Military, B'Haram battle for CDS' town

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62228

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

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Military, B'Haram battle for CDS' town •Troops recover 17 vehicles, Anti-aircraft guns, others •Bama, Michika, Mararaban, Mubi under our control — B'Haram •Emir of Mubi flees with residents; LG chairmen desert councils •I'm eager to return to battle front — Obasanjo

By Kingsley Omonobi, Henry Umoru, Caleb Ayansina, Umar Yusuf & Ndahi Marama

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BUJA—THE mili tary, yesterday, engaged the Boko Haram terrorists in a fierce battle at Vimtim, the home town of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, inflicting heavy casualties on the insurgents. At the end of the gun battle, the troops who moved in from the 1 Division Kaduna, 3 Division Jos and TRADOC, Minna killed 40 sect members

Continues on page 8

Mr & Mrs

EXHIBITION: From left: President Abdel Aziz of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania; President Idris Deby of Chad; President Goodluck Jonathan and Chadian Minister of Communications, Mr Hassan Bakari inspecting exhibition stands at the maiden edition of the International Information and Communications Technology Show in N'djamena, Chad, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

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Court restrains property firm over N93m deal

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS — A Lagos High Court has restrained a property firm, Redbricks Homes International Ltd, from disposing off a property located at 3, Gbadamosi Close, Amen Estate, Eleko Beach Road, Lekki Peninsula, Lagos to anyone, other than the claimant.

Justice Wasiu Animahun ordered the defendant whether by itself, its servants, privies, successors in title or anyone howsoever acting through the defendant from disposing off, alienating, transferring and or selling the property known as 3, Gbadmosi Close, Amen Estate, Eleko Beach Road, Lekki Peninsula, pending the final determination of the suit.

The applicant, Goodness Edojah and Solomon Edojah, had filed an applicant dated September 1, 2014 before the court seeking an order to restrain the defendant from the property in dispute.

The court gave the order after its observed that there is a prima facie evidence that the claimant had paid N53,615,000 out of a bargain price of N93 million for the purchase of the property in contention.

When contracted on phone, the defendant and owner of the property firm, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi declined comment on the issue.

FG to ban ponmo consumption

By Ola Ajayi

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BADAN —THE Federal Government will soon ban sale and widespread consumption of hides and skins (ponmo)which is a delicacy in many Nigerian communities.

This indication emerged, yesterday, when the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, called for competent regulations that would check the consumption and sale of the product.

He said this at the third joint anniversary of Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN) and Nigeria Institute of Animal Science at the University of Ibadan.

If this is achieved, he noted that livestock farmers would stand a good chance of making high dollar return if the hides and skins are tanned into leather.

The minister, who was represented at the occasion by

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INNA — THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested 30 in connection with sales and usage of banned drugs in Niger State.

Eight of them were said to be notorious drug dealers while 22 others were users of the hard drugs.

The arrests were made when the agency carried out a raid in some joints in Suleija Local Government Area of the state, last weekend.

Areas raided include Yan Gon Gon, by IBB Market, behind Diamond Bank; new Kwata by abattoir; old Engineering Barracks, Kantoma and old

Director, Animal Production and Husbandry in the ministry, Dr. Ademola Raji, said: “I also commend NIAS for its advocacy and public

enlightenment programmes on radio and television that promote value addition in livestock as against sale and consumption of primary

Police arrest 4 for duping couple of N14.5m in Ogun

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By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA — THE Ogun State Police Command yesterday, paraded four members of a fraud syndicate which allegedly duped a couple of N14.5 million.

The couple were told by the fraudsters to give them N20,000 to ward off the looming evil before them, but they ended up paying N14.5 million in three tranches before the fraudsters were arrested.

The suspects are Shehu Salam, 40; Risikat Oriyomi,47; Sola Babalola 38 and Wasiu Ajani, 35, who is physically challenged, were arrested on Monday in their den located at Omusorin village in Obafemi/ Owode Local Government Area

30 arrested over drug offences in Niger

By Wole Mosadomi

Ponmo: Photo: Adekunle Aliyu

products alone, particularly with the issue of curtailing the widespread consumption of hides and skins as ponmo which ought to be tanned into leather for a very high dollar return to the farmer and tanneries.

"I expect that competent regulations acceptable by all stakeholders will be developed to give credibility that our set standards for food safety are being implemented which will boost value addition.”

The theme of the programme was entitled, “Value Addition in the Nigerian Livestock Industry: A strategy for Economic Growth and Stakeholders Empowerment.”

The minister stressed that Federal Government would continue to drive its Agricultural Transformation Agenda with increased vigour in all its ramifications, pleading for continuous support and cooperation of all stakeholders in the livestock sector to deliver the benefits.

Minna Garage.

Thirty one kilogrammes of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa and other psychoactive drugs were recovered from the drug dealers.

The state Commander of the NDLEA, Mallam Abdullahi Abdul, who confirmed the arrests described Yan Gon Gon, New Kwata and old Engineering Barracks as dreaded areas, saying they were no go areas for residents of the town.

The commander linked various violent crimes in Suleja and adjoining towns to the suspects and vowed that the exercise would be a continuous one to bring sanity to the town and its environs.

The suspects of the state.

The fifth suspect, who is said to be the ring leader, one Baba Awotola, fled when men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad stormed their operational base.

It was gathered that Ajani, a native of Ilorin, Kwara State, who claimed to be an Islamic cleric, got the couple into the net of the syndicate through the couple's family friend.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, who conducted newsmen round the fraudster’s shrine in a dilapidated house which doubled as their operational base, yesterday, said the syndicate used Ajani to lure the couple, who are rice merchants in Lagos State.

Ikemefuna said Ajani used the name of a late popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Bulala, to hoodwink the victims.

The commissioner explained that Ajani on the fateful day dressed in Islamic cassock and hung about nine different

praying rosaries on his neck, accosted the couple around Owode Onirin, Lagos, and gave them a revelation of a looming trouble before them which must be warded off through one of special prayers.

He said: “The suspect also told them to buy a measure of salt and give it as alms to three beggars.

He later told the husband to buy a local egg and use it to pray, circling it around his head three times.”

According to him, Ajani later used the egg as a bait to lure the couple to their den, where they began to swindle them.

“He got the wife’s telephone number, and through it, he called the couple to bring the egg to their den for a special prayer,” Okoye said.

The couple, who pleaded anonymity because of their position in the society, said the syndicate under the pretence of warding off the evil before them collected N14.5 million in three instalments from them.

Involvement of 'white witches'

According to the couple, the syndicate used the two women, Risiqat and Sola as "white witches" who claimed to offer prayers to ward off evils.

The ‘witches’ who claimed to have descended from ‘heaven’ reportedly said they needed money to fly back.

We got only N100,000 each —Suspect

Speaking with newsmen, Ajani said he got the information about the couple from the fleeing Baba Awotola.

He said: “It was Baba Awotola who introduced me to this shady business. He asked me whether I want to die a wretched man.

He was the one who gave the information that the couple had a problem and that they were a bit comfortable. He promised me a car and N300,000, but he only gave me and Shehu N100,000 each.”

Ikemefuna warned residents to

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POCKET CARTOON

AIR PEACE—Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Air Peace, Allen Onyema (2nd left) and his wife, Alice receiving the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) of his airline from Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Engr. Benedict Adeyileka (r) while other members of staff of NCAA watch at NCAA office, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Military, B'Haram battle for CDS' home town the city centre and a gun battle ensued. Unknown to them, the newly deployed soldiers arrived and joined the battle, taking on the terrorists from behind leading to killing of over 40 insurgents while others fled.

The military also recovered 17 Hilux vehicles, General Purpose Ma-

chine Guns (GPMGs) mounted on their Hilux and also succeeded in revehicles, and several claiming Michika, Uba Anti-Aircraft guns (AA and Gulak towns from the weapons). Several surterrorists. face-to-air missiles were Giving details of what destroyed while four transpired, the source were taken away by the said, the terrorists encirtroops. cled the troops from all The military source angles of Vimtim as the added that the initial retroops concentrated in treat by soldiers from Mubi was to enable soldiers re-strategize and attack the insurgents in full force, adding that this

BY PASTOR ITUAH was what made civilians panic.

All of us do not start at the same level in life. But The situation, however, it is definite that we will all sooner or later arrive at changed dramatically the same point. when troops from the other three states arrived and assisted in cutting

BY ELLA RANDLE the insurgents off in the Make decisions from the heart and use your head confrontation that ensued. to make it work out — Sir Girad

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LIFEWORDS

TAKE HEART

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IFE often brings us the expected and unex pected, like when you fall in love, you feel your heart flutter, beat loudly or leap for joy; and when rejected, your heart breaks. You experience your heart as the centre of your feelings. Yet your heart is so much more than a vessel for romance. It has been described as the king, with the mind as the king’s adviser. When faced with a decision, the king may ask his adviser for advice, may even send him out into the world to gather information, but ultimately it is the king that makes the final decision.

Even though the advisers do not always agree with the king’s decision, he ensures his view not only sees the bigger picture but is also aware of the needs of others.

In the same way, when faced with a decision or conflict, your mind may come up with numerous, different and quite logical reasons why you should act as it advises, but if you listen to and trust your heart—however illogical or irrational it may seem— it is usually right and you are happier as a result.

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3 Army officers, 2 soldiers injured —Defence Hq The Defence headquarters has also confirmed that three officers and two soldiers were injured in the bloody encounter.

In separate tweets posted, yesterday, it said the injured officers and soldiers were currently receiving treatment at a military facility.

Vanguard gathered that the General Officer Commanding the 3rd Ar-

moured Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Mohammed Zaruwa was personally directing the counter-insurgency operation.

The tweets read: “Counter Terrorist Troops have carried out an attack on insurgents in Mubi town, Adamawa State. In the fierce battle to root out the insurgents, scores of insurgents lost their lives, while several others escaped with fatal gunshot wounds.

“Two officers and three soldiers who were wounded in the battle are currently receiving treatment in a Military Medical Facility”.

FG refocuses on Boko Haram's source of funding, weapons Meanwhile, the Federal Government, said yesterday, that it would focus on the source of funding and weapons used by the insurgents, as part of efforts to end terrorism in the country.

The Coordinator, National Information Centre and Director-General, National Orientation Agency, Mr. Mike Omeri, who stated this during the routine security briefing, in Abuja,

insisted that it had capacity to counter the ongoing insurgency in the North-Eastern part of the country.

Omeri said the recent Regional Ministerial Meeting convened to explore ways of achieving international cooperation in tackling the challenge of insurgency in the North East had called for more action in tackling the menace.

According to him, the meeting was summoned to look into the level of implementation of the decisions and commitments made at the Paris Summit of May 2014 and the follow-up meetings in London and Washington DC. “Particularly, the meeting underscored the need to effectively address the sources of funding and supply of weapons to Boko Haram and called for greater international co-operation in tackling all forms of illegal transfer of arms and ammunition,” he said.

Omeri added that the forum also advocated strict sanctions against terrorist groups, especially Boko Haram, while commending the effort of the Nigerian government in setting up the Victims Support Fund for alleviating the plight of victims of insurgency.

He noted that the recent recapture of Bama town by the troops attest to the renewed zeal and commitment, which officers and men of the Nigerian Army had shown towards defending the country and her territorial integrity.

The NOA Boss commended the efforts of the Nigerian military in containing the activities of Boko Haram insurgents, urging the people to always pray for them.

Speaking further, Omeri warned Nigerians against purchasing used and pre-registered SIM cards from uncertain sources, saying such phones and SIM cards might have been used by terrorists for criminal activities.

“The caution has becomes necessary to save

members of the public the embarrassment of being apprehended for crimes committed with phones and SIM cards found in their possession,” he said.

We are in control of Bama, Michika, Mubi —Boko Haram Boko Haram on its part declared, yesterday, it was still in control of Bama, Michika and Mubi towns. Its spokesman, Abu Zinnira, in a statement said: “This is a rebuttal from the information dissemination and sensitization unit of the Jamaatul Ahlil Sunna Lidawati Wal Jihad (Boko Haram) on the series of lies that the Nigerian military have been feeding the world on our recent conquests.

“Let the whole world know that we are on the path of victory because up to this minute, the town of Bama is under our control, the whole of Michika is now in our hands, as well as Mararaban (Junction of) Mubi now fully under our control. We are assuring the world that this would be continuous and there will be no going back by God’s grace.

This is a message from me on behalf of our brethren."

As thousands of displaced persons continue to troop into Yola, the Adamawa State capital from the Northern Senatorial district following fierce fighting with the insurgents, the hometown of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh is said to be close to the reach of the insurgents.

Vimtim, Badeh’s hometown is about 30 minutes drive from Mubi along the highways on the Yola–Maiduguri road.

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NIMR on shortlist for Ebola vaccine trial

By Sola Ogundipe & Chioma Obinna

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The problem with Nigeria, by Fashola, Lamido

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

On his part, Lamido, who is a Peoples Democratic Party governor, noted that the problem with the country was the attempt by leaders to appropriate public offices to themselves and their associates at the expense of the people they were expected to serve.

“For us to advance as a nation, we must build strong institutions to serve Nigerians better. We must avoid the practice of converting public institutions to private estates to serve individual needs instead of catering for the overall benefit of the citizens.

“As leaders, we should be more concerned with using our offices to help the people who elected us than using the offices to acquire power and wealth.

“All those at leadership level in Nigeria must be ready to account to the people while the citizens should be bold enough to demand for their rights from their leaders,'' Lamido said.

The governor lamented that because of poor leadership being exhibited in the past, the meaning of government and good governance had diminished in Nigeria in the last 16 years and called for a change of attitude.

Fashola noted that going by what has happened in the country so far, Nigeria was in need of what he called ‘urgent repairs’.

The two governors said the leadership needed to do something to revive the sense of nationalism of all Nigerians so that they could work together in tackling the challenges facing the country.

They said they did not care who takes over from them but

expressed the hope that the work they had done would speak for them now and in the future.

Fashola and Lamido made it clear that they would not influence the choice of their successors since the people of Lagos and Jigawa states were sound enough to decide on who governs them.

They said they succeeded in breaking the jinx of underdevelopment in their states because they were aware of the challenges facing them for the outset and were determined to address them in the interest of the people.

The leader of the Kukah Centre and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah, explained that the debate was put in place to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas on various national issues so as to move the nation forward.

AGOS—THE Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, Lagos, is being considered as the venue for the upcoming clinical trials on any of the experimental vaccines for Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, currently being developed.

This development came as the Treatment Research Group, TRG, set up by the Federal Ministry of Health to coordinate research on potential cure for EVD, is putting finishing touches to requirements for the clinical trials.

Confirming the development yesterday in Lagos, Director General of NIMR, Prof. Innocent Ujah said the foremost Nigerian health institution has all it takes to conduct the trials on any of the Ebola vaccines currently undergoing development globally.

Ujah explained that while NIMR would be used as the resident institute, the Nigeria Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, NIPRID, Abuja, would be involved in examining some of the claims.

The initial treatment testing of an investigational EVD vaccine, described as phase 1 clinical trial is to help investigators determine the safety and efficacy new vaccines against Ebola.

BUJA—TWO Nigerian governors, Babatunde Fashola and Sule Lamido of Lagos and Jigawa states, respectively, yesterday, examined the nation’s polity and concluded that the major problem facing the country was misplaced attention being paid by the leadership on wrong values.

The governors, who made their observation at political discourse organised by the Kukah Centre at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, noted that the country needed to place more premium on values that have propelled other nations to greater heights.

Fashola lamented that although Nigeria was blessed with a rich reservoir of laws, which were adequate to provide good governance and prosperous system for all, the propensity to pay selective attention based on political expediency of the leadership had stalled national advancement and cohesion.

“There is nothing wrong with Nigeria,” the governor said, noting that ''Nigeria as a system has not changed but the people and leadership have been changing over the years.

“We seem to place more premium on money rather than values. We value awards, honours and titles more than hard work. That is why people, who have tainted records and should be barred from holding pubic offices are bestowed with highest national honours.”

Mrs Rosaline Ogunbiyi is dead

Sacrifice personal interests for public good, Jonathan tells Nigerians

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RS Rosaline Adeleye Ogunbiyi (nee David Adiye) aged 79, is dead. She died in Lagos on August 25. She is survived by her husband, Chief Kolade Ogunbiyi, children and grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

.Late Mrs Ogunbiyi

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By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians to place public interest above personal or private interest in the collective effort to build a strong nation, which would be pride of all.

Opening the 44th Annual Accountants Conference in Abuja, yesterday, he said although the nation was blessed with worldclass professionals, some of them had failed to add value to the efforts toward nation building by placing their personal interest above the public good.

The President, who was represented by the Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said, “You must

MEETING: From right; President Idriss Deby of Chad; President Goodluck Jonathan and former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff at a meeting in Chad on Monday. Photo: NAN.

understand that professionalism means supporting good policy that is in the wider public interest even when it does not necessarily benefit the immediate interests of you or your own association.

“Professionalism also demands being constructive in criticisms of policies you do not support without personalising issues. In the course of this weeklong conference as you revisit the ethics and body of rules governing your profession, I hope you would also discuss these matters as they relate to the promotion of the public interest.

“Unfortunately, I have also come across some Nigerian professionals whose actions have fallen short of professionalism in the course of my work. There are professionals who resort to blackmail and abuse of

government and individuals when they fail to win contracts that are competitively bid.

“There are individuals/ professionals who have resorted to divisive ethnic and sexist sentiments to blackmail and undermine the government when policies did not favour their narrow interests. For example, so-called “professionals” have attempted to undermine new approaches designed to put this country in tune with international good practice”.

President Jonathan said his administration has made bold strides on several fronts in his transformation agenda, especially in the power sector, job creation, agriculture, as well as, oil and gas.

According to him, “in the oil and gas, we have completed work on important projects such as the 136km gas pipeline from Oben to Geregu, the 31km pipeline from Itoki to Olorunshogo and the

acquisition of 250 square kilometers of 3D-seismic data for the Chad basin. In addition, government has also initiated the Ogidigben Gas Industrialisation Project, which will provide a petrochemicals complex in Delta State.

On job creation, he said his administration created 1.2 million jobs last year and that the current focus on the power sector would change the fortunes of Nigerians.

In his address, ICAN President, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu, charged chartered accounts in the country to defend the public interest in the discharge of their duties.

His words: “As conscience of the society, professionals and in particularly, chartered accountants are required to consistently act, promote and defend the public interest. Indeed, great societies are built by professionals driven, not by personal interest, but by altruistic service to all.''

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Law enforcement agents are partners in progress, clerics tell NURTW, traders

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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ELIGIOUS LEADERS in the state have appealed to the public, especially traders and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, to always see law enforcement officers as partners in progress.

The religious leaders from both Christianity and Islam made the call, yesterday, during a community outreach programme organised by the Lagos State Law Enforcement Training Institute, LETI, at Mile 12 Market in the Lagos East senatorial district, in furtherance of the state government’s effort to stimulate seamless relationship between law enforcement agents in the state and residents.

Religious leaders who spoke at the programmes include: the National Missioner of Ansar-UdDeen, Sheik Abdulrrahman Ahmad, former Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, National Chief Missioner of NASFAT Alhaji Abdullahi Akinbode, among others.

EBOLA: UNESCO, Afe Babalola call for concerted efforts

By Gbenga Ariyibi

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DO EKITI — UNITED Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, and legal icon, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, yesterday, called for collaborative efforts toward fighting the scourge of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, and insurgency in Nigeria.

They spoke at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, during a programme to kick off the UNESCO’s retreat.

Speaking , UNESCO’s Director, Regional office in Abuja, Professor Hassana Alidou, bemoaned the scourge of EVD currently ravaging the West African countries of Guinea, Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (right), discussing with the President, International Women's Society, IWS, Mrs. Folasade Oyeniyi (4th left); Secretary of the IWS, Mrs. Nkoli Ogbolu (3rd left); Trustees, Ambassador Aduke Alakija (2nd left), and Chief Funke Arthur-Worrey (left), during a meeting with trustees of IWS, at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

FAAN denies alleged syringe attack on US air marshal .We're investigating — FBI

By Hugo Odiogor, Foreign containing an unknown Affairs Edito & Lawani Mikairu substance at Lagos airport.

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HE FEDERAL Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, yesterday, denied alleged syringe attack on a US Air Marshal at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, Sunday, September 7, even as the United States said its Federal Bureau of Investigation was investigating the matter.

Some foreign news media had published a story alleging that a US Federal Air Marshal was assaulted with a syringe

According to the report, the victim was a passenger on United Airlines Flight 143 which landed in Houston, Monday, from where he was taken to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention where an on-the-scene screening of the victim was conducted and was quarantined.

Reacting to the report, Mr. Yakubu Dati ,General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, said: “The attention of the Federal Airports Authority of

Nigeria has been drawn to a story making the rounds, that a US Marshal was assaulted at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

“Following the report, a team from the US Embassy met with the airport Joint Security team, and at their request, viewed footages of the movement of the said marshal captured on our CCTV cameras.”

“Preliminary observation from the CCTV footages did not show evidence of such occurrence.

Relevant security agencies have since commenced investigation

Afenifere rejects creation of additional 30,000 polling units by INEC

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE — THE pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, yesterday, rejected the creation of additional 30,000 polling units by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, barely five months to the general elections.

Also, they passed “a vote of no confidence" on the Chairman of the Commission Professor Attahiru Jega, over his ability to conduct a free and fair election next year.

Rising from a five-hour leadership meeting in Akure, the country home of their National Chairman, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the group in a communiqué kicked against the lopsidedness of the electoral umpire in the allocation of polling units to geo-political zones in the country.

Spokesman of the group, Yinka Odumakin, who read the communiqué to newsmen after the meeting said, “the imbalance in the distribution was unacceptable.”

Leaders at the meeting included Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Jelili Adesiyan, Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, governorship candidate of

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, former governors of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Chief Segun Osoba, Chiefs Reuben Fasoranti, Olu Falae and Ayo Adebanjo.

Others were Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Sir Michael Koleoso, Chief Kole Omololu, Senator Gbenga Kaka, Professor Akin Onigbinde, Mr. Sina Kawonise, Mr. Segun Ojo, Mr. Tunde Oladapo and Chief Korede Duyile.

Odumakin said: “The meeting took decision on the 30,000 newly created polling unit announced by INEC, and condemned the whole exercise as skewed, in that 21, 000 were allocated to the Northern part of Nigeria, while 8,000 was allocated to the South.

"We found it very curious, for instance, we don’t understand the democratic abracadabra that allowed the Northwest, just one zone in the North, was allocated 9, 906 polling units while the entire South of Nigeria was allocated 8,000 polling units.

“A war ravaged Northeast where people are fleeing was allocated 5, 201 new polling units while the entire South West which is brimming with people, is allocated only 4, 160 additional polling units. The

entire South East of Nigeria was allocated 1, 166 new units while FCT alone was allocated 1, 200 units. We do not know of any country in the world where you would change electoral law one year to the election, not to talk of creating additional polling units six months to the election.

“We don’t understand while war-torn areas are now having more polling units than peaceful areas. And more important, how does Jega want to migrate voters who have been given Permanent Voters Cards with existing codes in existing units with the new polling units which had just been created.

"We see the whole exercise as attempt to create rigging at source where 500 votes will return to the units where it was created and more important you create an election dominant manual that Nigerians will continue to fight as we are now fighting lopsidedness we see at House of Representatives and Senate today.

“To this end we reject it in its entirety and we are saying it now. We pass a vote of no confidence in Jega’s capacity to conduct free and fair and credible election if these additional units are not cancelled immediately.

into the matter.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria wishes to assure all air travellers and the general public of our commitment to safety and security of our airports.”

ABC News reported that US law enforcement officials told them “that they were alarmed by the bizarre, unprovoked attack because the assailant was apparently able to inject an unknown substance into the back of one of the air marshal’s arms.”

Meanwhile, the FBI in a statement made available to Vanguard, yesterday, said it was looking into the incident.

The statement said the victim did not show any sign of illness during the flight, but was isolated and transported to a hospital for further testing. The recovered syringe was also taken for further clinical tests. Reports said there was no indication that the Air Marshal and other passengers in the flight were in any danger.

The incident came amid fears that the substance could contain some form of Ebola virus. The Air Marshals are members of the diplomatic staff that travel with airplanes to forestal hijacking and terrorist attack on aircraft. They travel under-cover in plain clothes, which would not make them easily identifiable to the public as security agents. Owing to the nature of their assignment, the Air Marshals are allowed to carry arms as American Law Enforcement agents.

The National President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Jon Adler said there was no intelligence to link the incident with terrorist attack at this point when US personnel were globally on alert ahead of the anniversary of September 2001 terrorist attack on the United States.

There was no official confirmation from the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs whose officers failed to respond to media enquiries. Nigerian Airport security said there was no official report of the incident.

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ELECTORAL MATERIALS INSPECTION: PDP, APC lawyers at each other's throats

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO — Lawyers of both the peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State, yesterday, almost resorted to physical combat and disrupted the planned inspection of election materials used for the August 9 governorship election.

Both parties were granted requests by the tribunal to inspect the election materials used for the last governorship election in the state.

But at commencement of the exercise at the INEC headquarters, Osogbo, lawyers of both parties almost exchanged blows after a hot argument that ensued between them as a result of absence of an exhibit to be used for the inspection.

The drama which lasted for an hour before the intervention of INEC officials who persuaded them to give peace a chance, saw the lawyers calling themselves unprintable names and pointing fingers at one another.

Trouble started when INEC Deputy Director in charge of Electoral Operations, Mr. Azeez Olatunji, announced that items and electoral materials to be inspected for the day were those of Obokun and Ila-Orangun Local governments of the state.

After the announcement, the deputy Director stated that the PDP in its request sought to inspect 17 local governments’ electoral materials and demanded for the cooperation of the two parties.

He listed items to be inspected as ballot papers, election registers, election result sheets and added that if other materials like cubicle and ballot boxes were needed to be inspected in the course of the exercise, it would be granted.

Also, the administrative Secretary of INEC, Oladipo Oladapo, assured the two political parties that the commission would be fair to all as it would discharge its duty with transparency.

Similarly, the commission’s legal department’s staff, Barrister Wiltep Ishaku who is to preside over the inspection of the

materials, told both parties to cooperate with officials of the INEC. At this point, it was discovered that an Exhibit tagged “A” was missing in the items to be inspected.

Some lawyers from the APC kicked that the inspection should not continue until the missing exhibit was provided while the PDP lawyers pleaded that the Exhibit could still be produced by INEC while inspection of the available ones should continue. .

This suggestion infuriated the APC lawyers who maintained their stance that nothing would be done

until the Exhibit was produced.

At this stage, Daud Akinloye of the APC and his counterpart, Kehinde Adesiyan of the PDP started exchanging hot words when the administrative Secretary ordered that the “Exhibit A” should be produced before the commencement of the inspection.

At the time of this report, the inspection was yet to commence but some useful items to be used for the exercise like photocopy machines, Scanners and other equipments were displayed on the tables made available by officials of INEC.

ADDRESS: Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (left), addressing agro-preneurs, during the flag-off ceremony of the 1,000 hectares farmland of cassava planting, at Ore Agro-Business City, in Ore.

Oyo PDP aspirants decry N15.5m expression of interest fee

By Ola Ajayi

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BADAN — LEADING governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, yesterday, described as scandalous the N15.5 million expression of interest fee imposed by both the state and the national secretariat of the party, fearing that

the high fee could force some of them to drop their ambitions.

When Vanguard spoke with some of them, they described the mandatory fee as ‘unrealistic and outrageous’.

Three of the aspirants, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Professor Soji Adejumo and Mr. Kehinde

Olaosebikan, took exception to the fees, saying the party could have allowed aspirants to express their intention without any impediments on their ways.

Adedoja, who addressed party supporters in his Ikolaba residence, yesterday, said the fee would definitely disenfranchise

many aspirants.

According to him, “raising intention fee from N1 million to N15.5 million is definitely outrageous, which will discourage many intending participants at all levels from the governorship to the State House of Assembly.”

Top Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ajisafe dies at 87

By Gbenga Olarinoye

OSOGBO — PROMINENT Islamic scholar and President General, League of Imams and A l f a s i n t h e S o u t h We s t , Sheikh Musthapha Ajisafe, is dead, aged 87.

Late Ajisafe, according to family source, died, Monday, at about 11p.m., after he visited some relatives in Osogbo, his home town, where he also resided.

C M Y K

Ajisafe was until his death the Chief Imam of Osogbo land and leader of League of Alfas and Imams in the South We s t g e o - p o l i t i c a l z o n e including Edo and Delta states.

It was gathered that the late Islamic leader was not sick before his death, but died after he had prayed and retired to the bed.

The remains of the late Ajisafe are expected to be interred today at his family

house, Arikalamu compound, Osogbo after prayers at the Osogbo city stadium in the morning.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar is expected to lead other Islamic leaders from across the country to the burial programme.

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola described the death of Ajisafe as a big loss to the entire Muslim community in Osun State and Nigeria in general.

EBOLA: Ondo

Assembly passes cremation bill into law Dayo Johnson & by Gbenga Olarinoye

OSOGBO— ONDO State House of Assembly yesterday passed the Bill for the disposal of bodies

by Cremation and Other Matters connected into law.

This came as Osun State Ebola monitoring and prevention committee organised a sensitisation workshop for leaders of Transport Unions in the state with a view to preventing the scourge of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD from spreading to the state.

The bill was last week presented by the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

It was passed into law after the third reading preceded by the presentation of the report of the House Committee on health headed by Bamidele Oleyelogun.

Oleyelogun while presenting the report, said the committee had on Monday organised a public hearing to enable all stakeholders have input into the bill before the passage.

Moving the motion for the passage of the bill, Akinsoyinu said the law would further improve the health sector and protect the people of the state.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Jumoke Akindele, said the law was in response to the Ebola Virus disease, adding that it would make the bodies of affected people properly disposed.

Akindele said the move became necessary since experts had said that one of the ways of preventing the spread of the disease is proper disposal of bodies.

In a related development Osun State Ebola monitoring and prevention committee yesterday organised a sensitisation workshop for leaders of Transport Unions in the state with a view to preventing the scourge of the virus from spreading to the state.

12 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

No car bomb explosion in Bayelsa —POLICE

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—THE police in Bayelsa State, yesterday, denied the car bomb explosion report in the state capital, saying that the sound heard at the Okaka Estate in Yenagoa was from a loaded cartridge of a police personnel, which caught fire.

Residents of the estate were thrown into panic over a loud sound from the boot of a car packed on the road 6 section of the estate.

Though no life was lost, the explosion reportedly triggered panic among residents of the area who called the men of the Nigerian Police anti bomb squad.

The incident, which occurred at 11a.m., after a heavy downpour, was said to have emanated from an old blue Nissan Sunny car parked on the road.

According to a resident of the estate, who pleaded anonymity, the device exploded inside the boot of the vehicle.

Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, said “It was not a car bomb.

It was a sound from a police smoke cartridge, which caught fire in a car driven by a police officer.”

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YO—STAFF of federal establishments in Akwa Ibom State have lamented the non-payment of their salaries, following alleged system failure of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS. The development was said to have led to overpayment and short-payment of some staff for upwards of three months from January 2012.

The affected staff told newsmen in Uyo, yesterday said that they were surprised they were yet to be paid the omitted salaries, even though the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, had assured them the lapses would be rectified before May 2012.

The workers noted that with the proposed merger of agencies, it will be more difficult for the salaries to be paid, adding that they fear that they could lose their salaries to another scam akin to the infamous pension scam if nothing was done immediately to address the issue.

One of the workers, who spoke on the ground of anonymity, said they were given the assurance that the unpaid salaries would be included in the 2013 budget, lamenting that nothing had been done since then. He appealed to relevant offices to look into their plight.

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STAKEHOLDERS in Ugborodo community, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, have been urged to close ranks and harmonise the dual leadership that has torn apart the oil community, where Federal Government has proposed to site the $16billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ. Mr Cyril Ojogor of the Save Ugborodo Group, who made the call in Warri, noted that the continued tension in Ugborodo despite several peace interventions by stakeholders meant that lasting peace will not return until the crisis was addressed from its root.

VISIT: Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Konbowei Benson (2nd left) conducting Governor Seriake Dickson (2nd right) round the remodelled House of Assembly Complex during a visit to the complex in Yenagoa. With them are, Leader of the House, Peter Akpe, (left) and the Deputy Speaker of the House, Chief Victor Sam Ateki.

PDP crisis deepens as party moves to sanction BoT member

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT—THE tension generated over whether it is the upland or riverine that should produce the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State heightened yesterday, as the party threatened to sanction a chieftain and member of the

Board of Trustees, BoT of the party, for convening a meeting of governorship aspirants of his riverine ethnic group within the party with a view to pruning down the number.

