at the old Anambra Broadcasting Building in the commercial city, the mall which comprises 55 shops of various sizes, will be managed by Broll Nigeria Limited upon completion. Already, the road leading to Park Street where the mall is sited, has been dualised and resurfaced with traffic lights by the state government to accommodate the volume of human and vehicular traffic on the road preparatory to the 2015 take-off date.

These disclosures were made at the public unveiling of the mall to prospective tenants and investors in Lagos last week by Mr. Obi Nwogugu of African Capital Alliance.

He gave reasons for the

establishment of the mall in Onitsha. According to Nwogugu, Onitsha is the fifth fastest growing city in the world with the biggest market in West Africa known as Onitsha Main Market.

“It is the economic nerve centre and the gateway to the eastern part of Nigeria. It is known to be a major commercial city in the South-Eastern Nigeria,” he said.

He noted that the vision of Anambra state government and his company for the Onitsha mall is to build an infrastructure that would attract private capital into the state. He pointed out that Anambra state is ranked second in telecommunications disposable income and highest in commercial and micro-finance banks branches in the Eastern Nigeria. The city, according to him, recently attracted investment worth $120 million from South African Breweries, which is currently planning to double its investment due to the success of the business in the area.

The project is being funded by African Capital Alliance and Anambra State government while Diamond Bank is the debt financier. He allayed fears of insecurity expressed by some people at the public unveiling.

According to him, “in terms of safety of lives and property, the state has recently received a significant investment in security equipment and personnel in the city, which created an enabling environment for business to thrive”.

Prominent features Prominent features of the mall include 12,100 square meters of net lettable space; 24 hours electricity and security, over 500 parking bays; six local and international restaurants, central air conditioning, ATM galleries and an average of five stores reserved for commercial banks.

He said the lucrative business environment, which provides huge investment opportunities for investors, is another major reason for building the mall which he described asthe first of its kind in the commercial town.

In his own contribution, the project manager, Mr. Chuka Okoye of Pro-M Limited, explained that the project suffered a set back from its former handlers, Technics Construction Company. He noted however, that the project has been reawarded to Akiota Works

Limited. Okoye therefore assured that the project will b e completed before May next year.

He said February 1, 2015 is t h e proposed date for all the tenants to start occupying t h e i r spaces as t h e beneficial occupation shall be granted to tenants to commence their shop fit-outs, which is expected to take 30 to 60 days before the formal commission i n g date.

NGOs decry Nigeria’s slow pace in ratifying mercury phase-out convention

By Ikenna Asomba

W

ORRIED by adverse effects of mercury and its compounds on human health and the environment, a nongovernmental organisation NGO, working on the environment, Messrs Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development, SRADev, has decried Nigeria’s slow pace in ratifying the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which targets the phase-out of the use of mercury by 2020.

Expressing the worry last week in Lagos at an awareness raising workshop organised by SRADev for NGOs in Nigeria and the Media, to review the dangers inherent in mercury, the participants unanimously called for more awareness creation throughout the country with a view to ratifying the Mercury Treaty in Nigeria by 2015. Apart from SRADev, other NGOs which attended the workshop included Centre for Environment, Women, Education and Development, CEEWED, Friends of the Environment.

40 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Obalende bridge, overtaken by excreta

Epidemic looms as excreta takes over Obalende O

BALENDE is a densely populated neighbourhood of Lagos, located on Lagos Island. The area houses many important federal government edifices such as former seat of the Federal Military Government, the Dodan Barracks, before its relocation to Abuja.

Kem Salem House, which was the former Police Headquarters, The Holy Child College, St Gregory’s College, Police Barracks among many others are also located in Obalende.

Over the years, Obalende has assumed the status of a highly sociable neighbourhood dogged by brothels harbouring women of easy virtues and miscreants.

For those who are familiar with the area, it is a place with a very deep and rich history and a famous place because of its suya, special barbecued meat usually prepared by Nigerians of Northern extraction.

Recently, the Lagos State government, determined to turn around the degrading physical structures in the area commenced regeneration of Obalende and its environs.

The project include upgrading of the roads with interlocking stones, organised motor parks, road beautification and others.

Quality of life Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State during an inspection to the area sometime ago said that the transformation of Obalende is a multipronged and multi-solution intervention to regenerate business and quality of life in the axis.

Fashola stated.”By regenerating the area, we can bring back visitors to come and experience the ambience night life of Obalende once again. If you look around, many of the properties have been devalued simply because the place has become disorganized.

“This is part of what we are trying to do. This place will be lit up at night. We have seen what the Ministry of Environment is doing about all the drainage channels that have been overtaken by development. You can also see human intervention conscripting the drainage channel. So, all of this is part of what we are going to solve.”

He gave an indication that his government was going to redesign the area which was once a location of a major bus terminus to make it more userfriendly.

“From here we are about 100 metres from the famous Kam Salem House, which was the first Police Headquarters in Nigeria. It is a multi-pronged solution we are working on. St Gregory College road has lost its ability to connect people from Awolowo Road onto the Third Mainland. All of that will come back,” the governor assured.

He noted that the intervention would bring a lot of relief to people who live in the area

and to those who do business there, when completed.

“There is a famous hospital around this corner. I don’t know how they could have fared having made that kind of investment with the degradation that we have seen here. I

,

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

neighbourhood

by Vanguard h o w e v e r revealed that an epidemic which may not wait for the state government to complete its turn-around plans may be waiting to break out.

This is as a result of indiscriminate open defecation in and around the once beautiful environment.

“You can hardly walk around this area w i t h o u t covering your nose as a result of the stench coming from the decaying human wastes dotting the surroundings. ‘’The entire area is smelly and if nothing is done fast, you won’t need an expert to predict possible disease outbreak,” Mr Tijani Owolabi, a cab driver told Vanguard.

Another concerned citizen, Mr. Abiodun Ayinde, who works on Keffi Street, said, “Despite the location of the Dodan Barracks and a Police Barracks in the vicinity, the people just squat and pass faeces indiscriminately even in the day light without any challenge from government environmental agents.

“Though, the mess is being done mostly in the night, what are the Kick Against Indiscipline officials doing to arrest the situation.?

Over the years, Obalende has assumed the status of a highly sociable neighbourhood dogged by brothels harbouring women of easy virtues and miscreants

am sure all of these businesses will come back to life as soon as this intervention is completed.

“We should also hopefully see a more conducive environment to train children in St Gregory’s College and breed the next generation of leaders. We are hopeful that the intervention will have a multi- faceted benefit across the sectors of the Lagos economy,” Fashola said.

Decaying faeces everywhere A physical examination of the

,

‘’This act must be checked forthwith by the relevant agencies before Lagosians start contracting another deadly disease in the state.”

Our correspondent, who visited the area saw both fresh and decaying human wastes almost everywhere.

Apart from miscreants and nomads that take refuge in the area, unlike other parts of Lagos Island, human wastes have taken over Obalende, especially the canal under the flyover bridge.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

— 41

Lagosians take stock over black Friday gridlock

By Dotun Ibiwoye

T

HE traffic gridlock across Lagos on the eve of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration last Friday was unprecedented, as it paralyed commercial activities in the metropolis and neighbouring states.

What made the logjam unique was that several people started their holiday on the road.

The traffic was witnessed in Surulere, everywhere on the Island, Agege, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikorodu, Lekki- Ajah axis, Third Mainland Bridge, and Oyingbo and Yaba areas.

Many claimed the logjam was from the Berger/Mowe axis where there was a religious activity coupled with the people travelling to their villages to celebrate the Eid-elKabir.

Negative impact Unknown to the motorists, trying to beat the rush inspired even more chaos. The Fender to bumper gridlock which lasted for several hours had a negative impact on the people from all walks of life.

Recently, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, said that efforts aimed at solving the traffic problem that has caused nightmares for residents, port users and commuters were being frustrated by Federal Government agencies.

Speaking about the Apapa end of the offensive traffic, Opeifa said; “The problem in Apapa and the solution are known. We are not asking for solution we are only asking for actions.Traffic gridlock has completely hampered access and exit of the ports.”

According to Efeturi Maxwell who lives in Obalende: “Everybody wants to have a car to maintain (their) social class.

This is one of the major problems that we have in Nigeria. How do you explain the situation of a man who earns N30,000 per month and wants to own a car at all cost?

The roads were not built for this amount of cars in Nigeria. In Lagos the people should start riding bicycles.”

For Adewunmi Odunlami: “ I was Apapa-Oshodi expressway...under siege coming from Ikorodu to Ikotun on that of the family and everyone was fateful day. I was in the traffic waiting for me to make for over eight hours. I slept and preparations for Sallah the next woke up twice. What made it day. ‘’I don’t know what could worse was that I was the head happen if this kind of traffic

logjam occurs in two consecutive days. It was really a bad day.”

For Usman Abdulahi: “ When will the government start using

the water transportation fully?

This state is surrounded by water and we are still going through this horrible situation.”?”

BRT vandalism: Army, LASTMA, LAGBUS disagree at Tribunal •Our officers were meters away from the scene- Military •Soldiers harassed residents – LASTMA, LAGBUS

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

A

S the tribunal of inquiry into the road accident and subsequent arson and vandalism of Bus Rapid Transit, BRT continues its public hearing, the Nigerian Army, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and LAGBUS Asset Management have disagreed over what transpired before, on July 4, 2014 and thereafter.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State set up a three-man tribunal of enquiry, led by Justice Ebenezer Adebajo (rtd.) to look into the matter. It is expected to investigate the incident which occurred at Palmgrove axis of the state and submit its findings to the state government within 60 days after its inauguration.

The tribunal which commenced sitting on September 15, barely two months after its inauguration, granted the request of the Army to recall three witnesses that had testified before the tribunal. This further delayed the tribunal’s work on public hearing.

The disagreement occurred at the tribunal last week as parties gave account of the incident through witnesses. While the Army distanced itself from the act , LASTMA and LAGBUS have accused the soldiers of committing the arson.

Army presents video clips Captain Francis Okafor, who was Tribunal Witness, 37, said; “The soldiers were over 300 meters away from the scene where the arson occurred.”

Another witness had earlier said that a female soldier set the first bus ablaze.

Okafor who was the most senior mili-

tary officer to arrive at the scene, presented a video clip to support his claim.

In the video clips, Okafor explained that the accident between LAGBUS bus M063 and late Lance Corporal Ishaya Matthew, who rode a motorcycle with registration number- MUS-565 QB, occurred outside the BRT lane. He added that after the accident, the corpse of the deceased was transferred into the bus.

Our officers were meters away to arson scene Okafor continued that; “At the time the arson was committed, the soldiers were busy inspecting the accident spot, which was at least 300 meters away from where the buses were set ablaze.”

Recounting his experience at the scene of the accident, the captain said; “I received a call from an unknown person that a soldier has been knocked down by a high capacity

LAGBUS buses on fire

bus and that he later died at the scene.

I deployed officers to the scene to assist in recovering his body. “While at the scene, some of the hoodlums (Area boys) were about attacking the buses. But I stopped them but they insisted on teaching the ‘Fashola boys’ a lesson. When I realised the intensity of their anger, I called for reinforcement to avoid any breakdown of law and order.

“I could not see the person who set the buses ablaze, all I saw from a far was smoke from where the buses were parked. But my soldiers were not at the scene where the arson was committed.

They were busy inspecting the bus. He ordered that some officers leave the scene. And they did,” Okafor added.

He however testified that he could not find the deceased soldier’s helmet at the scene which may suggest that the deceased did not comply with the road traffic law 2012 which makes it compulsory for anyone riding a motorcycle in the state to wear crash helmet.

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

CANCER; Many of you may be tempted and give in to the urge to gamble either with love or other important issue to the detriment of your cause. Be practical.

LEO; This is not the right time to take happenings along your career line for granted. Prepare for important domestic challenge. Keep your family secrets.

VIRGO; You may over inflate your ego to the resentment of people that matter. Watch what you do with money before 12.31pm. Try to be more diplomatic.

LIBRA; If care is not taken you would mislead others before 12.31pm while you are close to minor but costly mistakes from 12.31pm. Be wise with money.

SCORPIO; After initial confusion before 1pm you find your bearing and assert yourself but you will need to prepare to take care of oppositions that may come up suddenly.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Dressing For The Occasion

By Richard Eromosele

T

O dress for the occasion is simply to dress in a way that people don’t need to be told who you are anymore except by your dressing. For example, you can iden-

tify an intending couple through their dressing.

Let your dressing reveal who you are. Every occasion, every

TERROR MUDA

profession has a way of dressing that is generally acceptable. For instance, it is not good dressing to put on an agbada (a local gar-

in “Never say goodbye”

ment) as a motor mechanic and go under the car to carry out some repairs.

Dress to suit the occasion. Dress in accordance with your profession and or your office.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

SAGITTARIUS; It is important you don’t allow friends mislead you before 12.31pm no matter how genuine their intention. Watch what you do with your health. Tomorrow is your best day.

CAPRICORN; Take it easy along your career/business line during the morning period so that costly mistakes will not make things difficult for. Take your social life seriously.

AQUARIUS; What may look like a very good advice from younger members within your base of operation may eventually lead to avoidable trouble.

PISCES; Miscalculation is possible before 12.31pm that is why you will need to be as practical as possible and refuse to take people for granted throughout.

ARIES; Yes it is good to take partnership related issue seriously but priority attention must be given to money.

Watch what you tell others before 12.31pm.

TAURUS; If you take your new ideas too seriously they would mislead you. But taken good advice from your influential friends can prove helpful. As the Moon fluctuates during AM period it is important you practical till after 12.31pm.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

GEMINI; Provided you don’t allow mid-morning blues to get better off you will eventually live up to expectation at work. Take good care of your health, please.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s my sesitive part?

Dear Joshua, I ma interested in your daily analysis in Vanguard Newspapers. The truth is your daily horoscope column always work for me and now I just cant do without reading my Star in your papers.

My believe is since you can be as accurate as possible writing daily horoscope you are in a better position to analyse my health which is very important to me. I want to know which area(s) of my body should be taken more seriously.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Babatunde, Lagos.

Dear Babatunde, According to your natal horoscope you have gone above danger zones of your life health-wise. But then what you will find here-under will be of benefit. Thanks for your commendation.

Opposition between the Sun (an indicator of basic selfhood) and difficult Saturn during your birth hour pointed to a very tough beginning in life but luckily for you both Spiritual Neptune in powerful Scorpio and steady Pluto in healthy Virgo were at positive angles to your natal Sun thus, your chances of surviving are more than the delicate ones. More so as your natal Sun and Moon are members of strongest Star signs-health wise.

Certainly Saturn must have brought you a few number of health related challenges raging from skin, bone, sometimes the stomach and importantly headache . Since you were able to survive infancy and middle age you have very good chances of living to a very old age. While the ailments stated here can easily be managed by yourself one important organ of your body that must be managed by medical expert is your HEART because of many placement in heart related Star sign. This is not to say you must have heart problem but here is an organ you in particular must take very seriously. Yes fever is common in Africa and today fear of STDs is the beginning of good health. STDs are mentioned here because of your natal planets is sexual Scorpio. Mind you nothing fatalistic here, but mere warnings.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014 — 43

Zone Franche hosts Adrien Houngbedji

P

RESIDENT Adrien Houngbedji of the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD) was a guest on the Sunday programme “ Zone Franche” of the private channel “Canal 3”.

Houngbedji, a former challenger of Boni Yayi, during the 2011 presidential elections gave his view and that of his party on

various national topics in the news. On the issue of the organization of elections on the due date, he invited the government and its leader to do the needful, if not impossible for the elections to be held on time, adding that not doing so would make the country to run the risk of falling into a fatal loophole for her democracy.

Confusion over 2014/2015 resumption date

P

UPILS and students in Benin Republ;ic are expected to resume for classes in the next few weeks.

Unfortunately, however, there is a controversy surrounding the official date for the start of the next school year.

Last year, disruptions due to teachers'strikes led to a slight redesign of the school calendar and the late organization of examinations. After the publication of the results of various examinations, the government had set an official date for the 2014-2015 school year.

From the trade unions, no date has been announced. Some talked of September 29, 2014, while others argued for October 13.

Addressing the issue, the general secretary of the CSABenin, one of the leaders of trade unions in Benin, Dieudonné Lokossou, said the resumption of classes should be subject to negotiations between the government and the social partners, adding that the date of return was not yet a priority for CSA Bénin. However, the CSTB Deputy General Secretary, Kassa Mompo, ignored the date on which the resumption would take place.

But he explained that usually, the government consults with unions at various levels of education for the choice of a consensual day. He said that September 29 was proposed, but the last he heard, it was postponed to October 16.

Lokossou said that last weekend, during an official ceremony, the minister for

Secondary, technical education and vocational training shifted the date of October 13.

The ministry for Higher Education, however, announced that the academic year would have been set for next October 20. This means then that no official date has been chosen for the next term of classes, a situation

Beninoise Council votes FCFA2bn for change of election register

T

HE Extraordinary Council of Ministers has decided to disburse 2 billion FCFA to the benefit of the COS/LEPI, institution in charge of the election’s registrar’s correction and additional 500 million FCFA to the CENA, commission in charge to the organization of elections in Benin.

Last Friday instead of the two billion FCFA promised, only one billion FCFA has been given, and so far nothing for the CENA. The delay in the release makes it impossible for the commission to respect the deadline of November 30, 2014, and tasks the maintenance of communal elections in 2014, as promised by the President of the Republic Boni Yayi.

The willingness of the government to make available the election’s registrar is definitely real. But here it seems not to be good intentions, but to disburse in time, the expected funding. Of the 2 billion FCFA announced by the Extraordinary Council of Ministers last Tuesday, the COS/LEPI has just got one billion FCFA. And it is hoped

Police shifts ban on use of motorcyles

R

epression of unregistered motorcycles did not start on Monday, September 15 as planned. The government still gave six months to citizens to be ready in this new security reform.

The decision came from a meeting between the administration of land transport (DGTT) and the National Police .

It then means that management of transport is not yet ready to meet the large number of motorcycles to be recorded.

According to our investigations, the lack of staff in the general direction of Land Transport is the leading cause of slow operations.

The second fact which justifies this is the slowness related to the company that makes the plates.

At this level, the necessary equipment that can enable rapid manufacturing and in record time is not the availability of this company. To all this is added the

that puts students and their parents in a total doubt.

Uncertainty comes above all by the side of the Central trade union and Confederations which announced that the new school resumption date will depend on the results that will come from future meetings-government unions called for mid-September.

fact that some agents of DGTT wanted to profit from these transactions organizing incidentals, in collusion with some “fake freight.” This atmosphere sometimes misunderstood and uncontrollable by officials of the Direction of land transport is subject to the fact that even if people are able to submit their entries, it takes two to three months or more before the plate is actually available.

It is urgent that the DGTT reviewing its policy by performing not only the liberation of the sector but also in the recruitment of staff to make it easier for people. It is also necessary to carry through the press an explanation to the people of the actual duration for the registration of a motorcycle and arrangements underway to make them profit from these six months postponement.

that the remaining billion be disbursed. Ditto for the 500 million FCFA announced in favour of the CENA by the same Council.

Beyond that, the reality is that the delay in the disbursement of funds had a negative impact on the timing of the COS/LEPI. The Chairman of the commission repeatedly conditioned the fixing of November 30, 2014 at the timely disbursement of funds. This means that the government will respect its promise to untie the cord from the stock market in time. One thing is to be disbursed, and another to make it available in time.

Consequently, the timing of November 30, 2014 is missing, and the only one responsible is the government that has not disbursed on time, financial resources.

From that moment, it will be pure demagoguery to continue to say that the municipal elections will be held before the end of 2014. There is no point running to botch the job, which it should be remembered, is the subject of controversy. Political realism wants to be put in the dynamic of coupling the three elections in 2015. This new situation calls deputies of the National Assembly to get out of their “coma” and develop a bill that takes into account wherever the severity not to hold parliamentary elections in March 2015, forcing the Constitutional Court to review its copy which is “without the election’s registrar, no elections.”

No one will support the crazy idea to see members extend their constitutional mandate.

This means that whatever unimaginable equations, legislative elections are to be held in March 2015 and presidential ones in 2016, when due. The political class is challenged, unless we are complicit in an appalling conspiracy against the nation, in the name of selfish and malicious interests.

Map of Benin Republic

Councillors plan new rules for ethical conduct

T

HE authority in charge of media’s regulation has defined the new rules for councillors for the fifth term of office of the High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC). At a meeting, with media executives last Friday, decisions were made to redefine the ethical principles following the discrepancies noted in the treatment of the recent statement made by the head of state in the northern part of the country (BOKO), relative to the cost of elections.

The exercise was seen initially as a form of a veiled meeting.

But finally, media managers may have enjoyed the process.

In a relatively relaxed atmosphere, the partners involved have revisited the ethical texts and taken options along the lines so as to tease the tension.

According to Boni Tessi, president of the HAAC, the first session of exchange with officials was scheduled to be held in October. But due to the treatment made by journalists to the statement of the President Boni Yayi at Boko, advisers were keen on putting off the fire sparked by waves of reactions in the press. The meeting virtually improvised an ethical approach. President of the

HAAC, said Benin was borrowing the critical paths of the elections and it is the duty of the press to help calm the passions.

He said the choice of words in debates and writings, rigorous process in the search of information must converge, adding that the intention was to call for calm, unity and solidarity. The discussions went on for hours. At the end, media representatives and advisers of the HAAC agreed for a minimum so as to have a more responsible press. Media professionals at the end of the meeting appreciated the initiative. They, for the most part expressed their willingness to follow the lead set by advisors online. It should be stressed that they have failed to emphasize the gravity of the statement. For them, it was an appropriate response.

As to remind, a week ago, the head of state, Yayi Boni, had a speech in the northern part of the country stressed the need to reduce the cost of elections.

During that moment, he said that elections in Benin were more and more expensive, a reaction which tend to avoid organizing elections, so as to get a third chance; what is unconstitutional.

44—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Charles Idahosa and his politics of divisiveness Dear sir, RDINARILY, one would not bother to reply a characteristic gaffe of Charles Idahosa, Senior Special Adviser on Political matters to Governor Adams Oshiomhole which was published in an interview he granted to the Sunday Vanguard of September 21, 2011. The said interview was full of uncivilised utterances and inciting of ethnic groups against each other within a united Edo State.

It has, therefore become necessary to nip his politics of divisiveness in the

mischievously or both, dislocate statements from their contextual and linguistic meanings to serve their reservoir of parochial and primordial ethnic politics.

For Idahosa, every decision a man takes in politics has ethnic bias. Hear what he had to say about Ikimi’s defection from APC to PDP: “Because a Bini man became a National Chairman, you have gone to meet your Esan brother.

We are here, we have the population...so we are waiting. He doesn’t know the war he has started...” This is rePolitics should revolve around ally dumb-founding, and, issues and not around narrow coming from a man who minded assumptions; the average claims to be a journalist.

He himself said, “I saw Edo man is a lover of justice and him (Ikimi) on television; highly detribalised he said he has come to join his brother, Anenih.” bud and destroy its potential to do Now, it is common knowledge that damage to Edo’s rather quiet political even to children who are interested in environment.

Again, we think that the Comrade politics in Nigeria that we have always Governor, who, objectively, can be referred to fellow politicians of the same praised for sustaining this highly party as “brothers, friends”, among prized unity among Edo people, others, to emphasise the fact that our despite our linguistic and necessary politics is an extension of our African political divide, should take note of the communalism and culture of political cross purpose politics of his garrulous camaraderie.

And following the gale of defections aide. Indeed, if anything in this to rival parties recently, this sort of linconnection, it is that the Comrade has more troubles and criticisms from his guistic reference became even more so.

Edo North tribe spear-headed by the However, it must be noted that Ikimi State Chairman of the Peoples never qualified the word “brother” with Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Dan offensive ethnic adjective like “Esan” as Idahosa mischievously introduced Orbih.

Speaking at the said interview to start a “ war” as he put it.

Politics should revolve around issues session, Idahosa whose personal and not around narrow minded asmalice towards Tom Ikimi and unrelenting acrimony that he left the sumptions. The average Edo man is a APC was obvious even to the blind, got lover of justice and highly detribalised. so beclouded in his spite that he would We should guard these values jealbegin a war to get at the Chief. I would ously. It is one reason we enjoy very not hold brief for the cerebral Chief, little or non-existent political violence during election. We will love to keep it he can well answer for himself.

But it is looking to very bad times so.

By Aigbedion Jebba, indeed, when people like Idahosa Benin City would be allowed to either ignorantly,

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A plus for NYSC Dear sir, HAVE read with ut most surprise how the NYSC online registration policy has been described as extortionist.

This is far from the truth.

Those of us in the Diaspora see it as long overdue. At some point we wondered why our wards have to do long travel to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja Nigeria just to collect callup letters, when such process can be captured online and real-time.

This is indeed a welcome development and I wish people can see it as one of the best innova-

I

tions that have happened in the NYSC since inception. The only thing that is constant in life is change and the NYSC should not be left out. If I understand it very well, this online registration thing is optional for those it is convenient for.

The logical thing to do is weigh options and go for the one that is most suitable.

The world is moving fast and lots of transactions are captured online. I also understand that other agencies like the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB have long em-

braced this initiative and it has made the activities of JAMB less cumbersome. This is what the NYSC aims to achieve in my opinion. Corps members should not be made to go through cumbersome processes for any reason whatsoever. As I write, my daughter has completed her registration online. I expect other parents to encourage their wards to do same.

Ebube Onyekachi, Atlanta, Georgia United States of America

Nigerian politicians and our economy Nigeria is a country endowed with human and natural resources yet nothing seems to be working well.

Since the removal of fuel subsidy, there has not been any improvement. What are Nigerian leaders doing with our resources? The Federal Government should explain because the hardship on Nigerians is increasing .

Fidelis 08037235403 Boko Haram and terrorism For some time now, the issue of Boko Haram has dominated the national discourse. How can this worrisome phenomenon be put behind us? The northern Muslem religious leaders can do a lot in ohis regards by calling the Boko Haram leadership to a dialogue on behalf of the Federal government.

Now that it seems that they don’t trust the Federal government, members of the sect should be able to trust their religious leaders and reveal to Nigerians in clear terms, the essence of the killings.

To the Boko Haram members, it needs be said that killing innocent persons is not the best way of expressing their displeasure over any issue no matter how serious it is but meaningful dialogue is the best option. Nigeria is for Nigerians and we must do everything possible to keep it one.

Clem Eruke 08153089490 Implementation of Ribadu’s report on oil fraud Like the beleaguered report before it, government has enough information in the Mallam Nuhu Ribadu report to act fast, if it wants to salvage the NNPC and oil sector. President Jonathan should act fas t, because information reaching the public is that most major oil marketers are parleying with the presidency and his aides to rubbish the report such as previous ones that nothing came out of . Nigerians wish to know more about the alleged non remitted NNPC’s funds or missing fund.

Anonymous 08026810105 Judiciary and prolong of justice The Federal Government and the judiciary should know that prolonging of justice is the main reasons why people take laws into their hands. This scenario in turn leads to break dawn of law and order in every society hence government must call a spade a spade and stop playing games. The Federal Government should wor

k harder to implement the laws of the land positively and sincerely. That is where we must start to build this nation.

Romanus 08024209181 Insecurity and bad leadership On daily basis, our newsstands are awash with reports of bombing, kidnapping, assassinations, armed robberies, arson, militant attacks and related acts of violence perpetuated against the innocent Nigerian citizens and foreigners alike. All these insecurity problems across the nation cause people to be offended. This results into revolts and people taking the laws into their hands to kick a gainst government’s high level social injustice and human rights abuse of the poor masses and failure of to tackle the high level corruption and unemployment confronting our youths, despite Nigeria’s rating as one of the richest oil- rich nations! How can peace pervade under these prevailing circumstances? President Jonathan should please do away with bad politicians and address the issue of insecurity.

Jezie Ekejiuba 08036095750 Political office holders Our lawmaker should make it a criminal offence and pass a bill against anybody who is spending money to get a political office because it is not in the interest of the masses. Such abnormalities have been thereover the years. A good product does not need much advertisement.

Ndehigwo 08024209181 Nigerians should fight terrorism Nigerians should join hands together and crush evil forces i.e terrorism.

Northerners and Muslims must express their full support, cooperation and loyalty to President Jonathan.

We must disassociate and fight terrorism through whatever means or ways. These evil forces are anti mankind.

Mohammed 07055808288 Northerners battle Jonathan over 2015 Given the records of northerners who ruled Nigeria, the North has no moral justification to aspire to the presidency again. The various periods they held power were marked by utter misrule and brazen plundering of the country’s resources. Why should we trust them with another opportunity?

Onoriode 08097021649

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deed and words return back to us sooner or later. Be kind to get kindness back in return.

Simon Adewale08056180103, Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable.

Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—45

NNPC raises alarm over fake letter of authorisation

ROADSHOW: From left— Mr. Antonius Min, Assistant Product Manager, TV Demand Planning; Mr. Paul Mba, Marketing Manager, Home Entertainment Division; and Mr. Steve Ryu, General Manager, Home Entertainment Division, all of LG Electronics, West Africa Operations, LG TV during Compare Marketing Roadshow in Lagos.

By Chris Ochayi

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BUJA—THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, raised the alert over the circulation of fake letters of authorisation purportedly issued by it to buy and or sell Nigerian crude oil.

The Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, in a statement, called on members of the public to be wary of persons with fraudulent intents circulating letters authorising the lifting of Bonny Light crude oil from Nigeria.

Alegbe quoted a paragraph in one of the fake letters of authorisation in circulation as saying, “we, hereby, confirm that NNPC has entered into contractual arrangements directly with Lavi International Corp to supply Bonny Light Crude Oil to the Lavi International Corp Associated Refineries and or Global Traders, and that the Lavi International Corp has the power and authority to sell or otherwise deal with the Bonny Light Crude Oil, the subject of those contractual agreements.”

The NNPC, however, stated that Messrs Lavi International Corp was not one of its crude oil offtakers for the 2014-2015 term contract period and had, therefore, not been allocated any crude oil volume as speculated in the “fake letter of authorisation.”

It further noted that the list of local and international companies duly approved as NNPC’s crude oil off-takers for the 2014-2015 term contract period had been widely publicised.

The corporation called on members of the public to avail themselves of such information to avoid being duped.

“Meanwhile, we are working closely with relevant security agencies to track and bring to book all those behind these nefarious activities,” the c o r p o r a t i o n ’ s management said.

Ijaw youths demand release of N600b NDDC fund

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

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group, Ijaw Youth Liberation Front, IYLF, has demanded the release of the N600 billion, being money that accrued to the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to ensure proper execution of its projects and programmes across the South- South geopolitical zone of the country.

The group said in a statement issued in Abuja, yesterday, that there was no justification for starving the commission of the necessary funds to develop the region producing the nation’s oil wealth.

It was jointly signed by Mr. Kaka Amgbare, Mr. Tamuno George, and Mr. Sambo Ambrose, President, Director of Mobilisation and Public Relations Officer, PRO, respectively.

According to the statement, “we appeal to the Federal Government to release funds accruing to the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, which had been held back, amounting to over N600 billion, which will go a long way to ameliorate the avalanche of infrastructural set back in the region and create employment for the teeming youths of the region.”

It also called on Nigerians to support the efforts of the Nigerian Army towards ending the insurgency in the northern part of the country, while commending them for the success already achieved by the armed forces.

The group argued that the

ongoing war against insurgency in the country could only be won through the cooperation of all wellmeaning Nigerians and unflinching support for the military.

The group commended Governors Godswill Akpabio

and Ibrahim Shema of Akwa Ibom and Kastina states, respectively; Captain Hosa Okunbo and Prince Arthur Eze for their support for the transformation agenda of the President by promoting peace and development across the country.

Imo State stinks of maladministration—REP

By Emman Ovuakporie

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BUJA— PRESIDENT of Pan African Parliament, PAP, and a member of the House of Representatives, Bethel Amadi, has said Imo State stinks of maladministration.

Amadi, who represents Mbatoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency in a chat with journalists, said: “What we have in Imo State today is a complete state of maladministration that has set the state backward by 10 years.

“A situation where you have projects not completed for three years calls for a quick reasoning as to how the state is being administered.”

He explained that the dissolution of local governments without due process and the flagrant disobedience to all known democratic tenets had made the state to remain largely a rural state.

The lawmaker said: “It is in Imo State that the chief executive goes about distributing N200 notes to pupils on one hand and, on the other hand, he suddenly dissolves the town unions that laboured for years to build

same schools.

“Or how do you explain the unique position that Imo State occupies in the SouthEast and is largely under utilised by the present government?