The party ’s stalwart had recently convoked a meeting of contenders for the governorship seat in 2015 within the party, where he tried to scale the number to

about three.

The PDP in a statement at the end of its state executive meeting in Port Harcourt, accused the BoT member of fraternising with leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC in the state, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, adding that members of the party should ignore any stakeholders meeting convened by the said party chieftain in the future.

Ika South people threaten to sue INEC over voter's register cancellation

By Victor Ahiuma-Young HE People of Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, have rejected the explanation by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the cancellation of their voters’ register, threatening legal action should INEC fails

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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By Chioma Onuegbu

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‘How peace can be achieved in Ugborodo' ARRI

FG Staff in A’Ibom cry out over unpaid salaries

to right the wrong.

Briefing newsmen in Agbor, President-General of Agbor Community, Major General Nick Agbogun, (rtd), said the people insist that INEC’s action was without valid justification, adding “It stands in breach of INEC’s statutory obligations to maintain and display valid voters register

House c'ttee lauds Oshiomhole

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—HOUSE of Representatives Committee on Education, has described the contributions of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to the development of modern Nigeria as unquantifiable.

Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Aminu Suleiman in Benin, yesterday when he led other members of the committee on a courtesy visit to the governor at Government House, Benin City, said “We want to thank the people of Edo State and the Government headed by you (Oshiomhole) for what you have been able to achieve. I say this because you have spent your life traversing all

parts of this country fighting for and on behalf of all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, colour, creed and religion.

“You have been a panNigeria leader. At the end of the day, you accepted to come back after becoming the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC President to become a governor. To us, it is humility in display and I say this to appreciate the people of Edo State first for the confidence they repose on you.”

The committee said that it had gone round the state and has seen the developmental efforts of the state government.

“We are here and many of us are satisfied with what we have seen. Those of us who are familiar with Edo State continue to wonder where you got the funds to do what you are doing in the state.''

for every constituent district of Nigeria, including Ika South council. The cancellation has disenfranchised tens of thousands of the eligible voters in our area and, therefore, unacceptable.

“The cancellation of the voters’ register for Ika South council is unjustifiable as the explanation offered by INEC for that action is illogical and untenable. We are unable to understand how the corruption or loss of a copy of the voters’ register justifies the cancellation of the entire register even when the original database is good and intact. Just as we do not see how a fresh registration is necessary when all that is required is to restore the record from the existing database and preserve the sanctity of our voters’ register.

“Assuming that it was necessary to conduct a fresh registration as offered by INEC, we wonder why we have not been given adequate time and resources to conduct a credible and conclusive registration.

“The implication of the current situation is that tens of thousands of our citizens have been denied the opportunity to register. The cancelled register had about 73,000 voters and apparently less than 40 percent were registered during the recently rushed exercise.

''This massive disenfranchisement of our people is unacceptable.”

A'Ibom guber: Group endorses Umoette

By Udeme Clement

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EDIA professionals under the umbrella of Akwa Ibom Journalists Association, Lagos State chapter, have expressed support for the governorship aspirant of Mr. Robert Umoette on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. They also formally endorsed him for 2015 governorship poll in the state.

Chairperson of the association, Mrs. Petronilla Nteps, who addressed newsmen in Lagos, stressed that the endorsement by the group became necessary following various developmental projects put in place by Umoette, including youth empowerment in the state.

She said “Umoette, a popular and respected personality from OnnaEket senatorial district has done so much for our youths and other indigenes of Onna-Eket, even when he is not the governor of the state yet. That is why we are supporting him to become the next governor in order to move the state forward.''

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014—13

Trouble in Warri as BEDC moves to disconnect power cables

By Akpokona Omafuaire

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PANDEMONIUM broke out, yesterday in Warri, Delta State, over what customers termed “outrageous and strange billing” by the Benin Electricity, Distribution Company, BEDC in the metropolis.

Vanguard gathered that an attempt by some BEDC’s personnel to disconnect a building which is still under construction sparked off crisis at the 3rd Marine gate axis of the city.

This came few minutes after BEDC officials, who have been going around the metropolis on “disconnection assignment” disconnected the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Warri Correspondents Chapel Secretariat, claiming that the union was owing the establishment.

It was, however, discovered that the bill estimated for the NUJ secretarial did not bear

the union’s name but that of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, which apparently was the reason for the huge estimated bill often sent to the NUJ House.

Meanwhile, NUJ members, Warri Correspondents Chapel have expressed displeasure over the recent electricity billing from BEDC in the metropolis and the alleged frequent extortion by BEDC

agents with threats to disconnecting customers.

Mr Joe Ogbodu, Vice Chairman of Correspondent Chapel, who noted the anomaly when BEDC officials stormed the Union House to disconnect the cable, said: “That is how they have been billing us, they give us outrageous bills each month, so this month when they

came, we decided to check their records and we found that our address was recorded as NUT instead of NUJ. We suspect the bills they have been sending to us doesn’t belong to us.

“We can't afford to pay such outrageous bills. They often send us estimated bills even when we don’t get regular power supply.”

Oshiomhole tackling problems created by Ikimi in Edo APC —IDAHOSA

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN CITY—POLITICAL Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Mr Charles Idahosa, yesterday, alleged that the former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC, was the architect of some of the political problems Oshiomhole was addressing in

the state APC. “What Ikimi did by saying that he has gone back to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, where his Esan brother Chief Tony Anenih is, just because Chief John OdigieOyegun, a Bini man was made National Chairman of APC is an insult to the Binis and they will pay for it come February 2015 because when both of them where National Chairmen of NRC and SDP, the Binis supported them because we saw them as our brothers. But for Ikimi to say because

Oyegun is National Chairman, he decided to quit the party to join his brother, they will never get any support from the Binis.

“How can you tell people that you are decamping because you were not made national chairman and that Oyegun was imposed on the party. Meanwhile, Ikimi is the godfather of imposition.

All the problems Oshiomhole has encountered in Edo State were caused by Tom Ikimi.

Ikimi created problems for Oshiomhole.

"In the last congress we had in Edo State, the problem we are having in Esan is tied around him because he believed that everything that is done in that area must be tied to him."

Group urges Idisi to run for NASS in 2015

By Festus Ahon GHELLI—A group, Ethiope East Realistic and Actualization Movement, EERAM, has called on Chief Lovette Idisi to run for the House of Representatives' seat for the Ethiope federal constituency in the 2015 general elections.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Anthony Akpobome, the group said that those that have so far represented the constituency in the past had not brought m e a n i n g f u l development to the area.

The group said Idisi will best represent the interest of the people of the federal constituency, arguing that he “has been rendering much assistance to Urhobo sons and daughters through Lonestar Drilling Company.”

It described Idisi, who vied for the position in the 2011 general elections as a man of impeccable character, calling on the people of Ethiope East and West Local Government Areas to prevail on Idisi to accept to run for the position.

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14— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Onuesoke faults Balarabe Musa on Boko Haram W

ARRI—DELTA State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in 2007 governorship election, Chief Sunny Onuesoke has faulted former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa for accusing the Federal Government of complicity in the abducted Chibok girls saga and instigating crisis in attempt to win 2015 elections.

Chief Onuesoke, Country Director of

Network for Good Governance, N4GG, on the interview granted by Musa, said he was disappointed by the utterances of the elder statesman, whom he claimed he had respected as one of the Northern ex-governors with principle.

He wondered why a President of a country will move to establish Boko Haram insurgents just because he wants to win election, reminding Musa that the insurgent

did not start in President Goodluck Jonathan tenure.

Onuesoke said that the accusation was false, baseless, without no iota of truth and made to cause acrimony between the North and South, adding “I have respect for Balarabe Musa as a Northern leader whom I thought has principle. But since the Presidency went to the South, we can see the true colours of people like him.”

DPP, APC, LP members defect to PDP in Delta

By Brisibe Perez

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KU—AHEAD of the 2015 general elections, some Democratic Peoples Party, DPP; All Progressives Congress, APC and the Labour Party, LP members in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, have defected to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state.

The returnees, while promising to put in their best to reposition the party ahead of future

elections, said their leaving the PDP was a mistake hence they decided to return to 'home.'

Receiving them on behalf of the PDP at Eku, a PDP leader in the area, Chief Bernard Edewor said the return of the members had further strengthened the party in the area.

On the fallout of the PDP council primaries, Chief Edewor appealed to aggrieved members to remain calm, promising that all aspirants in the

primaries would be compensated as the process for the compensation was already ongoing.

In their individual remarks, the Senior Special Adviser to the state governor, Chief Ighoyota Amori and the Ethiope East PDP Chairman, Chief Kings Okpako, assured that the PDP will win all the seats in the forthcoming council elections and charged party members to work as a team.

Women, key agents of peace —NDDC boss

By Ike Uchechukwu

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A L A B A R — MANAGING Director of Niger Delta D e v e l o p m e n t Commission, NDDC, Mr Bassey Abia, has described women as key agents of peace and stability with the capacity to drive sustainable socioeconomic development through human capacity building in the Niger Delta region.

Abia in an address delivered by the Cross River State representative on the board of NDDC, Mr Paul Adah at a one –day sensitisation workshop in Calabar, said: “NDDC sees women as major stakeholders with great potentials of not just creating but sustaining the much needed peace

for the development of the Niger Delta.

"The commission is determined to strengthen the capacity of its women to create wealth and promote peace, thereby create a conducive and secured atmosphere for the development of the region.”

He noted that before now, the commission has been working with women in the Niger Delta and had conducted awareness campaign on breast and cervical cancer for them in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company and also equipped almost 2,000 rural women and young girls with various skills to enable them eke out a living.

“We intend to carry out awareness campaign to

discourage child trafficking and violence against women,” he said.

Madam Ogunye dies @80

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ADAM FLORENCE Ogunye, a devout Christian and community leader in Ijebuland, Ogun State, aged 80 is dead. Funeral service is at Bola Memorial Anglican Church, Mobile Bank-Anthony Way, Ikeka, on September 19 and interment at Awoke, Lekki, Lagos. Madam Ogunye is survived by many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014—15

Obiano donates N100m to Army for cantonment roads

By Nwabueze Okonkwo WKA—GOVERNOR Willie Obiano of Anambra State yesterday released the sum of N100 million for re-construction of roads within Onitsha Military Cantonment.

It will be recalled that the government had in April 2013, during former Governor Peter Obi’s administration awarded the eight-kilometre roads within the military cantonment to Army Engineers Corps at the cost of N400 million.

Handing over the cheque to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, who was represented by Corps Commander of Nigerian Army Engineers, Maj.-Gen. John Davis, Governor Obiano commended the army engineers for completing 80 per cent of the project between that period and now.

He also thanked the Army for the quality of work done on the project and other projects within the state.

The governor pledged to partner with the Nigeria Army

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in reconstruction or construction of other road networks within Onitsha metropolis immediately after the rainy season.

According to him, the Nigerian Army Engineers Corps has proved that it was capable of constructing quality roads within record time.

Obiano, who also inspected the military hospital at the cantonment, pledged to assist in

expanding the hospital and provide drugs and equipment.

“We are also planning to establish a quarantine centre within the cantonment since we have large space available here,” he said.

On the moribund cantonment water project, the governor said the state government, through the help of the World Bank, would resuscitate the project.

“We would make sure that the water reticulates beyond the cantonment for the benefit of communities close to the cantonment,” he assured.

Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, thanked the governor for partnering with the Nigerian Army in the areas of road construction and internal security.

Orji flags off new e-Passport in Abia

By Anayo Okoli

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MUAHIA—ABIA State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has flagged off the new 64-page Nigeria International E-passport in the state.

Performing the ceremony at the Nigeria Immigration Service office, Umuahia, Governor Orji congratulated the Nigeria Immigration Service for the innovation.

Orji, who received the new passport with his wife, Mercy, said the old 32-page

international passport was not accommodating enough for frequent travellers who had to frequent passport offices for renewal.

The new 64-page passport with security features to track someone, according to him, is accommodating and in line with modern, international standards.

The governor charged the Nigerian Immigration Service to continue with its good job, especially controlling the movement of foreigners into

the country.

In her remarks, Comptroller of Nigerian Immigration Service, Abia State command, Mrs. Anthonia Opara, explained that the old 32-page international passport is yet to be phased out, saying it was still in use.

According to her, the new passport is designed to forestall theft and accommodate frequent travellers.

MASSOB mourns Dimgba Igwe

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—THE Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has commiserated with the family of late Mazi Dimgba Igwe, the Sun Publishing Company and Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, on the death of the renowned journalist.

Igwe was vice-chairman of the publishing company before his death.

MASSOB Director of Information, Mr. Uchenna Madu, said in a statement yesterday that the organization received the news of Dimgba’s death with shock.

The statement read: “The late Dimgba was a noble journalist with unique presentation. He was a prolific writer who so much loved his profession. His sudden exit has created a big vacuum which may be hard to fill."

16— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

2015: Cattle rearers root for Jonathan

Orji Kalu at PDP Secretariat, says insurgency politically motivated

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA—AHEAD of the 2015 presidential election, the national leadership of cattle rearers in the country, operating under the aegis, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, said yesterday that they are solidly behind President Goodluck Jonathan's re-election bid.

According to the association, President Jonathan has earned their trust for appointing one of them as his Special Adviser.

Speaking yesterday on behalf of the group when they paid a solidarity visit on the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Matters, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, its national secretary, Saleh Hassan, stressed that members of the association are ready to support the government in bringing peace between the cattle dealers and farmers across the nation.

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA—FORMER governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Kalu, yesterday stormed the national secretariat of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, saying insurgency in the North East zone of the country was politically motivated.

Speaking at the PDP national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, while on a visit to the national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'Azu, Kalu noted that President Goodluck Jonathan was doing everything humanly to get the kidnapped Chibok girls back and meet their parents.

He also hailed the military in the fight against the Boko Haram group, saying the men were doing their best in the face of the insurgency which, according to him, is still new in Nigeria.

He also boasted that with

his likes in the ruling PDP, it was not possible for President Jonathan and the party to lose the presidential election in 2015.

Kalu said: “How can the PDP lose the seat of Presidency when they have people like us? The insurgency is politically motivated because there is no other thing to do.

“The people who think Jonathan cannot be President, it’s not right.

Four years in the life of a country means nothing. And I feel that the country can make that four years sacrifice to allow him to complete his second tenure and be able to move forward.

“Nigeria has never seen anything like this insurgency before. It’s not in our culture and well-being to see insurgents.

And insurgency is something new. Let me be honest with you, we must thank our military for what they have done.

“We have been arming our military in different capacity. So, it’s going to take some few more months to be able to come together and fight them. I’m sure

in the next three to four months, the Federal Government and its allies will be able to handle this issue.”

On his status in the PDP, the former governor explained that he returned to the ruling party two years ago but denied quarreling with his successor, Governor

Theodore Orji.

“There is no way I can work in parallel with the governor. Every governor is an asset. I believe he is a great asset. I don’t like to discuss him and I will not discuss him,” Kalu said.

SURE-P contributes N78bn to East-West road project

By Chris Ochayi

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BUJA—THE Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, has contributed N78 billion towards the execution of the 338 kilometre-long East-West dual carriageway project.

Minister of Niger DeltaAffairs, Dr. Stephen Oru, who disclosed this while receiving a delegation led by Professor Kunle Wahab, member of the Board of SURE-P in charge of the East-West Road Project and

infrastructure development, commended Sure-P for the funding.

The minister also said his ministry would seek funding totaling N126 billion in 2015 from SURE-P for other projects in the Niger Delta area.

He emphasised that “without your support, the East-West Road project would come to a standstill.

You turned out to be the backbone of this project and even the backbone of the President’s Transformation Agenda.”

LAUNCHING: From left, Mr Tunji Rabiu, Head, Business Operations, Forte Oil Plc.,Mr Akin Akinfemiwa,Group CEO, Forte Oil Plc., Mr. Joseph Makoju, Mr Julius Omodayo-Owotuga,Group CFO, Forte Oil, and Mr Niyi Adeseun, Executive Director, Manilla Banking, Heritage Bank Plc., during the launch of Forte Oil 100 newly acquired product delivery trucks in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola.

BOKO HARAM: Allegation, attempt to demonise Ihejirika —AKA IKENGA

By Dapo Akinrefon

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AGOS—AN Igbo Think Tank, AKA IKENGA, has faulted attempts to portray former Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika, as an alleged sponsor of Boko Haram insurgents, describing it a “satanic machination and conspiracy of the antiNigeria mafia in the ridiculous attempt to demonise Ihejirika.”

In a statement by its President, Chief Goddy C M Y K

Uwazurike, entitled ‘Enough is enough’, the group commended the formerArmy general for serving Nigeria meritoriously but faulted the alleged conspiracy and propaganda against him that Ihejirika was sponsoring Boko Haram.

According to the group, the same anti-Nigeria Mafia has conducted another propaganda after conspiring with a phantom Davis that Ihejirika is a sponsor of the same Boko Haram that he fought against gallantly.

Aka Ikenga queried: “Is this

not standing logic on its head? Boko Haram started under Obasanjo Government in 2002. Malam El-Rufai was a key member of Obasanjo’s Government from 1999 to 2006. late President Yar’Adua fought Boko Haram in 2009, while El- Rufai was doing further studies abroad.

He returned as soon as Goodluck Jonathan became the President of Nigeria and was, indeed, one of those speculated to be angling for the seat of the Vice President.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 —17 that “in the last three years, in particular, our country has had to contend with insurgency and terrorism in some parts of the North.” Still, they “recognize the efforts of the Federal Government under the able leadership of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) in managing the complex challenges with firmness and effectiveness.”

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One of the privileges of the great is to witness catastrophes from a terrace.”Jean Giraudoux

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Something in Adamawa’s water from whom Atiku had been on the receiving end for a long time.

Atiku’s Adamawa has titans such as Bamanga Tukur, Professor Jibril Aminu and ten PDP giants that will feature in anyone’s PDP Top 100.

Their newest recruit is Malam Nuhu Ribadu, who has just been reminded that even Abuja has to defer to the powers firmly lodged in Yola. Ribadu has been told his probation has just been extended, and he will now have to trust the slippery assurances of a PDP which has no record of keeping its words. In an environment where gloves are never in use, Ribadu will have to carry the cross of betrayal of his old party with one hand, and, with the other, fight his way through the murky and treacherous waters of Adamawa politics between now and February 2015.

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ust a few months ago, this was the state whose governor alleged a genocidal war against the North by the presidency. The legion of elites from his state, and most of the North were shocked or intimidated into silence. As the PDP federal government, with active connivance of his party worked to impeach him, a rampaging insurgency began to make inroads into Adamawa State. Its political elites scampered after the political fallouts. An untidy scramble for an 8-month governorship just took many casualties and left the state severely exposed. Mubi or Michika towns may have fallen by the time you read this, in a state which vehemently protested an extension of the state of emergency to it on grounds that it was unnecessary and politicallymotivated. At the rate the insurgency is taking over Nigerian territories, Malam Nuhu’s ambitions of being a governor in Yola in 2015 may face more than the challenge of local PDP

big-wigs who do not trust him; an APC firmly under the armpit of an arch enemy; and the rapidly shifting fortunes of his new and old parties.

Into this vortex of intrigues and fear steps in another distinguished Adamawa citizen, former InspectorGeneral of Police Gambo Jimeta. A new twist is being added within the small, powerful but volatile elite that had held all the political strings in Adamawa, this time with Alhaji Gambo Jimeta lending his considerable and distinguished weight behind the desperate fight of Vice President Arch Namadi Sambo to enhance his returns to Jonathan’s designs to break the resistance against his re-election. To say that many people even remotely familiar with

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F the disastrous collapse of the defences around the civilian populations in much of the north-east is not the tragedy it is, developments in and about Adamawa state will provide a fascinating subject for political discourse. Sadly, the enemy is already taking up residence in many towns and villages in Adamawa State, while it is within striking distance of Maiduguri and Damaturu. Refugees are swelling towns, terrified that they may have to move further, or into Cameroon, Chad or Niger, or prepare to live or die in the hands of terrorists who appear to have the run of a vast territory.

The pitch in developments in Adamawa state are at about the same level as the terror and suffering of its people. A part of Nigeria that should claim pride of place in contributions to nation building by its citizens also captures all the characteristics of a complex nation. No state has the mix of cultural pluralism and depth of passion around primodialism than Adamawa. This does not make it different; only more perfectly Nigerian. It is not something to be apologetic for, but it does provide a problem with unique challenges.

Adamawa State is the home of vice president Atiku Abubakar whose drafting as vice president by president Obasanjo was celebrated as a political coup de grace, and whose ending has gone down in record as the worst political falling-out. Atiku is set to challenge the yet undeclared ambition of General Muhammadu Buhari for the presidential ticket of the APC, an action that will surprise few, and anger many. He will damage the Buhari mystique, and invite others to throw in their hats into the ring. He will force Buhari to run against him, or yield the ground to a coterie of ambitious politicians who think Jonathan’s spectacular leadership failure alone will give them a key to the Presidency.

Atiku has been at the heart of the rapid chain of events in Adamawa. He is reputed to have designed the submersion of impeached governor Murtala Nyako in the PDP’s plots. This left him as the only force in Adamawa’s APC, certainly powerful enough to see off the rump of Nyako’s former rivals in the APC all the way into the PDP. The remnants of the APC were swept into the PDP for good measure, leaving the only space for Atiku’s platform. This platform had no tolerance for Nuhu Ribadu, a man

ince the respected former IGP and his colleagues all live in the same North with leaders of the Arewa Consultative Forum and Northern Elders Forum(and millions of simple Northerners on the recieving end of a weak and indifferent leadership), and they are all living witnesses to the serial and undignified collapse of our territorial integrity and the unimaginable consequences to which millions of Northerners are being exposed, it may be reasonable to ask if they intend to be taken seriously when they commend President Jonathan’s firmness and effectiveness. How much will they praise him if, God forbid, Maiduguri and Damaturu and many more towns and villages fall to the terrorists? Will they say he is the best President the nation ever had when terror takes over most of the North and prevents its citizens from deciding who their next leaders will be in February 2015?

The enlisting of Alhaji Gambo Jimeta into the whitewashing project is not a coup against the North, as the Tanko Yakasai group is trumpeting.

It is a reminder that even the best and most committed can be a victim of the

The elite of Adamawa have just reminded the nation that Nigeria breathes through them. There is something in the water in Adamawa State that makes its politicians run the extra mile in all directions

the life and times of the former I.G.P were shocked that he accepted to be chairman of the presidency-funded and managed contraption called Northern Elders Council will be abusing the word understatement.

Perhaps it is a sign of the times, a period when nothing shocks Nigerians anymore, that another Adamawa titan is making great waves in the wrong waters. To be fair to Alhaji Gambo, he does give a reason for his high profile endorsement of the presidency’s record. He said he and his colleagues in the N.E.C realize

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vicious combination of unpardonable incompetence and unlimited resources in the hands of leaders who must retain power even if they lose the nation. The elites of Adamawa have just reminded the nation that Nigeria breathes through them. One of them has entered the fray in a most unexpected manner. Perhaps, like most human communities, they are also made up of the best and the worst.

There is something in the water in Adamawa State that makes its politicians run the extra mile in all directions.

OPINION

By Anslem Onwueme

N

IGERIANS are agreed that the nation has made some progress since 1999 in spite of what is happening to us presently as a nation. But the progress that has so far been made falls short of the general expectation of the masses who had in the 1980s and 1990s looked forward with eagerness to the enthronement of a democratic dispensation.

Since 1999 when the present democratic journey began, we have given up on Nigeria and its politics.

What we have noticed is the interest many Nigerians now show in politics. We have realised that politics is too important to be left for politicians. After all, politics and its end result which are government and governance are about the people for good or bad.

Nigerians now know these and they are now very much involved. What has even made things easy for us as a people trying to negotiate our destiny individually and collectively is the evolution of the different social media networks which have made it possible for many Nigerians to be involved in discussing politics irrespective of background, status or age.

Of note is the new political interest being demonstrated by Nigerians , the people want to build on the gains already made. The people do not want a regression to the past. It is against the backdrop that all over the country, people are clamouring for good and competent candidates who combine character with capacity to run for political office. The advancement in information technology and digital television has also helped to reduce the world to a C M Y K

He whom the cap fits small entity so that we know what is happening in other parts of the world.

Nigeria is now part of a global village which has been insisting on change and development. This global movement strives on ideals, ideas and best practices.

The development strides recorded in Rwanda, Botswana, Ghana, Senegal and in other African countries are part of this change. When we look well at Nigeria we are also having a similar experience in Lagos, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Jigawa, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Ekiti, Osun and other states. Although our people still feel that there is still much to be done. What we must come to understand is that these changes or development did not come on their own. They were made possible by the leaders who were determined that they must work for their people.

We should question the motives of politicians seeking public office and also bring their antecedents to scrutiny. We should examine their past, their character, capacity and competence. Where have they worked before and what transformational attitude and experience are they bringing to bear on the office they are seeking.

This is the reason why the people of Delta State were very happy when Mr. David Edevbie declared his intention to run for the governorship. Most Deltans fondly remember Mr. Edevbie as the very dynamic and likable Commissioner for Finance between 1999 and 2005. He was undoubtedly Nigeria’s most dynamic Finance Commissioner of the Obasanjo era.

He was the arrow head of the campaign that made the Federal Government to begin the payment of the 13% derivation fund. He was the first Finance Commissioner in Nigeria to publish government’s audited accounts.

He also introduced the prompt and monthly cash budget for payment of contractors in Delta State. The monumental achievement in infrastructural development in that era was as a result of this innovation.

As Finance Commissioner Edevbie introduced an empowerment programme which has been adopted by many states in Nigeria. He designed and implemented a privatization policy as well as the Delta State Small Business Loan Guarantee Scheme. Edevbie internationalized the affairs of Delta State by floating the Delta State Revenue Bond and won an ‘’A’’ International Credit Rating which was the first ever in Nigeria.

In 2007 he became the Director of Finance and Strategy of the Yar’ Adua Presidential Campaign Organization. He was to become Principal Secretary to President Yar’ Adu replacing the out-gone Chief of Staff. Edevbie is the kind of personality that will unite Delta and bring cohesion to the state that is now politically divided along ethnic lines.

His foreign links will bring foreign investors who will generate employment for the teeming population and upgrade infrastructure. Deltans are united in agreement that Edevbie is the one whom the cap fits.

Our development will not be reversed. *Mr. Onwueme, a political analyst, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 THE initial announcement by the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau that all schools nationwide should resume on October 13th 2014 over the Ebola Viral Disease outbreak had sparked off a wave of reactions, with stakeholders in the private schools sector coming out heavily against it. The Minister called a meeting of state commissioners for education and it was agreed that schools should be reopened on Monday, September 22 nd 2014.

This decision was taken as a way of accommodating the interests of those who would not want the school calendar to be overly disrupted and the other side which insists that the Ebola outbreak must be brought to a complete halt before schools can reopen.

As much as we understand the concerns of those who say that no outbreak should bring human interactions and livelihood to a halt, we insist that it is better for us to err on the side of caution. The authorities must uphold the safety and welfare of the children and by extension the rest of the family above any other

By John Ainofenokhai

T

HE only way Nigerian politics can be cleansed and developed is when its ugly sides are revealed and those who adulterate it are exposed and punished.

Very often, that exposure is done in a dogeat-dog manner. That was what former Foreign Affairs Minister and, until recently, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Tom Ikimi, did in a statement announcing his resignation from the party. Call him a turncoat, renegade or whatever you like, Ikimi’s statement about the APC and its National Leader, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, confirms the conventional saying that the truth will always surface, no matter how long it is suppressed.

Ikimi’s resignation is, no doubt, one of the worst disasters suffered by the APC since its emergence in February, 2013, as a conglomerate of parties with disparate and uncoordinated mandates. Ikimi was one of the key personalities that fashioned out the vision, mission and structure of the new party. He was passionate in joining other leaders of the party in announcing to Nigerians the dawn of a new political era.

The APC celebrated the merger with so much hype and fanfare that some of its members started to feel that the party had already taken over power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the federal level. It was an illusion or what psychologists call collective self-delusion which almost beclouded every sense of reality. That false impression was

Sc hools R esump tion Schools Resump esumption Controversy narrow considerations. Schools should be reopened when it is confirmed that the outbreak has been effectively arrested.

The Ebola outbreak is a serious national emergency, and Nigeria has been commended from all corners of the world for the way it has handled its containment.

These included the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the New York Times in an editorial. Part of the reason for this achievement was that the nation closed ranks and eschewed cheap politics while tackling the problem. If we had done the same in our war against the Boko Haram insurgency we would have triumphed over it long ago.

Having set a new resumption date, the state and federal ministries of education should focus all their energies towards ensuring that when the children return to school, all strategies outlined towards safeguarding lives will be in place. These include the training of desk officers to handle suspected Ebola cases in all schools, the distribution of equipment and the provision of funds to ensure that all agreed Ebola containment programmes are carried out to the letter.

Above all, parents and teachers must also brace up for hands- on engagement in inculcating the hygienic practices necessary for the eradication of the outbreak in the pupils and students in record time. The observance of preventive measures is very crucial, as prevention is better than cure.

We must also redouble efforts towards the development of cures and vaccines for Ebola. Since it is a tropical disease that pops out of the forests from time to time, we should not rest on our oars until vaccines and cures are developed. We must lead the way in this search.

OPINION That Ikimi's revelation strengthened by certain political events: the defection to the APC of five aggrieved PDP governors and 37 members of the House of Representatives and threat by 12 senators to follow suit. Overnight, the Opposition thought that it had dislodged the ruling party so much so that the House Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, referred to the Deputy Majority counterpart, Leo Ogor of the PDP, as Deputy Minority Leader.

Read Ikimi’s statement very well and what you find is a long list of political lapses, heaps of filth and deception, lying beneath the outward glamour of the APC. Nearly all the scandalous ills of the party, according to him, are manifested in the person of its self-acclaimed National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Ikimi’s reason for leaving the APC was that he could no longer remain in a party that operates under the veil of illusion, and where internal democracy is non-existent.

To demonstrate the lack of internal democracy within the APC and Tinubu’s domineering influence and authoritarian tendencies, Ikimi cites the imposition of weak leadership on the party at various times. These were the tendencies that led to the exit from the Party of notable Northern politicians such as former Governors Ibrahim Shekarau, Attahiru Bafarawa, former military Governor of Lagos and Borno States, Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.) and many others.

Ikimi’s objection to the Leadership style of

Tinubu is mainly against his tendency to behave as if the ownership of the APC belongs to him, thereby treating all other members as mere joiners. Ikimi is absolutely right. Contrast this with the PDP where no single individual is seen as the founder or owner of the party and where internal democracy is practised, as amply demonstrated recently in the jostling for the party’s gubernatorial ticket and screening for the primaries in Adamawa State. The Acting Governor of the State, Alhaji Ahmadu Umar Fintiri, who was disqualified by the party’s Screening Panel, headed by former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, subsequently got clearance as an aspirant from the Appeal's Panel, headed by Senator James Manager. Such is the beauty of democracy!

One of Tinubu’s illusions, which according to Ikimi, has become an obsession, is his arrogant claim that he is in control of Southwest votes and that a combination of the votes from that Zone and those of the North-West would be sufficient for the APC to win the Presidential election in 2015. For donating votes from the Southwest, Tinubu thinks that he deserves a position in a Muslim-Muslim Presidential and Vice-Presidential ticket. His calculation is based on yet another arrogant belief that he could manipulate the governors under the party as well as prominent Northern politicians such as Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar

and others, to take over total control of the party structure.

From Ikimi’s statement, Tinubu is a master of intrigues and a serial manipulator who, in a cult-like manner, secretly plots “the affairs of the APC from his private parlour in the Asokoro District of Abuja.” The truth, according to Ikimi, is that his so-called status of National Leader of the party is a “fictitious throne” because he was never really elected or chosen by the party to occupy that position. Proclaiming himself National Leader, we are told, was one of his manipulations, just like he did for the position of National Chairman, which he wanted for his kinsman, Bisi Akande, but had to settle for the second choice of John Odigie-Oyegun, whom he also has in his pocket.

In all, Ikimi’s statement is a catalogue of assorted acts of intrigue, manoeuvre and deceit by one man, for nothing but power.

The consequence is that the fortunes of the APC have been plummeting, with the party witnessing an unending gale of defections to the PDP. More disastrously, even the States currently under APC control are now being threatened.

The ugly situation in the APC has existed for so long because the party lacks internal democracy. And it lacks internal democracy because there are not many members with the courage of Tom Ikimi to speak out.

Mr. Ainofenokhai, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014— —19

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T what point is it safe to declare a place and a people safe from the menace of a dangerous disease? When can a potential plague of devastating proportions be viewed as under effective control? These are the kind of questions that should occupy the sleeping and waking hours of Nigeria's health authorities, especially now that the Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu, hints at the possibility of rescinding an earlier government decision to postpone resumption of primary and secondary schools in the country.

It was just over two weeks ago that the Federal Government announced the closure of all summer schools and extended till the middle of October the reopening of primary and secondary schools presently on recess. This move, the Ministry of Education says, was part of measures to contain the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria.

But no sooner was that announcement made than proprietors of private educational institutions voiced their opposition to the decision.

For very obvious reasons their

opposition to the government decision is understandable. While many of them might still want to and could, indeed, be cutting corners, the fact that the decision is being enforced with seriousness in urban areas like Lagos makes opposition by proprietors of educational institutions inevitable.

Closing schools and other places of educational pursuits for so long is a direct dig at their means of livelihood and sources of income.

Their argument that the decision was not well thought through as government has not closed down other public and private places like places of worship or, in fact, markets where people congregate in large numbers is not without merit.

Yet it stands to reason that a government aware of its limitations in terms of containing the spread of a highly lethal and infectious disease like the Ebola virus disease cannot be too proactive on a matter like this. Facilities available for the control and management of the disease, including the required expertise are not at their very best in the country. If America and other countries like Britain could quickly evacuate their few

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nationals infected by the disease while working in parts of Africa- if these persons could be repatriated for immediate medical attention, Africans infected with the disease have nowhere to go even as their countries lack facilities and resources for effective control.

Perhaps if Dr. Amayo Adadevoh and others who succumbed to the disease had been given immediate access to the few drugs available for the Ebola disease they would be here today.

But this was not the case.

T

hese people died for the simple reason that they were from a part of the world without access to drugs like Zmapp which those who own it claim is yet to scale the stage of clinical trials and so could not be made available to the general public. But the restrictive use of the effective drugs does not extend to citizens of these foreign countries. This then tells us all that commercial rather than clinical/medical

An epoch is about to close

By Eric Teniola

T

HE fear entertained in 1999 was that the military, having been in power for the last 29 out of the 33 years, would still continue to imperially dominate the political setting in the post military era which is supposed to be a full civilian government.

The dread was further reinforced and fortified with the election of General Matthew Aremu Olusegun Okikiolu Obasanjo a former war hero, as President, coupled with the imposition of the 1999 Constitution- a corrigenda full of errors and imperfections, without plebiscite or referendum.

Now 15 years after, that fear seem to be vanishing and disappearing fast. As a matter of fact, gradually, the military seems not to be executors and projectors of our political destiny. Civilians are pushing them to be mere onlookers and bystanders. A passage in our body politics is about to close. It is either the military do not understand anything about party politics or the civilians have outsmarted them.

With the impeachment of Admiral Murtala Hamman Yero Nyako (rtd.)

(72) as Governor of Adamawa State on July 15, only five Generals, elected under the new democratic dispensation, are now left on the political scene. I mean elected not appointed for we still have former military Generals around on appointment.

They are Major General Muhammadu Magoro (rtd.) (73) representing Kebbi South constituency in the Senate, Major

General David Alachenu Bonaventure Mark (rtd.) (66) the current Senate President, an Idoma Christian representing Benue South in the Senate, who incidentally was born in Zungeru in Niger State; retired Commodore David Jonah Jang (71), Governor of Plateau State; Rear admiral (rtd.)

Gboribiogha John Jonah (60), Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State and Major General (rtd.) Muhammed Saleh (59) representing Kaduna Central in the Senate.

Commodore Jang was Military Governor of Benue between 1985 and 1986 and Gongola State (now Adamawa State) between 1986 and 1987. He is serving a second term as Governor of Plateau State.

Major General David Mark was chairman of Abandoned Properties Implementation Committee for the former Eastern Region now made up of nine states after the civil war in 1969, member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, 1986-1989, Military Governor of Niger State, 1984-1986 and Minister of Communication, 1987-1990.

He has been representing Benue South Senatorial zone for the past 15 years. He was elected Senate President on June 6 2007. Admiral Jonah Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, a naval engineer from Nembe who was elected along with Governor Henry Seriake Dickson on February 14, 2012.

General Magoro (NA435) entered our national consciousness in May 1985 as Minister of Internal Affairs when he announced the expulsion of many West Africans, including Ghanaians from Nigeria under the Major General Muhammadu Buhari regime. Over a

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Ebola: Not over until it's over

What is worrisome is the fact that we might soon find ourselves in a position where our government lulls itself to sleep, believing that the coast is clear for it to celebrate its victory over Ebola

considerations were at the root of the decision not to release Zmapp for use in Africa. It is for such same reason of commerce that proprietors of schools are calling for reconsideration of the decision to extend the resumption date of schools.

Since Nigeria's index case, Patrick Sawyer, imported the Ebola virus into Nigeria the country has not been at peace.

All the cases that have been reported have been traceable to this single source yet the country cannot confidently say that it is totally safe. True, our health authorities appear to be doing a lot in the circumstances, attending to infected persons and sensitising the public to how the disease spreads. The media too has not been lax. But the risk is far from over. If only one or two people are responsible for the introduction of the disease into the country, we should imagine what chaos we would all be in should the disease spread further into the interior of Nigeria, carried by many.

Health experts around the world, including the WHO believe there might be more cases of people infected with the disease than is reported. Whether this is true or not it stands to reason that we should be extremely careful. It would be far wiser for us to err on the side of discretion than to live under the illusion that we are home safe and dry as far as the management and containment of Ebola is concerned. There is still a lot for us to be worried about. It is good to know that a few more of the people under close watch for having been infected with the disease are being successfully treated and sent back home. But we cannot even be slightly complacent.

While our airports might be

A passage in our body politics is about to close; it is either the military do not understand anything about party politics or the civilians have outsmarted them

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million foreign nationals were affected by the expulsion. In 1971, President Kofi Abrefu Busia (1930-78) of Ghana drove out over one million Nigerians, mostly Yorubas, from Ghana due to the economic downturn in that country. Now that the economy of Ghana is down, we should not be surprised if President John Dramani Mahama(56) follows Busia’s example.

General Magoro had earlier served as Minister for Transport under the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1978 but was not a member of the Supreme Military Council then, unlike his class mate, General Ibrahim Babamosi Babangida (73).

A

fter the overthrow of Major General Buhari’s government on August 27, 1985 by General Babangida, General Magoro retired voluntarily from the Army. He was later appointed the head of the Nigerian Railways and the Nigerian Ports Authority. He later became the Chairman of Ocean and Oil Servicing Limited and the Chairman of Oando Group in 2000, a petroleum marketing company created through the

under strict control, that is definitely no the case with our land borders that are quite vulnerable and unprotected. The fact that large parts of our borders are being crossed and criss-crossed by insurgents should also worry us.

There is no reason to imagine that insurgents who murder Nigerians in their hundreds in one fell swoop in the North East, for example, would be concerned about the control of any disease. While we police the parts of the borders under the control of our immigration, what assurances are there that other flanks are not being opened for the spread of the disease?

These are some of the reasons Nigeria's health authorities have to be patient in declaring victory in its control of Ebola. It is obvious that its reconsideration of its ban on the reopening of schools is out of sheer pressure from school owners. But reopening schools is not by itself a problem, once government is satisfied that measures are in place to monitor and contain any potential threat. What is worrisome is the fact that we might soon find ourselves in a position where our government lulls itself to sleep, believing that the coast is clear for it to celebrate its victory over Ebola. Only for us- forbid it God!- to wake up one morning to the news that the disease has gone out of control.

Experts elsewhere have warned that controlling Ebola could yet take six months at the very least. We would be helping ourselves by extending that projected date for six more additional months, making it one whole year before we can even start imagining that we might be safe. Ebola is a present and immediate threat to mankind; an insidious killer that should not be given a quarter at all.

privatisation of Unipetrol Nigeria Pl., in which Ocean and Oil Services bought a major share.

Tragedy struck him on March 24, 1999 when his best friend who was the Iron Surgeon of the Major General Buhari’s era and Military Governor of Borno State in 1978, Major General Babatunde Abdulbaki Idiagbon (rtd.) (1943-1999) died suddenly in Ilorin after travelling from Abuja. Till today he is still mourning that tragedy. By calculation, he may not come back as second term Senator for personal reasons.

Admiral Murtala Nyako was the pioneer governor of Niger State when it was created from Sokoto State by General Murtala Muhammed in 1976. He served in that post until he handed over in December 1977 to Rear Admiral (rtd.)

Ebitu Okoh Ukiwe (74) who is from Abriba in present day Abia State.

After leaving the military, he ventured into cattle and agricultural business just like his father Alhaji Hamman- Yero and his mother Hajia Maryam Daso. He later became the President of the Horticultural Crops Growers Association of Nigeria, the Practicing Farmers Association of Nigeria and the Apex Farmers Association of Nigeria. His farm, Sebore (EPZ) farm was the largest in the country and also owns the largest mango farm in the country transporting most of his products to Europe. In short he was a successful farmer. And so he was elected in April 2007 as governor of Adamawa State. He was impeached in July.

Admiral Murtala Nyako is not alone. At 72 regrettably he is in exile. He may likely face treason charges for the 'satanic' letter he wrote to the President on April 16 this Continues tomorrow on pg 18 *Mr. Teniola, a former Director at the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.

20—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Ebola: Experts task scientists on research findings

A

S the Federal Government continued to battle with the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in the country, medical have urged Nigerian scientists to publicise their findings for the good of the populace and for national development.

In the views of a Virologist, Professor Oyewale Tomori who spoke at a two- workshop organised by the Health Policy and Systems Research Group of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR in Lagos entitled: Disseminating of Findings on Health Research in Nigeria” lamented non publication of research works done by Nigerian scientists.

According to him, ‘many Nigerian scientists carry out researches and lock themselves up in the test tube of their research without letting anybody know what they have done.

His words, ‘’Publicising and letting people know will show our and make people appreciate our relevance, ‘’he said.

Tomori also advised researchers and scientists to always lias with politicians and policy makers to attract political will and commitment to research.

He stressed the need for researchers not to shy away from approaching politicians who have all it takes to support their works. ‘’We need to engage the policy makers and politicians so that our research works will be properly be put to use for the good of the people. ‘These politicians have the power and money and until we explain and relate what we do to them, they will not know.

Speaking, the DirectorGeneral of NIMR, Prof.

Innocent Ujah said that the

had resulted in duplicity of research outcomes for one disease condition.

He said that inadequate funding of health research affected quality of data use for planning and development in the health sector.

“I am calling on government at all levels to funding health research to generate information that will serve as evidence for informed decision making in policy formulation and implementation.”

Earlier, the Head of Health Policy and Systems Research Group of NIMR, Dr. Margaret Mafe said that the lack of a National Health Research Policy has continued to mitigate against effective engagement of donor presence nationally.

Mafe said that the critical components of conducting research in informing policy and practice was sufficient funding. ‘’It is imperative that the nation

doctor@lagospainclinic.com

The most dangerous day in a woman's life M

ANY across Nigeria will be celebrating a baby’s delivery today. Labour has ended with smiles, cheers and thanksgiving.

They say birthdays, funerals, weddings and naming ceremonies are the commonest social pastimes in Nigeria.

Cue music........

What with the dancing, the food, the drink, the rituals...kolanut, salt, honey, the Pastor, the Imam, the Priest...

Pregnancy and labour have been vanquished.

Baby is well....mother is –

Stop the music .....

•L-R: Director -General of NIMR, Prof. Innocent Ujah, Member, Ebola Treatment Research Group, Prof. Maurice Iwu, President, NAS, Prof. Oyewole Tomori and Chairman, NIMR Board, Chief Handel Okoli during NIMR 2-day workshop on dissemination of Research Findings Monday in Lagos.

Tomori who is also the President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, noted that at the university of Ibadan, there are over 5000 researches and findings on malaria and yet people are still getting malaria.

status of health research in the country called for concern.

Ujah said that the continuous frustration of officers in the Planning Research and Statistics in Healthy Ministry overt non-budget of research

provides necessary funding to drive research in support of its weak health system. ‘This will improve the health of the population and achieve its developmental goals that will improve health outcomes in Nigeria ‘’she said

Airtel donates phones to Ebola Centre

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IRTEL Nigeria has donated 100 mobile handsets, complimentary airtime for each line and a Closed User Group, CUG, facility to improve overall communication and efficiency of the response.

Speaking shortly after receiving the donations from the Airtel Team, the Technical Advisor to the Minister of State for Health as well as

Incident Manager, Ebola Emergency Operations Centre, Lagos, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said Airtel responded swiftly and showed enthusiasm to support the Ebola centre.

“The phones and other facilities donated by Airtel will be used by response staff in the field to communicate more effectively and efficiently.

Additionally, these phones will

be given out to EVD patients that need to be in isolation at the hospital.

“The phones will allow these patients to communicate with their families, enabling them to receive the support and encouragement they need to recover from the disease,” he said, noting that the phones will be destroyed once the patients and workers are out of the Centre.

Today, in Africa, the most dangerous day in a woman’s life is the birth day!

Almost one third of all maternal deaths globally are concentrated in two countries: India and Nigeria!

Globally, an estimated 289 000 women died during pregnancy and childbirth in 2013, a decline of 45 percent from levels in 1990.

Most of them died because they had no access to skilled routine and emergency care.

Since 1990, some countries in Asia and Northern Africa have more than halved maternal mortality.

There has also been progress in sub-Saharan Africa. But here, unlike in the developed world where a woman’s life time risk of dying during pregnancy and childbirth is 1 in 3700, the risk of maternal death is very high at 1 in 38. Increasing numbers of women are now seeking care during childbirth in health facilities and therefore it is important to ensure that quality of care provided is optimal.

Globally, over 10 percent of all women do not have access to or are not using an effective method of contraception. It is estimated that satisfying the unmet need for family planning alone could cut the number of maternal deaths by almost a third.

Most maternal deaths are preventable. By far the commonest cause is bleeding; bleeding during pregnancy,

while in labour or soon after delivery of the baby.

Infection, disorders related to high blood pressure, AIDS and prolonged obstructed labour make up a significant amount.

Abortion, anaemia, embolism and rarely ectopic pregnancy make up the rest.

The Millennium Development Goal #5 set in 1990 aspires (a) to reduce maternal deaths by 75 percent from 1990 to 2015; and (b) achieve universal access to reproductive healthcare services by 2015.

As of 2011 Sub-Saharan Africa (including Nigeria) had the highest number of births to women between 15-19 years of age in the world: 117/1000 women, relatively unchanged from 123 in 1990.

Early childbearing poses great risk to mother and child.

Another problem is family planning. In Nigeria, large differences in contraceptive use persist between urban/rural populations, rich/poor people, and the educated/uneducated.

Healthcare during pregnancy is important and must be provided by “skilled and equipped health personnel”...i.e. a doctor, nurse or midwife.

MDGs Report An important document titled “Nigeria 2013 MDGs Report” has been released on the NPHCDA.org website.

It states: “...the maternal mortality rate is 350/100,000 against the target of 250. The proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel is currently 53.60% against the target of 100 per cent and antenatal care coverage (at least one visit)” * the WHO recommends at least 4 visits!* “is currently 67.7 per cent.”

The Federal Government has established a MDGs Acceleration Framework (MAF) for MDG 5 that they believe” will enable all the targets of MDG 5 to be achieved by 2015.”

We are less than 500 days to the deadline.

Nigerian women, daughters, sisters and mothers are waiting.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 — 21

Leapfrog Investments to pump N16bn into financial services sector

By Peter Egwuatu

N

IGERIA’s financial serv ices sector yesterday received a boost as investments totaling N16.2 billion (US $100m) from a new fund LeapFrog Investments would be invested in the sector.

LeapFrog Investments said it has raised a freshN65 billion (US $400m) fund to invest in financial services companies in Africa and Asia , out of which N16 billion is expected to be invested in Nigeria , which was selected as a priority country.

Vanguard gathered that the N65 billion (US $400m) fund will be invested in high growth businesses in Africa and Asia.

The fund as gathered is backed by many of the world’s leading development financiers, insurers, reinsurers, pension funds and asset managers.

LeapFrog is the world’s largest dedicated equity investor in emerging markets financial services, with partner companies serving 22.7 million people across 16 countries. Nigeria is a priority country for the firm.

“Nigeria is a highly appealing investment destination, with stable economic indicators and an increasingly welcoming business environment,” said Dominic Liber, LeapFrog partner. “The Nigerian financial services industry presents a real opportunity for growth and there are a number of companies that are

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targeting the country’s vast emerging consumer market.”

According to a statement made available to Vanguard, LeapFrog’s fund will make equity investments of up to N8 billion in any one company.

“These must be established businesses that deliver insur-

-1.45

-0.09

100.97 -0.86 93.45

- 1.16

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

154.73 252.6896 200.4682 166.1263 1.4701 0.288 233.3903 25.1953 41.2558 26.9152 232.7139

155.23 253.5061 201.116 166.6631 1.4749 0.298 234.1445 25.2772 41.3891 27.0022 233.4659

a focus on the emerging consumer,” Liber said.

LeapFrog has a strong track record in Nigeria. In 2012, Liber orchestrated Leapfrog’s strategic partnership with leading asset manager Asset and Resource Management Co., to invest in ARM Life,

From left: Engr. Mrs. Yetunde Holloway, Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Lagos Branch; Engr. Hakeem Akinola Gbajabiamila (middle) receiving an award of recognition from Dr Olusegun Ajayi, Past President, NSE, for his contribution and support to NSE, Lagos Branch during the opening of the secretariat and KENOL e-library, awards ceremony, public lecture and induction ceremony at the Oyebolu Engineering Resources Centre in Lagos.

NBCC blames poor quality of Nigerian cocoa on exporters

3,102.00 -29.00 15.04

ance, savings, pensions, investments, credit, remittances or payments”Leapfrog noted.

“We will be looking to invest in financial services businesses with strong management teams, an appetite for growth and profitability, and

which today benefits over 600,000 Nigerians with life insurance.

Jumoke Ogundare, Deputy CEO of ARM, said “Thanks to Leapfrog’s hands-on operational support to company management, we have not only gained a capital provider but also a trusted partner.”

Backers of the new LeapFrog fund include leading development financiers CDC, DEG, EIB and FMO; six of the world’s leading insurers; three of the world’s leading reinsurers; major pension funds;and global asset managers.

155.73 254.3227 201.7638 167.1999 1.4796 0.308 234.8987 25.3591 41.5225 27.0891 234.2179

CBN Exchange Rate as 09 /09 / 2014

By Naomi Uzor

N

IGERIAN British Chamber of Commerce, NBCC, has blamed the bad image of Nigerian Cocoa in the world market, on activities of the get rich quick exporters.

Speaking at the launch of the Ondo Kingdom Chamber of Commerce, OKCC, the President of NBCC, Prince Yemi Adefulu, said, when the Marketing Boards were scrapped, standardisation and quality control was thrown out of the window, the reputation of the Nigerian Cocoa suffered from the activities of the get rich quick exporters and the country has not recovered from the reputation damage arising from this misdemeanor. ”Nigeria earned a reputation for poor quality from which we suffer to this day.

Prices of Nigerian cocoa crashed and farmers became discouraged and lost

the incentive to plant new cocoa seedlings or expand existing plantations. In consequence, many abandoned the farms causing Sunny Ade to sing- “No farmers on the farm, they have returned home”. We are probably now the 10th producer of cocoa in the world. It is, however, not only farmers and cocoa merchants who suffered thereby. The local economy which was buoyant in the days of the cocoa boom became dislocated. Traders, transporters, labourers, the local government, the state and the nation all suffered in the process. But the greatest loss of all was the reputation damage,” he lamented.

According to him, had there been an effective Chamber of Commerce in Ondo, such a calamity could have been avoided. Every major step which changed history was by appro-

priate and timely response to a challenge. ”It could have fought the abandonment of standards and if the government did not listen, it could have created and established an Ondo Standards, which if well protected and projected, could have become a recognised global standard of quality. There are chambers of commerce which issue export documentations and help to authenticate standards. It is all part of being the watch-dog of the concerns and interests of the business community and reaching to government at the highest levels and affecting trade policy development” he stated.

Today, he said, properly managed, Ondo should be exporting cocoa butter, cocoa creams, chocolates and other cocoa based products from cottage industries. It should also be exporting chipboards, veneers, plywood, not to talk of excellent wood based furniture to many parts of the world.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Ebola has come home to us as a country; accordingly, the insurance industry will not let the nation down if the issue of claims payment resulting from the Ebola disease arises

, INSURAN

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Insure government assets, NAICOM tells Head of Service C

HAIRMAN, Governing Board of the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, Mr. Chibudom Nwuche, has charged the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to look into the issue of insurance of federal government Assets and property.

Insurance of public buildings and buildings under construction is made compulsory under the insurance Act of 2003, and the government has failed to implement this aspect of the law.

Nwuche, made the charge during a meeting between the two bodies when he led the management of NAICOM on a courtesy call on the Head of Service, HOS, of the Federation Danladi Kifasi, in his office.

According to Nwuche, it is imperative that all government buildings which fall under public buildings are adequately insured to guard against loss of property and financial resources in the event of any disaster.

Nwuche expressed the appreciation of the Commission to the HOS for the success achieved so far in the implementation of the Pension Reform Act of 2014 as it relates to the Group Life Insurance scheme for federal workers. He however notes that “the scheme has not operated without some challenges. These challenges range from availability of adequate data for proper administration, timely notification of claims and

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Insurance industry is prepared to undertake the training of scheduled staff of the OHOSF, especially the officers involved in the management of the scheme to ensure justification/ realisation of the set objectives of the scheme

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submission of supporting documents and appropriate pricing of the risk” Commissioner for Insurance and chief Executive of NAICOM, Mr. Fola Daniel informed the HOS that the insurance industry is prepared to undertake the training of scheduled staff of the OHOSF, especially the officers involved in the management of the scheme to ensure justification/ realisation of the set objectives of the scheme.

Daniel said the industry would also provide “specific preventive health training for members on the scheme based on the outcome of the information gathered from experience and analysis of the data in the commission possession and, the enlightenment of scheme members who are close to retirement on financial planning like choosing annuity to ensure stream of income for the rest of retiree’s life” Kifasi expressed the preparedness of his office to continue the collaboration with NAICOM to ensure continuing success of the scheme. He pledged to support the Commission in the enlightenment and education of both scheduled staff and scheme members especially in the area of financial planning.

He thanked the management of NAICOM and the insurance industry for the offer to provide training for scheduled staff and members of the scheme. He promised that the OHOSF will remain transparent but strict in subsequent bidding and selection processes to appoint brokers and underwriters for the Group Life Insurance Scheme for federal workers.

C M Y K

From left: Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, FUG Pensions Ltd, Mr. Habib Daranijo; Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Usman Suleiman; GM/Head of Investment, Mrs. Ngozi ChuksOkeke; and Head, Human Resources/Administration, Mr. Peter Olusesi during a meeting/ media tour of company’s new headquarters facility in Lagos.

EBOLA: Insurance firm pays ECOWAS' victim N15m Stories By Rosemary Onuoha

T

HE family of the ECOWAS staff who died of Ebola virus has been paid N15 millon as life insurance claim. The payment was made by Union Assurance.

Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, has killed five health workers in Lagos, and Port Harcourt, ever since the index case Mr. Patrick Sawyer found his way into the country.

While the federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, has been sensitising the citizenry on appropriate safety measures to take to avoid contracting the disease, the insurance industry,has put in place measures to discharge its claims paying mandate on insured victims, whenever the issue of claims comes calling.

The EVD is a national challenge and according to Managing Director of Union Assurance Plc, Mr. Godwin Odah, the insurance industry will play its part in the fight to contain the deadly virus in the country.

Odah said that his company has set the pace by paying a total of N15 million life insurance claims to the family of the late ECOWAS

protocol officer Mr. Jatto Abdukqudir who died of Ebola disease after assisting Sawyer, the LiberianAmerican who imported the deadly disease into Nigeria.

According to Odah “Ebola has come home to us as a country; accordingly, the insurance industry will not let the nation down if the issue of claims payment resulting from the Ebola disease arises.”

Recall that Abdukqudir, was among those that assisted the Liberian delegate, Sawyer, to a regional meeting.

Abdukqudir died from the Ebola Virus Disease at a Lagos hospital where he was quarantined for some time following the discovery that Sawyer whom he had close contact with had Ebola. The ECOWAS official was the third in the line of those who died of the disease in Nigeria.

However, on the directive of regional leaders, ECOWAS has already set up a Solidarity Fund to fight the disease and has solicited the support, contribution of member states and development partners to the Fund to rid the region of the virus.

Insurance industry response

In line with its resolve of prompt claims payment being instigated by the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, the insurance industry, through, Union Assurance paid N15 million to the family of the late ECOWAS official.

Odah said, “If we successfully settled the claims of Jatto, I can assure you that the industry is ready to deal with any case that will arise in the future.”

According to Odah, the era when the insurance sector shies away from its claims paying responsibilities is far gone. “The insurance industry will support all efforts of the federal government to nip the Ebola menace in the bud,” Odah said.

Meanwhile, President of the Environmental Health Officers Association, Lagos Chapter, Mr. Akingbehin Samuel said that prevention and personal hygiene is also part of insurance.

Samuel said, “Insurance starts from prevention. When you prevent the spread of disease by taking precaution, then you have insured yourself and household from diseases.”

The Ebola virus

Ebola is a rare and deadly disease. The disease is caused

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 —

by infection with one of the ebola viruses (Ebola, Sudan, Bundibugyo, or Taï Forest virus). It is spread by direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with a sick person’s blood or body fluids (urine, saliva, feces, vomit, and semen). It is also spread by direct contact with objects (such as needles) that have been contaminated with the infected body fluids or infected animals. Symptoms of Ebola include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising.

CDC recommendations As the battle to contain the Ebola Virus rages on, the Centre for Disease Control, CDC, has advised that Nigerians protect themselves by avoiding contact with the blood and body fluids of people who are sick with Ebola.

Nigerians should practice careful hygiene and avoid items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids, as well as avoid funeral or burial rituals that require handling the body of someone who has died from Ebola.

Nigerian are also advised to avoid contact with wild animals and with raw or undercooked meat (bushmeat), as well as hospitals where Ebola patients are being treated. There is need to seek medical care immediately if one develops fever (greater than 101.5°F or 38.6°C) and additional symptoms such as severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising.

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CE & YOU

When you prevent the spread of disease by taking precaution, then you have insured yourself and household from diseases

A.M. Best explains negative rating outlook for reinsurance sector R

ating Agency A.M. Best changed its outlook on the reinsurance sector to negative recently, becoming the fourth of the major rating agencies to do so.

Senior A.M. Best rating executives explained the rational behind the shift.

Robert DeRose, Vice President at A.M. Best, said that the negative outlook has been an issue which was highly debated among the reinsurance team at the rating agency since April when it first put a warning out to the market that a change in rating outlook to negative was a possibility.

Earnings among reinsurers have been relatively favourable in recent years and balance sheets are strong, but what tipped A.M. Best’s view of the market to negative was the fundamental market dynamics. Returns have really been supported by benign catastrophe years and favourable reserve development but this has been masking the reality of what core earnings are today, explained DeRose.

When you go beyond this and reality does set in, continued DeRose, earnings are going to start to wane. “So really what it came down to is the fact that companies are getting paid less to take more risk and ultimately over time we think that is going to put a

negative bias on earnings and translate into weaker financial strength over the longer term,” he explained.

A.M. Best looked at company performance, the actions they have been taking to ride market conditions and elements of influence such as convergence capital.

Reinsurers are running out of these levers to pull in terms of managing the cycle in these challenging times, commented Senior Financial Analyst Greg Reisner.

DeRose also commented on the expansion of terms and conditions and cited concerns about the way reinsurers are providing more cover by adding risks such as cyber into the programme without being sufficiently compensated for it. This creep in terms and conditions can result in losses that are outside of expectations, DeRose explained.

The path back to a stable sector rating outlook could

be a long one. The industry can turn on a dime, but in this case DeRose said that the view today is probably longer than the 12 to 18 months that A.M. Best typically maintains an outlook for. “We think that it’s going to take a considerable amount of time for the true operating fundamentals to manifest their true impact on the financial strength of the industry,” DeRose said.

DeRose also said that even after a very large catastrophe event, which had the potential to change pricing direction, the influence of alternative capital could be to shorten any hardening of the market therefore shrinking the time horizon that reinsurers have the opportunity to earn back the losses that they sustain from an event.

To change the outlook back to stable A.M. Best is going to want to see, among other things, is a fundamental shift in favour of driving operating performance to help drive and sustain reinsurers financial strength, explained Reisner.

23

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Grenadines hands over estate site to construction firm

G

RENADINES Homes Limited has concluded the handover of its latest estate construction site in Katape, Abuja to a construction company, Cubic Contractors Limited.

Speaking at the site handover ceremony, Managing Director, Grenadines Homes Limited, Mrs Olatunji Noimot said the 25 unit luxurious estate is the latest addition of Grenadines Homes, saying, “The Grenadines Resort Katampe, Abuja at completion would boasts of well finished terrace duplexes and complimentary amenities that makes bold statement about luxury living”.

She added that shelter is one of the most important things a family must take care of, this project would afford owners their own home in an enchanting neighbourhood a little removed from the hustle and bustle of the city centre of the FCT Abuja.

Construction Manager, Cubic Contractors Limited, Mr. Majid Mulani said Cubic Construction is pleased to be part of the project. He said the company would bring in all their experience in earlier projects to ensure a fantastic delivery. He added that at the end of the project Cubic contractors would deliver a quality projects with very nice finishing.

‘Microfinance institutions should deliver good ROI’

M

icrofinance Banks (MFBs), in the country, have a pivotal role to play in nation building, hence, they must deliver smooth, efficient and effective services as well as good Returns on Investments, ROI. Past chairman, National Association of Microfinance

Banks (NAMB), Lagos State chapter, Mr. Valentine Olusegun Whensu, who disclosed this at the 4th AGM of the association in Lagos, noted that, since micro finance banks are committed to the course of providing banking service to the financially excluded and downtrodden people, its active role in nation building was never in doubt.

He promised that microfinance institutions in Lagos State have decided to eliminate poverty and create jobs for the jobless Lagosians.

Whensu, who is now the National President, NAMB, noted that the Lagos State chapter of the association was able to organise advocacy visits to From left: Mr. Biodun Dosunmu, General Manager, LASACO RUFIN, Ministry of Assurance Plc (in suit); Mrs. Ibironke Babaita, Head, Public Sector, Finance, Lagos LASACO Assurance Plc; Mrs. Olufunmilayo Soneye, Coordinator, State House of Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network (LEARN’s) Summer Assembly, LASMI, School Oke Ira Centre Lagos, with some students of the centre during media houses, LASACO Assurance Plc’s visit to the centre.

MTN, among

others.

He added that his administration will not be joking with capacity building, promising that, operators will be meeting from time to time to enhance their experience on how to better manage their banks, as well as chart a new course to reposition the industry.

As the chairman of NAMB, Lagos State chapter, Whensu said the association, under his tutelage, was able to organise 10 different trainings, workshops and manpower development for microfinance operators, applauding CBN and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) for providing facilitators for the association to enhance its capacity building programme.

According to him, “In order to improve on the scope, quality and depth of our capacity building, the association will continue to collaborate with Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), among other bodies to realise this.”

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24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Governor Tinubu’s social engineering in Lagos State

From left: Representative of Social/Welfare Secretary, Capital Market Solicitors Association, CMSA, Miss Ogochukwu Okafor; Chairman, Mr. Uche Val Obi; Vice Chairman, Mrs. Yinka Edu, and Financial Secreatary, Mr. Adekunle Soyibo, during a press briefing on the forthcoming business luncheon of the association, in Lagos.

Incentives underway for firms listing on NSE — OBI

By Peter Egwuatu

T

HERE are indications that certain incentives are being proposed by the Nigerian capital market regulators to attract companies to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. The Chairman, Capital Market Solicitors Association, CMSA, Mr. Uche Val Obi, who confirmed this during a press briefing, preparatory to its 2014 Business Luncheon said “I am not aware that there are plans to force multinational companies to list on the exchange. But I can tell you that there are incentives being proposed to attract big companies to list on the NSE.” Continuing, he said “If companies are provided with good incentives to list on the exchange, the better it will be for the nation and the companies. Listing on the exchange has a lot of opportunities and advantages.

When a company is listed on the exchange, it makes the company becomes accountable, responsible and profitable. By becoming accountable, the company would be run by good corporate governance that is inline with global practice.

There are ripple effects when companies are listed, the country will benefit, the people will benefit in form of employment and staff of the companies will benefit.”

While commenting on the association’s forthcoming Business Luncheon, Obi said “ The theme for the Business Luncheon is “Transformation of the NSE into a world class exchange”. The Luncheon will be chaired by Dr. Suleyman Ndanusa, Chairman Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC with Ms. Arunma Oteh, Director General of SEC as Guest of Honour.”