“For instance, it is about one hour drive from Aba a commercial haven to Owerri and is not also far from Onitsha another commercial hub yet there is no spill over effect to Imo till date.”

On his perceived ambition to unseat the present governor of the state, Chief Rochas Okorocha, Amadi said the sensitisation was at its peak, adding that he had started consulting with all his political leaders, who knew that the state needed visionary leadership.

Speaking on terrorism as it affected the African continent, Amadi said: “On the issue of terrorism, I believe that is a major problem. There can be no development without peace.

“If you look at NorthEastern Nigeria, nobody can be talking about achieving Millennium Development Goals because the schools are closed. There is no education going on for young people.”

APC commends Adeboye for dissociating self, church from offensive audio CD

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HE All Progressives Congress, APC, has commended the General Overseer, GO, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, for dissociating himself and the church from an audio CD being circulated by certain pastors.

In a statement in Lagos, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said by his action, Pastor Adeboye had exhibited his characteristic exceptional leadership quality and shown what religion should be about, which is love, rather than hate and incendiary statements.

It said: “The GO’s statement, in his response to APC, which had written to protest the divisive and corrosive statements contained in the audio CD, which has been smuggled into some RCCG parishes, made it clear that RCCG is neutral and apolitical and that it prays for all, irrespective of political persuasion or creed.

“We are delighted at the GO’s prompt action and statement that RCCG did not endorse divisive comments, that it has sons and daughters in all political parties.”

C M Y K

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Campaign of calumny against me baseless —Bello-Osagie B

SEND-FORTH: From left: Mr Bola Jayeola, outgoing Businness Development Manager, Mr Adewale Raji, GMD/CEO, and Alhaji Niyi Badmus, outgoing Exececutive Director, Finnance and Investment, Oodua Investment, during the send-forth party to honour the departing management staff of the organisation in Ibadan. Photo: Dare Fasube.

VISIT: From left: Comrade Ayubalayefa Dennis, leader, Izon-Ibe Global Policy Network, Comrade Godwin Erhahon, Edo State Pblicity Secretary All Progressives Congress, APC, and Chief John Odigie Oyegun, National Chairman, APC, when Ijaw youths from the South South paid a solidarity visit to Chief Oyegun in Benin City.

ENIN CITY—THE member representing Oredo Federal constituency of Edo State in the House of Representatives, Mr Rasaq Bello-Osagie said he has attracted over 90 constituency projects so far, saying that the claim by his opponents that some of the projects were executed by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, was baseless and untrue.

The lawmaker who took journalists round the projects weekend, noted that though some of the projects were executed through the intervention of the NDDC, but that he attracted such projects by virtue of his position as representative of the constituency in the House of Representatives.

He stressed that he has attracted the dividends of democracy to his state and constituency as the projects initiated by him are verifiable in all twelve Wards of the council area.

His words: “It is how much you are able to do, the skill you are able to put in the process to attract more, that makes you a better representative.“ Bello-Osagie harped on the need for politicians to eschew campaign of calumny and to focus on issue-based campaign.

He said: ”People cannot use their own yardstick as a basis for measuring the performance of other people. If Hon. Uyi Igbe believes his own score card would be used in assessing me, I think that would be a misnomer. I have delivered

on my promise, I do not know about him.”

“The people gave me this mandate. I appreciate this mandate and the least I can do is to see how much I can attract from Abuja to my constituency because politics is about the up lifting of our people and the development of our environment.”

Projects sites visited include, Eyenugie primary school, where four blocks of 16 classrooms are being reconstructed and near completion stage, the rebuilding the Uzebu community town hall and skill acquisition centre as well as the Electricity injection sub-station, Transmission room and office at Iyekogba community all in Oredo federal constituency.

From left: Pastor Bamisile Badmus, MD, Redemption Television Ministry, Pastor Elijah Daramola, Regional Pastor, RCCG, South Africa, Pastor Folu Adeboye, chairman of the occasion, Pastor Segun Adegbiji, National Coordinator, RCCG Drama Unit, and Pastor John Odesola, Special Assistant to General Overseer of RCCG on Personnel, at the premiere of the movie 'With Wings' and a Television Serial ,'Pastors Wives' by the RTM, South Africa and RCCG Drama Department, at Redemption Camp, KM 46, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Is Nigeria progressing at 54?

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he truth is bitter, no matter the amount of lies and propaganda, President GEJ has performed well despite the insecurity occasion

by Boko Haram terrorist activities. Mr. President is the first president to show real commitment to tackle various sectors of our economy. Mr. Asuquo BasseyCommenter C M Y K

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onathan, in terms of performance in all sectors of the economy, has performed wonderfully well. Talk of roads, electricity, agriculture, availability of fuel, low inflation rate, railway, aviation, education etc. He is the best we’ve ever had.

Mr. Monday AmosBusinessman

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n his speech, President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan listed the achievements of his administration, which puts it way ahead of any past administration. Let anybody debunk any of those claims with statistics, anecdotes or personal experiences. Mr. Azuka ThankGod- Computer Engineer

M

o Ibrahim Foundation released the 2014 Ibrahim Index of African Governance, IIAG, which ranked Nigeria 37th out of 52 in the overall governance scale, rating the nation 45.8 per cent lower than the African average (51.5 per cent). So anyone rate Nigeria’s performance? Ms. Chinasa Ukogu- Musician

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f you set your own examination, determine the marking scheme, mark your own paper and then grade yourself as having passed, is surely a very silly way of assessing yourself. God bless Nigeria and Mr. President.

Happy Independence! Ms. Chioma Ani- Model

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igeria at 54 years, we are still battling with power, good roads, better education, better health care and other social amenities. If at 54 we still have not got it right, then when would Nigeria get it right? And talking about getting right starts with the positive choice you and I make today. Ms. Sophia OsujiCommunicator

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—47

‘Ilorin metropolis water reticulation project to cost N7.2bn'

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BUJA—MR Yomi Ogunsola, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State on Investment, Promotion and Strategy, said yesterday that the Ilorin metropolis water reticulation project will cost N7.2 billion.

He said this in Ilorin in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, explaining that the state government had earlier spent more than N5.2 billion on the water project.

He also said that the project was at 98 per cent completion stage while the water pipes would be connected to the water mains soon.

Ogunsola assured the residents of the state that the state government was committed to providing basic amenities in all parts of the state.

In addition to this, he said the state government had also provided boreholes to many communities across the state.

In a separate interview, Chief Rex Olawoye, the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, said that most of the residents in the metropolis would have access

SENSITISATION: President of instutute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Mr Chidi Ajaegbu (middle) with other members of the Institute during the sensitisation programme for ICAN students on the new Syllabus in Kano yesterday. to potable water when the project was completed.

Expressing appreciation to the state government over the project, Alhaji AbdulRaham Suleiman, a community leader, said the project would

put an end to water shortage in his community.

He said the community — Sapati — had only one borehole donated by Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority

((LNRBDA).

Mr Jimoh Afolayan, the Managing Director of the authority, said in an interview that LNRBDA had sunk more boreholes in different parts of the state to boost access to safe water.

80 Nigerians to benefit from NITDA overseas postgraduate studies

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BUJA—MR Peter Jack, the Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, says the agency will send 80 Nigerian students to different parts of the world for Post Graduate Studies.

Jack made this known at NITDA’s head office in Abuja while addressing students offered scholarship to study abroad.

He said the 80 students were selected for advanced studies in Information Communication

LNRBDA plans 10,000 hectares for rice, sugar cane cultivation in Kwara, Kogi

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LORIN—THE Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA) is to irrigate 10,000 hectares in Kwara and Kogi for the cultivation of rice and sugar cane.

Mr Niyi Afolayan, yesterday in Ilorin, said that the N3.5 billion contract for the irrigation project had been awarded and would also cover 3,800 hectares at Tada/ Shonga.

He said when completed, the Tada/Shonga irrigation project would produce enough rice to feed the nation.

Afolayan said that Kampe dam between Kabba and Lokoja would irrigate 4,200 hectares for rice and sugar cultivation.

He said that the Kampe dam is unique because of its location on a higher elevation on the River C M Y K

FG empowers 400 farmers in Bauchi GES scheme

Niger, adding that its water flows through gravity to the field.

He said unlike most dams, the dam does not need electrical or mechanical force to drive irrigation water.

Afolayan said that the Dangote Group had indicated interest in investing in irrigation around Kampe dam, adding that the land was suitable for sugar cane cultivation.

He said that the authority had embarked on the irrigation of 500 hectares in the area, adding that corporate farmers had signified interest in cultivating land around Kampe dam.

Afolayan said Landmark University, Omu-Aran, had applied for 1,000 hectares and another 1,000 hectares for its graduate farmers who are interested in fish farming.

Technology-related courses based on merit.

He noted that of the 80 students, 74 were going for their masters degree while six students were for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

He advised the beneficiaries to be worthy ambassadors of the country and make maximal use of available opportunities.

“There are many opportunities where you are going; do not focus only on the academic opportunities but also on entrepreneurial opportunities and build healthy relationships.

“You are now part of NITDA’s family; keep your eyes and ears open to seize the opportunities that abound all over the world,” he said.

Earlier, the Senior Corporate Affairs Officer, Mrs Uwa Suleiman, reminded the students that they were selected strictly on merit and should not relent in their efforts to excel.

“This scholarship is strictly on merit, irrespective of your background; it cuts across all the geopolitical zones in the country.

“It does not matter where you come from; if you obtained a first class or second class (upper) in your first degree, you are eligible to take the internal exams.

“So, do not relent in your efforts to succeed,” she stressed.

Some of the directors, who spoke at the event, urged the students to make the most of the opportunity.''

The Director of Human Resources of NITDA, Mr Jonathan Olanipekun, implored the students to sustain the impeccable record set by previous recipients.

AUCHI—NO fewer than 400 fish farmers have benefited from the Aquaculture Value Chain initiative of the Federal Government’s Growth Enhancement Support scheme (GES) in Bauchi.

Alhaji Mohammed Yusuf, the Director of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the state, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yeterday in Bauchi.

Yusuf explained that under the scheme, each farmer received 500 fingerlings free and five bags of feeds at 50 per cent discount.

He said that the gesture was to create enabling environment for sustainable production of more than one million tonnes of fish annually.

According to him, this is to meet the projected annual demand of 2.6 million tonnes of fish in the country.

He said one of the objectives of the initiative was to enhance the local production capacity and turn the country’s from being a net importer of fish and fish products to a net exporter.

“The estimated local fish production in Nigeria currently stands at 600,000 tonnes annually, while importation is estimated at more than 700,000 tonnes.

“However, projected demand for fish in the country stands at about 2.6 million tonnes, which suggest a shortfall of 1.3 million tonnes.

Enugu 2015: Igbo-Eze North PDP backs Chime on consensus candidate

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, secretaries in 20 wards of IgboEze North Local Government Area of Enugu State have expressed their support for Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State for endorsing Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as his successor in 2015.

They also commended Chime for ensuring that the position was zoned to Enugu North Senatorial zone as promised.

In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the party officials, Jonathan Mamah and David Abuguja respectively, they said,”We appreciate the stance of our

Governor, Sullivan Chime by fulfilling his promise in accordance with the decision of our great party to zone the governorship slot to EnuguNorth senatorial district.

“The choice of Ugwuanyi as the sole candidate of the party in the forth coming election is a welcome development. Ugwuanyi has the support of all the ward secretaries in the council area as we march towards 2015 general elections.

“We are urging the good people of Igbo-Eze North and Enugu State in general, to discountenance the statement credited to Senator Ayogu Eze, representing Enugu-North Senatorial District over his nonacceptance of Ugwuanyi as consensus candidate.”

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

VISIT: fROM LEFT— Mr. Sunny Ofehe, Netherland-based activist; Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, Executive Secretary, Tompolo Foundation; and Dr. Agagha Clarkson during the activist's visit to Okerenkoko Hospitalas part of moves to soliciting foreign support.

PHOTO: Akpokona Omafuaire.

EID-EL-KABIR: From left— Mr. Adebayo Dayo, Chairman, Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Prince Buruji Kashamu, Chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation Committee, PDP, South-West; Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Ogun State Governor; Dr. Abisola Sodipo-Clark, wife of Ijaw National Leader, and Professor Adewale Oladipo, National Secretary, PDP, during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration hosted by Kashamu at the Goodluck Jonathan Political Centre, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State.

(Right) EBOLA CAMPAIGN: From left— Mr. Ade Inasa-Thomas, lecturer, Mass Communication Department, Lagos State Polytechnic; Mrs Yinka Idowu, LASPOTECH, Deputy Rector, Academics; Mr. Tajudeen Nurudeen and Mr. Lanre Kuye, Public Relations Officer, during Ebola campaign awareness organised by the department.

MEETING: From left— Mr. Anthony Obuh, Delta State governorship as-

pirant in 2015; Mr. Fred Majemite, Director General for Anthony Obuh Campagin Organisation; Mr. Paul Odhomoa, Financial/Media Consultant to Mr. Obuh and Mr. Frank Nwogo, Chairman, Task Force on Granding Delta State, during a meeting of Obuh's campagain team in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

ANNIVERSARY: From left— Mr. Allen Ose-

Ediale, Leader/CEO ShepherdField Network/Media Crest; Mr. Yomi Fash-Lanso, actor; Mr. Austin Eruotor, President, White House Hotel, and Mr. Femi Davies, actor, during the celebration of the hotel's 10th anniversary in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

LAUNCH: From left— Mr. Eyo Francis, Managing Director/Chief Executive Offricer, Payporte.com; Mr. Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria Limted; Mrs Chioma Afe, Marketing Manager, DStv; Mr. Sola Oke, Marketing Director, Pernod Ricard Nigeria and Mr. Soffack Joseph, Marketing Manager, TECNO Mobile Nigeria, during the live screening launch of Big Brother ‘ HOT SHOTS’ reality TV show in Lagos.

PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

PROTEST: Mazi Omife Omife, National President, Alliance Against Monopoly (middle) leading members of the group in anti-monopoly in the cement industry protest at the head office annex of Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, in Lagos.

OLOKUN FESTIVAL: From left— Mr. Femi Davids, executive member, 2014 Olokun festival; Mr. Ayodele Akele; Professor Kolawole Raheem University of Education, Ghana; and Otunba Gani Adams, Chief Promoter, Olokun Festival Foundation, during a briefing on this year's Olokun festival organised by the Foundation in Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—49

2015: Niger East Senatorial district adopts Gov Aliyu as sole candidate

By Wole Mosadomi

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INNA— Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has been adopted as the sole candidate for Niger East Senatorial seat under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for 2015.

The pronouncement was officially made by Chairman of the group behind the mobilization, (Talba Success Movement) Alhaji Hamisu Jankaro in an interview with Journalists in Minna yesterday, He said members of the group embarked on a marathon tour of the 9 Local government areas in the zone and the stakeholders threw their weight behind the adoption.

He said already, no fewer than 500,000 party faithfuls from the zone have have appended their signatures towards the adoption of the governor towards the seat.

Besides, 250,000 women under the aegis of, ”Women in Politics” have also endorsed the Governor for the same seat come 2015.

Vanguard gathered that the women have concluded plans to storm the residence of the governor to formally present the official book containing their signatures to show their endorsement. Jankaro stated that his Group, (TSM) has formally met with the Party elders and other stakeholders in the Zone and have also given their nod to the step being taken.

“Governor Aliyu just like any other politician has the moral right to contest for the seat and any other elective post in the country and since his people are even the people mobilising him to serve them in this capacity, he has no option than to succumb to their demand” he declared.

Governor Aliyu had at different fora declared that he has not made

up his mind or discussed with anybody or group on his next polilical line. Barely a month ago, Dr. She Zagbayi Nuhu was elected to fill the vacancy created with the demise of Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta. .

Meanwhile, Governor Aliyu has called on people of the state to maintain the zoning formula for the election of the next governor of the state in 2015 as outlined by the Peoples Democratic Party PDP. He made his position known in

Kontagora town when he paid a condolence visit on the Emir over the death of his son.

According to him, “we must work within the confines of the existing zoning arrangement in Niger state. There is rumour that some politicians are planning to present a governorship candidate to counter the existing arrangement. We must eschew the rumour and if it becomes real, we must unanimously counter the plot.”

Comrade Sunny Ofehe, Netherland based activist, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, Dr. Agagha Clarkson and staff of Tompolo Foundation on arrival at Okerenkoko hospital during a Netherland based activist visit to Okerenkoko hospital with a view to soliciting foreign support on Sunday. photos: Akpokona Omafuaire.

Youth in politics endorse Ugbe for governor

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OUTH under the aegis of “Cross River Youth in Politics” have declared their support for the former Cross River State commissioner for youth and sports development, Mr. Patrick Ugbe in his gubernatorial ambition.

The youths who declared their

position during a solidarity visit to the aspirant in Calabar said their support was borne out of the leadership qualities associated with the aspirant and his love for the youth.

Describing Ugbe as humble, responsible and accommodating, the spokesperson for the group

Insurgency not a threat to 2015 general elections in the country—Zakari

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FORMER gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party in Niger State, Engr. Zakari Inuwa, has assured that the present crisis in the northern part of the country will not pose a treat to the 2015 general election in the country. He said rather than hinder the success of the elections, the people in the region are more than ever before prepared and ready for the elections and have vowed to see to its success.

“I do not see any threat to the 2015 general election now and even in the future especially with what I saw in Zamfara state during the local government congresses which I conducted recently,” he remarked. Zakari who was the chairman of the Congress Appeal Panel which conducted the local government Congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State recently also

He advised the people to come together and present a consencus Candidate to avoid unnecessary challenges at the polls. Aliyu said with what is on the ground, Kontagora Zone is to produce the governorship candidate while Borgu is expected to provide the next Senator. He called on both politicians and the Electorate to ensure smooth transition next year in order to maintain peace which the state had been noted for.

predicted total victory for Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Zamfara State in the 2015 general elections.

Besides clinching the state from the present leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC), he has also assured victory for the PDP in the presidential election next year.

Zakari said more than ever before, the people of the state are more united and ready to clinch powers from the APC in the general elections next year.

He said besides the success of the local government Congresses, his panel took time out to listen to the grievances of the party members from all wards in the state and were resolved amicably. According to him,” the amicable settlement of the political differences among the electorate paved way for the successful conduct

of the Local government Congresses that led to the emergence of new party officials in the state.''

He pointed out that all the 14 Local government areas in the state have given their support and assured the Party of their absolute loyalty come next year in the general elections saying, “the people have seen the light and regretted being in the opposition and have now come back to the mainstream which is PDP.” Chairman of the Panel said the few complaints instituted by some people specifically in Zurmi Local government area and in some other Wards were rejected by the Panel because the petitions were not properly filed under section 9 of the Party’s Constitution adding that with the explanation to them, the issues at stake were resolved amicably.

and president, Mr. Akibi Inyang said, Cross River needs a man like Ugbe who is highly intelligent, patient, sincere and focused.

The group commended efforts of the Governor Imoke-led team, noting that Ugbe as a major key player will be able to continue with the good work of the incumbent and therefore was deserving of their votes.

In his response, the governorship aspirant, Mr. Patrick Ugbe, said his aspiration to the office of the state chief executive is to build and consolidate on the achievements of Senator Imoke and other successive administrations to take the State to a higher pedestal and maintain the momentum to make Cross River a model in Nigeria.

Mr. Ugbe called on the youth and other major stakeholders to effectively play their roles which he described as critical and major in the process of selecting the next leaders in the State and country. He charged the youths to key in perfectly to that aspiration and take the message across the nooks and crannies of Cross River acknowledging the fact that he alone cannot give all that the State requires unless other stakeholders like the youth come on board.

Phase3 Telecom rolls out solution to secure data sharing

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EST Africa’s largest independent fibre optic infrastructure provider, Phase3 Telecom, has announced the addition of Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) to its network.

The MPLS will enable clients, both new and existing, to access as well as share large amounts of data from multiple locations, even in the most remote of locations.

The expansion, according to the company can deliver speeds of 100 megabits per second (mbps) and above and supplements Phase 3’s existing infrastructure and network solutions.

MPLS is a technology for transporting information data/voice/video between two or more locations. It enables customers with offices in different locations to lease virtual private networks (VPNs) that are effected on routers, which sit on the networks of communications providers.

Phase3 Telecom’s Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Jegede, who announced this development explains that “the addition of the MPLS solution will further supplements the company ’s rapidly evolving network and will further facilitate the provision of affordable and reliable broadband connectivity and telecommunications services for its increasing client base in the health, education, oil and gas, financial and public sectors across the continent.”

“The possibilities and benefits of businesses being connected to a viable network that enable quick and secure data sharing across diverse or remote locations is exponential.

We’re delivering advanced services that allow our clients to do more, faster and more efficiently, creating a new wave of innovation. We hope to drive rapid economic growth by offering vast and untapped value creation by providing seamless services that allows data sharing on multiple networks,” said Jegede.

For Jegede, digitizing information in electronic databases for easy sharing within a network or across networks is not a recent phenomenon, as its application within telecoms across West Africa has been limited.

50 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

ALLEGED MISSING $10.8BN : Audit report

ready by month end —Finance Minister A

By Favour Nnabugwu

B U J A — C O — ORDINATING Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OKonjo-Iweala has said the audit report on the $10.8 billion unaccounted oil money would be ready at the end of this month.

Okonjo-Iweala who spoke at the Financial Times Africa Summit 2014 with the theme: Consolidating the Continent’s Rise, in London yesterday, said the huge attention the $10.8 billion had generated necessitated the appointment of Price Water House Coopers to carry out a forensic audit which should be ready ending of this month.

According to her, “Initially it was $48 billion, then $20 billion, but the figure we have always had is $10.8 billion. As the Minister of Finance, if money is missing, we should find out what happened to it and that was why when we went to the Senate to demand for forensic audit, the President supported it and gave us the go ahead.

“We engaged PwC with the Auditor-General taking the lead. They initially asked for 16 weeks to compete the work, they have spent 12 weeks so far and they will be done in a couple of weeks.”

Sawyer who was Minnesota bound. Ebola cannot be said to be the real elephant in the room as it has been hyped beyond proportion by the media.”

On her part, the DirectorGeneral of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Ms Arunma Oteh, described Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs as the future engine of Nigerian economy.

Focus on development

She said: “Nigeria is focusing more on development as a way of creating more jobs and

improving the standards of living of their citizens because it recognises that SMEs are vehicles for wealth creation which could in turn improve the economy of the country.”

She said: “I think first and foremost is the recognition globally about the importance of SMEs because they are the ones who create jobs. I think there is a greater focus on how SMEs can be supported. In our own country, President Goodluck Jonathan recently set up an SME council and a job board.

All of that is on how we can practically address the

challenges we are facing with SMEs.” To grow these SMEs therefore, the SEC boss believesd that the capital markets were the best remedy to source for funds among other benefits of the market.

“We need to provide funding at reasonable cost.

Capital that is patient for people to grow their businesses but banking sector is not patient. What we need is capital that would be there for a long time, a market-based finance is a long term one and that fact is globally acknowledged.”

On Ebola

On Ebola, the Minister appreciated the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan at containing the virus from getting out of control.

She said: “Nigeria did a great service by stopping

HONOUR: From left: Former Minister of External Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, CON (left) and Mr. Mike Onolememen, CON, shortly after they were honoured with Commander of the Order of the Niger by President Goodluck Jonathan last Monday in Abuja.

NIMC wants new National e-ID as alternative travel document L

By Lawani Mukairu

AGOS—THE National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, wants the use of the new National eID Card as a valid alternative travel document for certain types of travel since it is recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO. The new National eID Card issued to Nigerians on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is “a bonafide Machine Readable Travel Document, MRTD”, recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO. According to the Head, The Card Management Services at

NIMC, Mr. Tunji Durodola, “One of the 13 applets imbedded in the JCOP chip on The Card has similar content usually found in Nigeria’s e-passport and it is known as ICAO Applet, so it could easily be used as a travel document subject to approval of the international community.”

Durodola further explained that the back of the NIMC e-ID Card contains three lines called Machine Readable Zone, MRZ, Lines just like the Passport and the same as other National Identity Cards that have ICAO support.

According to him, “Its development was as a result of NIMC’s conformance to the ICAO Document 9303 parts 1 and 2.

Rigorous testing by International testing agencies ensured that the contents of the chip meet or exceed the standards set by the internationally recognised body.

The first generation of cards have the SmartCard chip, but future generations will be dual-interface (chip and contactless) for a truly robust solution.”

But for other countries to recognise the use of the National e-ID card for cross-border travel, its usage must be included in a bilateral agreement among countries that partner with Nigeria and this agreement must be recognised by the countries’ immigration and Border Control agencies, while such countries

must have inspection devices that can read the cards, which most currently do.

“For this to work NIMC, The Federal Ministries of Aviation, Foreign Affairs and the Nigeria Immigration Service must have to sit down and agree on the process. Also, it is not certain if countries would be willing to work with Nigeria, which seems to be ahead of many other nations on the e-ID card programme. NIMC is confident that with time, the International Community will build confidence in the authenticity of The Card and the robust security features built into it.”

2015: Jonathan's enemies're mischievous —Tabai

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

A

BUJA—A youth leader from Bayelsa, Jude Tabai, yesterday, in Abuja, described as mischievous those who have refused to acknowledge the monumental strides that the President has recorded for Nigeria in the last four years.

In an interview with Vanguard, Tabai, who is the Coordinator of the North/South Project for All, pointed out that Jonathan had paid his dues by implementing the promises he made to Nigerians and should therefore be rewarded with another term of office in 2015.

Tabai said that apart from fulfilling his campaign promises to Nigerians within the first tenure, Mr. President had also revived ailing national infrastructure like railways and airports in Nigeria thereby adding value to Nigerians.

According to him, Jonathan has also proved to be a true lover of education by establishing nine new universities in Nigeria thereby broadening opportunities for Nigerians to acquire tertiary education.

Asked why Jonathan has not been able to crush insurgency in the north despite several assurances, Tabai said that it was necessary for him to exercise caution in that regard as some selfish politicians were out to accuse him of committing genocide if he goes full blast to tackle the insurgents.

He said: “Today, Jonathan has emerged as the most peaceful president that Nigeria has ever produced and we should understand where he is coming from.

“Any attempt by the government to go all out to crush the insurgents would be misinterpreted by the enemies of the administration as committing genocide.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—51

FUN SEEKERS ENJOYING THEIR SALLAH HOLIDAY AT THE BAR BEACH, VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS, YESTERDAY. PHOTOS BY BIODUN OGUNLEYE.

CROSS SECTION OF PEOPLE AT THE CHILDREN'S PARK AND ZOO, ASO ROCK, ABUJA DURING THE EID-EL-KABIR CELEBRATIONS. PHOTOS BY ABAYOMI ADESHIDA.

52 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

NDLEA destroys N80m hard drugs in A-Ibom

By Chioma Onuegbu

U

YO—THE Akwa Ibom State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday, publicly burnt 6 tons of hard drugs worth N80 million.

The breakdown of the quantity of the illicit drugs destroyed after securing a court order was given as 1, 588.87 kilogrammes of cocaine, 0.1128 kilogrammes and 317 pinches of heroine, 0.0523 kilogrammes and 354 pinches and two ties of psychotropic substance weighing 22.6 kilogrammes.

In his addres, Chairman and Chief Executive, NDLEA, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, represented

by Mr. Nbona Sunday, Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, said the exercise was a demonstration of the commitment of the agency towards eradication of illicit drugs in the state and the country at large.

“We know that the first line of action in crime prevention is effective drug control.

Narcotic drugs are like cancerous growths that spread to other parts of the body if left unchecked. Drug addiction leads to criminal beahviour .

Drug abuse is closely linked with traffic offences, murder,

armed robbery, assassination, arson, aggravated assault and terrorism.

Sustainable development can only thrive best in an atmosphere of peace devoid of drug abuse.

Therefore, this event is in line with the strategic plan of the agency to have a peaceful and stable society as we approach the general elections in 2015.

“As a result of the dynamic nature of the criminal trade in

narcotics the NDLEA is constantly repositioning itself for excellence and in line with international drug conventions the agency is working tirelessly to ensure that narcotic drugs are only used for health and scientific purposes and we will continue to trace and seize illicit drugs proceeds as well as provide counseling and rehabilitation to persons with drug abuse

problems.”

Speaking, Governor Godswill Akpabio, represented by his Deputy, Lady Valerie Ebe, commended the agency for its commitment and handiwork in discouraging Akwa Ibom youths from indulging in illicit drug abuse and trafficking through continuous enlightenment campaigns across the state.

INAUGURATION: From left: Mrs. Patience Ikomi, Chairman,Bureau of Local Government Pensions, Delta State; Sir Paul Evuarherhe, Head of Service Delta State and Mr. Samuel Oyiborhoro, Director of Administration and Fiance, Bureau of Local Government Pensions, during the inauguration of Delta State Pensions Fund Management Committee by the Bureau of Local Government Pensions, in Asaba. Photo: Nath Onojake.

2015: President's endorsement vindicates us —Jonathan support group

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ATIONAL Patron, Youth Wing and Secretary, Board of Trustees of the National Coalition for Jonathan and Sambo Presidency, NACOJSP, Dr. Benjamin Irikefe, yesterday said the group had been vindicated by recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for second term by the various organs of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Irikefe, in a press statement, hailed the PDP’s Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees, National Executive Committee and over 8,000 Goodluck Support Groups, which gave automatic tickets of the party to President Goodluck Jonathan, to seek re-election in the 2015 presidential election.

Irikefe said the latest fate of Jonathan vindicated NACOJSP, which had stormed the national secretariat of the ruling party on April 1, 2014, to demand an automatic ticket for Jonathan to run for the presidential election.

Irikefe recalled that the NACOJSP delegation led by himself, handed over two letters to the National SecreC M Y K

tary, Prof. Wale Wale Oladipo, for the attention of the National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu and Chairman of BoT, Chief Tony Anenih, and demanded that Jonathan be returned unopposed as the candidate of the party in the presidential election.

To this end, he urged Jonathan to reciprocate the gesture by formally accepting the call on him to run for a

second term and publicly declare his intention to seek fresh mandate of Nigerians to retain his job in 2015.

NACOJSP’s leader asked Jonathan to act speedily, warning that his supporters were not only impatient but also restive. He urged the President to “ come out now in order to fulil his destiny.”

Irikefe, who also commended the Presidential

Adviser on Political Matters, Prof. Rufail Alkali, for successfully organising and hosting over 8,000 Goodluck Support Groups, in Abuja, said the large turn out of Nigerians showed that Jonathan has touched the lives of majority of Nigerians through his transformation agenda and his peopleoriented programmes and policies.

Bayelsa NUJ decries flooding in Yenagoa

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

E N AG OA — B AY E L S A Sate council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has decried the frequent flooding in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Though Bayelsa is predominantly lowland, making a vast stretch of its land susceptible to flooding due to the absence of functional drainages, the union called on the Capital City Development Authority, CCDA, and the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to be proactive

on the flood menace.

In a communique by Tarinyo Akono and Samson Opokuma, chairman and secretary respectively, the union also lamented on the continuous presence of destitutes on the roads in Yenagoa metropolis during gridlocks.

The trend, according to the union, was gradually becoming an eyesore which the relevant authorities should treat as a matter of priority.

The union lauded the Seriake Dickson administration for embarking

on infrastructural development and other life touching projects across the state.

Specifically, it lauded the administration for embarking on and showing commitment to the Yenagoa/Ekeremor/ Agge, Yenagoa/Oporoma/ Ukubie and Brass/Nembe roads.

The completion of the three senatorial roads, according to the union, would open up the hinterlands and deliver sustainable value for the development of the state.

Bayelsa tasks N-Delta Lions Club on devt

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Government has lauded the involvement of Niger Delta Lions Club in the socio-economic development of the state and urged the club to include in its programmes human capacity development.

Speaking at a fund raising dinner and investiture by the Club in Yenagoa, Chief of Staff, Bayelsa State Government House, Didi Walson-Jack said the social services rendered by the Club was in tandem with the goals and aspiration of Governor Seriake Dickson led administration.

The Chief of Staff, who was represented at the occasion by the General Manager of the state owned Radio station, Glory F.M. Mr. Lawson Hayford, said the government needed the cooperation of the various organizations in the development of the state.

She said, “Even though the present administration in the last two and half years have been able to penetrate into all the nooks and crannies of the state through the provision of social infrastructure, a lot still needs to be done.”

She called on other clubs to borrow a leaf from Lions Club to support the developmental activities of the government, noting that by so doing the society would be a better place to live.

Earlier, outgoing President, Ebiekure Eradiri, said in the last one year of his administration the Club had impacted on the various communities in the state.