Continuing, he added “Mr. Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive C M Y K

Officer of the NSE will be the Guest speaker at the Luncheon and he will be supported by a distinguished panel of discussants, including Mr. Austin Avuru, Chief Executive Officer of SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc, Mr. Michael Larbie, Chief Executive Officer, Rand Merchant Bank West Africa, Ms.

Yewande Sadiku, Chef Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited.”

Other discussants, according to him include: Mr. Albert Okumagba, President of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS, and Mr. Eguarekhide Longe, Chief Executive Officer, ALLCO Pension Limited.

Forte Oil invests N2.5bn to boost petroleum products supply

By Michael Eboh

F

ORTE Oil have invested about N2.5 billion in the acquisition of 100 trucks to boost the supply of petroleum products across the length and breadth of the country.

The acquisition of the trucks was financed by Heritage Bank and the trucks are to be managed by a logistics firm, TSL Logistics Limited.

Speaking at the launch of the trucks in Lagos, Managing Director, Forte Oil Plc, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa, said the company has, over the years, identified logistics as a key component of customer service delivery, hence the decision to acquire the trucks.

According to him, it was discovered that the company is lagging behind in the haulage segment of its business and had to step up efforts to address the lag.

He explained that the acquisition is a reflection of its implicit confidence in the downstream sector of the Nigerian petroleum industry, adding that the company will be acquiring additional 100 petroleum tanker trucks in the next tranche to bring the total to 200.

He said, “This investment is driven by our confidence in the downstream petroleum sector.

Wwe are hopeful that with the

acquisition of these new trucks, we will be able to bring in more customers, hence driving up our revenue base and translating to improved returns to shareholders and stakeholders.”

In the medium to long term, Akinfemiwa disclosed that the company is considering strategic acquisitions that will bring about an increase in its sales volume and consequently, on its revenue and profitability.

“The acquisition is seen by the company as a celebration of three things: a great and dynamic team; effective consensus building and confidence for continuous investment in the downstream sector, especially when others are walking away or scared from investing in the sector,” he explained.

Also speaking, Mr. Joseph Makoju, Honorary Adviser to the President/Chief Executive, Dangote GHroup, commended the company for its commitment to boosting petroleum products distribution in the country.

“This acquisition is commendable, especially when viewed against the fact that we operate in an economy where most goods and services are in short supply, making the country a buyers’ market where people do not invest to make the customers happy,” he explained.

of potholes without the public appreciating that durable roads must be built with adequate thicknesses of crushed stone base and asphalt. What was striking at the time was the emphasis Governor Tinubu placed on the financial arrangements made for the projects. The LASG took loans that were utilised in part for advance payments towards the bitumen products required for the projects.

The Tinubu Administration took steps that secured the revenues due to LASG with the introduction of a centralised computerised procedure for the collection of LASG revenues.

There had been allegations in the past that bank accounts were opened in the name of the LASG but that these accounts were not being operated for the direct benefit of the LASG. The new

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S

ENATOR Bola Ahmed Tinubu was twice elected into and held the position of Executive Governor of Lagos State between May 1999 and May 2007. Governor Tinubu fought many political battles, the most significant was his re-election in 2003, at which time the other governors from Western Nigeria seeking re-election on the platform of his party, the Alliance for Democracy, lost their positions.

There were also legal battles between the Lagos State Government, LASG, and the Federal Government, FG, arising from legislation passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly which legislation increased to fifty seven the number of local governments/ local council development areas in Lagos State.

All the above were essentially Governor Tinubu’s personal battles and as I indicated in this column on August 20 2014, we would be looking at some little things that our civilian governors in Lagos State have done and which little things have brought tremendous changes in the lives of the state’s residents.Governor Tinubu raised environmental standards in Lagos State by getting all of us to put our refuse into bags.

Before the era of bagging refuse, heaps of refuse were found in various neighbourhoods, from which places pay loaders lifted the refuse into trucks which then carried the refuse to the central dumpsite.

The refuse heaps were smelly, unhygienic and it appeared we did not have adequate equipment to cope with the refuse volumes. With bagging, the authorities provided truck-compactors into which filled bags could be loaded by hand and then compacted. Thus, there was greater efficiency in refuse management as pay loaders were no longer required and with compaction refuse volumes were reduced at source.

The road construction projects carried out by the Tinubu Administration set new standards as LASG was committed to building roads that would last for several years without any potholes in the road surface.

Some of the roads reconstructed include Awolowo Rd, Ikoyi, roads in the Lagos and Apapa Central Business Districts, Kudirat Abiola Rd, Ojuelegba Rd, etc. Before the execution of these projects, there were complaints that our roads were full

With bagging, the authorities provided truckcompactors into which filled bags could be loaded by hand and then compacted

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collection systems essentially eliminated such irregularities.

Also, LASG established a data base of its employees which database was compared with the payrolls of the various departments and ministries. The payroll has been relatively free of ghost workers and duplicated payments since that time.

There were initiatives that were conceived during Governor Tinubu’s time but which initiatives were realised in the subsequent administration of Governor Fashola. It appears politically correct for LASG functionaries to mention Governor Tinubu when speaking about these initiatives. I will however attribute them to Governor Fashola as his administration could have chosen to abandon the initiatives or could have failed to successfully implement projects arising from the initiatives.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014—25

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DIARY zAdvanced Networking, Internet Tech and Administration Workshop Lagos Sep 8-12, 2014

Glo Xchange is described as the easy and convenient platform that will enable Nigerians to use their mobile phones to send or receive money and pay for airtime

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

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Preview

New inventions shaping life and living

The Dementia Sensor

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New York teenager whose grandfather suffers from Alzheimer ’s disease won a $50,000 science prize for developing wearable sensors that send mobile alerts when a dementia patient begins to wander away from bed.

Kenneth Shinozuka, 15, who took home the Scientific American Science in Action Award, said his invention was inspired by his grandfather ’s symptoms, which frequently caused him to wander from bed in the middle of the night and hurt himself.

His invention uses coin-sized wireless sensors that are worn on the feet of a potential wanderer.

The sensors detect pressure caused when the person stands up, triggering an audible alert on a caregiver ’s smartphone using an app.

C M Y K

Mobile Money:

everywhere and hands the limitless mobile phone power to the user.

However, ignorant of the limitless possibilities of the mobile phone and the inability of most operators to activate such possibilities, the rural man is frantically seeking for help which he unknowingly has in his hands.

But second National carrier, Globacom, recently pooled partners across the banking sector to address the issue.

It resulted in a mobile money platform tagged Glo Xchange.

The initiative is meant to take banking transactions to the door step of the unbanked and help create employment opportunities for teeming Nigerian youths trotting the labour market.

Glo Xchange is described as the easy and convenient platform that will enable Nigerians to use their mobile phones to send or receive money and pay for airtime, goods and services, including utility such as electricity, water bills and pay TV subscription in different parts of the country.

It targets to recruit about 500,000 agents in the next five to six years who

Glo Xchange targets over 80m unbanked Nigerians

I

By Prince Osuagwu

T’s no sweet story that while the new world has seen countries where an average 4 year old does communications and major transactions online, over 80 million adult Nigerians are still unbanked. They are not making any formal banking transactions.

It becomes more of a concern that major

I N S I D E

Microsoft rolls out new Nokia Lumia smartphones

reason for this is the absence of physical bank branches, particularly in the rural areas.

The irony, however is that even in such areas where majority of adults yearn, crave and wait endlessly for physical bank branches, there are telecommunications services. The General System for mobile communications, GSM which debuted in the country 2001 has penetrated almost

Continues on pg 28

Satellite: NIGCOMSAT leases out DTH platform to PPTV

26—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Smile introduces new feature against data depletion

By Favour Anthony & Paul Ikuforiji

F

or most customers of Broadband serv ices in Nigeria especially Internet users, data depletion is a key concern. To ameliorate this major concern and help boost Broadband penetration in line with the objectives of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan, Smile Communications Nigeria Limited has introduced new features to counteract unnecessary data depletion. This latest innovation from Smile dubbed Blocking Buttons and Speed Control is available to all its customers on the Smile Customer Portal.

Chief Corporate Services Officer of Smile, Lee-Ann Cassie, says good customer service is the main motivation for the introduction of the Blocking Buttons and Speed Control. For Blocking Buttons, she disclosed that the company has “identified 4 categories of websites that consume a lot of data and created buttons that once activated will block access to these categories of websites”.

Among the websites identified as the major causes for data depletion due to unprompted downloads and updates are Cloud Storage, Automatic Update, Video Streaming and Bit Torrenting. Cassie explained that “customers also have the additional functionality to block access to high data usage sites via their MySmile account in order to manage their data usage”.

Throwing more light on this latest innovation, she enthused “we have identified four high usage categories, namely, videos, automatic updates, cloud storage and bit torrenting which customers can block to save data. These sites can be blocked and unblocked at the click of a button as required by the customer”.

Let there be tech parks in all states, NBTI tells FG

By Emmanuel Elebeke

T

HE Director General and CEO, National Board for Technology Incubation, NBTI, Engr.Mohammed Jibrin has expressed the need for the establishment of Technology Incubation Parks, TICs, in the 36 states of the federation.

Jibrin while appraising the activities of the agency in Abuja, said the states having TICs would not only take idle youths out of the streets but help in developing local technology and incubation.

He also expressed the need for commercialization and increment of essential oil and hydrosol production in an effort to scale up research and development in the country.

As part of its efforts to fulfill its mandate, the NBTI boss said the Board had established new TICs in Nasarawa, Benue, Ebonyi, Gombe, Katsina, Jigawa and Kogi states in line with the Council’s resolutions of 2013.

He noted that the respective state governments were to ensure best practices of the Technology Incubation Programme, TIP objectives in the Centres.

Jibrin further announced that NBTI had launched the indigenous products supermarkets and purchased hi-tech equipment for precision and quality assurance in the TICs, noting that the Board was strongly building capacities of both staff and interested persons for the successful implementation of the TIP. According to him, the National Board for Technology Incubation, NBTI participated fully at the 2014 National Council on Science and Technology which held in Minna, Niger State to present its scorecard of accomplishments in fulfillment of its mandate to bolster the growth of the country’s economy, and also staged an exhibition of products of its Technology Incubation Centres (TICs).

Microsoft rolls out new Nokia Lumia smartphones

By Emeka Aginam

W

ITH the growing demand for mobile devices, Microsoft Devices is not lagging behind in churning out innovative smart products to its growing customers.

At the just concluded Internationale Funkausstellung, IFA-ICT trade exhibition held in Berlin, Germany, the smart phone maker introduced New Nokia Lumia smartphones, Lumia 830, 730 Dual SIM and 735 smartphones.

The devices run on the latest Windows Phone 8.1 operating system.

Lumia 830, 730 Dual SIM Lumia 830 is an affordable flagship that delivers high-end innovations such as optical image stabilization and PureView imaging to more people.

Offering wide-angle, front-facing cameras; an attractive price tag; and slim, compact style, the Lumia 730 Dual SIM and Lumia 735 are built for Skype calls and selfies.

Meanwhile, existing Lumia smartphones continue to get even better with the Lumia

Denim update, which combines great new features from the latest Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 with exclusive enhancements such as Lumia Camera, which brings high-quality images at the fastest speeds.

Meanwhile, the Lumia 830 offers the best of Lumia and the latest from Microsoft in a pocket-friendly design and price, capturing high-quality images and videos with a 10megapixel PureView camera with ZEISS optics, rich recording and the thinnest optical image stabilization system to date on a Lumia.

Lumia 830 delivers the best of Microsoft with preloaded Microsoft Office Mobile; the

•Lumia830

latest version of Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim; and OneDrive with 15 GB of free storage, allowing content to be synced and shared easily.

Interestingly, the product comes with flagship Lumia innovations such as integrated wireless charging in a sleek and light aluminum and polycarbonate design.

The front-facing, wide-angle, 5megapixel camera is great for Skype video calls, letting people share more of the world around them or bring more family and friends into a call.

Speaking on the products, Chris Weber, Corporate Vice President of Mobile Devices Sales at Microsoft said: “Our strategy is to help people do more with stunning products that unite and showcase the best of Microsoft’s digital work and life experiences.’

“The Lumia 830, Lumia 735 and Lumia 730 Dual SIM combine popular Microsoft services such as Skype, Microsoft Office and OneDrive with amazing Lumia innovations in design and imaging to bring experiences that people value, at prices they can afford.”

Satellite: NIGCOMSAT leases DTH platform to PPTV

By Prince Osuagwu

N

IGERIAN Communications Satellite, NIGCOMSAT, Ltd, at the weekend announced the lease of its Direct To Home, DTH platform to Indegenous investor, Platinum Plus Television, (PPTV) Ltd. Head Corporate Communications, Nigcomsat, Mr Sonny Aragba -Akpore, said that the lease was actually a formalization of a deal struck between the two companies in 2013.

He added that the hand over of the platform was successful because it happened after after a series of update meetings between the board and management of the two companies.

The handing over ceremony according to Aragba -Akpore was performed by the Acting Managing Director, Abimbola Alale and PPTV Chairman, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu.

A

ragba-Akpore indicated that Ala le, at the handover ceremony, confirmed that the agreement with PPTV was signed in November, 2013, after which PPTV carried out a technical audit to ascertain the workability of the system vis a vis the desired services to be delivered. ”Having been satisfied with the process, we decided to hand over the platform to PPTV today” Alale was quoted as haven said during the event.

Meanwhile, Kachikwu commended Alale and her team for seeing the exercise through, stating that the platform will definitely make a difference to Nigerians because PPTV will leverage on the NigComSat-1R capacity and DTH Head end to provide triple play services for subscribers. He admitted that while PPTV is the service provider,

•Satellite

NigComSat is the brand, that all Nigerians should be proud of.

According to him, PPTV is already holding talks with major telecommunications operators like MTN, Etisalat and others who will key into this project to provide voice communication to their subscribers while the other aspects of video and data transmission shall be delivered by PPTV. He explained that an assembly plant to manufacture the setup boxes shall be put in place to complement the technology that is on ground. Indeed prototypes of the set up boxes are already in place. He said, this shall take off in a matter of weeks because the equipment has already been imported.

Kachikwu also said that his team, in collaboration with NIGCOMSAT staff has packaged a module for the educational sector for which talks are in progress with the Federal Government to take the services across secondary and tertiary institutions across the country riding on the NigComSat-1R satellite.

Responding to Alale’s presentation, Kachickwu agreed with her that the partnership would benefit greatly from the optimal utilisation of the existing expertise of NIGCOMSAT staff trained on the functionality of the DTH Headend.

The ceremony closed with an assurance from PPTV that services shall be delivered before the end of the year.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014—27

GoTV takes digital TV to Ado Ekiti

By Prince Osuagwu

P

•e-Classroom A•Lumia830

e-education:

Student curriculum now digital as NERDC partners Sidmach Tech

By Emeka Aginam THE Nigeria Education Research and Development Council, NERDC, in partnership with Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited have launched an innovative e-Curriculum.

The initiative, which is powered

by Intel processor and Microsoft computer software, brings curriculum both for students and teachers online.

The e-Curriculum solution is a complete teaching and learning tool which helps teachers teach and students learn better, using the NERDC approved curriculum. The solution provides an interactive, analytic and collaborative learning environment for teachers and

students.

The initiative was hailed as a welcome development especially in the face of the global digitalization trend and the limitless use to which online medium can be put to.

Speaking on the innovation, Corporate Affairs Manager, INTEL Corporations Nigeria, Akinola Babatunde expressed delight at the role INTEL played in developing the e-Curriculum, explaining that it involved the development of a scalable portal for digital version of the present Curriculum by Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council.

For him, “Intel is proud to be associated with such a novel initiative that has resulted in the creation of the e-Curriculum. It is

common knowledge that Intel Explore and Learn is a digital based portal that has been in the vanguard of advancing the frontiers of teaching and learning by taking it beyond the four walls of the classrooms and more available to students and the teachers. Like the Intel Explore and Learn portal, the new e-Curriculum will be powered by Intel processor with support from Microsoft Windows platform.”.

Also speaking, the Director, Education for Microsoft Nigeria, Patrick Onwumere explained, “It is an accepted fact that the pace at which a nation’s economy develops is strongly tied to its ability to access and utilize knowledge, the achievement of which is largely attributable to the development and deployment of ICT.

NITDA partners Accenture on e-government

By Emmanuel Elebeke

T

HE National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA is to partner with Accenture on capacity building in the area of e-government.

Accenture is a global management company that develops capacity plan, training and technical assistance.

The Director General of NITDA Mr. Peter Jack made this known while receiving the Accenture team who paid him a courtesy visit in his Abuja office recently. The DG noted that the focus of his administration was to position the agency as prime catalyst for national transformation for global competitiveness.

He also noted that his agency and Accenture are partners in progress which have achieved so much in the IT industry. He believed that the partnership would spur the two institutions to greater height.

Reacting, Managing Director of Accenture Mr. Niyi Yusuf assured NITDA management that Accenture

as a global management company and as an independent consulting company will put its wealth of experience in order to achieve the desired goals of the partnership.

…Inaugurates 2014 eNigeria LOC

I

n a related development, the agency also announced the formal inauguration of the 2014 Local Organisating Committee LOC for the e-Nigeria Conference. e-Nigeria is the nation’s premier annual gathering of ICT stakeholders, professionals and enthusiasts from both public and private sectors across the globe. It is aimed at showcasing and promoting Nigeria’s viable but largely under tapped IT sector potentials.

The theme of this year’s event is: “Creating Market Opportunities for Indigenous ICT Products and Services”. The theme, according to the agency, was particularly chosen to promote Made in Nigeria ICT Products and Services, just like

whenit launched the Framework and Guildlines for Nigerian Content in Information Technology during eNigeria 2013.

As part of objective of the eNigeria conference 2014, the LOC is to ensure among others that it identify tech startups as well as ICT related research and innovations and showcase them like in other international exhibitions.

The conference is also intended to explore strategies for providing critical mass of employment through ideas, innovations and investment opportunities while creating policies targeted at improving the qualities of indigenous ICT products and services for global competitiveness.

The membership of the LOC was drawn from various ICT bodies including the Nigeria Computer Society, Computer Professionals of Nigeria, Information Technology Association of Nigeria, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, the media, other interest groups and representatives of other Ministries, Agencies and Departments.

EOPLE in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state, last week experienced the fore taste of digital migration when GoTV connected the city its digital terrestrial services platform. That means that those who hook up to the platform can now enjoy quality entertainment and sports like their counterparts in most popular cities like Lagos, Portharcourt and Abuja.

GOtv offers the GOtv Plus bouquet which gives access to 41 channels and the GOtv bouquet with a 28 channel offering, both providing families access to an exciting selection of local and international channels containing news, sport, movies, music, documentaries, religion and children’s programming.

Underscoring the benefits of the launch to people of Ado Ekiti, GOtv’s general manager, Elizabeth Amkpa, explained that for N6900, subscribers get a GOtv decoder including 1 month subscription to GOtv Plus and an outdoor GOtenna. She added that at the expiration of the one month, subscribers can continue to watch 41 exciting channels on the GOtv Plus bouquet for a monthly subscription of N1500 or downgrade to GOtv for N1000 monthly.

For her “launching services here with the latest approved DVB-T2 decoders, GOtv now covers 26 Nigerian cities in its pursuit to enable the government achieve a speedy migration from analogue to digital broadcasting.

TECNO attributes success story to innovative technologies

By Emeka Aginam

A

S the battle for dominance in the mobile phone ecosystem heightens in the Nigerian market and in Africa as a whole, every Original Equipment Manufacturer, OEM, operating in the region knows that brand development through innovative technologies is indispensable to success in the field.

TECNO Mobile, says it is not left out in the universal trend of unique brand development, high quality product offerings, affordability and improvement. Explaining reasons for its market penetration into the African market recently at a press conference in Lagos, Arif Chowdhury, Vice President, TECNO Group told attributed Tecno’s success to innovative technology.

According to him, TECNO Mobile offerings in mobile voice and data technologies including smart phones, tablets and feature phones enjoy huge popularity and adoption in Africa.

“Africa is our sole market and we will treat the region right. We will continue to also build lasting value in the Africa communities by driving initiatives such as the Local apps development challenge in partnership with sister company, Afmobi,” Chowdhurry said that the company capitalized on the opportunity of warm welcome that the Africa market provided its brands when first debuted.

According to him, “Africa welcomed our brand when other brands were dominating the market.

We offered affordability, originality and aspiration in our range of products and such, customer base began to swell. By 2009, TECNO Mobile had become an accepted and robust competitor with low-end mobile devices that offered value at affordable rates.”

Speaking on the organisation’s commitment to meeting the needs of the African market, Chowdhurry said: “The African market has always had huge purchasing potential.

28—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

MATS partners licensed providers to deepen the financial inclusion

By Emmanuel Elebeke

A

S part of its drive to deepen fi nancial inclusion of the Central bank of Nigeria, CBN, Merchant and Agent Transactions services Ltd, MATS says it has signed ten landmark agreements and is actively integrating them for agency transactions in Nigeria.

The firm is deploying own proprietary software, point of transaction kiosks and staffed agency network to serve licensed providers in Nigeria.

The Chief Technology Officer of the company, Henry David said the firm is actively aggregating licensed providers of mobile money in Nigeria to enable subscribers transact from any of the operator platforms, via any of its channel outlets which is in active roll out nationwide.

The action according to him is in a bid to bridge the gap with the unbanked population in Nigeria, give banked customers more transactional options for entire population to access agency network leveraging on mobile financial services of the licensed providers in Nigeria, The firm had successfully signed up and integrated 10 licensed Mobile Money providers in Nigeria, which is expected to enable licensed operators lower their operational cost, accelerate roll out and the reach of mobile financial services as well as agency banking.

According to David, MATS had built a next generation aggregated platform that can handle and process subscrib-

By Cynthia Okere

L

•MATS-CBN partnership will strengthen mobile transactions er requests from all the licensed partnering financial institutions and mobile money operators to access their agency network for transnational purposes. The agency network which is in active roll out will be combined with own network locations and partner locations in collaboration with leading distribution networks, and will be manned by trained MATS certified and branded agents nationwide.

Speaking on the initiative, the Director for Business Development at MATS, Emmanuel Okoegwale, said ‘’We have been working on the project in the last two years and had witnessed the pain points of the licensed providers in terms of agent network churn, acquisi-

tion cost and monitoring . We have taken all these into consideration to offer this next gen platform which comes along with the staffed agency network to serve licensed providers in Nigeria to further deepen the financial inclusion aspirations of the Central Bank of Nigeria. “ We know that Mobile Money is a low-value and high-volume based business and that is why We are partnering with licensed providers to use our staffed outlets to ensure service quality, reach, transaction volumes and deepen adoption in furtherance to the financial inclusion aspirations of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

Glo Xchange targets over 80m unbanked Nigerians Continues from page 25 will have the opportunity of earning commissions.

Globacom also said the agents can start the business with as little as N20,000 and earn up to twice their investment as commissions monthly, depending on their volume of transactions. It promised that funds on the platform would be protected by its trusted financial partners such as Firstmonie, Ecobank, Stanbic IBTC and Zenith Bank who will help to keep the money safe.

Head of Glo prepaid, Mr Kamal, Shonibare believes that by the time the platform hits target, it would no longer be economical for any bank to build bank branches.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, seems to agree with him, anyway. The apex bank at the launch of the platform, particularly expressed pleasure that Globacom had keyed into its plan to use telecommunications gain financial inclusion in the country.

Director Banking and payment systems department of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Dipo Fatokun, while unveiling the platform in Lagos, admitted that Glo’s new initiative would enable more Nigerians, especially those in the rural areas, use electronic channels to make financial transactions.

He regretted that the banks were yet to make significant impact in the area of bringing financial services to the ma-

ICT, indispensable to insurance — LASACO Assurance

jority of the people due to infrastructural constraints, saying that Glo Xchange would do a face lift to this anomaly.

“The Management of the Central Bank believes that the next revolutionary step in this journey of expanding financial access is the Bank’s Mobile Money and Agent Banking Framework. This framework is aimed at encouraging financial institutions to partner with retail agents to extend financial services in locations in which building new bank branches would not be economical. In this regard, it was expected that existing Telecommunication Companies in the country could compliment the efforts of the CBN to deepen Financial Inclusion and the cash-less policy through the building of agent networks and awareness creation in collaboration with the Banks and the Mobile Money Operators.”

H

e admitted that Nigeria has re corded significant growth in efforts to migrate to a cashless environment. “In order to evolve a credible payments system, key electronics channels were identified and relevant guidelines were issued by the CBN to regulate their operations. Some of these channels, which are mostly operational today, include Point of Sale (PoS), Mobile Payments, Multi-functional Automated Teller Machines

(ATMs), Internet Banking, NIBSS Instant Payments (NIP), and Direct Debits”.

However, Fatokun said that an appraisal of the utilisation of these channels indicated their tremendous usage as a means for the settlement of financial obligations.

“For instance, the deployment of ATMs across the country increased from about 10,727 in 2012 to nearly 15,000 as of June 2014. This has led to an increase in ATM transactions from about N1.3 trillion in 2012 to about N1.7 trillion as of June 2014.”

Continuing he said, the deployment of PoS terminals increased from about 114,400 in 2012 to over 125,000 in June 2014. On the back of this, the value of PoS transactions increased from about N57.3 billion in 2012 to N138 billion as of June 2014. We have also recorded significant growth in the adoption and usage of other e-payments channels such as Electronic Fund Transfers and other internet-based transactions.

For him, the Glo initiative represents a massive step in the country’s quest to transit from a cash to an electronic based economy. “The forum is significant to our quest of using telecommunications to bring more Nigerians into the financial system, because it is worrisome that over 46 percent of adult Nigerians have no access to financial services. But the CBN is working to bridge that gap through a well formed national financial payment system.”

ASACO Assurance PLC says the deployment of some information and Communications Technology, ICT solutions has helped its operations tremendously.

The company said through the solutions, its operations have become simplified to customers and access to its numerous products, so simple and easy for customers.

The insurance company said its products are now available online real-time.

This is in addition to the fact that valued clients are now able to obtain and pay premiums for their products on line.

Head of ICT, LASACO Assurance Plc, Mr. Deji Ogundele who made the revelations, explained that his company was committed to ensuring numerous customers as well potential ones a seamless service satisfaction using the instrumentality of ICT. According to him,“the ICT operations is on 24/7 basis to ensure seamless flow of the processes so that our customers can enjoy great customer experience.

Our Products are sold through e-payment systems; embarking on awareness campaign; and development of its knowledge in various electronic and print media. The world is actually going digital and more transactions are done online real-time.

“We have put in place a number of platforms to effectively reach out to our numerous and potential clients by embarking on digital marketing and also making it more accessible through the various social media market platforms.

Once the desired product is purchased, several alternative channels are available to make payments easier. Our customers now make payments in bank branches nationwide, as well as in Quickteller, POS, and our e-commerce portalwhich work in a seamless manner.

Ogundele stated that whether company’s operatives are in the office or out in the field, the solution, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), ERP empowers the company to be more productive by providing a highly functional system that meets international standards, automating document storage and retrieval, enhances communication links with customers, provides online/ realtime access, ensures effective security and auditing both internally and externally and very scalable.

“With the strong E-commerce capability of ERP, staffs and clients can connect easily to the application to transact businesses Online/real-time and hence promote the concept of ‘LASACO without walls” he added.

TUESD AY, SEPTEMBER 9, 20 14 TUESDA 201

VOL. 1: NO. 14

PUBLIC STIGMA:

Stop calling us ‘Ebola’ community—Oduoha monarch •People abuse us for accepting Ebola quarantine ward — Villagers ByDAVIES IHEAMNACHOR

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DUOHA-EMOHUA: THE people of Oduoha, an Ikwerre community in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, are piqued that some members of the public are castigating, mocking and calling them ‘Ebola’ community for allowing the State Government to site an Ebola Quarantine Ward, EQW, in the locality.

It was learned that since the government converted the Oduoha Health Centre to Ebola ward and promised to build them a new one, people from other communities have been avoiding meeting with anybody from Oduoha, saying they did not want to contact Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. Why we accepted to host Ebola ward Paramount ruler of the community, Chief Dr. Ferdinand Agbandu Ogbuehi, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice on the irritating development, said people should stop addressing Oduoha as Ebola community, as it permitted government to locate the

Continues on Page 7

•Elders of Oduoha community after a meeting

A-B-R-A-C-A-D-A-B-R-A: Politicians vanish with money for road project •Job status: 50% mobilization collected; Work done = 21% •Ibaa clan urges Gov Amaechi to call contractor to order •I’m not the contractor, didn’t enrich myself — Hon Gowon, ex -councillor ByDAVIES IHEAMNACHOR

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BAA- COMMUNITIES at Ibaa clan, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, have accused politicians in the clan of collecting and disappearing into thin air with Continues on Page 4

IN THIS EDITION Wild animals invade FG Leboku: Yam College in festival with Akwa Ibom

PAGES 3

sexual connection

PAGE 5

PODIUM Water refuses to flow from govt borehole 2 years after completion

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AGENDA FERMA takes action on collapsed road to President's countryside

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2 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9,

2014

UDO: The only sovereign municipality in Bini Kingdom •Respected by every Benin monarch

By SIMON EBEGBULEM

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DO – UDO community, located in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State is living up to the proper denotation of its namePacesetter. It is a town distinctively steeped in the history of the ancient Bini kingdom, consequently, every Oba of Benin Kingdom accords it due reverence.

Unlike other communities in Benin Kingdom where the people are ruled by Enogies, appointed by the Benin monarch, Udo is ruled by an Iyase, who is more powerful than the Enogies because of the exploits and awesome physical prowess of one of its progenitors.

Exception to the rule It is a notorious fact in Benin Kingdom that the Oba of Benin has the exclusive power to give chieftaincy titles to people, but there is exclusion to the exclusivity. The Iyase of Udo can also crown chiefs in his domain, which no other ruler can dare in the kingdom.

Why Udo is powerful Giving reasons why the community is powerful in Bini kingdom, the Iyase of Udo, His Royal Highness, Patrick Ekhoeutomwen Igbinidu JP, said, “You cannot compare the Enogie to the Iyase of Udo. Udo comprises of many villages not only in one place. Before, it was from that Ovia Bridge to Ufoso to Usen and many other villages around here then, such as Ofunama, Jakurama and Okomu- Ijaw, they all belong to the Udo community. ” “Since then, no Oba has sent any of his representatives to this area we are talking about now, but Oba Erediauwa happened to send three of his brothers, he made one the Enogie of Siluko and the Enogie of Siluko took care of all those villages

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Austin Ogwuda Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Unah Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Emmanuel Okolie Brisibe Perez Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa

C M Y K

around Siluko area. He made one of the Enogie of Evbonagbon, who took care of Ugbogui and other villages around that area.

Oba consults Iyase of Udo, Uwangue “He also made the last one the Enogie of Obayantor, who stayed at Igbuelahor covers Igbuelahor, Ezidemwonke, Ezideomwanmen, Iguerahon and many other villages even up to Ofunama andJakurunama. He was covering that area, but the remaining places were for the Iyase because the Oba seeks the opinion of the Iyase and the Uwangue then before taking such decisions,” HRH Igbinudu said.

No Enogie can rule Udo Asked why Udo cannot be ruled by an Enogie like other Benin communities, he said, “Iyase of Udo never joins the meeting of Enogies. He is more or less autonomous on his own.

The Enogie is just like Odionwere, Enogies are taking care of very small villages unlike the Iyase of Udo, who extends to Iguobazuwa, Okada

junction. Many areas the Iyase is taking care of, you cannot compare the Iyase to any Enogie at all. No Enogie will ever stand before the Iyase to say I am more than you, the Oba knows that. “ Iyase of Udo next to Oba of Benin His words, “The Enogie is under the Iyase of Udo. When you are in Benin, after the Oba of Benin, you get the Iyase of Benin. That is within them.”

“But when the Oba moves from Benin to this place, Ovia South West, where we are now, when the Iyase of Udo is there, he is next to him because the Oba is in his domain. When he

gets here, the next person to him is the Iyase of Udo. So Udo is like a kingdom of its own that pays homage to the Oba directly,” he explained.

Conferment of titles “In Benin, the Oba gave the Enogie two titles, Iyama and Enabore. Like the Iyase, I have more than 62 chiefs, different names and the Oba recognizes all of them because as he is giving title in Benin, the Iyase gives title too here. When the Oba does his Igue festival in Benin, we will not do our own at that particular time, when the Oba finishes his own festival that is when the Iyase of Udo starts his own.

Iyase of Udo community

KPANISA: Bayelsa countryside where women rule jointly with men

Kpanisa women paramount chief

By EMEM IDIO

K

PANISA- IN sundry African communities, females are not recognized in the scheme of affairs in governance, but at Kpanisa, a rustic Ijaw community in Yenagoa Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, power is vested in the men and women as paramount rulers in a diarchy system of government.

Niger Delta Voice gathered that an election was held recently in the community to fill the vacant positions of women paramount rulers after an interregnum of four years following the deposition of the erstwhile female leaders.

Kpanisa women deputy paramount chief

New paramount women rulers: Just like it is when a king is to be enthroned, election is held among the families to determine the women paramount chiefs, but a caretaker committee held forth for four years before the new leadership of Chief (Mrs.) Adevuya Otobo and Chief (Mrs.) Enisueze O. John emerged.

Old as the community: Paramount ruler of Kpanisa, His Royal Highness, Chief Preye Wilfred, said the position of women paramount chiefs is as old as the community and is rooted in the kingship structure of the people of the area, adding that the leadership

structure of the community rests on a tripod of a paramount ruler, women paramount chiefs and youths leader.

He noted, “The position of women chief is significant in the sense that it is only the paramount ruler and the women paramount chiefs that occupy their positions for life.”

Sense of belonging: HRH Wilfred explained that elected women paramount chiefs act as representatives and the spokespersons of the women, stressing that the position was conceived to assist the paramount ruler in running the affairs of the community and to give the women a sense of belonging.

He said the powers of the women chiefs are subsumed under the authority of the paramount ruler.

How I emerged- Otobo On how she emerged, Chief (Mrs.) Adevuya Otobo told Niger Delta Voice that the Electoral Committee made up of women, mandated the 10 families that make up the community to nominate an aspirant each, adding that it was only five families that were able to nominate candidates, who tested their popularity and acceptance in a keenly contested, but free and peaceful election, which she won with 85 votes.

Eligibility: She said to qualify for the position of a paramount women chief, one must be a daughter of the soil or legally married in the community and literate, as well as being fluent in the indigenous dialect.

Power: Her words, “As the women chief, I take orders from the traditional ruler and act on behalf of the women, I have powers over all women and serve as their representative and mouthpiece, but we are under the main paramount ruler. ” Agenda: Top on the agenda of the women chiefs, according to the new leaders, are skills acquisition, empowerment and aggressive women adult literacy programme to build the capacity of women in the community.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 3

Wild animals invade FG Girls College in Akwa Ibom •Parents cry out to Fed Govt, NDDC, PTF •Weeds grow on roofs of dormitories; buildings dilapidated

AKWA IBOM...

LAND OF PROMISE

By TOM MOSES

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KOT-OBIO ITONGTROUBLED parents have raised the alarm that wild animals and reptiles have invaded the dormitories of their daughters at the Federal Government Girls College, Ikot-Obio Itong, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, AkwaIbom State.

They said since the Teacher Training College, TTC, IkotObio Itong, was transformed to a federal girl’s college, 22 years ago, no fence was built to separate it from the neighboring forest, thus giving room for violent animals to

swoop on the students.

Bad shape When Niger Delta Voice visited the school, it was observed the structures were in various conditions of disrepair besides the palpable security problem. It was gathered that no new structure has been added to the structures of the former school inherited by the federal government.

The sign-post bearing the name of the school was covered by weeds and unwanted plants have grown on the roofs of the halls of residence, while waste littered everywhere.

Fear of the unknown A member of the Parents Teachers Association, PTA, of the school, Mr. Bassey Eyo, who spoke to our reporter,

Dilapidated college building at Ikot Obio Itong lamented that their children were subjected to fear of the unknown because of the

danger they were exposed to by the unwarranted invasion of the students’ dormitories by wild

Some of the destroyed houses in Fugar

Thunderstorm hits Etsako communities •Deputy gov, Otubu dazed, promises govt assistance

EDO...

THE HEARTBEAT

By SIMON EBEGBULEM

F

UGAR— DEPUTY Governor of Edo state, Dr Pius Odubu, has expressed shock at the devastation caused by rainstorm in some communities in Etsako Central Local Government Area of the state, saying that the state

government will urgently provide relief materials to the victims.

He gave the assurance when he paid an on- the- spot assessment visit to the rainstorm victims in Fugar.

Over 100 houses were destroyed at Ivinone, Ulumohie, Iviocha, Iviavia and other affected communities.

He was accompanied by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Lucky James,

Special Adviser on Special Duties and Executive Director, Office of the First Lady, Hajia Maimuna Momodu and other key government functionaries.

Odubu, who expressed shock over the devastation, urged the victims to be calm as government perfects plans to cushion the effects of the devastation through the provision of relief materials.

According to him, “This is shocking but unfortunately, this is a natural disaster that

we have no power over. All we can do as a government is to cushion the effects by providing relief materials to our people so that they will not suffer. The Comrade Governor of Edo state has assured that the matter will be tackled with all seriousness”.

Some of the victims, who spoke through an interpreter, thanked the state government for the on-the-spot-assessment visit and its willingness to provide relief materials to them.

animals.

Parents perplexed “On behalf of the worried parents of the Federal Government College, IkotObio Itong, I want to say that the deplorable state of infrastructure in the school it gives us great concern and worry. The dormitories, staff quarters, the principal’s office and even the classrooms are in terrible condition,” he said.

His words, “It is difficult to imagine that this is where government wants to produce future leaders; people that will lead Nigeria to the much expected Eldorado’.”

Appeal “I am appealing to the authorities of this college, especially, the federal government, which happens to be the proprietor, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, to come to the aid of the school.

“We, the parents have done much by providing certain facilities here and there are limit to what we can do as parents, especially as the school belongs to the Federal Government. We understand that government has done a lot to revamp the educational system and we want such gesture to be extended to the Federal Government Girls College, Ikot-Obio Itong,” Eyo appealed.

Another member of the PTA, Mrs. Hozzana Effiong, told the Niger Delta Voice that they had been appealing to the federal government to come to the assistance of the school, but without positive response.

She renewed the call of the parents on the federal government again to come and remedy the school from collapse.

The Principal of the College, Mrs. Eno Obot, could not be reached for comments.

C M Y K

4 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Politicians vanish with money for road project farm produce people know Ikwerre for come from Ibaa, but today, there is shortage of food in the state since the road cannot be accessed.”

“In the city, prices of foodstuffs have increased because it is very difficult for motorists to come into the community and transport things out to the city,” he added.

Sunday Amadi, Ibaa CDC chairman

•The abandoned road in Ibaa Continues from page 1 money for the construction of Rumuji- Ibaa- Obelle Road, awarded by the State Government.

Suspicion: Chairman of the principal Community Development Committee, CDC, Ibaa clan, Mr. Sunday N. Amadi, told Niger-Delta Voice that the people suspected that something was fishy about the project because the politicians were all talking tongue-in-cheek.

He lamented: “The abandonment of that road project is purely political; the politicians in Ibaa claimed they will do the road, till now, we have not seen anything about the road.”

“The councillor claimed the contract was awarded to him directly, when I tried to protest against it then, some people shouted down at me that they will do the project. Now, there is controversy and the project has been abandoned, who do we blame? Amadi, who is also the chairman of the Community Trust of the clan said.

Amadi said, “People that call themselves politicians in Ibaa claimed that they are coming to do the road, but I do not believe them. They said I should forget that they will do it, this thing happened when Hon. Gowon Wokea was the councillor representing Ibaa ward 14 at the Emohua Legislative Assembly.”

“If it rains, we do not pass that road into Ibaa. It is shameful and painful that Ibaa, which is at the heart of the state does not have a road. The road is giving a lot of challenges to the Ibaa people. In fact, that road is a death trap.

Before the Joint Task Force, JTF, men came; armed robbers used the bad road as a big advantage for their activities,” he said.

Contractor showed up, disappeared - Gowon Hon. Gowon, a former

C M Y K

councillor, who confirmed that he was the representative of Ibaa Ward 16, 2008 to 2010, when the government in its magnanimity to the people, awarded the contract for the construction of the 9.45 kilometres Rumuji - Ibaa Obelle Road, said he was not the contractor and did not enrich himself with money meant for the contract.

His words, “I am not the contractor for that project, so I did not eat any money. I saw at the site a construction and a Nigerian company whose office is around Iguruta axis. They actually commenced with the cleaning of the drains in 2010, but after a very short time, the company went to thin air, till today we have not seen that company again. “

No equipment brought to site “They did not bring equipment to the site, not even a hammer that is the least tool in construction. That contract was awarded by the state government, Ministry of Work to one of the top politicians in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area,” he stated.

Gowon emphasized, “My role in the whole thing was just legislative supervision. As a government elected officer in my constituency, it was my duty to monitor the activities of government in my place to ensure peace, safety, completion of projects according to standard and to ensure that the projects brought by the government were executed well. I did same to other contracts awarded to the community during my tenure.”

He revealed, “Within this period, I was privileged to attend a stewardship account of the Governor of the state in his usual character. There, I saw on record up to 50 per cent mobilization on this construction project.”

“I also discovered that the level of completion is 21 per cent, which is below expectation. 50 per cent mobilization should have taken the project to at least 45 per cent completion. May be the 21 per cent completion is for the drains cleaned because there is no construction what so ever on that road,” he asserted.

Why foodstuffs’ prices have soared Gowon said: “An Ibaa man is not the contractor of the project. We are at the benefiting end, so our duty is to function as catalysts to ensure its completion. That road serves as a route to the farm gate of the state because most of the

Re-assess, re-award contract “We want the state government, irrespective of who plunged us into this problem, to reassess and re-award this contract while they pursue the other issues arising from their earlier contractor to ensure that Ibaa shares from the goodwill of His Excellency. We are in support of this present administration.” Gowon added Appeal to Gov Amaechi According to Amadi, “Road is a basic infrastructure that government provides, it is missing in Ibaa clan. We are cut off from other Ikwerre communities and the state capital.

Ibaa clan, one of the economic backbones of the state, has contributed enormously in the economic development of the state. We have about seven oil wells and plays host to some oil

facilities.”

He disclosed, “About two years ago, the clan entered into a Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMOU, with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

Here, we call it Emohua Cluster Development Board, ECDB. SPDC started by coming for sensitization in Ibaa and we appointed 10 members to represent the clan on matters concerning projects of the community.”

Shell asked us to name another project - Amadi “When SPDC asked us to present our demands, we presented road as the number one thing, which we need most as well as electricity, market and human development. A time came; SPDC said they cannot reconstruct our road because the money budgeted for the clan each year cannot execute the project.

They said money voted to the community each year multiply by five cannot put the road in order.

“They asked us to choose another thing in our list. We even pleaded that they should only take care of the spoilt sections of the road; they insisted that they cannot do it. The community and the Royal Highness, Eze Sampson Ovuah made amend and chose town hall, so you can imagine our frustration over what is happening to the contract government awarded for the road,” he asserted.

After 25 yrs inertia, Warri/Effurun ADB-assisted water project ready — Oghenechovwen •24-hr water supply soon

DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

By EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

W

ARRI – GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has given the kiss of life to the African Development Bank, ADB- assisted water project at Effurun/Warri, in the state, which had lingered for 25 years.

Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Chris Oghenechovwen, who inspected some of the houses already connected with taps from the water project, said supply of potable water to residents of Warri, Effurun and part of Udu on a 24-hour basis would commence shortly.

His words, “We have been working seriously to see that this project, started in 1989 gets working, but it is only when the water comes out that people know how much we have done. Now, we are ready to give people in Warri, Effurun and parts of Udu 24- hour potable water, purer than any water you can find around.”

Difficulty surmounted: Oghenechovwen said with the completion of rehabilitation of damaged pipes, which had been the major obstacle to the take-off of the abandoned project, treatment and electronic plants and 17 boreholes were being commissioned, as lines were also being flushed for people to

•Residents of Eda Street, Okumagba layout fetching water from a public tap have water.

Attention: He, however, cautioned already connected residents not to drink water from the taps while the flushing of the lines lasts, explaining that it is unsafe for few days because of chemicals being employed in the task of flushing the lines.

Asked how much the current administration has spent in its intervention at realizing completion of the project, he said, “It is when we have fully completed the project that we will be able to give a clear line on figures, but, I can assure you that the figures are within acceptable

limits.” He said the second phase at extending distribution network to the total planned 189 km has met 60 per cent completion.

Apology: The commissioner apologized to residents for the inconveniences suffered as a result of the damages exacted on major roads in the area while the project consultant repaired ruptured underground pipes and laid fresh ones in course of getting through phase one, assuring that all the affected road portions would be fixed soonest.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 5

cause it signals that the maiden is 'ripe' and eligible suitors can 'whisper' to her. The black indigo patterns drawn into beautiful designs on the bodies of the maiden represents the people’s artistic and aesthetic value and skills.

In the past, the maidens paraded the town naked, but the inception of the missionaries ensured that delicate parts of the female anatomy are covered though scantily. The maidens wrap round their waists just one yard loin cloth and heap on the cloth ornamental beads. The manila rods shaped into oral bearings and worn on the legs, which are somewhat heavy, demonstrate the extent of a maiden’s strength and perseverance to farm work and domestic chores.

The 2014 celebration which ended on August 24 was the cynosure of all eyes as the array and columns of maidens gyrated round the Ugep Township stadium in traditional Leboku costume.

Enchanting moments

•Maidens celebrating the Leboku festival in Ugep

Leboku: Yam carnival with sexual charm

By EMMANUEL UNA

U

GEP- YAKURR in the Central senatorial district of Cross River State comprises of several communities, including Mkpani, Agoi, Agoiekpo, Nko, Idomi and Ugep touted to be the largest native town in West Africa.

These communities are said to have emigrated from a Bantu tribe, Umor Tutu in the Central African Republic and the people came with a unique festivity, spanning the months of July and August, which is the Leboku festival.

32 –day affair Leboku is the annual new yam festival, which out of the variety of crops- cassava, cocoyam, plantain, yam and rice cultivated in the several Yakurr

•Leboku festival

communities; yam is regarded as the “king” of them all and, therefore, celebrated. Thus each planting season, much efforts and time and money were invested in the cultivation and nurturing of yam to sustain a bumper harvest The festival is celebrated by both those at home and in the diaspora. Outside the merriment, splendor, festivity and counting of blessings, Leboku is said to be the time the goddess of the land, Etan Umortutu, hands out children to barren women. It usually spans 32 days and the sexes go cozy within the period.

Essentially, it is an expression of the importance attached to hard work and how Etan Umortutu, the goddess, has chosen to bless everyone based

on her assessment of what each individual deserves.

For the eating of yam to take place, a lot of communing is done with the goddess by the Binas (traditional priests).

“The actual day and date for general participation and celebration normally arrives from answers received by the priests after a series of consultation with the earth goddess and ancestral spirits of the land, " the paramount king of Ugep, Obol Lopol Ubi Ojong Inah told Ni-

•Leboku festival

ger Delta Voice.

Maidens’ spectacle It climaxes with the maidens’ parade as they wear spiral brass on their legs and arms.

They decorate their bodies and adorn two full stretched ostrich feathers on top of well-designed and plaited hair in line with the pride and elegance the Yakurr people.

The maidens’ parade is the most attractive and most celebrated part of the festival be-

Decked in thick spiral brass bangles that stretched from the ankles of their feet up to their knees, the one-yard cloth gave them ample room to freely move their waist regions to the drum beats while their mid region displayed firm buds of womanhood .

This appealing traditional dress form which left most parts of their bodies bare, shone with the reflection of the sun and spewed forth the allure and brightness that pervaded the arena of the festival.

As they wriggled their waists to the sound of drum beats with spectacular dance steps, round the stadium, the place was engulfed in electrifying moments as cheers and screams of joys resounded round the town.

6 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

PODIUM…

2 YRS AFTER SOLAR WATER BOREHOLE EXECUTION:

We’ve not drank a cup of water — C-River Monarch •Community seeks Gov Imoke’s intervention •Mix-up over project sponsor •Any project not functional is caused by vandals- RUWATSA CROSS RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S P ARADISE PARADISE

By IKE UCHECHUKWU

O

BIO NNOR- THERE is a worrisome development at Obio Nnor community, Eki West clan, Odukpani Local Government Area, Cross River State, which the villagers think the governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, is unaware of, otherwise, the problem would have been tackled.

Two years after a government agency allegedly completed a solar water borehole project in the community, the people have not drunk a cup of water from it. They believe that officials had not told Governor Imoke the home truth about the project.

Monument Clan head of Eki community, HRH Etinyin Asuquo Asuquo Okon, who conducted Niger Delta Voice round the project, said, “This solar water borehole project that you are looking at was completed in 2012. It is just a mere monument because we have not drunk even a cup of water from it, we have not even seen water come out from the tap, the structure is just situated here as a monument”

A wooden bridge at Obio Nnor

The solar powered borehole at Obio Nnor

Muddle Investigation by NigerDelta Voice showed there was confusion not only over the government agency that executed and abandoned the project, but the time it was purportedly finished.

The Programme Manager, Cross River State Rural Water Supply Sanitation Agency, RUWATSSA, Mr. Patrick Emori, said there was no reason why a water project, certified to be completed by the appropriate authorities would not be functional, except it was vandalized.

His words, “Our project in Obio Nnor was completed in 2010 and not 2012 as the people are claiming, unless such projects were initiated by MDGs, River Basin Authority, but definitely not RUWATSA, we always have a structure for continuity on ground to ensure that the facility remains functional even after we have

A portion of the road at Obio Nnor

HRH Etinyin Asuquo Asuquo Okon left the area.”

“We do not give certificate of completion to the local government unless we have test run the facility and this is not done only by us, but by our counterparts like UNICEF, EU and other officials,” he added.

Vandalization Emori explained, “Any of our projects that are not functional is definitely due to vandalization. There is a syndicate that goes round, especially when it is raining heavily to perpetrate this evil and the arm of the law is gradually catching up with them.”

According to him, “Any component removed by these hoodlums renders the facility useless, we have also

sensitized our people especially the clan heads and paramount rulers on the need to ensure that their neighbourhood watch is stepped up to check these miscreants, who also live amongst them.”

He said, “We have trained area mechanics and some artisans, both men and women on how to do repairs and maintenance and the initial challenge of spare parts have also been solved by the coming of TULSI CHI Foundation; we now have supply chain across the local governments.”

Appeal to Imoke: Whatever and whoever is responsible, HRH Okon said the villagers were appealing to Governor Imoke to come to their rescue by revamping the

abandoned solar water project and commissioning it.

“Since they have already taken the job to this level, they should come and commission it so that our people can start drinking water from it, drinking water from a source that is not safe has serious health implications with new diseases springing up every day,” Okon asserted.

Besides the abandoned water project, the monarch pleaded with the governor to extend the on-going construction on Okuru Ikang to Esuku Obio Iyop road, designed to traverse the entire Eki clan to Obio Nnor.

He said that by the present contractual arrangement, the construction will terminate at Obot Ekpo, cutting off Obio Nnor.

Said the monarch, “We are very grateful to Imoke for what

he has done for us but we are appealing that they should help construct the Atan Eki – Obodio- Obio Nnor road. From Atan - Eki to my village there is no road; we have been totally cut off from the outside world, we just want them to help us and we know that he will do it for us because he is a listening governor. ” “They should help us complete this road so that we too can feel a sense of belonging,” Okon stated.

Road‘ll get to Obio Nnor — Source On the road project, an unofficial source told Niger Delta Voice that the construction was in phases and that would soon get to the area, adding that there was no deliberate attempt by government to exclude Obio Nnor.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 — 7

Stop calling us ‘Ebola’ community—Oduoha monarch Continues from page 1 quarantine ward in the interest of the entire people of Rivers state and Nigeria.

He said, “I am not happy that people have changed the name of Oduoha Junction to Ebola Junction. I am using this opportunity to tell the public to stop any act that may tarnish the image of this peace- loving community. ” “The community has not done anything wrong by accepting that the Ebola ward that will help to save the lives of our brothers and sisters who may contact the dangerous virus be sited in our place. Our junction remains Oduoha Junction and not Ebola Junction,” he warned His words, “I do not think the government brought the Ebola ward here because they want us to die, I think they did that because they have discovered that Oduoha is the land of solution in the state. That problem that is bigger than the carrier is always relieved on getting to Oduoha community. ” “As Ebola Ward has arrived this community, its cure is now guaranteed, the community has agreed that even if they will bring 1000 patients, we will not chase them away, rather we will work with the government to ensure that all of patients regain their health. Our ultimate desire is that Nigeria will never sink.”

He asserted, “We have accepted the decision of the government to use our health centre for EQW, and there is no going back. Oduoha is not a weak community in Ikwerre and in the state at large. We can refuse or resist moves by anyone against the community.

We can say no and stand by it.

But we have said yes, our yes remains our yes no matter what critics will say or do.”

“We allowed the government to use the facility because we saw the need. We have understanding,” he added.

When Niger Delta Voice visited the community, it was learned that the people were worried by the public humiliation, while the EQW had been cordoned by soldiers to prevent needless access to the centre.

A National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member serving in the area, Wisdom OnuUgorsi, said the quarantine

CDC secretary, Oduoha

centre “is like a dent to the image of the community now.

Ebola village!

Onu-Ugorsi Wisdom a Corp member serving in the community said the quarantine centre is like a treat to the image of the community now, adding that people from outside the community are saying a lot of negative things about Oduoha.

He said, “They have changed the name of the village to Ebola village and it is wrong. They see anyone coming from the community as a carrier of the deadly disease.”

Humiliation According to him, “When I went back to my state, my people could not welcome me warmly because I told them that Ebola Quarantine Ward was brought to where I am serving.

I have to undress, take my bath and sanitize myself before they could allow me in.”

“People have misinterpreted the whole thing that immediately you go to that community, you are already infected. But I want to tell the people of the state not to think negative because the Oduoha people are a healthy set of beings,” he said.

•Clearing of the site of the new OduohaHealth Centre

Ebola people A fresh NYSC member, Martins Zuaianga, said he was flabbergasted at the way people were sneering at people from Oduoha and calling them Ebola people. “I entered motor with some persons as I stopped at Oduoha Junction, the people in the bus shouted that if they had known that I live in Oduoha, they would not have allowed me join the bus.

“I am not happy with that level of sentiment. Because of that I am even afraid now, say for like three days now; I have not gone out because I think if I do, I will contact it. I do not want anybody to touch me. As I am still new in the community, I do not want to shake hands with anybody. I am going by Ebola greeting as people do say,” he asserted.

No-go-area An Oduoha youth, Friday Igbudu, said: “I am unhappy about the whole scene that is playing out. That area where the EQW is located is now a no-go-area in the state. Now, nobody goes close to that place

A corps member

•Oduoha junction now nicknamed Ebola junction again. There are some security operatives in that area. They ensure that nobody comes close. There is one ambulance there with bold inscription, DON’T TOUCH. The thing is frightening.”

Mockery Igbudu stated, “People are now making mockery of the community that we saw N300, 000 and accepted to die. People should not be misled because Oduoha community is not a poor community in the state.

We have people who can give the community even more than N1 million if the need be.”

CDC secretary, Mr. Honest Chukundah, who is also peeved at the allegation, said the N300,000 given to the community was not a bribe as misinterpreted by some media houses, rather it was an appeasement made to the land.

He cautioned those making

Another corps member

jest with the name of the community over the matter to desist from their ill-considered action.

Fresh storm Earlier, last week, the community was thrown into confusion over the land that the new health centre promised in exchange for the EQW will be built. The source said the land to be used for the project was, in the early hours of Tuesday, sealed with Omu nkwu (tender palm frond), which threw spanners in the works yet again.

Our source revealed that when the community discovered the land, which the new health centre is to be sited had been fastened with Omu, the paramount ruler summoned the elders, Ezes, Community Development Committee, CDC and youths at the town hall.

The source alleged that the politics rocking the state has crept into the community, suggesting that those who do not support the efforts of the state government may have fueled the action of the family that owns the land.

Controversy settled He, however, said that at the second meeting the next day, Wednesday, the family that owns the land accepted that the land be used for the intended purpose, but maintained that their initial action of sealing the site with palm frond was not politically

motivated.

Confirming the resolution, the paramount ruler told Niger Delta Voice, “What happened has nothing to do with the political crisis in the state; an Oduoha man does not use politics to destroy the existing peace in the land. We are peace lovers. We have all the political parties in our community, but we do not use it to fight ourselves.”

“We are brothers so we have met and discussed, there is no problem in Oduoha. The contractor has come and we have discussed with him. Now the work has started and the bulldozer is working,” he added.

Govt begins work Meanwhile, the community has applauded the state government for immediately commencing action on the new health centre.

Youth president of the community, Mr. Gift Ordu, who could not hide his excitement, said: “I am very happy that the government has come to deliver their promise to the people. They have started the first stage of the project, which is the grading of the site. The government of Hon Chibuike Amaechi is delivering on its promise.”

He asserted: “The community in our own way gave what has already been given to us back to the government and today, the same government has proven to the people that it is still trusted. I only want to use this opportunity to tell the government not to let the people down by abandoning the project.”

“I want them to ensure that the project is sustained till completion. There are other projects in the community that were abandoned. The good government of Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi should ensure the completion of this project,” he said.

8 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

LANDMINE TO JONATHAN’S COUNTRYSIDE!

FERMA begins work on collapsed Edepie-Imiringi Road •Following Niger Delta Voice report; residents happy, laud Vanguard

BA YELS A - THE BAYELS YELSA GLORY OF ALL LANDS

By SAMUEL OYADONGHA

A

FTER several months of agonizing wait, relief is on the way for citizens and motorists plying the unspeakable Edepie-Imiringi Road, Ogbia Local Government Area, one of the motorways to President Goodluck Jonathan’s birthplace in Bayelsa State, as the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, has commenced reconstruction of the collapsed bridge and road.

Niger Delta Voice drew public attention to the road, which it described as a landmine to the President’s country home in its June 10 edition. The exposure reportedly embarrassed some highly placed officials and since then, the Bayelsa State Government mounted pressure on FERMA to rise up to its responsibility.

Quickest route to Ogbia for commuters The road, which is the quickest route to Ogbia for commuters coming from the University town of Amassoma in Southern Ijaw local government area and communities in the Gbarain-Ekpetiama axis of the state, was completely washed off by the 2012 flood that ravaged the state.

President Jonathan is from Ogbia local government, where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity by Shell D’Arcy, now Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNEPCo, in 1956, thus launching the country into the petro-dollar club.

Prior to the 2012 flood which wreaked havoc across the state, the road had shown signs of great decay due to the

FERMA on site

many years of neglect as it was riddled with several dangerous potholes while its major connecting bridge was rickety and on the verge of collapsing.

Many had wondered why Mr. President who is from the council area would watch the road deteriorate to such a sorry state.

A senior F E R M A official, who p l e a d e d a n o n y m i t y, Niger told Delta Voice that the project e n t a i l e d emergency replacement of the collapsed Construction work on the Edepie-Imiringi road bridge as well as of 1 km approach on either state government.

“Kudos to FERMA for taking Niger Delta Voice steps to rehabilitate the road. side on Edepie-ImiringiOtuasega Road and Link Road correspondent, who visited the It would have been a national road, weekend, observed that embarrassment if nothing was on Mbiama-Yenagoa.

Though, he refused to state the makeshift wooden channel done to fix this important road, the cost of the projects, being that was erected by some which also serves as link to handled by Niger Construc- youths to eke out a living after some oil facilities on the tion Nigeria Limited, the main bridge collapsed in route,” said Collins Ebitari, a popularly known as Niger Cat, the wake of the devastating resident of Edepie. the FERMA official, none- flood had been dismantled theless, said the government with the route closed to traffic. Thumbs up for A massive pilling work was Niger Delta Voice intervention was to mitigate the suffering of commuters and ongoing where the collapsed the strategic importance of the bridge once stood while heavy Another Bayelsan, Otazi route to the nation’s oil duty machines were seen Jones, said, “We are happy excavating the muddy earth to that government has finally industry.

The project is expected to be get to a stable base before sand answered our prayers by completed in the first quarter filling same due to the starting work on the road, we of next year to ensure free swampy terrain. know the major challenge is Residents laud FERMA movement of goods and the collapsed bridge but thank Some residents, who spoke God, Niger Cat is doing services.

The construction firm to Niger Delta Voice , pilling work at the site. We mobilized to site, last month, lauded FERMA intervention must also commend it has again Vanguard for showcasing after it was awarded the job by saying FERMA, Abuja, following reawakened their fate in the plight of commuters and alleged pressure from the government. others on the road.”

Imiringi has suffered enough - Commissioner Meantime, the state government has also commenced reconstruction work on another collapsed bridge at Imiringi town. The bridge which links the old and new Imiringi settlements was also washed off by the 2012 flood.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructural Development, Mr. Lawrence Ehwrudjakpor, who inspected work at the project site, decried the damage caused by the flooding in Imiringi, saying, “It is a major project that government wants to make sure we complete, because we know what Imiringi people have been suffering.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 — 29

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 — 31

Nigeria's porous borders and Ebola crises

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu

A

S Nigeria dots the ‘I’s and crosses the ‘T’s in the fight against Ebola, certain issues remain pertinent for consideration.

Speaking on efforts by the Nigerian government towards containing the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in the country, a top Nigerian military officer who refused to have his name in print, told Vanguard Consular Advisory that the country may face huge ebola crises if nothing is done in respect of the many porous land borders.

The source decried that the outbreak of Ebola Virus in the country was as a result of the country ’s porous borders, saying it is a dominant factor leading to the importation of diseases such as Ebola and its likes into the country.

He said, “The porous nature

of our land borders is responsible for the importation of all kinds of diseases and deadly weapons into the country. The Seme border is the worst off, as non-Nigerians are allowed in and out of the country at will.”

He added that the dastardly act by the late Patrick Sawyer, was enough for the Nigerian government to tighten all land and air borders in the country, as opposed to the statement made by the Nigerian Interior Minister, Abba Moro, who said that the isolated case of Patrick Sawyer ’s infection was not enough for the Nigerian government to take a decision to close Nigeria’s borders.

Moro was reported to have said that “the isolated incident of the death of Patrick Sawyer on account of Ebola is not sufficient for this country to close its borders. Closure of borders is an extreme situation that has its own wide range of

Medical practitioners attending to an ebola patient in Liberia consequences and so unless it becomes absolutely necessary, we don’t intend to close our borders as long as information reaching us indicates that Nigerian Medical workers and Nigerian Immigration Service and all other Health officials are striving to contend the situation, no need to close our borders.”

The military personnel explained that the plaudable efforts of the Nigerian government and other relevant healthcare authorities in containing the virus spread in the country would have been enough to prevent the virus from catching up with some unfortunate Nigerians, even after the death of the i n t r u d e r, P a t r i c k Sawyer, but the situation s e e m s unbeatable, u n l e s s borders are effectively managed.

Although, the Nigerian government is at its best in the fight against Ebola virus, it is imperative to ensure that immigrants are monitored closely and all b o r d e r s equipped with all the necessary health tools to test persons who are qualified for entry into the country.

If the borders are

Patrick Sawyer who brought Ebola virus to Nigeria enforced, Nigeria would have succeeded in curtailing the spread of the dreaded Ebola Virus, which according to reports by a top World Health Organisation, WHO, official, could be much higher than reported in West Africa and could possible infect more than 20,000 people before it is brought under control.”

Eradication of virus Sharing in the view of the Nigerian Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu, who was reported to have pointed out that all cases of Ebola in Nigeria so far, have been traced to Patrick Sawyer, and there is nothing stopping someone coming with a fresh case from anywhere in the world, he said, “The statement made by the health minister in respect of the Ebola outbreak in the country, herein implies that Nigeria should beef up efforts in the fight towards eradicating the virus, especially from the avenue through which the disease arrived the country.

“Nigerian government still has so much work in respect to curtailing the outbreak of Ebola in the country and to do this, they must enforce the land borders particularly.

Importantly, government should tackle the disease from the quarters of the immigration officers, whose primary

responsibility it is to monitor persons entering and or departing the country.”

Investigation by VCA also revealed that the staff strength of the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, is grossly inadequate to challenge the herculean task of checkmating individuals who have already taken the privilege of the porous nature of the Nigerian borders to import all kinds of diseases and deadly weapons into the country.

Another source who declined identification, while acknowledging the efforts of the Nigerian government in curtailing the disease by issuing a health advisory to port health officials and immigration service personnel, explained that failure of the Nigerian government to provide border control officials with enough equipment to enable them checkmate, identify and isolate infected persons migrating into the country is responsible for the ugly situation in the country.

He said, “With the nature of the spread already recorded in other parts of West Africa , Nigeria may be at a higher risk, if it fails to improve on the security of its borders. Nigeria may also experience Ebola Virus surge, unless it tightens its borders to control infiltration of the likes of dreadful Patrick Sawyer still in other parts of the world.”

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Stories By Tony Ubani

AFCON 2015 qual

Nigeria desperate to bo back A •Adebayor

Adebayor boosts Togo ahead of Ghana clash

T

HE Black Stars face another herculean task in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo in Lome in a second Group E match.