According to him, when the club was established in Yenagoa, several charitable activities were carried out such as provision of relief materials to displaced persons during the 2012 flood disaster, support hunger relief programme for the Bakassi returnees, read action programme in primary schools, among others.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014 6 — 53

Israel chides Swedish PM over Palestinian state

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SRAEL has hit out at Sweden's newly elected prime minister Stefan Loefven over his decision to recognise a Palestinian state.

"Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that he regrets that the new prime minister was in a hurry to make statements on Sweden's position regarding recognition of a Palestinian state, apparently before he had time even to study the issue in depth," Lieberman's office quoted him as saying, in a statement issued late Saturday.

It added that Sweden's ambassador to Israel, Carl Magnus Nesser, "will be invited for a talk at the foreign ministry in Jerusalem," but did not say when.

"Prime Minister Loefven needs to understand that no statement or act by an external party can be a substitute for direct negotiations between the sides," the statement said.

Social Democrat leader Loefven — who won last month's general election — said on Friday his country wanted to bolster a two-state solution to the I s r a e l i - Pa l e s t i n i a n conflict.

"A two-state solution requires mutual recognition and the will to co-exist peacefully," Loefven said in his inaugural address to parliament.

This should take place with respect for the "legitimate demands of the Palestinians and the Israelis as regards their right to self-determination and security", he added.

Sweden voted in favour of Palestinian observer status at the United Nations in 2012, which was granted despite opposition from the United States and other countries.

Seven EU members in eastern European and the Mediterranean have already recognised a Palestinian state, namely Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Romania.

Non-EU member Iceland is the only other western European nation to have done so.

UN biodiversity summit warns of unmet targets A UN conference on preserving the earth's dwindling resources opened Monday with grim warnings that the depletion of natural habitats and species was outpacing efforts to protect them.

Just a week after conservation group WWF said wildlife numbers had halved in 40 years, governments met in South Korea to analyse progress since they agreed four years ago on 20 targets for stemming the tide of biodiversity loss by 2020.

The opening of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) conference saw the release of a comprehensive report showing those targets were not being met, with natural habitats still disappearing at an alarming rate, and animals facing increased extinction threats.

"It is a document that should make the whole world sit up. It is about all of life on earth," said the executive director of the UN Environment Programme Achim Steiner.

"We need to do more -- and do it fast -- to protect the very fabric of the natural world," Steiner said.

The so-called Aichi Biodiversity Targets -- drawn up in 2010 -included halving the rate of habitat loss, expanding water and land areas under conservation, preventing the extinction of species on the threatened list, and restoring at least 15 percent of degraded ecosystems.

"Encouraging steps have been taken around the world to tackle biodiversity loss at many levels," the CBD said in its Global Biodiversity Outlook report.

"Nevertheless, it is clear from this mid-term review that, on their current trajectory, they will not be sufficient to meet most of the

UN environment programme head Achim Steiner (L) and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon attend the closing ceremony of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), in Nairobi, recently. AFP Photo. targets by the deadlines committed to."

Alarming' deforestation

Global rates of deforestation are still "alarmingly high" despite a slowdown in the depletion of the Brazilian Amazon and gains in forest coverage in Vietnam and China, the report said.

Habitats of all types, including forests, grasslands, wetlands and river systems, continue to be fragmented and degraded.

In one striking example of long-term degradations, the report cited a 20 percent reduction since 1980 in the populations of wild birds specialising in habitats such as grasslands and forests in North America and Europe.

Short-term projections of the dangers facing animal species as a result of habitat loss generally predict a "worsening" situation, the report said.

"Despite individual success stories, the average risk of extinction for birds, mammals and amphibians is still increasing," it warned.

The most recent update of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of threatened species in July said a quarter of mammals, over a tenth of birds, and 41 percent of amphibians are at risk of extinction.

Last week, the WWF's 2014 Living Planet Report highlighted a 52 percent decline in mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish overall from 1970 to 2010.

It said humans were consuming resources at a rate that would require 1.5 Earths to sustain -gobbling up animal, plant and other resources at a faster rate than nature can replenish them.

Nations have struggled to find common ground on funding for the Aichi Targets, especially for poor nations whose scarce resources are already committed elsewhere.

At the CBD's last meeting, in Hyderabad, India, in 2012, the world agreed to double biodiversity aid to developing countries by 2015.

But they did not quantify either the base amount or the target --

and the numbers are still far from being resolved.

"All indicators suggest the status of biodiversity continues its decline and requires urgent attention," said CBD executive secretary Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias.

In a study published last week in the journal Science, an international team of more than 30 scientists also concluded that the Aichi Targets were unlikely to be met.

"There is a collective failure to address the loss of biodiversity, which is arguably one of the greatest crises facing humanity," said Richard Gregory, one of the paper ’s authors and head of species monitoring and research at the British RSPB conservation group.

Turkish hospital previews Syria horror as Islamic State advances WITHIN minutes of the young woman being carried into the Turkish hospital just over the border from Syria, it became clear that her shattered skull, concealed by bloodied bandages, was too serious for the small state facility to treat.

The unconscious woman in her 20s, whose name was not known, was another victim of the increasingly bloody clashes between Islamic State militants and Kurdish forces for control of the Syrian border town of Kobani, 10 km (six miles) to the south.

Monitors estimate several hundred have died on each side since the upsurge in violence began more than two weeks ago.

Medics and doctors at the hospital in the Turkish town of Suruc are struggling to cope with the stream of wounded fighters from the Kurdish YPG militia who are being carried across the frontier from Syria with shrapnel or bullet wounds.

"She's a YPG fighter. Five or six have so far come today, around 30

came yesterday," an orderly said as they rushed her inside. After initial treatment, she was ferried back out and drivers were ordered to take her the 190 km (120 miles) to Diyarbakir, the largest city in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast.

"She had a brain injury. Her skull is shattered. It doesn't look good," a doctor said as the ambulance raced away, sirens wailing.

Dozens of medical staff, anxious relatives and curious onlookers gathered in the courtyard of the little hospital as more victims were brought in.

On Sunday, the violence spilled over into Turkey, when five members of a Turkish family were injured by a stray projectile that slammed into their house close to the border.

"FIGHT TO THE LAST" Wounded fighters make up just a fraction of the cases being handled by Turkish medics near Kobani. About 180,000 people have fled in less than three weeks, deepening the humanitarian crisis

along Turkey's south-eastern frontier, which has already seen 1.2 million people cross since the start of the war in Syria.

Once they do arrive, many families are forced to sleep rough or camp with hundreds of others in mosques or abandoned shops. The hospital corridors are crowded with everyone from the elderly in wheel-chairs to babies cradled by their mothers.

"We came to Turkey with our babies and families five days ago. We got scared as the clashes got closer," said one headscarved mother in a green dress, holding five-month-old Mustafa in her arms.

Some did not make it safely across. Last week four children were injured, two of them seriously, after straying into a minefield on the border as they waited to come into Turkey.

Those who've fled the fighting say that Kurdish resistance remains strong in Kobani, despite Islamic State forces

pounding the town with heavy artillery and advancing to its outskirts.

"Everybody is fighting in Kobani.

There are women my age who have been given hand grenades to throw," said 63-year-old Alife Ali, as she waited in the hospital, a small child in her arms.

"Our people dug a 5 meter deep and wide ditch around the town to protect it. We will fight to the last person."

But there are signs in Suruc hospital of how desperate that fight is becoming, with even the untrained being thrust into the frontline, to try to stem the radical Islamists' advance.

Hassan waited anxiously outside a room for a 20-year-old female relative, wounded in the fighting.

"A bullet went in here and came out the other side," Hassan said, a line from one hip to the other.

"She took up arms with the YPG. They gave her a gun though she had no experience," he added.

54—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Commissioner blasts fraudulent water consumers in Calabar

VISIT : From left— Mrs Adaora Giwa-Amu; Olorogun George Oyefia, General Coordinator of Team Ochei 2015; Mr. Victor Ochei, Delta State governorship aspirant; Professor Okobia and Chief Godwin Ogbetuo, during Mr. Ochei's consultative visit to Delta State Leader and Elders Forum in Warri.

By Dapo Akinrefon

C

OMMISSIONER for Water Resources in Cross River State, Mr. Elemi Etowa, has expressed displeasure over the attitude of some residents of Calabar for adopting fraudulent means of connecting water to their households to evade bills payment.

Etowa said the board fought hard to restore water supply in the state, adding that for over 10 years the state had been running a programme called public private partnership management contract.

According to him, “the arrangement gives us the singular privilege of being the first water company in Nigeria to operate on a daily basis.

“With the PPP arrangement, we use diesel-driven generators to operate on a permanent basis, while PHCN for us is a standby facility.”

NGO canvasses support for Jonathan

B

By Gabriel Enogholase

ENIN— A nongovernmental organisation in the Niger Delta region, Riverine Peace Initiative, RPI, has lauded the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration through its transformation agenda.

It also appealed to Nigerians to support his re-election bid to enable him provide more democratic dividends for the country.

The group, in a statement issued in Benin by its President, Mr. Ebiakpo Tubolayefa and others, said the President had proved that he was capable of giving the country good leadership.

It stated that as a detribalised Nigerian, the President had ensured that every section of the country benefited from projects and the spread of his political appointments across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

My agenda for Delta State — OCHEI

C'RIVER PDP TO ASPIRANTS: Avoid violence or be disqualified

By Ike Uchechukwu

C

ALABAR— CROSS River State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has advised aspirants for political offices in the state to eschew violence or face disqualification.

State chairman of the party, Ntufam John, who spoke during the official declaration of a gubernatorial aspirant, Fidelis Ugbo, warned aspirants that the party would not tolerate any form of violence either from them or their supporters, threatening that anyone found wanting would face outright disqualification.

John said: “Any candidate or his supporters found to be violent will be disqualified.

Decorum must be upheld and all aspirants should eschew violence and warn their supporters to do the same.

“PDP is a disciplined party and as Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released the timetable,

we are working according to the provided guidelines.

“We have been able to maintain internal democracy because we believe that democracy must also be internalised, which was why we had earlier established wards in various local governments across the state.”

Speaking with Vanguard after his declaration, Ugbo said: “The main thrust of our administration will be to ensure

B

ENIN— A senatorial aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Mr. Erhabor Emokpae, has insisted that the unity of Nigeria would never be compromised, irrespective of party, tribal or religious affiliation.

Emokpae, who spoke during his meeting with the leadership and supporters of APC from Edo South senatorial district in Benin, also advanced reasons for his desires to represent the area in the National Assembly, saying that it was based on his belief to emancipate his people from dependency.

He described the National Assembly, especially the

A

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant and former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei, has said the essence of his gubernatorial ambition is to provide good governance.

He said he aimed at providing accountability, unity and peace, job creation, and even development irrespective of tribe, gender or religion.

He spoke while addressing Delta State Leader and Elders Forum in Warri, noting a consultative session, adding that his agenda was the cornerstone of viable development with the ultimate aim of making the state one that all would be proud of.

According to him, “this dream can be actualised through the forum, which is a formidable voice that can amplify the message of hope which the group had always advocated for the state.”

In his response, Professor Okobia expressed delight at the prospects of having a governorship aspirant in the mould of Ochei, whose lofty achievements would enhance governance in the state.

PDP stakeholders make case for Urhobo governor

By Charles Kumolu

A

group, Peoples Democratic Party Stakeholders, has said that any attempt to deny the Urhobo nation the right to produce the next governor of Delta State in 2015 would rob PDP of a landslide victory in the presidential elections.

Briefing newsmen in Lagos, Mr. Godwin Mgbabago and

NASS aspirant, Emokpae preaches unity

By Gabriel Enogholase

we grow and strengthen our agriculture by modernising it and making it more productive because majority of our people are farmers.

“We do not have big industries in Cross River State; we need to look at how to grow our small and medium scale enterprises so that our young men and women can be selfemployed and invariably become employers of other people.”

Senate, as a stabilising arm in the polity, considering its make up as a conglomeration of matured minds, who believed in the oneness and sanctity of the country, irrespective of tribes, religion or culture.

He said aside from legislating for the advancement of Edo South, he would bring his

Mr. Joe Adigwe said only Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege who hails from Delta Central could deliver victory to the party.

The group said: ‘’Those fronting and or anointing a neophyte for the governorship seat do not mean well for both PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan.

“On the basis of demography and electoral value, everyone knows the Urhobos control over 60 percent of the voting strength in Delta State.

“Yet, they have been out of power in the state for eight years and their representation in the Federal Government has been limited to two appointments compared to Delta North, which has over 14 appointments.

“If the Urhobo lose the governorship ticket, their block votes will be lost to the President, robbing the party of the landslide victory.”

‘Olejeme, best for Delta guber'

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ORMER Chairman of Okpe and Udu Local Government areas of Delta State, Deacon Eddie OnoSorhue, has said that Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in the 2015 general polls, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, was the candidate to beat in the forthcoming polls.

He said Olejeme had done more field work than all the aspirants jostling for the PDP ticket and so deserved to fly the party flag at the polls.

Deacon Ono-Sorhue, who is Chairman of Delegates Committee for the Olejeme Campaign Organisation, stated this during the 88th birthday celebration of Chief

G. N. O. Sefia, Chairman, PDP Delta State Elders Council in Ovwian.

He said: “It is my candid appeal, therefore, for party leaders, officials, elders and delegates to the forthcoming PDP primaries to keep faith with Dr. Olejeme’s dream of a better, prosperous and highly improved Delta State.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—55

Imo Assembly to probe alleged N3.2bn Ohaji Palm Plantation scam

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—IMO State House of Assembly has set up a four-man ad-hoc committee, to investigate the operations of Imo Palm Plantation, Ohaji, following an alleged N3.2 billion scam.

The committee is headed by the member representing Ikeduru state constituency, Chief Sam Daddy Anyanwu.

Not long ago, landowners and staff of the Plantation staged series of protests against the new management of the establishment, and also accused the state government of being part of the scam.

It was gathered that the House of Assembly was forced to setting up of the ad-committee as result of information that the Plantation had been witnessing a lot of frictions between the land owners, management and workers.

Addressing the plenary, Deputy Speaker, Mr. Donatus Ozoemena, who also presided, explained that the raising of the probe panel became necessary, following the inability of the state government and Roche

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LAUNCH: From left; Mr Peter Candlish, General Manager; Mr. Dileeban Ponniah, Chief Operating Officer, both of the Lacasera Company Plc and Mr Akin Assyouti, Brand Manager, Smoov Chapman, during the launch of Smoov Chapman in Lagos. Photo by Akeem Salau.

Company to justify the N3.2 billion secured under government’s guarantee.

He also told his colleagues that the huge sum, which was guaranteed by the state government, was for enhancing

the fortunes of Imo Palm Plantation.

When workers of the plantation protested September 30, they bitterly complained to the lawmakers that the N3.2 billion had not

made any positive impact on them or the establishment.

Addressing the protesters, Ozoemena assured that justice must prevail in the matter, irrespective of the personality involved in the alleged scam.

Imo communities fault media attacks on Imo Speaker

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EMBERS of four autonomous communities of Umuihi, Ihinna, Amakohia and Amainyinta of Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State, resident in Lagos, have faulted alleged media attacks on the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Benjamin Uwajumogu, by Whoba’s family.

Operating under the Assembly of the four autonomous communities in Lagos, they are demanding that Whoba’s family retract the said publications in which Uwajumogu, who also is from Umuihi community, was accused of hiring hoodlums to hijack Whoba’s Family land for road construction.

At a briefing, Chairman of the Assembly, Mr. Vincent Uba, equally called on Whoba’s family to apologise to Eze Lawrence Ihekweme, of Ihinna autonomous community for not reporting the matter to him before going to press.

He said: “The Assembly embarked on efforts at unraveling the veracity or otherwise of the allegation by the Whoba’s Family by sending a fact finding delegation to the two traditional rulers of the communities concerned. Efforts

Ohodo indigenes protest alleged marginalisation

were equally made to hear directly from the two parties. ''From findings, the Assembly noted especially vide the briefings of Eze Ihekweme, that although the pillar in question was built by the Late Prince Whoba Ogo, the land on which the pillar was erected forms part of the road under construction

by Imo State government

linking the three markets of Amakohia, Umuihi and Ihinna autonomous communities to Ekeikpa Market in Amainyi autonomous community, and therefore not Whoba’s Family Land.”

“His Royal Highness while expressing shock and dismay, wondered why the families of Whoba who are the direct

beneficiaries of the road construction. It is a known fact that prior to the construction of the road, their house could not be easily accessed due to bad road, should go the length of tarnishing an innocent person’s image. Not just any person, the number 1 citizen of Umuihi/Ihinna and number three citizen of Imo State.''