Head coach Kwesi Appiah and his side have lost the backing of fans and will know the repercussions of a repeat of Saturday’s insipid performance against Uganda in the 1-1 draw.

Togo are a wounded side after losing 2-1 to Guinea in their first game and would be desperate to deepen the wounds of the Black Stars.

Tottenham Hotspur star striker Emmanuel Adebayor who has returned to international football has recovered from the injury which ruled him out of their opener. Togo head coach Tchanile Tchakala has tried to take the pressure off his team by stating Black Stars are the favourites.

But Kwesi Appiah and his charges know beat the Hawks at the Stade de Kegue will not come on a cheap.

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FTER some shock results in the opening round of group qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, the likes of defending champions Nigeria and Egypt will be desperate to bounce back today.

Fourteen matches will be played as the 28 teams continue their quest to reach next year ’s tournament in Morocco.

Nigeria lost at home for the first time in 33 years on Saturday, beaten 3-2 by Congo in the shock result of the weekend.

The reigning champions travelled to South Africa knowing another defeat would severely damage their chances of qualification - and it would further underline one of the most turbulent periods in the Super Eagles’ history.

Off-field divisions in the Nigeria Football Federation had threatened the match but controversially-elected president Chris Giwa stepped aside to prevent the country being served a worldwide ban by Fifa.

However, the NFF infighting and the uncertainty over caretaker coach Stephen Keshi’s position appear to have affected the players and the slide has to be arrested before it becomes a freefall.

Keshi may opt to bring in burly Turkey-based striker Emmanuel Emenike, who troubled Congo when he came off the bench for the second half.

Fellow striker Sone Aluko is positive his side can turn around their fortunes.

“We will bounce back and if we get the three points away from home the group will be opened up again,” he told BBC Sport.

However, a resurgent Bafana Bafana side, who swept aside Sudan 3-0 in their opener, feel they stand an excellent chance of achieving their first victory over Nigeria.

New coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba is confident his dream start to the job can continue.

Mambas stalk w M

•Mambas

OZAMBIQUE target sec ond place in Group F in their 2015 AFCON qualifiers when they host Niger in Maputo today.

The meeting will be the two sides first ever international encounter in which both come with contrasting fortunes from their respective Group F opening games over the weekend.

Mozambique return to the comforts of Maputo just five days after frustrating Zambia to an important scoreless away draw on September 6 in Ndola.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 — 33

ifiers

ounce

T

HE South African team has an excellent opportunity to dominate their Afcon qualifying group, if they can beat the Super Eagles at the Cape Town Stadium today Sibusiso Vilakazi , who inspired South Africa to a 3-0 victory against Sudan, has spoken to the media ahead of the mouthwatering tie against Nigeria.

The PSL player of the season scored twice in Omdurman to set Shakes Mashaba on a good spell in his first game in charge of Bafana Bafana.

The 1996 Afcon winners now hope to win their first ever competitive game against the Super Eagles today at the Cape Town Stadium.

“We just need to keep our feet grounded and the rest will follow.

The players know what it means to represent one’s country; they know that behind their backs that they are carrying the hopes of 52 million people,” Vilakazi said.

“That is one philosophy coach Shakes Mashaba has been drumming home now and again and I am seeing the attitude of players has tremendously changed. They are prepared to die for a just cause, work for each other and want to bring pride and happiness to the country. That is the type of task any responsible citizen needs to carry to make a difference in soci-

Bafana duo want to end Super Eagles dominance

ety,” said Vilakazi.

Bafana Bafana know they could have an even tougher task since Nigeria lost 3-2 against Congo on Saturday, so the reigning Afcon champions will need to get a result now.

“We know our history against Nigeria but we are determined to change all that.

History is always there to be rewritten and I am confident that come Wednesday (today), we will put smiles on most South Africans’ faces,” said Vilakazi.

Today’s AFCON Fixtures South Africa Malawi Cameroon Sierra Leone Congo Cape Verde Mozambique Angola Togo Uganda Lesotho Botswana Egypt Algeria

wounded Niger Niger, on the other hand, travel to Maputo on the back of their heavy home defeat in Niamey on Saturday where they lost 3-1 to early pacesetters Cape Verde.

Mozambique are second on one point, tied with Zambia and are two points behind leaders Cape Verde.

Niger are bottom of Group F with zero points.

It will not be an easy ride for Niger against Mozambique who are unbeaten in all five of their 2015 qualifying matches after toiling their way to the group stage when they negotiated through two

T

a point each.

The Ghana Black Stars and Togo all know they must win to keep bright their chances of making the top two to automatically qualify for the January 2015 tournament in Morocco; yet one of them – or both – could drop points.

The comforting factor for all four teams in this group is that it is early days with only one game having been played.

But the importance of winning on Wednesday cannot be overemphasised. Ghana and Togo know that, same as Uganda and Guinea.

7pm 1:30pm 3pm 3pm 3:30pm 4pm 4pm 5pm 5pm 5:30pm 6pm 6pm 7pm 8:30pm

Guinea coach brace for tough Cranes

Uganda, Guinea go head to head HE 2015 Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifi ers enter match day two with 14 games lined up today.

But it is Group E that East Africans will be mainly focused on as their only representatives, Uganda, bid to assume pool leadership should they upstage Guinea at Namboole and Ghana fail to beat Togo in Lome.

Michael Dussuyer ’s Guinea top the standings with three points following their opening 2-1 victory over Togo while Uganda and Ghana, who played out a 1-1 draw in Kumasi last Saturday, share

v Nigeria v Ethiopia v Ivory Coast v Congo DR v Sudan v Zambia v Niger v B/Faso v Ghana v Guinea v Gabon v Senegal v Tunisia v Mali

G

UINEA coach Michel Dussuyer leads his team against Uganda today knowing they will have to be at their best if they are to pick a result from Kampala.

The two meet in Group E’s second game of the 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers with the

visitors leading the pool with on points following their 2-1 opening win over Togo.

Uganda are level with Ghana on one point after playing out a 1-1 draw in Kumasi on Saturday.

Dussuyer knows they face a side that last lost a qualifier at home in 2004 against South Africa but both teams come into this high on confidence following their weekend outings.

“Uganda is a good team,” he told supersport.com from their hotel in Kampala on Monday morning, adding, “A strong team, which performs very well when they play at home.

“They have performed very well in the first game in Ghana with a draw, and we expect a very tough game for us."

C M Y K

34 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Cécile Kyenge

S

Catherine Howarth

O

n a lighter note, Nigerian mother Catherine Howarth dumb founded medical personnel at Milton Keynes Hospital in the UK recently when she was handed her newly-delivered baby boy and he came out wholly white. Financial analyst Catherine, 32, is married to white medical recruitment consultant, Jonah, 34 and they were both expecting their child to have the conventional mixed-race appearance. When Catherine was handed her child, she was convinced she had been given the wrong baby, as even doctors said the chances of him being wholly white were one in a million.

Though the couple plan to have more children, they have been told the chances of them also being born white are highly unlikely. Mr Howarth too was equally astonished as he had expected his son to have darker skin.

Anita Oyakhilome

enior Italian politician Roberto Calderoli who sparked outrage when he compared Italy’s first black minister, Congolese-born Cécile Kyenge to an orang-utan claims he is under siege from vengeful African spirits.He is considering asking the Pope to recommend an exorcist to fight off the curse.

When Calderoli made the racist statement, he issued an apology and refused to resign. In November, he took legal advice after being charged with defamation aggravated by racial discrimination.

Calderoli now believes that Kyenge’s father, who is a tribal leader, has put an African curse – “macumba” on him as punishment for the remark.

Since his “orangutan” comment, he has had six surgical interventions, the death of his mother, fractured bones and just a

•Catherine Howarth t’s bad news coming from Oregun’s Christ Embassy , but blogosphere is doing anything but grieving as it buzzes over the newsbreak of the Oyakhilome divorce.The old picture of Chris and Anita Oyakhilome, who are HIS gist has been making the rounds beautifully portrayed as a committed many weeks back on cyberspace but it’d filoving Christian couple sold out to God, nally been confirmed from a very reliable source, has been dashed and referred to as a apparently. Flavour Nababia is expecting his first façade as Chris and Anita’s marriage child with the delectable and most wanted exonly exists on paper. According to a Delta soap queen and model, Sandra Okagcommentator on blogosphere, bue. their marriage has long been Sandra, who was once linked to Niengulfed in a major gerian international, John Mikel brouhaha that would get Obi, left Nigeria for the US in serious ratings, if it were June, and is expected to give aired on the Jerry Springer birth some time this month.

Show.

The hot couple started datMeanwhile, reports ing last year and showed they making the rounds were really smitten when they suggest pastor Ken, started using each others younger brother to photos on their DPs. Is marriage Pastor Chris on the agenda? Apparently not. And Oyakhilome has from the sound of things, chaps on blogimpregnated an osphere are dying of envy! unnamed South ”The last thing on Flavour’s mind right African lady. It now is marriage. She said he’s responpromises to get sible for the pregnancy and Flavour has even hotter in the accepted it but as for marriage, don’t •Anita Oyakhilome coming weeks. hold your breath”

I

Sandra Okagbue

•Cécile Kyenge week ago, he discovered a 6ft snake in the kitchen of his house.

Last year, Oggi Magazine filmed Kyenge’s 75-year-old father Clement Kikoko Kyenge performing a ceremony in the village of Katanga in Democratic Republic of Congo. Clement allegedly prayed to God for the racist politician to repent. Calderoli’s photo was placed on an enclosed termite mound during the traditional ceremony.

The photos and the video were unsettling.

They put a picture of me in the middle of a termite mound. That is not a friendly message, said Calderoli when he saw the video.

He said that after the video, he suffered the health scares and that two friends gave him a lucky charm supposed to possess mystical healing powers but two days later, it broke in two by itself. A wizard has told me that there are terrible forces acting against me.

T

Clara Chime

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IFE of Enugu State gov ernor, Mrs. Clara Chime, who, last year, quit the Governor ’s Lodge, where she lived with Governor Sul livan Chime after she alleged she was forcefully confined in the Gov ernment House, has apologised for her actions.

Chime, had disclosed that she had health challenges and needed his protection. Clara had replied by saying she was healthy but needed to move out of the Government House.

Mrs. Chime suddenly wrote to Enugu women, apologising and begging them to Clara Chime forgive her.

In the letter, she personally released to a Nigerian daily, Mrs. Chime also told Enugu women that Chime is still her husband and urged them to sup port her husband in any political move he may have in mind.

I wrote to Human Rights Commission and got linked to Falana & Falana Chambers to facilitate in grant ing me right of freedom because then, the psychiatrist presented to the world that I was suffering from mental illness and till date, has refused to furnish H.E. Governor Sullivan with detailed report of his assumed illness assessment.

My appearance on Channel TV was to debunk some awkward perceptions,

Joan Rivers T

Sandra Okagbue

which was triggered on the grounds that H.E. Governor Sullivan Chime permitted dehumanising plans that were targeted at me by his enemies.

I must confess that my option of taking an exit then was divine. My dear Enugu women, as we all know, the Bible made us to understand that we must always pray for our leaders at all times!

H.E. Governor Sullivan Chime still remains President Goodluck Jonathan’s loyal son and all thanks to Mr. President for believing in him till date. My sincere gratitude and loyalty go to the First Lady of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excel lency, Dame Patience Jonathan.

Finally, please my family squabbles should be left between Gov Sullivan Ihe anacho Chime and I, which we too have left in God’s hands. It must seize to be for public consumption.

Mmmm… cyberspace is now truly confused.

he daughter of Joan Riv ers has said the family are keeping their “fingers crossed” as the comedian and TV host recovers from a cardiac arrest. The 81-year-old was taken to New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital on Thursday after her breathing stopped during a vocal cord procedure at a clinic. Melissa Rivers also thanked people for their continued love and support in a statement released by the hospital.

She described her mother ’s condition as serious. Mother and daughter appear in reality show Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? while Joan is also the outspoken host of Fashion Police on the E! Network, turning her acerbic wit on the fashion faux pas of Hollywood stars. For all lovers of style, she will be sorely missed.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014—35

D

electable and enterprising Susan Opute Somosu caused a dramatic revolution in the Namibian music industry when she floated a multimedia entertainment empire in the nation. A feat achieved not only as a foreigner, but as a woman. In Windhoek, Susan owns a state-of-the-art private music production and recording facilities, in addition to running Sustones Recordz , a record label dedicated to discovering young African talents. Susan is ready to replicate the feat in Nigeria and opens up on how she became Africa’s first female record label owner and how she intends to conquer the African music market.

What has been happening since you launched your record label?

I came back last year for the purpose of introducing my record label to Nigerians. I started from Namibia. I have taken my time to study the industry and realize that a lot of homework still needs to be done. Now, we’re still busy with our Nigerian studio and some other strategic projects we need to put in place.

What prompted your foray into this line of business?

Back in Namibia as a beautician, I had musicians approaching me to manage them even though I knew very little about the music industry. Their requests prompted me to do some researches. During the process of the research, I discovered that Nigerian music dominated Namibian music scene. I thought about it and decided to give it a try.

This gave birth to Sustone Recordz .God be praised for its success so far.

How does it feel being the first female label owner in Africa right now?

It feels so good to be the first female record label owner in Africa. It’s something I didn’t expect. I didn’t come to the industry with that mindset, I didn’t even know I would be the first, It’s something I have passion for. This should be an eye opener for other women.

They shouldn’t ignore the mindset that it’s a male dominated industry.

What’s your assessment since you started?

Being the first female record label owner in Africa…

— Susan Opute Somosu, Showbiz entrepreneur / First female to own a record label in Africa The industry is okay, but a bit complicated. It’s tough and it’s for the strong hearted.

Does that mean you’re afraid?

I am not afraid of being the only female label owner and of doing the business of entertainment. I have what it takes to become big in this industry.

Did you see yourself in competition considering the nature of record labels in Nigeria?

First, I am not here in Nigeria to compete with anybody, but to create my own

,

By KEHINDE AJOSE

During the process of the research, I discovered that Nigerian music dominated Namibian music scene. I thought about it and decided to give it a try.

This gave birth to Sustone Recordz .God be praised for its success so far

,

*Susan Opute Somosu brand. Besides, my personal mantra is ‘When you make hard work and prayer your habit; success would be yours.”. Sustones has come to stay in Nigeria and we are poised to let the world know of our vast talents.

What is your greatest business decision?

My greatest business decision was when I entered into property business in Namibia .I initially started out in the beauty business but when the economy was about taking a negative toll I decided to try my hands in the real estate business.

How have you been able to overcome business challenges?

It’s challenging to make a mark in a country where you are not recognized as a

citizen. You are faced with laws that are not favorable to you as an investor. The good part of the country is that they are much more organized and have a functioning system. Irrespective of the challenges, I have resolved to maintain a positive attitude.

What is your vision for the business?

My vision for the business is to dominate the industry in Africa. I want to be a force to reckon with and I have started already. Nigeria is the biggest when it comes to entertainment in Africa that is my reason for taking the bold step to move my entertainment business back home. In the next three years I hope to have been able to build a brand with Sustones Recordz. I want it to be a household name in Africa.

36—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMPER 10, 2014

PDP wants power to pauperise Edo people — Obadan Rev. Peter Obadan is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Deputy Governor of Edo state. In this interview, he bares his mind on the recent defection of some APC members to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Osun governorship election and other national issues. Excerpts:

By Simon Ebegbulem

H

IS take on the deployment of the military for elections I will tell you I am not worried if the idea is to keep the peace. I know both the military and the police are there to serve all parties.

Although their presence could keep some innocent ones at home because if you look at the Osun election results, where you have 400 registered and 200 were accredited, almost close to 50 per cent did not show up.

Fear has been created in the heart of men and there is no doubt that some could have stayed back thinking that it could be rough.

individual reasons for leaving but the time of sharing the wealth of the state is gone.

I am happy they are not saying that they are leaving because Oshiomhole did not work, but they are simply leaving because they failed to achieve their personal interest which is not the interest of the people of Edo state and that is unfortunate.

I think they could not bring themselves to the knowledge of the current dispensation where democratic principles are applied to issues and based on that, for flimsy reasons some left. But I can assure you that it is not going to affect the fortunes of the party in Edo state.

Where you have one or two

,

Their decision to take over Edo state is to enhance their fortunes and not the fortunes of Edo people and that is the painful aspect of it. Those are the issues APC has stamped out and that is why it is difficult to beat APC in Edo state

But I think their presence was also welcomed because their presence will scare those who came to snatch the ballot papers. Again let us not forget, it is because we are having a single state election.

When the whole country is involved how are you going to police the entire country the way you have policed these states? This is where Jega’s reliance should not be wholly on the police but thoroughly educating the public and wearing the coat of transparency. And when that is done then we can achieve the level of international community.

On defection of some APC members to PDP in Edo Well, there is no boundary in political parties and people are free to exit when they decide to exit. Any day, any time APC will still win and govern Edo state. I will not want to judge those who left APC because they have their

C M Y K

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leaving, you have about 10 coming in. The party is not shaken at all. You can imagine this feeling in the air that what happened in Ekiti will be replicated in Osun, but it was not so. If the votes counted properly in Osun state, you will discover that the PDP did not even score 25 per cent. We know the expectations of the people in Edo state and many people must be put into consideration, the rot of the past cannot be fixed in 20 years. Like we always say, it is always very difficult to build but to destroy is very easy.

This state was utterly destroyed before Oshiomhole came in and we have seen the changes today. So for those who left the party, we can only wish them well anywhere they are.

Don’t you have fears that the PDP might use the Federal might to manipulate the election in Edo state?

I am sure Osun state PDP got

all the assistance they needed from the federal level. The federal might was there to intimidate APC members.

They had all the money there, whatever they wanted they got, but that did not shake Aregbesola. We know that the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees is from Edo state, we respect him as our father. We know all the money bags are in PDP, but Edo people are very principled and they cannot be bought with money.

They have seen what Governor Oshiomhole is doing and they are also feeling it. They know the game plans of these money bags, it is not the issue of money, these fellows are just insatiable.

Their decision to take over Edo state is to enhance their fortunes and not the fortunes of Edo people and that is the painful aspect of it.

Those are the issues APC has stamped out and that is why it is difficult to beat APC in Edo state. It is a party driven by democratic principles. It is a party where the ordinary person has a voice. We are turning around the believes of people in the past, we are changing things to ensure that the poor can also have a voice in the political setting and not being trampled upon every now and then.

What the APC is doing is creating the future for the unborn, creating the future for the poor, creating a level

•Obadan

playing ground to everybody.

To me, PDP is yet to begin but you have many of them who are mouthy, that is their asset.

But to us in APC, we have the focus. The PDP will make all the noise to encourage the presidency to dole out money to them that is all they are after. You can imagine those who left, the impression they created was that as they leave, APC will collapse, everybody will move with them. So we are not bothered, there is nothing you can do to stop APC, forget their boast, they are only after their personal interest.

But why the gang up against Oshiomhole in Edo especially from his kinsmen?

This is why I love the Bible,

a prophet has no honour in his own town. And those you have mentioned are myopic about the potentials of Oshiomhole.

They are myopic about the achievements of the governor.

Unfortunately, we are all friends and brothers from that axis and I believe that the fact that Oshiomhole is from Edo North does not mean that all the positions must come from Edo North.

So, it is a case of light against darkness but the truth is that at the end of the day, they will go through the tunnel and still return to the bright light. I see all these fellows returning to APC and working with Oshiomhole. Like I said we are brothers and friends.

Adamawa 2014: NYSC gives INEC cond

By Okey Ndiribe and Caleb Ayansina

A

S next month’s governorship bye-election in Adamawa State draws nearer, the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, has spelt out stringent conditions which must be satisfied by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before serving corps members could be released for the polls.

Sources at the headquarters of the NYSC in Abuja told Vanguard that the conditions include provision of bullet-proof vests, armed escorts and payment of attractive allowances.

It was also learnt that the NYSC had insisted that participation by

corps members in the forth-coming polls would be made voluntary.

An impeccable source told Vanguard that the Director General of NYSC, Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawumi had insisted that he was not ready to lose any corps member on any account.

The NYSC boss was said to have insisted that the issue of adequate security for corps members should not be handled with kid-gloves.

The source said that NYSC would not take any position on whether to release corps members or not until those conditions given to INEC were substantially met.

The source further stated that the number of corps members currently serving in Adamawa State is not enough for the conduct of the

election adding that there would be need to mobilise corps members from neighbouring states for the polls.

Speaking in a similar vein on the subject earlier, Mr Kayode Idowu, the Special Adviser on Media to Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega told Vanguard that the Inter-consultative Committee on Election Security which undertakes risk assessment of electoral contests would determine security measures that the Commission would implement during conduct of the election.

Said he: "The committee would advise the commission and also draw up its own operational orders that suits the assessment

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMPER 10, 2014—37

By PETER OKUTU

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Governor's decision “We the youths are solidly behind Chief Martin Elechi.

We will stand by him because he has empowered the youths so much in the state; he is a leader, a statesman and a founding father of Ebonyi State,’’ he noted.

What is however dramatic about the political situation, is the fact that the only two political gladiators, who had made known their intention to participate in the race are from Ebonyi North and Central senatorial districts.

Paulinus Nwagu

Martin Elechi

2015: Elechi’s zoning formula divides Ebonyi They are Senator Anthony Agbo and Senator Paulinus Nwagu.

The duo, who frowned at the purported zoning arrangement are upbeat about their chances.

For Nwagu, zoning formula is alien to the constitution of the PDP, describing it as the ideology of political weaklings.

“In democracy, there are two principles: freedom and participation. This gives rise to a democratically elected government. I have said this before and would still repeat it again, zoning is for weaklings.

It has not been discussed in Ebonyi. I am a lawmaker, I know what I am saying,’’ he noted.

In addition, Nwagu said: “Zoning is for those who are not ready to serve the state. If you

are ready, come out and say what you can do. One should not wait to be given Governor even those that want to be councillors should come out and showcase their plans. If Obama, a black American can win his country’s presidential election, why shouldn’t I, an Ezza man and a Nigerian not be allowed to contest for the governorship.’’

Continuing, he said, ‘’are we going to sacrifice efficiency on the platter of zoning? The state is young and we need to stabilize. Anybody discussing zoning is selfish. I have not even heard the governor talk about zoning. I have been in politics for 36 years and I know what I am talking about. If it has ever been discussed, I will be the first to canvass for it. The

PDP has never discussed it. In 1998, before the 1999 elections, nobody talked about zoning.In 2007, there was still no zoning.’’

"Agboti from the south contested but Elechi from central won. I know what our

,

HERE seems to be uneasiness among politicians in Ebonyi State, especially those from Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone, where is it believed that the next governor of the state would emerge from.

The incumbent governor, Chief Martin Elechi had at different fora stressed that power would shift to the zone in the spirit of equity.

At a recent media chat in Abakiliki, Elechi restated that position, putting to rest assumptions that his earlier promises were mere lip service.

“I have stated this in different fora that on the bases of fairness, justice and equity, it is necessary for power to shift to the south as this will create a balance in the distribution of political power in the State,”he stated. This declaration has prompted political heavyweights into restrategising on how to cash in on the power rotation formula.

Speaking on the matter, Youth Leader of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Comrade Chinedu Ogah commended the governor ’s decision.

Anybody discussing zoning is selfish, I have not even heard the governor talk about zoning; I have been in politics for 36 years and I know what I am talking about

people need. We don’t need a weak Governor. We need someone who will improve the already existing structures.

By the time am elected, you will see the difference. I know this because I am equal to the

ditions on corps members' participation that has been done."

He further stated that the committee is doing its work now, “so it may be pre-emptive to say whether or not the template we have will suit that election."

He further stated that INEC had also deployed a risk management tool that was developed with support from the African Union and the International Idea. “We deployed it in Osun and we would deploy it Adamawa too”, he said.

He explained that the tool enables the Commission “to do the risk assessment of particular places and the factors peculiar to them.

All these would be factored in by the Commission in decision making." He further assured that INEC shares the sensitivity of

Nigerians who are apprehensive over the deployment of corpers in the state given the high level of insecurity prevailing there.

Said he: “ There is no responsible organisation that would deliver innocent youths into the lion’s den.”

He explained that if corpers were to be deployed as adhoc staff for the polls, “ it would be based on the guarantee that they are secured; otherwise, INEC would not expose them to danger. If both INEC and NYSC are convinced that they are secured, then the corpers would be deployed.We would consult the NYSC.” He stressed that there is a dynamic relationship between

INEC and NYSC. Said he: “The collaboration has taken a depth that is unusual. In Osun, we didn’t have enough corpers.

However, the Director-General of NYSC, mobilized corpers from the surrounding states to handle the last election.

“The NYSC released the corpers to us because their safety and welfare was guaranteed. When people complain about militarization of elections, this is one of the reasons why it happens. This is because we need adequate security for men, materials and voters.”

As at the time of filing this report, NYSC and the electoral

task. If you know me very well, you will know that I don’t talk anyhow. If I say something, I stand by it and if am determined to do something, I will do it. I said it and the media carried the news. I am ready to serve the state because I have the capabilities. I have served in most political capacities and it is one area I also want to serve in and that is being the Governor of Ebonyi state.’’

Singing same tune, Agbo stressed that Elechi’s pronouncement can not stop any politician from contesting.

Agobo said: ‘’I Senator Anthony Agbo has a secret. I have been given a key to a hall of secrets were great treasures are packed. The treasure will one day shall bring even the most powerful of this world to gather in this tiny state and raise their hands in adoration to the eternal God. “I have fed the hungry, empowered the poor, taken care of the weak and disabled. I have paid school fees for countless many, provided free health services for the sick, I have secured employment for many, built up people who hitherto had no hope of rising up in life and guided and inspired the youths on the part of godliness, vision, success and greatness.”

It remains a surprise that the duo are the only visible aspirants, whereas in other

•Jega Commission were holding a crucial meeting over the issue.

,

states of the federation, robust political activities have since commenced. So far, there is no single billboard, poster or radio jingles, suggesting that politicians from the South are battle ready to participate in the exercise.

Though there are speculations that they are either consulting with prominent stakeholders or perhaps afraid to declare their intention in order not to offend the incumbent. Given that the PDP primaries is scheduled to hold next month, observers are worried why people of the southern zone are yet to make known their aspiration.

However, those rumoured to be eyeing Elechi’s seat include: former and present deputy governors of the state, Prof.

Chigozie Ogbu and Engr, Dave Umahi, Dr. Paul Okorie, Mr. Dave Nwachukwu, Chief Aja Nwachukwu, Minister of Health; Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Obinna Ogba and Commissioner for Finance, Chief Timothy Odaah among others.

38 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Mass failure in WASSCE:

Old problem, new challenges

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

T

Letter of appointment Commenting on the rot in the sector in a telephone interview she granted to Vanguard Features last week, a primary school teacher in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “I know a colleague in my school who paid the sum of N80,000 as bribe to get her letter of appointment as a teacher.”

She continued: “She is incompetent and doesn’t even know simple addition in arithmetic. For instance, while teaching pupils in her class arithmetic, she used to start addition of figures from the left to the right, instead of from the right to the left. This means she adds hundreds before tens, and units come last instead of the other way round.”

She said it was another teacher in the same school who eventually noticed their colleague’s wrong teaching of arithmetic to pupils in her class, that intervened and

•Students writing the SSSC examinations corrected her.

Another trainee teacher based in Abuja who simply identified herself as Franca told Vanguard Features a similar story last Thursday. She said she knew a federal civil servant who secured a teaching job for another lady after receiving N300,000 as bribe.

Said she: “It was a friend of mine who is a trained teacher and attends the same church with this civil servant that told me about it. She said even though she had been seeking employment into the Federal Government’s school system and the man knew she was •Comrade Ikpe Obong qualified, he refused to mention the teaching vacancy examinations, he expressed to her because he believed she regret that governments at variwouldn’t be able to afford that ous levels had abandoned the kind of money”. boarding school system which She continued: “Of course used to promote a reading culwhen such a person is eventu- ture among students.

,

HE recently released re sults of the West Africa Examination Council, WAEC, Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE, for May/ June 2014 have generated an uproar across the country. The results showed that about 69 percent of the candidates who sat for the examination failed to get credit passes in five subjects including English Language and mathematics.

According to Charles Eguridu, Head of Nigeria National Office, WAEC, who announced the results, “a total of 529,425 candidates, representing 31.28%, obtained credits in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics.”

Eguridu when comparing the 2014 results to that of 2012 and 2013 observed that there was a marginal decline in the performance of candidates as 38.81% was recorded in 2012 and 36.57% in 2013.

The result which is perceived as poor in many parts of the country, especially because of the large number of candidates who failed English Language and Mathematics has generated debates in educational circles across the land. Many observers of the sector insist that the result is a reflection of the state of affairs in the nation’s schools. A lot of stakeholders also share this view.

Students in public schools are not so well endowed. You might even see a student who did not have a single textbook of his own throughout his primary school

ally employed, the head of the public school he or she would be posted to may not be able to sack him even if he is incompetent”.

Secretary-General of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Comrade Ikpe Obong spoke in the same vein when he granted an interview to Vanguard Features in Abuja last Wednesday.

Commenting on the high rate of failure among public school candidates who sit for major

,

According to him: “Now that the government has largely deemphasized the boarding system, thereby compelling many students to stay in their parents houses while attending school, they don’t have time to read. ”By the time many secondary school students who attend day schools stay in their parents houses, they are more occupied with information and communication technology, ICT, devices and television is also

there to distract their attention.

This is in addition to the home chores which also consume time.”

He further observed that “students in public schools are not so well endowed. You might even see a student who did not have a single textbook of his own throughout his primary school. These are the kinds of things that play out and lead to the poor results of candidates during the West African Senior School Certificate Examination. By the time this kind of situation catches up with students, the next target of blame would be the teachers; the accusation would be that the teachers are not doing their work. “ Public schools versus private schools He pointed out that although Nigerians normally felt that students in private schools normally performed better than their counterpart in public schools, “this normally happens

because in the private schools, more than 50 percent are boarders.”

He explained that under the boarding system, the environment is usually better for academic work and parents are not allowed to go in there to disturb the students. ”By the time a student is going to the boarding house, he goes with all the textbooks he needs. Sometimes, they can’t even carry the heavy bag of textbooks that had been bought for them” he said.

Obong identified other factors responsible for the situation in public schools to include: government’s inability to pay adequate attention to them; inability of government to properly equip laboratories, thereby denying students the practical knowledge they are supposed to have before they sit for their examinations; inability of government to take care of teachers welfare and presence of quack teachers in schools.

Efforts made to sanitize schools Despite the knocks that governments at various levels have received over their handling of problems that have been identified as responsible for the poor performance of candidates from public schools in public examinations, several state governments have taken firm steps to sanitize their schools.

This normally followed shock findings by some of them.

For instance in 2008, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi who was the Education Commissioner in Kwara state subjected teachers to tests in English and M a t h e m a t i c s .

Abdullahi who later became Minister of Sports said: “An aptitude and capacity test was organised for a total of 19,125 teachers in the Kwara State public school system. Out of these, 2,628 were university graduates. The teachers were given tests that were designed originally for primary four pupils in English and Mathematics. ”At the end of the exercise, only seven teachers out of the 19,125 crossed the minimum aptitude and capacity threshold. Only one out of the 2,628 graduate teachers passed the test, 10 graduates scored outright zero. The teachers fared worse in literacy assessments which recorded only 1.2 per cent pass rate. More worrying is that nearly 60 per cent of the teachers could not read information or use information in preparing a simple lesson.”

However, in Edo State where a total of 936 unqualified teachers were identified and later sacked, the Adams Oshiomhole administration reinstated them.

Continues on page 57

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 — 39

Mass failure in WASSCE

meaning to his life. Also, there are a number of television programmes which are highly educative and can increase the students’ knowledge but some students prefer watching other

Continues from page 56 The development was traceable to an incident which occurred in August 2013. A fe-

FG’s commitment He continued: “One of our duties is to make sure that the Federal Government’s contribution to the funding of primary schools nation-wide is available so that the state governments would come forward to claim them by providing their own equal contribution. This is basically for the development of primary schools in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. This is because education for all is the responsibility of all; that is to say, the local, state and Federal tiers of Government are involved.

UBEC’s responsibility is to ensure that things are done properly in primary schools across the country which is the foundation for educational system.”

However, he accused some state governments of refusing to come forward to collect these funds because they have refused to provide their own contribution.

Said he: “What has been happening is that the Federal Government has been keeping funds aside and asking the various state governments to come forward and collect them. But these state governments have not been complying probably because of lack of political will or some other reasons best known to them.”

He said a total of N47 billion was currently lying idle at the vault of the CBN because they had not been accessed by the various state governments.

He continued: “This is why large sums of money which are

•Students in an ICT class

MASS FAILURE: Could ICT have made the difference?

By CHARLES KUMOLU & BOSE ADELAJA

W

HEN the Informa tion and Communi c a t i o n s Technology,ICT, revolution began in Nigeria at the beginning of this century, stakeholders in the eduction sector were upbeat about what it holds for the sector. Indeed there was a nearunanimous feeling that for a sector that had suffered so much as a result of failed government policies, the advent of the internet was a welcome development as it guarantees access to a vast wealth of knowledge, facilitate easy research as well as create an environment for innovative learning.

Initially expectations in this regard were not misplaced as access to the internet helped in closing the global information gap. But despite promising prospects, especially the fact that most Nigerian students had enthusiastically embraced ICT in a big way, influencing and dictating their conducts in every day life, investigations by VanguardFeatures, VF , showed an emerging discontent about its role in the education sector.

This explains why parents, students and professionals will not readily isolate ICT from the increasing mass failure of students in public examinations.

This was brought to the fore by the recent May/June West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination results, which showed that less than 32 per cent of candidates obtained credit passes in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

Speaking to VF on the matter, President of Save Eduction Coalition, SEC, Dr Bonaventure Anyiam, observed that there is a nexus between the recent mass failure and the internet revolution. Specifically, he said such link should not be misinterpreted as the internet being the harbinger of failure

in public examinations. ‘’Much as the the internet age is a boost for the sector, we should not be in the dark as to the relationship that exists between ICT and failure. This requires a careful analysis because the sector can not even survive a second without relying on the internet. So that shows you the umbilical relationship,’’ he added.

Wrong application of ICT Furthering his argument, Anyiam said: ‘’Regrettably the history of mass failure in schools predated the ICT age but it assumed larger proportion in this age. I still find it difficult to define the time students spend on the internet as waste. Even when they are not visiting any academic website,

,

male primary school teacher of 18 years standing was discovered to be incapable of reading her age declaration affidavit before a panel set up to screen teachers.

Oshiomhole, who visited the panel at work, was shocked and vowed to sanitise the system. He wondered how a person, who was incapable of reading, could write on the blackboard for pupils.

Given the above scenario, the Federal Government is actually not impressed with the attitude of many state governments especially towards funding primary education in the country.

The Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, which is the Federal Government’s intervention agency which was established for the purpose of rehabilitating primary schools across the country has accused most state governments of paying only lip service to the upgrading of primary schools.

He further stated that many state governments across the country have abandoned funds meant for the development of primary education because they don’t consider it a priority.

Speaking to Vanguard Features in Abuja last Thursday, the Public Relations Officer of the Commission Mr David Apeh said:”many state governments across the country have abandoned funds meant for the development of primary education because they don’t consider it a priority.”

not the problem but wrong application on the part of the students.

Arigbabu, who is currently on sabbatical at the Department of Science and Technology, University of Lagos, UNILAG, said: ‘’ Information Communication Technology, ICT, is supposed to be an enabler to enhance teaching and learning, make students understand better and make learning easier and interesting if properly used. Many of them are usually on Facebook for hours chatting and engaging themselves in unprofitable things rather than using it for learning. You can search for educative materials on the internet and that can take you a number of hours, but if care is not taken one can spend the same hours

Regrettably the history of mass failure in schools predated the ICT age but it assumed larger proportion in this age; I still find it difficult to define the time students spend on the internet as waste

being on the internet is all about the learning because it involves reading and research.

However, I will cautiously advise that students should spend less time on websites that scarcely boost their academic capacity.’’

A piece titled: The Importance Of Internet To Students Of Academic Institutions In Nigeria (a Case Study Of Imo State Univeristy Owerri) also supported Anyiam’s position. ‘’The different categories of internet websites are used by students and their reasons for using them depend on the individual users. The findings also reveal that the students utilize the internet in order to assist them in their various research works and thereby providing the needed information in their field of interest,’’ it noted.

A professor of Mathematics with the Tai Solarin University of Education, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, said ICT is

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searching for unprofitable items.’’

Before advent of social media ccordingly, he said: ‘’Any good thing can be put into bad use but this depends on the user; no matter how good a thing is, it can damage a lot of things if not properly applied. But as elders, the responsibility rests on us to encourage the youths to use ICT succinctly. We should let them realise that whenever they are on the internet, they should use the hours to source for materials that will enhance their knowledge and things that will expose them to good ideas rather than using it for unprofitable things.’’

Flashing back, Arigbabu stressed thus: ‘’Before the advent of social media, a child can stay on the television from morning till night watching programmes that will not add

A

channels with non useful programmes.’’

President of Adeniran Okusanya College of Education AOCOED, Comrade Saka Gbenayon, blamed the situation on a lot of factors ranging from improper preparation on the part of students, love for social activities and parental upbringing among others. ‘’Mass failure in WAEC has been running for more than a decade.

For instance, many parents have neglected their parental roles but aid their children in examination malpractices, while teachers no longer play their civic roles or teach students proper use of ICT,” he noted.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of BookReach Promotions, Mr. Andrew Odioko said: ‘’We have been in the era of ICT for about 20 years, so anybody who is yet to follow the terrain will have himself to blame. The mass failure in WAEC was not a surprise to many because students know how to use the social media to make calls, chat or organise telephone conference, but when it comes to applying this to education, they simply tell you, they are not ICT compliant.”

Students abuse purpose of ICT In addition, an ICT expert with BOFEM Scepters, Mr. Samuel Akinleru regretted that many students are yet to key into the purpose of ICT. ‘’If the purpose of a thing is unknown, abuse is inevitable. ICT is not the problem but the students who fail to key into it. ICT is like a two-edged sword. For instance, many use it to gather knowledge while others only use it to watch blue films or other programmes which are detrimental to knowledge. ‘’When I wrote my project a couple of years back, ICT helped me a lot in terms of research but some of my colleagues usually stay on the internet for hours to engage in illicit affairs and this has caused distractions to them. The supposed time for academic growth has been diverted to frivolities and they turn around to blame WAEC. Most students spend hours on the internet just to chat or do frivolities while such purpose should have been used to engage in studying.’’

Way out Proffering a way out, Akinleru, said: ‘’Way out is government should regulate the influx of Xrated sites and sensitise students on the better ways of making use of the ICT.” Corroborating that, Gbenayon added thus: ‘’The solution is to make educational website and applications accessible on phone and this to be introduced into the school curriculum in place of Facebook or Twitter. Students should be discouraged from spending quality time on phone than reading books.

Many students waste time chatting and pinging or watch European League, talent shows instead of conducting educational research.”

40— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Edited by: Emma Nnadozie emmadozie@hotmail.com 08023145281, 08111813021

‘How we formed robbery gang in prison’ •Shocking revelations of arrested suspects

Panada Street, Isolo and is married with a child. He told his story.

“I have been arrested twice by Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The first time I was caught with a gun. I use the gun for robbing. I was charged to Ikeja Court. I spent a year and one month in the prison. I was set free and my mother paid N250, 000.

“The second time I started snatching vehicles in Lagos. I got the Highlander from one of my friends, Sunday. I knew him through Henry. The owner of theHhighlander was drunk; he opened the door and pushed the man out of his car. They sold the car but I was not given a share. I met Monday in the prison. I later contacted him after our release from prison.

“I went back to rob because there was no money to start a business, it’s very painful and I pray that if God sets me free, I will not go back to armed robbery again in my life.”

Another suspect, Kareem, 35, a mobile engineer from Kwara State, who resides at Badagry said: “I was arrested because I collected stolen lap tops and phones from somebody, a man called Ojukwu but his name is Orji. He has only given me two laptops. We met at a naming ceremony in Lagos. I have never been to the prison. I was arrested in 2012 for buying stolen phones, I was in the prison for just two days, the phone was sold to me

by Joseph in my area.”

ed and charged to court. I was choice. We stole two lap tops and day was using Rav 4 when we

By IFEANYI OKOLIE set free but I had nowhere to go. two phones that day. The next were operating together until I HESE are not the best of So, I called a friend that I would day, we did the same. We sold had a problem. We operated times for a four-man gang stay in his place for a while. His the lap top to a guy. After get- three times in Ajah. We stole four of armed robbers who specialized name is Ogukwu. I met him in ting some money, I told him I lap tops and phones. in snatching exotic cars from “Monday got that Rav 4 from the prison yard and we formed a wanted to stay with my family. their owners in Lagos and other “After two months, he called his younger brother, Dada, who new gang in the prison. adjoining states.

“While in his house, I got a call me to come for another opera- is now late. I usually sold the stoThe suspects, Adedokun from him that we should go and tion. I told him that I had len items to Adigun while MonAdewusin, Henry Adebayo, carry out one operation. I did not stopped doing that. I haven’t day sells his own to a guy from Chigozie Orji and Adigun know that before that time, he had collected a vehicle, I only hold South Africa.”

Kareem, who are currently The third suspect, Orji, 35, a torch light when going for an stolen a Highlander SUV. cooling their heels at the dreaded “He said we should go to Isolo operation. I don’t know how he trader at Lagos Island is from Imo cell of the Special Anti-Robbery to rob, but I didn’t have any stole the vehicle at night. Mon- State. He lives at number 13, Squad, SARS, met their waterloo when operatives tracked them to their hideouts in Lagos and Ogun States.

Police sources disclosed that the suspects were earlier arrested separately for armed robbery and charged to court. Luckily for them, they were granted bail.

Later, they regrouped and formed a vicious gang that specialized in terrorizing motorists on highways.

One of the sources, who pleaded anonymity said one of the gang members who is their receiver, Adewusin, 39, led the police to arrest his colleagues in crime. During an interview with the suspects, Adewusin who resides at Abule-Egba and a native of Egborie in Ogun State, said he was formerly a car dealer but was forced into crime after Customs officials sized his cars.

According to him; “I sell cars. I usually get them from Cotonou.

But there was a time I went to Cotonou to buy cars and Customs Suspected robbers -Adedokun Adewusin, Henry Adebayo, Chigozie Orji and Adigun Kareem officers seized all my cars. I lost all the money I was using in business; that was what forced me into receiving stolen cars. I bought stolen vehicles from many people like Chigozie, Coded and Mosibaw. I sell the vehicles to people like Alhaji Dogo, James Unfortunately for the petty trader, to, she vowed never to leave her chilBy EVELYN USMAN and Tope, they are all in Abule she reportedly bled to death before dren for another woman to maltreat Egba.

ORTY years old Bosede Ogunfolabo, help could come. while she was still alive.”

“I have brought at least 48 cars never in her wildest imagination Dissatisfied with Gbenga’s claim, a Close relatives to the deceased told from various gangs and these inenvisaged that the curtain of her sojourn Crime Alert that when the tragedy member of the deceased’s family was clude Toyota, Honda , Highlandon earth would be drawn on July 16, 2014, occurred, the killer- spouse prevailed said to have reported the matter at er, Camry. I bought the vehicles as she set out for her farmland in Ishara on his family to beg his in-laws to agree Ishara Police division, Monday, from according to their standards for community, Remo North Local Government to an amicable settlement. where it was transferred to Ogun state N500,000, N600,000, Area of Ogun state.

Police Command Criminal A relative who spoke on condition of N700,000 and I sold it for about All was reportedly going on anonymity said: “ They tried to pacify Investigations Department, EleweN1 million or N2million. I well as usual for the mother of us to settle the matter amicably and Eran. am aware they robbed the eight when death came in not to report to the Police. At first, we As you read this piece, 47 year-old vehicles but I haven’t gone disguise, wrapping itself in were told that our daughter hit her Gbenga, a farmer, is currently cooling out with them to rob and I a quarrel with her husband. head on a hard object and died during his heels at the SCID. However, when don’t know how they were Crime Alert learnt that a fight. We did not believe that claim Crime Alert accosted him, he kept getting their guns.” the verbal confrontation because we were earlier made to mute and cast a long stare at this The second suspect, between the couple was understand that Bosede’s husband reporter. At a point, he burst into tears, Adebayo, 30, from Iglike a routine drama for was maltreating her for just no cause. refusing to speak. Efforts made to pacbokoda, Ondo State, who residents of the commu“She bore him eight children out of ify him to speak failed as he said in resides at Agbara area of nity. But penultimate which two died . But Gbenga would Yoruba dialect, ‘ tani mo se?( who did Lagos State said, “My Wednesday, it took a vio- not cater for the children. Rather, he I offend?) The Ogun State Police Pubfriends and I went to lent dimension as it degen- would leave the responsibility of lic Relations officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, steal phones and lap top erated into a fight during catering for the children to Bosede a Deputy Superintendent of Police, in someone’s house. which her 47-year-old who was a petty trader. Our daughter said investigation had begun to ascerThey caught my friends husband, Gbega Ogun- never had the intention of leaving the tain the circumstance surrounding the but I ran away. He took Gbenga Ogunfolabo folabo, allegedly stabbed marriage because of her love for her alleged murder. them to my place after her with a broken bottle. children. Even when she was advised two days and I was arrest-

T

Who did I offend? Farmer laments after stabbing wife to death F

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

— 41

Edited by: Emma Nnadozie emmadozie@hotmail.com 08023145281, 08111813021

I rob for survival — Suspect

By EVELYN USMAN

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WO suspected members of a robbery gang that specialized in carrying out a house-to-house operation in Akute area of Ogun State have been arrested by the Ogun State Police command.

Their arrest, as gathered, followed complaints of incessant robbery attacks by residents of the area following which the state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, detailed policemen attached to Ajuwon division on the gang’s trail.

Police sources said members of the gang were operating at Olatunji street last Saturday,when the AntiRobbery team swooped on them. A shoot-out reportedly ensued between the police and the gang, at the end of which two suspected members whose identities were given as Opeyemi Ibiloye, 23, and Michael Sanusi, 21, were arrested while others managed to escape.

Items recovered from the suspects, according to the c o m m a n d ’ s s p o k e s m a n , Olumuyiea Adejobi ,included charms and amulets, cutlasses and mobile telephones suspected to have been stolen from their victims.

During preliminary investigation, one of the suspects was reportedly discovered to be the

son of a landlord in the area.

In his confessional statement, Ibiloye told policemen that he took to robbery as a means for survival.

According to him, I have never robbed with a gun. I have never killed anyone. Anytime we went on operation, I usually caution other members not to injure our victims. If I get any amount that will feed me for a day, I will be okay. If I do not get cash, I will collect phones which I later sold to feed.

“As usual, we stormed Olatunji street

at about 3am on Saturday. I was outside watching out for any intruder with a cutlass, while others were inside. I did not know how the police got wind of our operation because the first thing we usually do is to collect our victims phones in order to prevent them from calling the police,” he said.

The suspects were reportedly transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department, Eleweran, for further investigation.

T

HREE former students of Delta State University, Abraka, were recently, docked at an Abraka Magistrate Court on a three-count charge of felony, stealing and assault of one Mr. Ifeanyi OguRaphael,a lecturer at the Theatre Arts Department of the University.

According to the charge sheet with number MAB/35c/2014, the accused, Oghenetega Odiete (F), Aforke Avwerosuo (M), Oghenede Ufuoma (M) and others at large,

By EVELYN USMAN

T

HREE undergraduate students of ICT Polytechnic, Igbesa, Ogun state, are currently cooling their heels at the State Criminal Investigations Department,SCID, Elewe-Eran, Abeokuta. The undergraduates whose ages are between 18 and 24 years, were reportedly arrested during an initiation ceremony of a confraternity group, at the weekend.

The trio of Ken Mokwunye, David Adigun and Obiora Okwuma, according to the Ogun State Police Command, were among other fleeing members of the Vikings confraternity, who allegedly forced the others to the undisclosed initiation venue.

Before their arrest , police sources hinted that they had threatened to kill a student that refused to join the cult group. The group, according to the Police , had been causing havoc in the citadel of learning.

Citadel of learning The initiation ceremony was said to have taken a violent dimension following shouts of help from a forced student ,which alerted residents.

Policemen attached to Agbara division were said to have stormed the initiation venue,where members of the confraternity reportedly took to their heels. Unfortunately for the trio of Ken, David and Obiora, they were arrested while the student that raised alarm was rescued.

The Ogun State police Public relations officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi , a Deputy Superintendent of Police who confirmed the arrest said: “The suspects have been threatening to kill a colleague of theirs for failing to join their cult group but the unsavory development didn’t go well with the student, who eventually raised alarm for the safety of his life. The Ogun State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye,has commended the victimized student for exposing the suspected cultists,”he stated.

•Opeyemi Ibiloye and Michael Sanusi,

Three ex-students docked for felony, stealing and assault

By BRISIBE PEREZ, Sapele

d e t te c e p s u s Three d e t te s e r r a s cultist n o i t a i t i n i g n i dur ceremony

were said to have on the 3rd day of June, 2013, at Abraka, committed felony to wit: assault occasioning harm, unlawfully beating up and stole the sum of N69, 000, four mobile handsets and an ATM card, all belonging to Mr. Ogu-Raphael.

The offenses are all punishable under section 516, 355 and 390 of the Criminal Code Cap C21 Vol.1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.

However, the presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.M Omonemu, adjourned the case to the 17th of September, 2014 for hearing.

•The suspected cultists

42—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Abortion is ungodly, says Adeboye

By OLAYINKA LATONA ENERAL Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Adejare Adeboye, has condemned abortion, arguing that God frowns at abortion because life begins at conception, and the unborn child is a human being.

Experts say that about 1,500,000 abortions occur each year. That's over 4,000 a day, and nearly three per minute!

Speaking at a special prayer for pregnant women and those waiting for the fruit of the womb, at the church's national headquarters, The Throne of Grace, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Adeboye said through his Special Assistant on Admini-

G

stration and Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola that, “the Scripture is unambiguous on abortion. Abortion is ungodly, it is unbiblical and the church’s stand on it is clear: it is unacceptable. God is not against family planning but God is against abortion”, he added.

Adeboye noted that there are several methods of family planning that would completely prevent formation of a baby.

“I do not need to go into details as medical practitioners would always explain to parents who want to go into family planning after getting the number of children they desire. But after a life is formed and is terminated, that is clearly against God’s will and

the couple would be held accountable with a charge not less than murder.

“When the life of a mother is in danger, we simply pray and the God of miracle, who created life in the first instance, would intervene," the cleric advised.

“Everywhere there is life, there is noise because children would play and fight and the irony of it is that one of the biggest headaches in the home where there are no children is ‘silence’," he stated.

Adeboye also explained that doctors and couples can look up to God for divine intervention when it appears that the life of an expectant mother is threatened instead of quickly concluding that the life of the

baby should be terminated to save the mother's life.

The cleric advised the pregnant women to take good care of themselves, eat balanced food and rest while he also assured those waiting on the Lord for the fruit of the womb not to lose hope in God as they will carry their own babies.

Pastor Adeboye further explained that anywhere there is life, there will be noise and that progress and accelerated promotion have to do with noise. He maintained that one of the biggest problems in homes where there are no children is that there is no noise which he described as good noise that gives gladness to parents.

Pastor Adeboye who loves children, said: “If the heart is full of joy it cannot keep silent, men shout for joy when there is great victory over an issue or enemy, some shout for joy when God paid them a visit but there are some men and women of faith who shout for joy even before they get their victory because they know that God never fails and they put their trust in God.”

God'll prevail in next A’Ibom guber polls ---Cleric

BY CHIOMA ONUEGBU RCHBISHOP Cletus Bassey of Destiny Chapel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has urged citizens of the state to be careful the way they play politics in the coming election, saying that only God would have a final say in whoever would emerge the next governor come 2015.

Addressing newsmen in Uyo, Bassey said that no matter one's position or class the bishop cautioned the people against taking sides and playing politics of sentiments and bias.

“We have to ask God that at a time like this we need the truth, we should not take sides, let us remain neutral so that our judgment can be pure.

“God gave power to Gov. Akpabio, despite the fact that everything was working against him. It is the same thing that will happen this time.

“Our God dose not lie and if God declares something it will come to pass, because He gives power to whoever he wants to give it to,” he stated.

He therefore advised Akwa Ibom people to allow everybody who has interest to seek any elective position a level playing field and opportunity to do so, stressing that every Akwa Ibom citizen has the right to contest, irrespective of the area he or she comes from.

The bishop maintained that every governorship aspirant should be allowed to go for the primaries and test his/her popularity.

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TREM hosts power sector

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From left: Bishop Peace Okonkwo, her husband and Presiding Bishop of TREM, Dr. Mike Okonkwo; winner of the essay competition, Miss Brown Patience and Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, at the 15th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture on "The power of your vote’ as part of activities to celebrate 69th birthday of Dr Mike Okonkwo at Muson Centre, Lagos.

Anigbogu, Adefarasin frown at level of impunity of public office holders

By CALEB AYANSINA

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IRECTOR-GENERAL of Institute of National Transformation (INT) in Abuja, Prof.

Vincent Anigbogu has berated religious leaders over their failure to curb excesses of some public office holders.

In a similar development, founder/Senior pastor of House on the Rock, Pastor Paul Adefarasin warned office hold-ers to desist from abusing public trust, urging Nigerians to rise up against acts of impunity.

Speaking at the commissioning of a multi-billion naira mega church edifice, Citadel

& Towers, House on the Rock, The Refuge, in Abuja, Anigbogu, in his keynote address titled: "'The Church and National Transformation", blamed part of the problems bedeviling the nation on the failure of church leaders to play their role in nationbuilding.

Posing some tough questions to church leaders and pastors, Prof. Anigbogu asked: "Will the church shift from just jumping and clapping to genuine transformation?

"Will a church that is mostly familiar with miraculous signs and wonder, but which still struggles to model biblical integrity, excellence, and

responsibility, be strong enough to withstand the storm of Islam from the East? Will it be strong enough to withstand the lure of materialism from the West?"

Maintaining that religion cannot be separated from politics, Prof. Anigbogu said the two are inter-twined, hence must work hand-inhand, in order to achieve total transform-ation.

"National transformation is not a child's play. Those who say that religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion means," he argued.

On his part, Adefarasin revealed that a new generation of Nigerians is

coming and will change the status quo, stating "we must all rise up against those who use our public offices for self aggrandizement.

"I charge you all, in the words of an illustrious president of the United States of America, Mr. Franklyn Roosevelt, who declared and I quote "in these days of difficulty, we Americ-ans (Nigerians) everywhere must and shall choose the oath of social justice, the path of faith, the path of hope, and the path of love toward our fellow man'. Even so let us build a great Nigeria whose Architect and Designer is the Almighty God."

HE Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM, has perfected plans to hold its 12th edition of her corporate Social responsibility programme tagged Breeding Leaders for Empowerment and National Transformatin, BLENT. The programme scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2014 has as its theme, "The State of the Nigerian Power Sector: Issues, Alternatives and Prospects", with chairman/ CEOGeometric Power Limited and former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji as keynote speaker. Presiding bishop of TREM, Dr. Mike Okonkwo is the chief host.

The objective of the programme is primarily to support the initiative of the government at all levels and also provide a platform to positively challenge the leaders of the country to rise up to responsible governance, which is the hallmark of true leadership.

Ths year's edition will also provide opportunity for stakeholders and corporate organisations in the power sector to exhibit their products at the venue.

VANGU ARD, WEDNESD A Y, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014—43 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA

How do I tell the children about divorce?

Dear Bunmi, Y husband of 18 years and I have finally agreed we would be better off apart. He is a very virile man but I don’t really enjoy sex and I would rather move on with my life.

We have two lovely teenage children and for family stability, my husband has decided to move into another apartment of ours.

Naturally he would have a love life but that’s the least of my problems. We both worship our kids and would love to know how to let them know their parents are getting divorced.

Sunbo By e-mail

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My husband is a slob!

Dear Bunmi, ’M a 32-year-old mother of three children. I work part time in a law firm while two of our kids are at school.

The youngest stays with my mum. As stressed out as I am, my husband has never been great around the house and now the kids are growing, I’ve got go much on my plate, juggling homework, cooking and cleaning. House helps are thing on the ground right now and the few I’ve had in the past were downright lazy.

I’ve told my husband he needs to do a bit more around the house, but he says he works hard all week so he deserves a rest when he gets home. I’m getting to the stage where I just want to wack him on the head with the frying pan! Am I being unfair, or should he pull his weight?

Favour By e-mail.

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Dear Favour, our husband has to realise you work hard too and that if you don’t get the occasional break, you’ll burn out. It’s not as if you’re swanning around all day at home while he’s slogging away at work. Bringing up your kids is tough enough without house-helps and with you working.

A marriage should be a partnership but yours sounds very one-sided to me. After

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all, it’s not for nothing Lagos State has agreed to paternity leave for husband! Start by letting him take care of this own clothes. See how he likes wearing wrinkled shirts

to work! Your husband is oldfashioned but give him a bit of sympathy too — in the current economic climate, his job may be more stressful than usual.

He’s claiming the son he denied Dear Bunmi, long time ago, I fell in love with a man who moaned that all his wife gave him were female children. He already had three and was desperate for a son. It was a poor excuse for getting involved with him but I loved him. In time, I got pregnant and had the son he desperately wanted and he was over the moon. Then his wife found out about me and he dropped me like a hot potato.

I was only a clerk then and found it difficult to make ends meet. Luckily, my company encouraged staff to take professional examinations and I did very well and got a better position in the office. I got married and I had two other boys.

My first son is now in the university and has been seeing his dad behind my back. He knew the agony and humiliation I went through when he rejected us both but now he says his father wants

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to be relevant in his life and has agreed to refund all the money I spent on him! The coward that he is, why isn’t he telling me to my face what he now intends to do? My son is the only male child he has as his wife gave him two more girls!

Amaka By e-mail.

Dear Amaka, he disappointment you had with the father of your first son took place a long time ago. You have moved on and have been successful enough to take full care of him and your other children.

Though your son has a step father, he’s entitled to a relationship with his biological father. It is quite natural to feel resentful but your son’s interest in his dad is natural and you should be pleased that he now has a sort of rapport with his father.

The man has obviously seen the errors of his ways and your revenge really is that you made a man of your son with no help at all from him.

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Dear Kudirat, f you want to sit on a red hot stove, you are at

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J u s t remember that when it comes to t h e crunch, t h e average man stays with his wife and family.

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His wife thinks we’re not just friends Dear Bunmi, ’VE just been promoted to the post of a secretary to one of the managers in the company I work with. We joined the company together though he did at a higher level.

He has always been a friend and I find him one of the most wonderful men in the world, to work with.

Unfortunately, he is very unhappy. He always told me about his wife’s insane jealousy and nagging. Quite frequently, we work till late evenings and my boss takes me to dinner — nothing fancy, just a meal at a decent but cheap eatery. I see no reason why I should not accept these invitations to share means with him as he’s also my friend. But his wife objects and has the nerve to tell me to my face. Isn’t this ridiculous?

Kudirat, By e-mail.

Dear Sunbo, ll kids react to the news that their parents are divorcing in different ways. Some retreat into themselves, others might misbehave or rebel. While there isn’t a magic want you can wave to make their pain away, there are things you can do to make the process easier.

Since the break-up is amicable, there is no danger of either of you bad-mouthing each other in front of the children. That’s why you and your husband should tell the kids togetherpresenting a united front is very important. Let them know how much you both love them and stress that this isn’t about you and them. Explain the basics of what is going to happen and encourage them to ask questions.

After you’ve broken the news, try to spend a few minutes a day alone with each child. This will give them the opportunity to talk if they want to. Also, it might help if you could give each child a small notebook in case there is anything they want to talk about but found it difficult to say aloud. They could then write in the notebooks and leave them where any of the parents could see them. This might encourage the kids to open up. Good luck.

liberty to do so. And if you want to cut your hair into a boyish look, you’re your own boss.

But neither of these projects are as silly a getting yourself mixed up with a married man who talks about his wife to his secretary in a negative way.

You’re obviously single or your partner would have put his foot down on such a dangerous liaison.

Just remember that when it comes to the crunch, the average man stays with his wife and family.

Many an unhappy girl who listens to the sad story of a misunderstood hubby has found this out to her regret.

If I were you, I’d try if I could get transferred to a contented boss who isn’t interested in trying to get at you by running down his wife.

After you’ve broken the news, try to spend a few minutes a day alone with each child.

This will give them the opportunity to talk if they want to.

Your partner can forgive your cheating Dear Bunmi, EING unfaithful is a partner’s worst nightmare. Until you’ve have been there, you can’t say “once a cheat always a cheat,” and I agree with most of the advice you give to your readers on moving on after your partner cheated. It depends on the person and the reason the relationship went wrong. A year age, I cheated on my husband. It was horrible time for all involved. Our marriage seemed to be going downhill at the time and I felt a little lost and depressed and someone was there who provided a friendly ear and it developed from there.

It was a relief when, in spite of this fling, my husband took me back because he loves me and we have now been together nearly 12 years. Although I didn’t feel I deserved a chance, he wanted our relationship to work. It’s been a long, hard lesson to learn and I’m thankful we’re still together and the family well-grounded. I know for a fact that I will never, ever stray again. Everyone deserves a second chance.

Nifemi, By e-mail.

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Dear Nifemi, ’M glad your story had a happy ending. Sadly, most cheaters don’t have such forgiving partners. The best hing to do is give cheating a wide berth. “So many marriages have been ruined due to the holier-than-thou stance of the ‘innocent’ partners — even where such partners were serial adulterers that were lucky not to have been caught. Yet!

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Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

44 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS; You will have more to gain keeping both your personal and financial secrets. Take good advantage of your sex appeal to enhance your love life positively.

GEMINI; You are becoming more determined to the betterment of your cause. However this is not the right time to re-arrange (and/or) re-plan your finances.

CANCER; Giving priority attention to either day-to-day working activities or long term career related issue is not bad at all but you must be as practical as possible.

LEO; It will be wrong to drop ambitious plans along your career line because of minor disappointment. Take your good friends more seriously.

VIRGO; Time is fast approaching for an important actions concerning you career and/or business lines. Don’t allow friends to mislead you. Be very practical.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

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HE holy writ admonishes us to work while it is yet day for the night will come when no man can work.

I guess you are asking when is your

This is your day day? I believe day here is metaphorical.

It is not necessarily referring to the physical day. In order words, you day could be when you are at your best in terms of

TERROR MUDA

ability and capacity.

For example, youthful age. Youth has a lot of advantage – they have energy, they are easily adaptable, they are also teachable, and highly creative.

in “Never say goodbye”

And even if you are not a youth, the earliest possible time when you can produce to your optimum should not be undermined in any way.

Indeed, there is a time for work, do not despise such a time.

By Lanre Kehinde

LIBRA; It is good to express yourself gracefully , but it is equally good to watch what you tell others so that you don’t promise what you can not deliver.

SCORPIO; The best for you today is to give priority attention to practical way to improve on your working pattern and encourage better understanding at work.

SAGITTARIUS; It is nice to rely on yourself but nobody can be an Island on his own; meaning that you will need to be as co-operative as necessary to be successful today.

CAPRICORN; Good advice from the veterans within your base of operation will go long way to get things done the proper way to the betterment of your cause.

AQUARIUS; If you take good advice from your tried and trusted friends you will not have cause to regret but if you become reckless it would back-fire. Be loving..

PISCES; You like it or not, domestic related issues will become prominent on your mind. Career and financial affairs can bring you unexpected success today..

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

ARIES; Those of you who are more firmed are in for a rewarding day. In whatever you do today it is important you don’t forget both immediate and far future.

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 exactly my future?

Dear Joshua, I want you to tell me how the planets lined up when I was born and what both immediate and far future have for me.

When was I born; I mean the day of the week Ambrose, Benin.

Dear Ambrose, You were born on a Monday as indicated by your horoscope data given here under. You have future. I hope you will take what you will find seriously and utilise them.

THE HOROSCOPE DATA DAY OF BIRTH=MONDAY SUN SIGN = CANCER ;SUN IN 6TH DEGREE OF CANCER MOON SIGN = ARIES ;MOON IN 24TH DEGREE OF ARIES STELLIUM SIGN = LEO MERCURY IN 1ST DEGREE OF LEO* VENUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO* MARS IN 17TH DEGREE OF LEO* JUPITER IN 22ND DEGREE OF SCORPIO SATURN IN 3RD DEGREE OF CAPRICORN URANUS IN 14TH DEGREE OF LEO* NEPTUNE IN 4TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO PLUTO IN 2ND DEGREE OF VIRGO NORTH NODE IN 8TH DEGREE OF LIBRA SOUTH NODE IN 8TH DEGREE OF ARIES NUMBERS OF PLANET HOSTED BY GROUP OF STAR SIGNS (ACCORDING TO QUALITY & ELEMENT) ARE; CARDINAL = 3 FIXED =6 MUTABLE = I FIRE = 5 EARTH = 2 AIR = NONE WATER = 3 PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 50% NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 50% FINAL DISPOSITOR (PLANET AT HOME)= AMBITIOUS SATURN For the past few years you have entered an endless cycle of material success. And your 46th year on earth is meant to be a powerful turning point with major emphasis placed on MONEY and LOVE. Talking of money, it will come through your work . However the great challenge here is how to hold on to your profits as there are indications of you expending too much of your funds on either women or woman.