Evicted persons from Abonema Wharf community protest demolition, seizure of homes

By Austin Ogwuda

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NUGU—EVICTED persons from Abonema Wharf Water Front community in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have protested alleged impunity of Rivers State government in continuing to develop the seized land in contention, despite the intervention of the National Human Rights Commission NHRC. The victims, through their lawyer, Mr. Chibueze Okorie, in a five-point application before the commission, which held a two-day public inquiry in Enugu into petitions against some state governments in the South East zone over alleged human rights abuses,

unwarranted demolitions and seizures of people’s homes and lands, asked the commission to prevail on the government to stop further development.

In a an application numbered C/2013/9086/HQ, they sought for “an order issuing provisional/interim measures of protection over the subject matter of the complaint before this Commission to wit, restraining the 1st respondent (Attorney General of Rivers State), either by itself or by its servants, agents, privies.

“There is a pending before this commission a complaint against the respondents for the unlawful eviction of Abonema Wharf community and the demolition of their homes, lives, livelihoods and structures.

“The 1st respondent has consistently manifested a lack of respect for due process and decency as regards its inordinate ambition to acquire, expropriate and deal with the Abonema wharf waterfront land , subject matter of the complaint, without respect for the human rights of the resident community it evicted, and will continue in that tendency unless otherwise restrained.”

The commission’s 3-man panel, headed by Dr. Chidi Odinkalu, ordered that the parties returned to Port Harcourt at a later date to be communicated to them, as the respondents opposed vehemently that the application be formally moved due to unresolved issue of jurisdiction.

HE people of Ohodo in Enugu State has cried to Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu for his prompt intervention over alleged deliberate political marginalisation of the community by some elements in Igbo Etiti, Local Government Area.

According to a statement by the Chairman, Ohodo Welfare Association, Lagos branch, Mr. Matthew Ezeaku, some individuals have orchestrated plans to perpetually subjugate and apparently send Ohodo to political extinction.

“Ohodo community is the third largest community in Igbo Etiti Local Government Area, both in population and voting strength, yet it is being sidelined in every political appointment and elective positions. ''Since the inception of the local government, none of our sons or daughters has had a shot at the local government either as the chairman or vice chairman or even secretary to the local government. Rather, all the juicy political positions are shared and dominated by Ukehe and Aku communities for decades. ''At present, the local government chairman, Engr Festus Ozoemena, (since 2011) is from Ukehe; the member representing Igbo Etiti and Uzo Uwani federal constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Mrs Stella Ngwu (since 2011) is from Ukehe; the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Eugene Odoh (since 2007) is from Ukehe. ''Also, the Executive Commissioner in the N a t i o n a l Communications Commission, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi (since 2010) is from Ukehe, shortly after serving two terms as Deputy Governor under Governor Chimaroke Chimaroke. 'The list is endless and has ever been so, as far as the human memory can recall,” Mr. Ezeaku lamented.

56 — Vanguard,TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

BRIEFS AU forces take al-Shabab-held town

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OMALI troops backed by African Union (AU) forces have retaken the al-Shabab stronghold of Barawe, key to the financing of the armed group.

Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi, embedded with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in Barawe, said: “Special forces are securing the city.

They are having people open their doors, looking for al-Shabab elements.”

Soi said that government officials and leaders of the AU force had held a meeting with locals yesterday , in a bid to gain their confidence. “It has been years since the people of Barawe had seen any kind of government presence so there is still a lot of fear,” said Soi. Al-Shabab reportedly charged taxes to ships that sailed or docked at Barawe’s port, raising revenues to expand its military campaign.

The AU said al-Shabab was using the town, which the al-Qaeda-linked fighters had held for six years, as a base to launch attacks on Mogadishu, the capital.

EBOLA: Spanish nurse tests positive

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Spanish nurse has tested positive for Ebola almost a month after she treated a patient who eventually died of the disease.

“Two tests were done and the two were positive,” a spokesman for the health department of Madrid told the AFP news agency on Monday. The nurse was now in isolation in a hospital on the outskirts of Madrid.

Ana Mato, Spain’s health minister, said the nurse was part of a medical team that treated Manuel Garcia Viejo, a 69-year-old Spanish priest who died last month in Spain after contracting the virus while working in Sierra Leone.

Al Jazeera has learned that the nurse had been “living freely” since the priest’s death, and had been “in normal contact” with her family. The nurse’s case is believed to be the first Ebola infection outside of West Africa.

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has killed at least 3,439 people since it began in March, out of nearly 7,500 confirmed, probable and suspected cases. Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are the worst-hit countries.

Meanwhile, the US administration said it is not considering a ban on travellers from countries most affected by the virus.

Brazil’s president to face run-off poll

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*The Kenyan leader has appeared at the ICC before, but not since he was elected president in March 2013

Kenyatta to step down during ICC hearing K

ENYAN President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday, said that he would temporarily step down as president while attending a hearing at the International Criminal Court this week.

In a televised address before parliament, Kenyatta said he would invoke a never-beforeused article of the constitution that will see Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto temporarily fulfil the top role. That article stipulates the deputy to fill in when the president is absent, temporarily incapacitated or during any other period of the president’s choosing.

The temporary abdication of the country’s top political job is Kenyatta’s way of fulfilling the court order that he attend, but insisting that he be a private citizen during the court hearing and not the first sitting president before the court.

“It is for this reason that I chose not to put the sovereignty of more than 40 million Kenyans on trial since their democratic will should never be subject to another jurisdiction,” said Kenyatta.

Kenyatta faces five counts at the Haguebased court over his alleged role in master-

minding post-election violence in 2007 and 2008 that left 1,200 people dead and 600,000 displaced. What began as political riots quickly turned into ethnic killings of Kenyatta’s Kikuyu tribe, who in return launched reprisal attacks, plunging Kenya into its worst wave of unrest since independence in 1963.

Had Kenyatta refused to go, as some within his political party have urged him to, he would have risked facing an international arrest warrant as well as international condemnation and possible economic sanctions against Kenya.

ISIS penetrates Syrian town of Kobane F

IGHTERS from the ISIL group have penetrated the key Syrian town of Kobane for the first time, sparking street-to-street fighting with its Kurdish defenders after a three-week siege, a monitoring group and Al Jazeera sources say.

Two black ISIL flags were seen flying on Kobane’s eastern side yesterday , according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

“Urban guerrilla warfare has started and the fighting is taking place for the first time in districts at the eastern entrance, in Maqtala alJadida and Qani Arab,” said Rami Abdelrahman, the observatory’s head.

According to Al Jazeera sources, the clashes in Qani Arab are the heaviest since the start of the offensive as ISIL tries to bring in more fighters to take control of the city.

Kurdish activists stated that one group of ISIL fighters were eliminated by the town’s defenders, drawn from the Kurdish irregular force known as the YPG, as they attempted to enter from the east.

The advances came after ISIL fighters seized part of Mishtenur Hill, which overlooks Kobane, late on Saturday, although US-led air attacks tried to slow the fighters’ advances.

The UK-based observatory added that at least

RAZIL’S left-wing incumbent Dilma Rousseff has come at the top of the presidential elections but has not gained enough votes to avoid a run-off and will face Aecio Neves. With all votes counted on Monday, Rousseff led with 41.5 percent support compared with 33.6 percent for Neves.

Neves surged sharply in the pre-election period after intense campaigning with an emphasis on “safe change”. The prominent environmentalist Marina Silva was in third place with just 21 percent of the votes. The top two will face each other in a second round on October 26. The run-off will pit Rousseff ’s emphasis on robust social programmes and state intervention in the economy against Neves’ vision of greater trade and a more austere state.

Silva, a former environment minister in Rousseff ’s Workers Party, seemed like Rousseff’s probable challenger as recently as last week.

US: Militants use beheadings to make up for losses

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OR months, Islamic State militants rampaged across Syria and Iraq, seizing cities, taking hostages and terrorizing all who dared to confront them.

The tide began to turn in mid-August, when U.S. airstrikes pushed them from key Iraqi battlegrounds. Then, on August 19, the group released a video that showed the beheading of American freelance journalist James Foley.

The pattern continued. Within days of a military defeat, the group would release images of more beheadings — at least nine over six weeks — of Western journalists, aid workers and Muslim soldiers. The tactic signals that even as the Islamic State group suffers battlefield losses, it is holding on to its edge in the propaganda war. U.S. officials say that’s the only way the militants can continue to maintain support and attract new recruits.

On Friday, the Islamic State group released a new video showing the beheading of British aid worker Alan Henning after nearly two straight weeks of daily airstrikes against their fighters.

“Certainly since the bombing campaign, the reverses, they’re no longer boasting of taking places — because they’re not taking places. They’re losing places,” Alberto Fernandez, who heads the State Department’s office for counterterrorism propaganda, said in a recent interview. “So what do they do?

They boast about cutting people’s heads off. They’re trying to substitute that for military victory.”

Dallas: Ebola patient still critical says CDC boss

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*Two black ISIL flags were seen flying on Kobane’s eastern side earlier yesterday.

20 fighters were killed late on Sunday when they entered an eastern neighbourhood and were ambushed by Kurdish YPG fighters.

In a sign of mounting desperation, a Kurdish female fighter blew her-

self up at an ISIL position east of Kobane on Sunday, the observatory said.

It was the first reported instance of a female Kurdish fighter employing a tactic often used by ISIL fighters.

HE first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States was fighting for his life at a Dallas hospital on Sunday and appeared to be receiving none of the experimental medicines for the virus, a top U.S. health official said.

Thomas Eric Duncan became ill after arriving in the Texas city from Liberia two weeks ago, heightening concerns that the worst Ebola epidemic on record could spread from West Africa, where it began in March. The hemorrhagic fever has killed at least 3,400 people out of the nearly 7,500 probable, suspected and confirmed cases.

“The man in Dallas, who is fighting for his life, is the only patient to develop Ebola in the United States,” Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

In a media briefing with reporters on Sunday, Frieden said he was scheduled to brief President Barack Obama on Monday.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—57

Why some visa applications fail

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu

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WO men are reportedly responsible for transporting Ebola to Nigeria and the US. Both men are of Liberian origin. That is where the similarities in the tale end. With its underdeveloped healthcare facilities, Nigeria robustly tackled the problem and now appears to have the situation under manageable control. Unlike Nigeria, the US with its sophisticated medical facilities and high level of preparedness to tackle any health epidemic, approached the issue with underserved levity.

Below are excerpts of two newspaper articles on this issue. First, Elahe Izadi of the elite Washington Post writes: While the Ebola epidemic continues to ravage Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, its spread into Nigeria may now be contained, health officials said Tuesday.

The country has had no new cases of the deadly virus since Aug. 31, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said suggests that the outbreak could be coming to an end in Africa’s most populous country.

Populous country Nigeria’s first known case of Ebola was traced to Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian American who traveled from Ebola-ravaged Liberia and arrived in the Nigerian capital of Lagos on July 20. He died five days later.

Sawyer had been admitted to a private hospital in Nigeria, and although he wasn’t immediately quarantined, the country aggressively responded to contain the virus.

Nigerian officials quickly declared an Ebola emergency; since then, health workers have conducted 18,500 face-to-face visits and identified 894 people who have had contact with someone who may have had Ebola,

Maddow of the MSNBC cable television dissected the handling of the first diagnosed Ebola case in the US and gave the authorities an F grade in the way they handled the case. She was full of praise for Nigeria in the way the country dealt with its first known case of Ebola and wondered why Texas Governor Rick Perry chose to attend to an out-of-state political fundraising activity while medical authorities in a hospital in his state and city officials bungled the Ebola case.

Below is how another newspaper report summarized Maddow’s characterization of the handling of the Ebola case: Here’s Rachel Maddow talking sense on the Ebola virus. In her Thursday show, she looked at how authorities in Texas have responded to the first diagnosed case of the disease in the U.S. As it turns out, we’ve got a good model for how to deal effectively with Ebola: Nigeria actually kept the disease from breaking out into a pandemic when it discovered an infected patient had flown into the country, and while it took a massive effort, it worked. And so, all Texas needs to do to prevent a public health emergency is to be at least as effective as Nigeria.

(Source: http://wonkette.com/562342/ rachel-maddow-can-texas-handle-ebolaas-well-as-nigeria-didvideo#YkCMU4LVyY5JV3hw.99) Thomas Eric Duncan, the Ebola patient in the US is said to have arrived in the U.S. partly to marry his girlfriend and visit his son by the same lady. Upon arrival in the U.S. he felt unwell and went to a Dallas hospital for treatment. Reports say that he gave the nurses on duty the information that he had arrived from Liberia, but he was given some antibiotics medicine and sent home. He was to return later with the

confirmation of suffering from Ebola.

The news that the US Centers for Disease It has since emerged that the Control (CDC) wishes to learn a thing or n u r s e s two about Ebola control from Nigeria is “miscommunicated” the information indeed welcome provided by Duncan, hence the decision according to the CDC. by the hospital officials to send him home.

More than 400 people were under The irony now is that the blame game is surveillance in the oil city of Port Harcourt. on, with the allegation that Thomas Now, nearly all of the 894 Ebola “contacts” knowingly reported that he had not come in contact with any Ebola patient prior to have exited the monitoring phase.

“Although Nigeria isn’t completely out of departing from Liberia, when it is now the woods, their extensive response to a known that he helped take a pregnant single case of Ebola shows that control is woman with Ebola to hospital in his native country. But, this is beside the real issue possible with rapid, focused interventions,” which is that of negligence on the part of CDC Director Tom Frieden said in a the hospital nurses that attended to him. statement. “Countries throughout the region He was honest about feeling sick and that as well as Nigeria need to take rapid steps he had arrived from Liberia, the epic-center to prepare for possible cases of Ebola in order of the Ebola crisis, yet he was treated quite casually and let go. to prevent outbreaks in their country.”

The news that the US Centers for Disease Nigeria has had eight Ebola deaths and Control (CDC) wishes to learn a thing or 20 confirmed or probable cases. The majority of Ebola patients in Nigeria contracted the two about Ebola control from Nigeria is virus in one of two health facilities in Lagos, indeed welcome. It shows that developing nations have something to offer the rich, and 11 Ebola patients have recovered. more sophisticated nations and indeed the Tuesday’s CDC statement pointed out that entire world. More fundamentally, it is a Nigeria benefited in part from its past demonstration that when such nations wish experiences in responding to public health to rise to the occasion and confront an issue crises, such as lead poisoning in 2010 and of national emergency, they can actually do so and succeed. The problem is that polio in 2012.

(Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ oftentimes, leaders in such nations just sit news/to-your-health/wp/2014/09/30/ back and watch their country degenerate nigerias-ebola-outbreak-may-be-coming-to- into chaos and mismanagement, for that is the preferred habitat in which such leaders an-end/) survive. nd Last Thursday (October 2 ) Rachel

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Two Tales of Ebola: Nigeria vs USA

consulates to understand what ISA applicants are they are planning to do in advised to be well countries they are migrating to prepared and understand that and the ability to sustain their it is up to them to qualify for a stay. visa during visa interviews by It is important to note that most embassies' consular officers. embassies in Nigeria believe in To avoid unfavourable a do-it-yourself’ style, which is decisions on visa applications, basically the supposed reason most embassies urge applicants why the U.S embassy and most to follow the instructions which other embassies in Nigeria have are readily available on their their visa application websites which are intended to processing built on a ‘Do-itguide them through processing yourself ’ system. different categories of visa In other words, applicants can applications. conveniently apply and also Consular Advisory gathered book for a visa appointment onthat most applicants employ the line without seeking services of services of agents to process touts or supposed visa their visa applications, thereby application consultants. making it almost impossible for Processing your visa them to actually qualify for a applications yourself would visa during interviews by help you avoid a situation consular officers, because they whereby you go into the are not familiar with certain interview section and give information provided to the It is absolutely essential that consulate on applicants are armed with every their behalf.

A brief bit of information submitted in interview with their application forms and be some of the e m b a s s i e s fully responsible for them c o n s u l a r before attending interviews o f f i c e r s revealed that it is important for information contrary to what a visa applicants to complete their visa consultant has filled in the visa applications and ensure application form online.

It is sad to know that most that all information provided is in line with required class of visa applicants go into the interview rooms without visa sort.

It was also pointed out that knowing what their travel ‘Do-it-yourself ' visa consultants have filled in their applications, is highly application forms, and end up encouraged and applicants who providing answers that are do not want to fail visa inconsistent with what the interviews should practice the interviewing officers are seeing method to avoid confusion in their database.

In view of the during interview sessions. aforementioned, applicants are promptly advised to ensure that Interview articulation during interview sessions session is maintained, for fact Planning ahead is another that interview is a big issue key factor that determines the when it comes to applying for success of visa applications. various categories of visa to According to sources, this is one countries of choice.

It is absolutely essential that issue applicants would need to applicants are armed with every deal with when planning for an application, for once a decision bit of information submitted in is taken in respect of your visa their application forms and be application, there may not be fully responsible for them before attending interviews. room for an appeal.

The applicant needs to fully Shedding more light on what it would take visa applicants to understand that he/she is fully achieve successful visa responsible for information in applications, it was noted that his/her application form, travel plans and ability to fund whether submitted by himself/ your travel to countries of choice herself or by a consultant. are key factors.

Although, applicants do not need to have their travel plans, 100 per cent set before visiting embassies to apply for a visa, they are advised on the need for t h e

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58 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Enugu PDP denies media claims on consensus candidature

By Austin Ogwuda

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HE Enugu State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, described media reports claiming that the party was in disarray over the emergence of Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as its consensus candidate for the 2015 gubernatorial elections in the State as “false, mischievous and calculated to deceive the public”.

The party in a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Dr. Okey Eze, described the process that led to Ugwuanyi’s emergence as an epitome of democracy.

The statement said, “the PDP in Enugu is as strong and united as it has been since the inception of the Sullivan Chime

administration. The party is even stronger and more united now that we have a consensus gubernatorial candidate who was chosen through a very smooth, transparent and democratic process. It is the first time such a thing is happening in the history of the state. Any anyone saying the party is in disarray is clearly being mischievous.”

The Party spokesman regretted that the report had been anchored on false interpretation of the absence of a few key political figures at the State Caucus meeting of the party which endorsed Ugwuanyi last Saturday.

Koluoma communities threaten Shell's operations

By Samuel Oyadongha

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OLUAMA communities, hosts to Chevron’s operations in Southern Ijaw Local government Area, Bayelsa State, have threatened to cripple the company ’s operations over compensation for the 2012 rig explosion in its field. Hundreds of youths from the host communities had on September 15 laid siege to the North Apoi oil platform operated by the company over nonpayment of compensation for the rig blowout.

They, however, vacated the facility forty eight hours after officials of the company opted for dialgue.

Mr Leghemo Ebrasin, Secretary, Koluama 2, Youths Association, said the youths were dissatisfied by the stance of

185 churches razed in Borno, Adamawa captured towns—Rev. Obasogie

By Ndahi Marama

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HE Director of Catholic Social Communication of Maiduguri Diocese, Rev. Gideon Obasogie, has said that two months after the capture of 11 towns in Borno and Adamawa states in the North East geopolitical zone of the country

by Boko Haram, residents could not return to their houses and places of worship, as 185 churches in the diocese were torched. He added that 190, 545 people were displaced. Obasogie disclose this in a statement on the “state of captured towns;” which he made available to newsmen in Maiduguri, the state capital.

According to the statement, the “ransacking and torching” of churches in the captured towns and villages, have already displaced many priests, who are taking refuge in either Yola or Maiduguri metropolisis for the last one or two months.

He said the capturing of towns along with the torching of places of worship is, “sad, heart arching and potentially dangerous to the territorial integrity and common good of Nigeria,” adding, “It is over 30 days now that our Church communities in Gulak, Shuwa, Michika, Bazza were sacked by the callous attacks of the Boko Haram terrorists. While Gwoza and Magadali had been under the tyrannical and despotic control of the terrorists and this is almost the sixtieth day.

“Our Priests are displaced, while citizens, who were supposed to celebrate their independence as a free nation, were rather counting their losses and regrets as they had been reduced to the status of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs. Where is the freedom? Life is really terribly difficult. We are waiting eagerly to go back home, even as it is obvious that we are going to reconstruct our looted and burnt houses and ecclesial structures. We have been sacked

for months, sleeping in uncompleted buildings, camps and school premises. We have been absorbed into houses of relations and friends in sixties and seventies.”

On displaced priests and residents, Obasogie said: “Meals time is always difficult and shameful. We have counted weeks rolling into months, must we also count years? We are waiting to go back home! Nigerians are waiting to go back to their ancestral homes. Our minds are greatly troubled, do we think about our status, Or about our family members yet to be connected with ever since we fled our homes? Do we worry about our aged parents who were not so strong to run, they always fed us with words of encouragement and wisdom.

Do we worry about our sick members, women and infants who had been trapped? Most of whom we heard had been rape and killed. Or worry about the health, education and future of our children? We have got a lot of questions yet to be answered.”

On re-opening of closed schools, Obasogie said: “Talking about resumption, our children have not been fed and

well clothed so resumption to schools is practically out of our calculation. In our opinion if thousand of Nigerian children can’t go to school then in the long run “boko is really haram.” Then their future is at stake, quite bleak.

The health condition of our people is truly troubling in their displaced camps in Maiduguri, Mubi, Yola, Uba, Gombe, Biu and Damaturu.

Chevron on the incident. He said Chevron remained insensitive to the plight of the communities whose ancestral land was threatened by ocean surge following the 2012 incident.

According to him, the dialogue promised by Chevron had not yielded any result, warning the youths might be compelled to resume peaceful agitation if the company failed to pay compensation by October 15, 2014 “Chevron must pay compensation for the KS Endeavour gas disaster before October 15, 2014. Otherwise we

shall organize another massive protest at all Chevron fields in our environment including Agbami oilfield which produce about 250,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Payment of all community workers at the field when the incident occurred, establish an employment Memorandum of Understanding with Koluama communities. Building of delayed gas plant in Koluama and payment of 13 per cent Chevron and Texaco merger bonus as applicable in the industry worldwide, we urge Chevron to comply,” Ebrasin said

Boko Haram ‘beheads’ seven in Borno

By Adekunle Aliyu with agency report

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OKO Haram militants killed seven people yesterday in Borno, residents and an official said, with reports indicating the victims were beheaded in a revenge attack.

The overnight raid targeted the town of Ngamdu. According to a resident, Musa Abor, when members of the community woke up, they discovered “seven people had been brutally killed”. The gunmen “slit their (victims) throats just the way people slaughter goats”, he added.

Abor and a Borno State official,

who asked that his name be withheld, said the bodies had been decapitated, in the latest act of gruesome violence by the terrorists. In recent months, Boko Haram insurgents have targeted reprisal attacks at resodents who have fought alongside the military as vigilantes.

An army officer in Borno, who also requested anonymity, said 15 Boko Haram fighters were killed in clashes in Ngamdu two weeks ago and the group had vowed revenge against the community.

Public Affairs Adviser, Julius Berger Nigeria, Clement Iloba (left), Principal Junior Secondary School Gwarinpa, Yahaya Mohammed (right) during the distribution of Julius Berger Literacy School Backpacks to the students of Junior Secondary School Gwarinpa in Abuja on Friday . Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan

Akpabio's wife tasks women on cooperative loans

By Chioma Onuegbu

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YO—WIFE of Akwa Ibom State governor, Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, has charged women to take loans from cooperative societies to enable them educate their children beyond secondary education.

Mrs. Akpabio, who spoke during her routine women sensitisation on the rising cases of baby factory and child trafficking at the Qua Iboe Church Ewet, Uyo, said such

loans would discourage youth involvement in cultism, illicit drug abuse, prostitution, armed robbery and other vices in the society, often linked to children dropped - outof school.

She said: “Don’t say because you are too poor that is why you are sending your child away.

Nobody else can look after your child or love your child like you do. Some of our mothers borrowed money to send us to school and some of the great men we have today in our country were trained by the church. When you give a

child out you are reducing the potential of that child, you are blocking the child’s future.

“The illegal baby factory business in Akwa Ibom today is alarming. I told women at the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star in Oron that they don’t need to send out their children, or give them out to those who will traffic them because there is free and compulsory education for primary and secondary school in Akwa Ibom.

“When that child gets to the

university and they do not have anywhere to go to for help that they should go to their women fellowship in their church to borrow money to train their children and any child that is aware that the mother borrowed money from the church will be focused, and positive knowing that after graduating from school there is obligation to pay back the money that the mother borrowed.

“So it is important to help in the education of the child because you don’t know what that child will become tomorrow.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014—59

APC'll not endorse any presidential aspirant — AUDU

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—THE All Progressives Congress, APC has said that contrary to expectation of some of its party members pushing for a consensus presidential candidate, the party will only pick its candidate through a primaries at the Eagle Square.

One of the national leaders of the party and a former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu made this known at his home country in Ogbonicha, Ofu Local Government Area of the State while receiving over 5,000 defectors to the party.

Prince Audu, who said the party has resolved not to toll the line of endorsement, also stated that the insecurity, insurgency, kidnapping and other heinous crimes in the country will not reduce unless government first tackle the issue of unemployment.

According to him, “The APC presidential candidate will be at the Eagles Square come November; there will be no endorsement of any candidate.

“The party is going to follow purely democratic process and follow the true norms of democracy in its choice of presidential candidate.”

Audu, who decried the high level of unemployment in the country, described it as a time bomb that may likely explode any moment from now; adding

W

LAUNCH: From Left: Mr Eyo Bassey Francis, Managing Director/Chief Executive Offricer, Payporte.com; Mr Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria Limted; Mrs Chioma Afe, Marketing Manager, DStv; Mr Sola oke, Marketing Director, Pernod Ricard Nigeria and Mr Soffack Sonna Joseph, Marketing Manager TECNO Mobile Nigeria during the live screening launch of Big Brother “HOT SHOTS” Reality TV Show at The Wheatbaker hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi. that the large chunk of graduates being turned out each year must be adequately catered for.

He also said he has not decided on the next political step but rather preoccupied at the moment on consolidating on the gains recently recorded by his party in the state.

On his closeness to the state

Governor, Capt. Idris Wada, Audu said, “I cannot resort to primitive politics by fighting Governor Idris Wada. We have been friends for more than 40 years. I cannot destroy a relationship that has been existing for close to 40 years because of politics. Nigerians must emulate those in the western world who play

civilised politics.

“Wada is not only a friend but also a brother. I will not insult or blackmail him in the name of politics just because we belong to different political parties. But I must say, I have always been an opposition person all my life and I have no intention of crossing over to PDP, now or in the near future.''

EKITI COURT ATTACKS: APC State Publicity Secretaries condemn FG

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HE Conference of All Progressives Congress, APC, State Publicity Secretaries, has described the response of the Federal Government to the attack on judges and the judiciary in Ekiti State as characteristically tardy and regrettable.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Engr Joe Igbokwe; and other co-ordinators, it argued that “there cannot be any other explanation except that the PDP- controlled federal government is interested in perverting justice in the South West State.

According to the statement “our position is further reinforced by the fact that the sitting governor of the State was on Monday September 29, 2014, at a ceremony presided over by the President of the federal Republic of Nigeria officially addressed as ‘the former governor of Ekiti State’ without the intervention of the president, or any of the highly placed government functionary in the ceremony. “This shows PDP’s disregard for decorum,

Amosun’s wife flags off Ogun community health scheme

protocol and orderly conduct in preference to its whims and caprices. It shows the PDP has no regard for law and order and are ruled by the same selfish interests that have wrecked the country in its sad fifteen years in power. Never before in the chequered history of this nation has a lawful judicial tribunal of three learned judges been disrupted by known persons who have been allowed to freely walk the streets and literally celebrate their high crime.

“Never before has a high Court judge, no less a Chief Judge of a State been physically brutalised by private persons with high-stake political interests linked to that of the PDP-controlled federal government and the security agencies controlled by the same government feigned helplessness, while the federal government simply listed the Chief judges of neighbouring South West States for ‘national honours’.

‘The assailants attacked Justice John Adeyeye, beating him up and ripping his clothes for being

allegedly rude to Mr.Fayose’ reported Premium Times, an online newspaper. When we expected the highest level of condemnation by a federal government that has been astute in bending the machineries of government to serve the nihilistic interests of the PDP, what we got was the listing of chief judges of neighbourig South West States, with the exclusion of Ekiti for the thoroughly bastradized and serially abused national honour.

We wonder what else can convince Nigerians that the PDP federal government is complicit in the brutal assault on the temple and officers of justice in Ekiti.

The big question is: Did security fail or was it allowed to fail? Was the security agencies acting on instruction or the ludicrous ‘orders from above’ in feigning inaction as the Fayose led PDP hoodlums and ghouls trampled and desecrated the hallowed portals of justice in Ekiti? Is what happened in Ekiti a state sponsored act of terrorism targeted at the law so as to bend it to the desires of the PDP? When we remember that Fayose was

impeached from office, is still facing a murder charge as well as a corruption charge and was seen good enough to be the PDP governorship candidate in Ekiti, we feel certain that what happened with the brazen attack on the judiciary was a premeditated effort to muscle justice and pocket the judiciary and we feel certain that the Jonathan government and the PDP are wholly complicit in this heinous crime against the state.

“We suspect high level conspiracy in this egregious crime against the judiciary. Our position is reinforced by the suspicious reaction of the PDP federal government to this crime.

Its reaction and actions betray a tacit support to this heinous crime is indicative of its tacit support to the bestial act of Mr. Fayose and his thugs.

“While we demand quick and immediate action to save the judiciary from the hands of commissioned hoodlums, we urge the judiciary in Ekiti and elsewhere to stand firm and resist any attempt to cow it and make it a vassal of the PDP.''

IFE of the governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun has encouraged the people of the state to embrace the new communitybased health insurance scheme provided by the present administration to ensure quality and affordable healthcare delivery that will boost the health indicators and contribute to development.

Mrs. Amosun, during the flag-off ceremony of the scheme at the Primary Health Centre, Italapo in Ijebu-Ode, stated that the scheme tagged “Araya” was launched by the state governor on 29th of April to provide financial protection against the cost of illness and improving access to quality healthcare services for the general population in the community.

She explained that the name Araya was coined to reflect a community free from all forms of diseases that pose threat to the lives of the people, adding that it was part of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration electioneering promise that health care would be free for children under the ages of 5 years, pregnant women and the elderlies in the state.

The governor ’s wife said: “Majority of our women will benefit from Araya as the scheme is created to attend to various health issues associated with female gender.

Women are the mothers; we are the majority in the community, clan and settlement of the world, so our position in the society cannot be overemphasised.”

She appealed to the people of Ijebu–Ode communities to avail themselves of the opportunity of the health care service put together by the state government in the interest of the families and ensure they contribute their own quota to the scheme so that the programme could be a huge success.

60 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Swimming: Phelps banned six months, no 2015 worlds

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*Portugal's midfielder run during a training session at Praia del Rey, near Obidos on October 6, 2014.

Portugal started a training camp in preparation for their upcoming friendly match against France and qualifying match against Denmark. AFP PHOTO.

Keane admits to Schmeichel brawl in new book F

ORMER Manchester United captain Roy Keane has revealed he once left team-mate Peter Schmeichel with a black eye following a pre-season brawl, in extracts from his autobiography released on Monday.

In the book, The Second Half, which is published on Thursday, the

former Ireland midfielder also lifts the lid on his acrimonious departure from United in 2005 and criticises Rio Ferdinand over his missed drugs test. Keane reveals that the alcohol-fuelled fight with former Denmark international Schmeichel, one of United’s greatest ever goalkeepers, occurred during a

pre-season trip to Hong Kong in 1998.

“There’d been a little bit of tension between us over the years, for football reasons,” wrote Keane, in an excerpt from the book published on the website of British newspaper the Daily Mirror. “Peter would come out shouting at players, and I felt sometimes he was playing up to the crowd: ‘Look at me!’ “He was probably

De Gea considered quitting United

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ANCHESTER United goalkeeper David de Gea has revealed he considered leaving Old Trafford during a difficult start to his career at the Premier League club.

The 23-year-old was United’s key performer in their 2-1 win over

David de Gea

Everton on Sunday and the Spaniard earned glowing reviews for the way he saved a Leighton Baines penalty and acrobatically denied Leon Osman and Bryan Oviedo.

“It was probably one of my best performances for Manchester United.

I was really happy about that,” De Gea said.

“Games like that helps your confidence grow.”

But three years ago De Gea could barely muster a smile by the time he got home after matches.

His dream move from Atletico Madrid immediately turned into a nightmare when he was blamed for both goals in United’s narrow Community Shield win over Manchester City.

Errors followed against Basle and Benfica and

De Gea also cost United points against West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn among others. De Gea was struggling to bulk up to help him cope with the demands of playing in the Premier League and he was finding the move away from his family to a foreign country extremely difficult.

At times, the pressure proved too intense for the young goalkeeper, who had played less than two years’ worth of first-team football before he moved to Manchester. “Sometimes,” De Gea said when asked whether he ever thought about leaving.

“It’s difficult when you get a lot of criticism like I did. But I kept strong and I always tried to remain positive.

doing it for concentration levels, but I felt he did it too often, as if he was telling the crowd: ‘Look what I have to deal with.’

“He said, ‘I’ve had enough of you. It’s time we sorted this out.’ So I said, ‘OK,’ and we had a fight. It felt like 10 minutes. There was a lot of noise — Peter ’s a big lad. “I woke up the next morning. I kind of vaguely remembered the fight. My hand was really sore and one of my fingers was bent backwards.” He added: “Butty (Nicky Butt) had refereed the fight. Anyway, Peter had grabbed me, I’d head-butted him — we’d been fighting for ages.”

According to Keane, Schmeichel explained away his black eye at a subsequent press conference by claiming that one of his team-mates had accidentally elbowed him in training.

*Keane

ICHAEL Phelps, the 18-time Olympic swim champion arrested last week for drink driving, was banned for six months

by USA Swimming and dropped from the 2015 World Championships.

Monday ’s punishments came six days after Phelps was apprehended by police in his hometown of Baltimore and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, excessive speed and crossing the center line while driving inside a tunnel.

On Sunday, Phelps said on Twitter that he would be taking a break from swimming and “take some time away to attend a program” for treatment of unspecified personal issues.

In announcing sanctions against the Olympic superstar, USA Swimming executive director Chuck Wielgus said Phelps’ actions required “significant consequences.”

“Michael has publicly acknowledged the impact of his decisions, his accountability especially due to his stature in the sport and the steps necessary for self-improvement,” Wielgus said.

“We endorse and are here to fully support his personal development actions.”

The discipline meted out, which includes forfeiture of Phelps’ funding from the federation for six months, is based on USA Swimming rules that prohibit conduct “detrimental to the image or reputation” of USA Swimming or the sport.

Phelps will still be allowed to train with his club, but cannot compete in USA Swimming-sanctioned competitions through March 6, 2015.

According to the federation, Phelps has agreed that he will not represent the United States at the World Championships on August 2-9 in Kazan, Russia.

Michael Phelps

Boxing: Aussie Soliman defends title against Taylor

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USTRALIAN Sam Soliman defends his lightly-regarded International Boxing Federation middleweight title on Wednesday against American Jermain Taylor, a former undisputed world champion trying to make a comeback at age 36.

Soliman, who turns 41 next month, won the crown with a unanimous decision over Felix Sturm last May before his rival’s home fans in Germany.

“It has taken me 20

hard years to get to where I am,” Soliman said. “Being a world champion is a special feeling and one I plan on keeping. This is my first title defense and I’m leaving no stone unturned to make sure it’s not my last.”

The Melbourne fighter had defeated Sturm in 2013 but that verdict was changed to no contest after Soliman tested positive for the banned stimulant methylsnephrine, leading to a nine-month ban for the Aussie.

Marin Cilic of Croatia hits a return against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during their men's singles match at the Shanghai Masters 1000 tennis tournament held in the Qizhong Tennis Stadium in Shanghai on October 6, 2014.

AFP PHOTO

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014 — 61

Enyimba’s Olabiyi wins Wonder Goal TAN calls for support Award for Eagles E

NYIMBA Inter national’s Rashid Olabiyi’s goal against Abia Warriors received majority favorable rating in the Glo Premier League Wonder Goal Series voting which ended at midn i g h t o n S a t u r d a y, October 4.

Olabiyi’s goal in one of the Match Day 24 fixtures on August 17 was a blinder fired from 25 yards that got Enyimba back into the game a second time.

The encounter ended 3-3 between the two Abia State clubs.

At the conclusion of voting, Olabiyi polled 71.1% of the total votes in the poll conducted through the League Management Company (LMC) media platforms including www.lmc-ng.org , the facebook and twitter accounts.

El-Kanemi Warriors Emmanuel Ajia edged Dolphins Ifeanyi Egwim to third place after securing 14.5% of the votes against Egwim’s 13. 3%.

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Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama stops Messi at 2014 World Cup.

NOC, Supporters Club congratulate Pinnick

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RESIDENT of N i g e r i a Olympic Committee, NOC, Engr Sani M. Ndanusa has congratulated newly elected President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Melvin

Eagles

Continues from BP

other players invited for the game are expected to arrive today before dinner.

Among the early arrivals are Omatsone Aluko of Hull City, Hope Akpan, Babatunde Michael, who shone like a million stars at the Brazil 2014 World Cup, midfield gem, Noskhare Igiebor, who recently relocated to Israel, Aaron Samuel, Gbolahan Salami of Warri Wolves, his team captain in Warri, towering Azubuike Egwuekwe, Emem Edward , Chigozie Agbim and leading Nigerian league scorer, Ighodalo Osagunna.

A visibly refreshed Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, said he was impressed by the response of the players because of the need to bond well before the first

RANSFORMATION Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) yesterday called on Nigerians to support the Super Eagles and Coach Stephen Keshi as they play away to Sudan in a must- win game this weekend in the African Nations Cup qualifier.

The Eagles are placed third with one point from two games and the opening day loss to Congo in the opening game has seriously dented Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for AFCON NEXT YEAR. However, TAN through its sports coordinator, Waidi Akanni said that the Eagles can still make it to the AFCON if they get necessary backing from Nigerians. He stated that

leg game against Sudan.

“The response so far has been wonderful and I am in touch with those who are yet to arrive and they will surely be here on time for proper preparation against Sudan.”

Speaking in the same vein, re-elected member of the NFF Executive Committee, Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu, said the new board under the leadership Melvin Amaju Pinnick is determined to not only qualify Nigeria for the Maroc 2015 Nations Cup but also to retain the trophy. “We have the experience of a lot of the executive committee members and the President is determined that we will reach our destination, that is why we are meeting this week to chat the way forward for the national teams”, he declared.

Amaju Pinnick. Also, P r e s i d e n t General(Worldwide) of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club Dr Rafiu Ladipo has congratulated the Delta State Sports Commission Chairman.

Writing from Mecca where he went for Hajj, Ndanusa said he was not surprised at Pinnick’s election because of his sparkling performance in Delta State. “The young man is passionate, he has ideas, he is connected with Corporate Organizations. He has not been found wanting. He is credible as he is transparent. As for me, a Daniel has come to judgement”, Ndanusa wrote.

Dr Ladipo charged Pinnick to embrace

reconciliation of all stakeholders so that Nigeria would occupy its rightful position in world football.

Pentathlon ‘ll mine more gold for Team Nigeria — Nnaji

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•Pinnick

Moses

Continues from BP

“Thanks for all your messages.

I’m disappointed that I am unable to go away on international duty due to injury but am working hard to get back fully fit as soon as possible,” he tweeted via

He also pledged the Supporters unflinching support for the Super Eagles and Nigerian football.

the defeat to Congo and the draw away to South Africa were minor setbacks that the Eagles have the wherewithal to overcome.

“I am sure that the fans are still sad over the Eagles display against Congo and South Africa, but as a body, we are sure that with the right support from the fans and the backing of the new executive board Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Eagles will qualify for the AFCON,” he stated.

Akanni noted that Keshi, who is still the coach of the team, needs all the support he can get to excel, stating that this is the time for true fans of the Eagles to give their unflinching support to the team.

The former International also called on the NFF to select people into its technical department based on competence instead of picking former internationals who might not been in tune with modern trend.

@VictorMoses.

Moses who has represented England at junior level earned his first senior cap for Nigeria in 2012.

He has scored seven times in 22 appearances for the reigning African champions.

RESIDENT of Pentathlon Federation, Dr Jonathan Nnaji has expressed hope that with the coming of Pentathlon in the Nigerian sporting scene, Team Nigeria would have an edge in adding more medals at international competitions. ‘’It’s a good thing that we have Pentathlon and many Nigerians have embraced the sport and have the potentials of winning laurels for Team Nigeria’’, Nnaji said after the inauguration of the Federation in Lagos by officials of the Nigeria Olympic Committee.

The modern pentathlon is an Olympic sport that comprises five events: Shooting, Swimming, Fencing, athletics and Horse riding and President Nnaji said that so many Nigerian athletes who have clamouring for it have been

over-joyed and have been making contacts at the states.

A prominent aspect of modern pentathlons is the point system, whereby each competitor is awarded a certain number of points based on their performance in each specific event. The overall winner is the competitor with the highest point total at the end of the five pentathlon events.

Prominent Nigerians with experience have been elected to pilot the affairs of the sport with Olufemi Abioye as the Secretary General.

Other members include; Hon Bappa Misau Aliu(Vice President), Dr Ferguson Oluigbo, Maccido Garba Gusau, Mako Sylvester, Lt. Col. U. O. Olatoye, Charity Igbinedion, Peter Okoro, Tony Ubani and Mohammed Ismaila She.

62 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

You've to start scoring ... Rodgers warns Balotelli

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L

IVERPOOL have not had it easy since the start of the new campaign and after 7 Premier League games the Anfield club sit in 9th place in the table with only 10 points. The Daily Mirror understand manager Brendan Rodgers has now told new boy Mario Balotelli he must sort his ego out or leave Liverpool.

Liverpool did manage a victory on the weekend against West Bromwich Albion thanks to goals from Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson. Mario Balotelli was benched for the tie following a poor few weeks at Anfield and would only come on in the 64th minute as a substitute. The win was needed following a September that saw Liverpool fail to record a single 3 points in the Premier League during that month. They did beat minnow Ludogorets in the Champions League but then lost away to Basel in their second tie.

Mario Balotelli joined Liverpool for £16m in August from AC Milan and came with a bad-boy, maverick reputation.

Brendan Rodgers acknowledged he would have a task on his hands to motivate and integrate the 24-year-old into his squad. The players agent, Mino Raiola, also challenged Super Mario to make the best of this opportunity or risk this being his last big transfer.

CONTROL . . . Liverpool’s striker Mario Balotelli (L) goes for the ball ahead of Middlesbrough’s defender Kenneth Omeruo (R) during their English League Cup third round match at Anfield. Photo: AFP

ARIS Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has ruled out joining a Premier League club before he retires from football.

The 33-year-old, who has played in Sweden, Holland, Italy, Spain and France, has often been linked with big money switches to England but a move has failed to materialise.

Now in his third season with PSG, Ibrahimovic insists he wants to stay with the Ligue 1 champions and will never ply his trade in the Premier League.

AMES Rodríguez is settling in nicely at Real Madrid. He is slotting into the team’s style of play better and better with every passing day and he is impressing the fans with his quality.

The Colombian has become an indisputable starter for Ancelotti, who only rested him in the Champions League game against Ludogorets.

Real Madrid are starting to see a return on their €80 million investment in the summer signing. He has become a fundamental member of the team and his teammates appreciate his contribution on the pitch.

He is the Real Madrid player who has put the most crosses into the box: 37 in 6 games. Given that he has played 492 minutes so far this season, he averages a cross into the penalty area every 13 minutes and is the sixth most prolific crosser of the ball in La Liga.

Wenger: I won't apologise to Mourinho A

RSÈNE Wenger has refused to apologise for pushing José Mourinho as the rival managers were involved in an ugly first-half spat, while Chelsea were left

Ibrahimovic: I’ll never play in EPL

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James hitting his stride

Asked whether he’ll represent an English club in the future, the former Barcelona forward said: ‘No. I am happy in Paris. I respect the Premier League.

•Ibrahimovic

facing awkward questions themselves in the wake of this victory over their medical staff ’s initial assessment of the severity of a head injury sustained by Thibaut Courtois.

Wenger had been infuriated by Gary Cahill’s poor challenge on Alexis Sánchez on the touchline, a tackle which earned the England centre-half a caution, and marched out of his own technical area and across that of his opposite number. Mourinho stood in the Frenchman’s way, ushering him back, with the Arsenal manager pushing him back. The pair clashed again seconds later with the fourth official, Jonathan Moss, duly stepping in to separate them and the referee, Martin Atkinson, subsequently speaking to both.

UNEASY MOMENT ... Arsenal Manager, Arsene Wenger (l) and his Chelsea counterpart, Jose Mourinho in a moment of madness.

Why Fabregas is shining — Balague

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ESC FABREGAS is rel ishing the freedom at Chelsea that he didn’t have at Barcelona. That is the view of Spanish football expert Guillem Balague following the Spaniard’s £30m move to Stamford Bridge.

Fabregas has inspired

Chelsea to the top of the table after seven games of the season.

Balague said: “Cesc is seen as somebody that couldn’t adapt to the demands of Barcelona.

“The demands of a Barcelona midfielder require a lot of discipline and a tac-

tical approach, and Cesc loves the freedom to play wherever he wants, and that’s where you’re going to get the best out of him.

“At Barcelona, that couldn’t happen because they already had one player in Messi who plays freely, but at Chelsea he can.''

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014 — 63

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014

Moses ‘sad’ to miss Sudan clash S

•Moses

Sudan vs Nigeria

10 Eagles fly into camp

UPER Eagles winger, Victor Moses has spoken about sadness at missing the upcoming 2015 Africa Nations Cup (Afcon) qualifying games against Sudan.

The Super Eagles will face the Falcons of Jediane in two games that could potentially decide their fate as far as qualifying for the 2015 Afcon is concerned.

Moses who was

Emenike yet to arrive

Continues on Page 61

I won't apologise to Mourinho — Wenger •Pg.62

•Anyansi, Keshi say it’s must win against Sudan

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•Keshi

HE seriousness of the Super Eagles double header against Sudan in Omdurman and Abuja has been underlined by the early arrival of players to the team’s camp at the Bolton White Apartment in Abuja, the Federal Capital.

As at 3pm on Monday, at least ten players had arrived the team’s camp with training expected to commence this

originally named in the 23-man-squad made public by Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi just over a week ago will however miss both games.

This was after he aggravated a thigh injury while on duty for Barclays English Premier League club, Stoke City against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

The 23-year-old was predictably pained at the timing of the injury and duly took to Twitter to voice his sentiments.

morning at the training pitch of the Abuja National Stadium. All Continues on Page 61

Eagles in camp

You've to start scoring, Rodgers warns Balotelli — Pg.62

Omatsone Aluko Hope Akpan Babatunde Michael Noskhare Igiebor Aaron Samuel Gbolahan Salami Azubuike Egwuekwe Emem Edward Chigozie Agbim Ighodalo Osagunna

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Fall (6) 5 Principal (6) 9 Go in (5) 10 Simpler (6) 11 Victor (6) 12 Round-up (5) 14 Curdle (4) 17 Youth (3) 18 Trust (4) 20 Chartered (5) 22 Declined (5) 23 Recovered (7) 24 Untidy (5) 26 Lukewarm (5) 29 Inactive (4) 30 Marry (3) 32 Only (4) 33 Paled (5) 35 Reiterate (6) 36 Gasped (6) 37 Singer (5) 38 Tiller (6) 39 Sinew (6)

DOWN 1 Ditch (6) 2 Clergyman (6) 3 Ogle (4) 4 Enlist (5) 5 Stitched (5) 6 Threesome (4) 7 Streamer (6) 8 Deserved (6) 13 Dawdled (7) 15 Existed (5) 16 Abrupt (5) 18 Hell (5) 19 Danger (5) 21 Age (3) 22 Damp (3) 24 Reflect (6) 25 Inclined (6) 27 Mailed (6) 28 Benumb (6) 30 Irrigate (5) 31 Storehouse (5) 33 Destiny (4) 34 Challenge (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Shoot 7, Useful 9, Via Bar 12, Train 13, Dear 15, Meter Rubble 19, Yank 20, Ratio 22, Elf Dangled 27, Tea 28, Aisle 31, Clap Starch 35, Later 37, Eros 38, Relax Den 41, Ill 42, Airman 43, Stone.

10, 17, 24, 33, 39,

DOWN: 1, Judder 2, Depart 3, Rub 4, Site 5, Harry 6, Oriental 8, Lamb 11, Relegated 14, Raid 16, Tell 18, Boat 21, Affluent 23, Fear 25, Nest 26, Dice 29, Shrimp 30, Easing 32, Plain 34, Area 36, Axle 40, Nip.

How to Play Sudoku

P

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

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

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

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C M Y K