It is not clear if it is on business or your normal responsibilities. But mind you if it is on business you will need to tarry a while because such may not yield the desired result.

Actually if you go into joint venture with a woman during your 46th & 47th years on earth you are more than likely to be cheated; to be fore warned is to be fore armed.

Romantic aspect of it is if you don’t want another wife you will need to be very careful; as romantic escapade can result to avoidable trouble and/or sorrow (God forbid).

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014—45

My constituents forced me into senatorial race —Umeh

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA — NATIONAL chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, has said that his decision to join the race for Anambra Central senatorial zone was as a result of pressure from the people of the constituency who, he explained, desired effective representation in Abuja.

Umeh, who spoke when he was adopted as the candidate of Anambra Central by stakeholders

in the zone, said he had been humbled by the level of support from the people in all the seven local government areas that make up the zone as elected councillors from the area have urged him to vie for the position.

He said: “People have forced me into this race to run and I have accepted. I will, however, not take their support for granted.

I will take the next two weeks to visit them, to tell them in all the local government areas.

“After the visit, I will then prepare for a formal declaration in my local government before

we flag off the campaign in Awka which is the headquarters of Anambra Central.”

Umeh expressed optimism that he would win the race, because his people loved him, having done so much to promote their interest.

He said further: “I was the person who brought out former Governor Peter Obi to the people of Anambra State and stood by him to be governor for eight years.

I played a major role to get him elected for the first term, defended him in all the battles he waged.

“We ensured that he was reelected in 2010 for a second term and he has served the people of Anambra State and by the way God has designed it, we have elected another governor for Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano who is doing exceedingly well and the people are happy.

“So, from what I have seen in Anaocha Local Government Area, the statement has been loudly made that there is no stopping their son from going to the Senate.

It is a clarion call for me to go and represent them.”

Hoodlums abduct IMSU PRO

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI — PALPABLE anxiety has gripped the management and staff of Imo State University, IMSU, Owerri, following the reported abduction of the institution’s Public Relations Officer, PRO, Nze Ralph Njoku-Obi, last Sunday.

Information reaching Vanguard revealed that some unidentified armed gang scaled the perimeter fence of Njoku-Obi’s private residence at Owalla, Uratta, Owerri North Local Government Area of the state to kidnap the university scribe.

It was also gathered that the armed hoodlums struck at about 2a.m., shot sporadically to scare people away from the scene, before whisking their hapless

victim away to an unknown destination.

While the ugly incident had become a source of worry to Owalla people, it was equally gathered that the IMSU community was also rattled when our correspondent visited the institution, yesterday.

Some staff of the institution, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, claimed that they had heard the rumour of the PRO’s kidnap, adding that they could not say with finality if it was true or not.

As at the time of going to press, neither the kidnapped IMSU-PRO nor the hoodlums had made any contact with the immediate members of the Njoku-Obi family.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, said he was yet to get the signal, as at the time of the inquiry.

DONATION: From left, Moses Onuwe, General Manager, Human Resources & Corporate Services, Seplat; Dr. Wale Hammed, Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties; Dr. Jide Idris, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, and Dr. Chioma Nwachukwu, General Manager, External Relations and Communications of Seplat, during Seplat’s donation of N20m to help in the fight against Ebola, weekend.

DEFECTION: I'll not join issues with Gov’s aides

— Ex-APC Chairman

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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ORMER DEPUTY Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo North, Alhaji Usman Shagadi, has said he was not ready to join issues with any of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s aides over his exit from the ruling

party to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Speaking through his son, Mr. Abdul-Jamin, in a reaction to a published story in the media, Shagadi said he would not glorify any of the governor’s aides by joining issues with them through reacting to any of their utterances.

A member of Edo State-owned

board, Mr. Usman Abudah, was said to have questioned the potency of the Shagadi in Auchi kingdom.

According to Abdul-Jamin, Mr. Usman Abudah lacked the capacity to question the ancestral root of their name Shagadi in Auchi.

He also tasked Abudah to seek

answers to the origin of the following names in Auchi, including Abudah, Highbreed, Eka, Jokers in Auchi.

The APC chieftain’s son claimed his father, Usman Shagadi, became a 'leper' to the APC after he defected to the PDP due to absence of democratic culture in the state's ruling party.

Succession crisis over Isuofia Igwe stool lingers

BY Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI — THE succession crisis rocking Isuofia, Anambra State over the seat of late traditional ruler, Igwe Pius Ezeabasili, is far from being settled as some elders in the community have vowed not to recognise any successor until the deceased was given final burial.

Isuofia is the home-town of former governor of Central bank of Nigeria, CBN, Chukwuma C M Y K

Soludo.

Among those opposed to the selection of a successor to the late Igwe is chairman of Pokobros Group of Companies, Chief Paul Okonkwo.

Speaking at Isuofia during the New Yam festival of Ofor (staff) title holders, Chief Okonkwo said until the late traditional ruler was accorded the last respects and burial, the elders would not recognise anybody purported to be occupying the throne.

“You cannot have two traditional rulers and two staff of office to the throne in a community at the same time.

“As far as we are concerned, the staff of office to the Isuofia traditional stool is still rested in the hands of deceased, Igwe Ezeabasili.

“Isuofia town is yet to have a traditional ruler, we do not recognise anybody parading as the traditional ruler because due process should be followed in

doing things,” he said.

Chief Okonkwo said the past administration in Anambra State had, after the demise of the former traditional ruler, allegedly given Col. Aloy Moghalu (rtd) staff of office as the new traditional ruler of Isuofia when the final burial of their late traditional ruler had not been done.

According to him, this action had factionalised the community and pitted its prominent sons and daughters against one another.

Ejiogu bags best Chief of Staff award

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HE CHIEF of Staff and Commissioner for Special Duties in Imo State, Sir Jude Ejiogu, has been bestowed with the Prestigious Best Chief of Staff of the Year Award.

Presenting the award to Sir Ejiogu, Coordinator, Eastern Nigeria Merit Awards, Prince Ben Okereke, said the honour was in recognition of individuals, who have contributed to the development of the society, maintaining that after thorough investigations into track records of all Chiefs of Staff in the country, Sir Ejiogu was unanimously selected as overall best.

He disclosed that Eastern Nigeria Merit Awards was a body of activists, whose offices cut across the entire federation.

Receiving the award, Sir Ejiogu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health in Imo State, Dr. Edward Ihejirika, expressed happiness and thanked the organisers of the event to have found him worthy of the recognition while calling on them to sustain the tempo.

Onitsha Shopping Mall contractors fume over debt

BY Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI — SUBCONTRACTORS handling Onitsha Shopping Mall have appealed to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State to prevail on the main contractor to pay them for materials supplied for the project to avert break-down of law and order.

The state government engaged Growth land Limited to build the mall, which site is located along Residency Drive G.R.A Onitsha.

The sub-contractors, numbering over 30, had earlier in a protest blocked the main entrance to the project agitating for payment for materials supplied since October 2013.

Spokesman of the protesting suppliers, Mr.Anderson Onwugbolu, said Growth Land Limited sacked one of the subcontractors, NTC Limited, without notice and without payment the huge debt owed it.

46 —

Vanguard, WEDNESNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Group mobilises 10m votes for Jonathan

APC slams Jonathan over Modu Sheriff A

B U J A — A L L Progressives Congress, APC, has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of exhibiting a shocking act of indiscretion by hobnobbing with an alleged Boko Haram sponsor, Ali Modu Sheriff, who is not known to have been investigated and cleared of the weighty allegation against him.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party wondered what message President Jonathan was sending to his compatriots and indeed to the international community when he took Modu Sheriff along during his visit to Chad Monday to confer with President Idriss Deby on cooperation against terrorism. ‘’This action by President Jonathan confirms what the APC has always believed: That the President either knows more than he is willing to admit on the issue of those who are behind the Boko Haram insurgency or he is willing to sacrifice the battle against terrorism on the altar of political expediency. Either way, this action by the President is the height of indiscretion at best, or a palpable exhibition of callowness at worst. ‘’It also confirms our fears that Modu Sheriff was planted as a mole in the APC by his friends in high places, who are jittery about the birth of the party and would do anything to destabilize it,’’ it said.

APC said the President could not pretend not to be aware of a report sent home by Nigeria’s Defence Adviser in Ndjamena, Chad, in 2011, detailing the suspicious activities of Modu Sheriff in Chad concerning alleged Boko Haram sponsorship and asking the Federal Government to investigate him. ‘’If this is a joke, it is one joke taken too far, especially at a time that Nigeria has been losing

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BUJA—A proJonathan campaign, The Jonathanians has announced the preliminary results of a text message polls for the 2015 election in which 10 million Nigerians voted ‘ yes’ in support of President Goodluck Jonathan to be reelected.

In a statement by its Director of Campaign, Prince Charles Jiduwah, the Jonathanians said the polls result “further attests to the wide popularity and acceptance of the President to be given a second term of four years in office post 2015.”

The Jonathanians said the poll was deployed in 10 days via sms to phones with the poser “ we Jonathanians say YES to four more yes for President Goodluck Jonathan. If you agree text YES to 08096439111”.

The statement said of a targeted 30 million lines across the country, the ‘YES’ votes received was 9,994,978 while a total of 378,987 replied ‘NO’ and another 6,896,008 did not respond or replied ‘indifferent’.

According to The Jonathanians, the preliminary findings from the poll was subjected to vigorous statistical review by a commissioned consortium of experts “who are putting finishing touches to the final results that will be released soon”

territories after territories to Boko Haram; at a time that the same Modu Sheriff has been fingered by another source other than the Nigerian Defence Adviser in

Chad, and at a time that calls are being made for an independent investigation into the allegation that Modu Sheriff and former Army Chief

BIRTHDAY: Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Chief Arthur Mbanefo (right), and Group Head, Marketing and Communications, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Ltd, Mr. Ikechukwu Kalu, at the 80th birthday of Chief Mbanefo in Lagos.

Diaspora group hails Orji on non-indigene workers indigenes working in the state.

“We must endeavour to be our

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AGOS—MEMBERS of Africa in Diaspora and Non Indigenes Cultural Association have described Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State as one of the most detribalized Nigerians. This came on the heals of the recent recall of over 2,000 non-indigene workers from the South East region who were hitherto relieved of their appointments with the state civil service.

The association also thanked the State House of Assembly for its support and aide to non-

In a statement, the National Chairman of the group, Comrade Peter C.J. Anigbogu, said Governor Orji had proven himself to be a man to be trusted as a ‘brother and neighbour keeper.’

His words: “We are praising Governor Orji as one of the most detribalised governors in Nigeria to today. What he did with the non- indigene workers in the state should be emulated by other governors so that together we can carry the destiny of Nigeria in our hands.

brothers' keeper by emulating Governor Orji in this regard. He has proven himself to be a detribalised Nigerian and, therefore, qualified to be included among the most detribalised governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The governor had said the process had started with the reinstatement of more than 2000 of the disengaged non-indigene workers and told those not yet recalled in the teaching and other categories that they had not been forgotten.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

Azubuike Ihejirika are Boko Haram sponsors. ‘’Or could it be the case of it takes a thief to catch a thief?’’ it queried.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

What is your view on referring confab report to NASS?

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ADVICE the Nation al Assembly to allow the ‘ Ai & Nei ‘ system to pass as agreed by the National Conference. Otherwise Nigérians will be totally disappointed with the National Assembly. God bless Nigeria. Mr. Monday IchideWorker

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HE inherent slow pace of NASS will give room for nerves to flare. It is now left for the presidency to quicken the process so that it will be part of 2015 election story. It would be illogical to refer the report of the just-concluded national conference to the NASS. Mr. Godwin Uwakwe- Self Employed

T

HERE is no need for any second debate and scrutiny of the CONFAB report. President Goodluck Jonathan should push for immediate passage of all the agreed confab debates.

Whether good or bad, let us not allow it be a waste. Mr. Izzie Ndekwe- Businessman

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HE National Assembly can still subject the report to a six geopolitical zone public hearing just like they do on major reform issues. The other way is to amend the constitution now and put in referendum clause. Then leave the referendum to be conducted by in. Mr. Joseph UbiagbaSelf Employed

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HE confab resolutions are, to say the least, fantastic and they have the great potentials of solving several of Nigeria’s bugging problems, they have the cutting edge, it’s a very commendable innovation in Nigeria’s progress. Mrs Ifeoma Anyambuba- Merchants

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O law backed up the establishment of the conference. It is just a presidential advisory committee. Its members were selected not elected, so its report must pass through constitutional processes to become law. No shortcut.

Miss Anne Kelechi- Fashion Designer

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 —47

COREN ex-registrar urges FG to invest in coal fired electricity generating plants

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI — THE immediate past Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, Mr. Felix Atume, has urged the Federal Government to invest in coal fired electricity generating plants in the country to address the worsening power supply situation in Nigeria.

Atume, who spoke yesterday while fielding questions from journalists in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, said Nigeria should emulate the trends in developed countries by harnessing the abundant coal deposits in the country to meet the electricity needs of Nigerians.

He said: “Why has the Federal Government allowed our massive coal deposits to lay waste when it can be put to good use, just like we have in most developed and developing countries, to solve the perennial lack of electricity in this country? Do you know that South Africa as at today generates over 46,000 megawatts of electricity and about 98 per cent of that is generated from coal?"

2015: Kwarans'll vote massively for Jonathan —Shagaya

FG determined to ensure stable, affordable electricity supply —Nebo J

OS — MINISTER of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, yesterday assured Nigerians that the Federal Government was determined to ensure stable and affordable electricity supply in the country.

Nebo gave the assurance at the commissioning of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Forum Office to handle disputes between the Jos Electricity Distribution Plc and stakeholders.

Represented by Mrs. Bola Laditan, the minister urged electricity consumers to take advantage of the forum’s office to address their complaints as the office was set up to ensure industrial harmony among others.

According to the minister,

LORIN— As preparations for 2015 elections gather momentum in Kwara State, an aspirant for House of Representatives for Ilorin West and Asa Federal Constituency, Alhaji Sheriff Shagaya, has boasted that people of the state will vote massively for President Goodluck Jonathan during next year presidential election.

The aspirant also hinted that no fewer than10,000 members of his supporters had been mobilised to grace the Transformation Ambassador of Nigeria, TAN, rally for the North-Central zone in Minna on Saturday.

According to him, the group was determined to work for President Jonathan’s victory in the forthcoming presidential election.

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“this event is one of the milestones in the regulatory functions of the power sector.

Adequate and quality supply is the key to the industrialisation, wealth creation and general economic growth of our nation.

"Nigeria has taken very bold steps in ensuring power sustainability in the country.

The forum office in Jos is to give confidence to the electricity consumers and serve as a platform for resolution of all community related issues.”

Also speaking, Governor Jonah Jang, who was represented by Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Mr. Idi Waziri, appreciated the effort but lamented lack of effective rural electrification which could

benefit a larger population of the masses.

He said: “It is in the pursuance of rural electrification that the government is already working with a private organisation to construct a power plant at Shimankar. In the next few weeks, the government will be signing a memorandum of understanding with GIZ to partner in providing among other things solar energy in Plateau.”

Jang called on the regulatory body to look into the issue of adequate provision of prepaid meters so that consumer would know and be sure of what he or she was paying so that extortion, exploitation and distrust be avoided.

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN — THE Kwara State Debt Security Issuance (Amendment) Bill has passed through second reading at the floor of the House.

Leading in the debate, Majority leader of the House, Chief Abdul Ganiyu Abdul Kareem, said the amendment sought to improve the principal law and improve the scope of financial assistance to enhance mechanised farming and improve educational facilities in the State.

The Majority leader urged his colleagues to support the passage of the bill to ensure the realisation of its benefits.

Fruition Consulting opts out of Miss Nigeria brand mgt

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Minister of Federal capital Territory, FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed receiving the prestigious NIDO certificate of Leadership Service Award 2014 from Chairman, ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Una Owo Nta in Hamburg, Germany, while the President of NIDO, Germany, Mr. Kenneth Gbandi watches.

Cost of doing business in Nigerian ports no longer high — Sambo

By Demola Akinyemi

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By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Kwara Debt Security Issuance Bill passes 2nd reading

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By Ifeyinwa Obi

AGOS — VICE President Namadi Sambo has said the cost of doing business in Nigerian ports is no longer high, adding that business efficiency in the ports has improved tremendously in Nigeria.

Sambo, who spoke in a message to the 60th anniversary celebration and commissioning of the permanent secretariat of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, in Lagos said ships now spent less time at the nation’s ports.

The vice president, whose message was delivered by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Maritime Services, Mr Olugbenga Oyewole, said: “The introduction of Pre-Arrival

Assessment Report (PAAR) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has assisted in reducing the time ships spend while waiting to discharge cargoes.

"The cooperation of customs and other government agencies led to the tremendous change in port operations. This is the first time in the history of Nigeria that clearing agents will be moved out of the ports.”

Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, represented by Alhaji Tahiru Bala, Senior Special Assistant on Marine Operations in the Ministry of Transport, commended ANLCA for the effective role it played in the establishment of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN. He said the celebration of 60

years by the association was a landmark achievement, adding that the Federal Government was aware of its contribution to revenue collection.

On his part, ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko, said the 60th anniversary of ANLCA indicated that the association had come of age as a strong institution in the trade facilitation chain.

According to him, “the commissioning of the association’s permanent secretariat also symbolises its bold determination to establish the association as a professional body. The NCS wishes to identify with you on this occasion and reaffirm our commitment to partner with you in attaining professionalism.”

N image management firm, Fruition Consulting, has announced the separation of its services from the management of the Miss Nigeria beauty pageant, which franchise presently resides with Folio Communications.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, Fruition Consulting said it was necessary to quit the agreement with Folio due to a “change in direction” preferred for the Miss Nigeria pageant by the brand franchise owners.

The statement by by Fruition, however, added that “it has been a great experience executing this mandate so far.

However, we exit this partnership to enable Folio Communications implement the new direction for the Miss Nigeria brand as they envision.”

The firm also thanked “every individual and corporate organisation who gave us their support in managing this brand so far.”

Fruition Consulting thereafter wished “Folio Communications the best in all of its endeavours, especially as it concerns the Miss Nigeria brand.”

The company restated its unflinching commitment to edifying ethos and best business practices and reassured its numerous clients and partners of excellent services.

48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

TELECOMS GAMES: From left; Director, Brands and Communications, Enitan Denloye; Chief Commercial Officer, Matthew Willsher, both of Etisalat Nigeria; Captain, Etisalat FC football team, Andrew Enebeli; CEO, MediaVision Ltd, Fela Bank-Olemoh; and Coach, Etisalat FC team, Samuel Adeosun at the finals of the Nigeria Telecoms Games held at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere. Etisalat beat MTN 3-0 to win the tourney.

DINNER: From Left; Chief Marketing Officer, Dangote Industries, Mr Oare Ojeikere; Head of Creative at X3M Ideas, Mr Oje Ojeaga and Chief Executive Officer, X3M Ideas, Mr Steve Babaeko at the X3M ideas' 2nd anniversay dinner Party, held at Soho Restaurant Lagos. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi

BRIEFING: From left; Adewale Shinaba, Brand protection manager, West Africa; Monique Gieskes, Director, Brand Protection, and Adaeze Alilonu, Marketing Manager, all of Vlisco Nigeria at a press conference on Expert Guide To Authentic Vlisco Wax Hollandais. Photo by Oscar Ochiogu.

OPENING: From left; Golf Captain, Ikoyi Club, Mr Ted Iwere; Chairman, Ikoyi Club, Mr Anthony Doherty; MD/CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Seni Adetu; Golf Lady Captain, Ikoyi Club, Mrs Ngozi Ngoka and Corporate Relations Director, Guinness, Mr Sesan Sobowale during the opening of Guinness Bar in Ikoyi Club.

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CONFERENCE: From left; Mr Patrick Egbulefu,Franchise Devt Officer; Mr Banji Adesanmi,MD/CEO both of Peace Tidings Venture Ltd, PTV; Mrs Mabel Oyeniyi, Principal Asst Registrar, Centre for Entreprenural Studies, LASU and Mr Bolaji Ajiboye, Head of Sales, PTV during the firm's Franchise Conference held at the Best Western Plus Hotel in Lagos. Photo by Biodun Ogunleye.

ANNIVERSARY: From left; Rev. Fr. Joseph Nwakoby, Judicial Vicar, Onitsha Archdiocese; the celebrant, Rev. Fr. Dr. Martin Onukwuba; Rev. Fr. Philip Nwafor, and Former Aviation Minister, Mrs Stella Oduah during the Silver Jubilee Anniversary celebration of Fr. Martin in Onitsha at the Church Hall.

ON EBOLA: Members of the Nigeria Association of Sea-dogs, NAS, Hawkins Deck Medical Mission on EBOLA Virus Disease, EVD, awareness campaign carried out at Egbeda area of Alimosho Local Government Area.

TRAINING FOR JOURNALISTS: Participants at a training for Investigative reporting for journalists put together by Wole Soyinka Investigative Journalism body in Ikogosi Warm Spring and Resort, Ikogosi, Ekiti State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014—49

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50—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Lawyers tackle Oyo govt over Poly student’s rape •Say Police investigation continues

By Evelyn Usman

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AWYERS representing the National Diploma, ND, student of Ibarapa Polytechnic, who on Monday, narrated how she was allegedly raped repeatedly for five hours under a tree by a soldier (names withheld) with ‘Operation Burst’ security outfit set up by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, have condemned the position of the state on the matter.

Oyo State through a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Festus Adedayo, stated that investigation had been conducted on the allegation against the soldier and that “the allegation of rape is baseless.”

According to the lawyers, "the government’s position is a reflection of the mindset of the people currently at the helm of affairs in Oyo State as the government has shown that it is insensitive, non-existent and shameless."

Meantime, indication emerged yesterday that investigation into the alleged rape of the 23-yearold student was on-going at the Oyo State Police Command.

Vanguard gathered that the devastated student was invited to the Oyo State Police Command, Iyanganku, Ibadan, at about 3.30pm Monday.

On reaching the command in company of her lawyer, she was reportedly asked to make further statement on the alleged rape by detectives attached to Anti-Social Behaviour section of the Criminal Investigation Department.

The casefile was, thereafter, handed over to the detectives by policemen from Eruwa division where the incident was first reported.

Allegation baseless —Operation Burst

However, Operation Burst had, Monday, described as baseless the student’s claim, stating that the test conducted on the lady showed no physical manifestations of rape.

But legal counsel to the student has described the anticrime outfit’s position as false, stating categorically that none of such investigation or medical test was carried out.

A statement signed by her

counsel, Ola Adeosun and made available to Vanguard said: “The questions that come to mind are: Who conducted the phony investigation? What is the motive of the Oyo State Government? And the answers are: nobody conducted any investigation, the government of Oyo State is only out to prejudice and influence ongoing police investigation, just like they ensured that no investigation was carried out on the death of citizens who were

OBSTRUCTION: Driver sentenced to 20-hr community service

By Onozure Dania

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Scenes of the Awori plank market in Abule-Egba, Lagos gutted by fire, Monday. Photos: Diran Oshe.

22 suffer burns as domestic gas explodes in Lagos

By Bose Adelaja, Monsur Oloowopejo & Cynthia Alo

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AGOS — NO fewer than 22 people are currently receiving treatment in two general hospitals in Lagos and Epe due to the burns they suffered when a domestic gas cylinder exploded in Epe town, Monday afternoon.

The victims, 10 male adults, seven female adults and five teenagers were occupants of a storey building situated on 21, Kalesanmi Street in Epe. According to sources, the five teenagers were General Certificate of Education, GCE, students lodged in the ground floor of the building.

One of them, a female, was said to have left the cooking gas unattended to for some time until she struck a match which led to an explosion that burnt part of the building.

To avoid being caught up by the inferno, the landlord and

murdered by flood at Apete community of Ibadan when the government shamelessly announced that nobody died in the flood incident.

“More than any other time, this is the time for all persons of good conscience to join us to demand justice for this innocent lady as it has now become obvious that the Oyo State Government is desperately out to ensure that no investigation is carried out and all evidence are destroyed.”

members of his family tried to run for safety but were later affected by the fire before help could come.

No casualty was, however, recorded but all the occupants were said to have suffered varying degrees of burns and were taken to Epe General Hospital in Epe before some of them were transfered to a Lagos hospital.

Contacted, the South-West spokesperson for the National

Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, simply said: “Information at our disposal revealed that a cooking gas cylinder exploded at Epe where 10 adult males, seven female adults and five teenagers suffer burns” On his part, Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe, corroborated the number of persons involved.

AGOS— AN Igbosere magistrate’s court, has sentenced a 50-year-old driver, Ezekwe Ikechukwu, to 20 hours community service for obstructing traffic.

The driver was alleged to have converted his private car, an Audi saloon car with number plate EKY 488CB, to commercial use and used the same to cause obstruction along Bourdilon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos on September 6, 2014 before he was arrested by the Policemen from Ikoyi Police Station.

The defendant, during his arraignment yesterday, pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of conversion of private vehicle to commercial vehicle and wilful obstruction of traffic levelled against him by the police.

The prosecutor, Corporal Babaji Ishaku, who presented the facts of the matter before the court said it took the intervention of a good Samaritan before the defendant’s vehicle could be removed and taken to Ikoyi police station.

Following the guilty plea of the driver, his counsel, Mustapha Danusi, urged the court to be lenient with the defendant, as he is a first time offender.

Thereafter, Magistrate A. Dally sentenced him to 20 hours community service.

Man drowns while excavating sand in Imo River

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MAN, identified as Mr. Moses Uzoma, has drowned while excavating sand at the Imo River which serves as boundary between Abia and Rivers States.

Though the account of what caused his drowning is still sketchy at press time, sources said Uzoma’s corpse was found floating on the river two days after he died.

A source said the body of the victim, who hailed from Omoba in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area was later buried at the bank of the river in the presence of his family.

Contacted, Abia State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu, said he was yet to get a report on the incident.

A 20-year-old man identified as Ugonna Ike was drowned in the same River while excavating sand last June.

The deceased, a native of Uratta in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area was said to have gone with one Osinachi Okezie to excavate sand before he was drowned when every efforts to rescue him failed.

Bizman docked for stealing dead man’s N14.82m

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS— A 57-year-old businessman, Ganiu Babatunde, was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere magistrate’s court for alleged forgery and stealing N14.82 million from the account of a Skye Bank Plc customer.

The defendant, who resides at 17, Moore Road, Yaba, Lagos is facing a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, stealing, using of false documents, receiving of stolen property and unlawful release from custody, preferred against him by the police.

The prosecutor, Haruna Ibrahim, told the court that the defendant and others at large committed the alleged offence between January 1 and February 21, 2014.

He said that the defendant forged Skye Bank cheque Nos. 10000107 and 10000106 belonging a one late Alhaji Muriana Oluwa, who was a customer of the bank.

Ibrahim further said that on January 10, the defendant used a false document to withdraw N7,657,000 from the account.

The prosecutor also claimed that the defendant withdrew N6,425,000 from the deceased account. Adding that he received stolen clone cheques of Skye Bank and official stamps of Skye Bank at Keffi Branch, Ikoyi.

According to the prosecutor, the defendant also aided one Babatunde Ajibade to escape from police custody on February 21 at Idi-Araba, Mushin area of Lagos State.

The prosecutor said the offences are contrary to Sections 409 and 363 and punishable under Sections 326, 285 and 105 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The defendant’s counsel, G. Adonlawo, urged the court to grant the defendant bail in the most liberal term. He also urged the court to disregard the seventh count charge against the defendant as it is just a repetition and has no meaning.

Magistrate J. A. Adegun admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

He adjourned the matter till October 14.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014—51

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52 — Vanguard, WEDNESNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Enugu: Smear plots against Chime, Nwobodo uncovered

By Francis Igata

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S the 2015 general elections draw closer, some desperate political office seekers in Enugu State have begun to hatch campaigns of calumny aimed at smearing the image of Governor Sullivan Chime and some of his aides. The smear plot, it was alleged, is intended to present Chime as an uncompromising leader who unilaterally chooses those who will seek elective positions in the state. The plot, according to government sources, is being sponsored by some National Assembly members and aspirants from the state.

Chime has come under persistent media attacks since the July 26, 2014 meeting of the state caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, when it was overwhelmingly canvassed that National Assembly members in their second and third terms should abide by an agreement they reached prior to the 2011 elections to step aside for other persons. At the meeting, former President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani, Senators Fidelis Okolo, Dubem Onyia, BenCollins Ndu among others, supported the arrangement and called on the lawmakers to respect the gentleman’s agreement reached.

But the affected people are not ready to relinquish their seats, arguing that though such an agreement was reached, it was not constitutional and, therefore, not binding on them. This conflict is at the root of the current media focus on Enugu with Chime and his chief of staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, mostly at the receiving end. The objective of the sponsors of the smear campaigns, it was learnt, is to portray Chime as a dictator and an uncompromising leader.

Our source said, “It has come to our knowledge that some of our brothers in the National Assembly and few others who have their eyes on some legislative seats have set up media groups to

fabricate lies and distort wellknown facts in order to smear the image of Governor Chime and some of his aides. This is quite unfortunate and uncalled for. It also shows how desperate some people can get. Till today, how many of them (National Assembly members) have come out to publicly say that no such agreement was reached in 2011?

“The governor did not bar anybody from re-contesting elections. At that (July 26) meeting, he appealed to them, in the interest of our party, the PDP, to respect the agreements reached. Other persons spoke in the same vein. So, it is lamentable that all they do today is to create an impression that the governor

is the problem when, in reality, they are the ones trying to heat up the polity by renouncing agreements they reached as gentlemen.”

Such smear intrigues were at play during the recent impeachment saga that culminated in the ouster of Chime’s ex-deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, following allegations of gross misconduct leveled against him by the state House of Assembly.

The truth of his insubordination had since been unveiled, especially because as Chime told the caucus meeting, “there’s no way you can allow someone as important as your deputy stand behind you when he is obviously working against you; not at this time that we’re going into (electoral) battles,” an election in which the governor has stoutly reaffirmed his total commitment to ensure landslide victories for President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP candidates.

The case of Mrs. Nwobodo is even more pathetic. Her only sin is her dedication to duty and loyalty to her boss. She too has been at the receiving end of false narratives over her rumoured interest in the senatorial seat for Enugu East District, a position presently occupied by Senator Gil Nnaji.

Completion of third term Nnaji is completing his third term in the National Assembly, having served two terms in the House of Representatives. Prior to this period, he was also a chairman in his Enugu East Council.

Frank Nweke (Jnr), erstwhile Minister of Information during the Obasanjo presidency is also interested in the senatorial seat where he has said that he is banking on the influence of his former boss to sway votes in his favour during the primaries and the general polls. Asides, this paper also learnt that a special team of seasoned media consultants has been set up with the sole charge to mount smear campaigns against Mrs. Nwobodo, using different media platforms between now and the party primaries.

The goal is to paint her as being power-hungry and create so much negative publicity about her, enough to diminish her chances by creating the false impression that her candidacy had become very controversial.

With the party primaries now imminent and the general elections five months away, it remains to be seen how these other schemers aim to achieve their goals, especially with the entire party structure in the entire state under the firm grips of Governor Chime.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014—53

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54—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Delta PDM puts state congress on hold

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EOPLE’s Democratic Movement, PDM, in Delta State, has postponed its state congress earlier fixed for September 3, 2014 due to disagreement among its members. On the said date, officials of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were sighted at the party secretariat apparently waiting for the conduct of the congress.

State chairman of the party, Mr Frank Igwebuike, who addressed party faithful, enjoined them to be peaceful, emphasing that the congress would be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere, but after his address, there was more confusion among members during accreditation of delegates.

State Internal Auditor of the party, Pastor Kelvin Akpobi, later explained that the congress could not hold as scheduled, but appealed to party faithful to remain calm until they get in contact with the national executive of the party and all parties involved towards resolving the differences.

APC suffers another setback

By Tommy Anaduaka

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HE All Progressive Congress, APC in Delta State has suffered another major setback with the recent resignation of a prominent member and financier of the party, Chief Tony Azuya.

Speaking in Ibusa, Delta State, an aide to Chief Azuya, who pleaded anonymity, said the exit of his boss from APC with more than 5,000 members was a bad omen for the party, "especially at this period when most political parties were strategising for the forthcoming 2015 general elections."

The political aide who described Azuya as a grassroots politician/ mobiliser, added that every member of the party at federal, state, local and ward levels will surely miss his philanthropy and support to the party.

Meanwhile, Chief Azuya has thrown his weight behind the re-election of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, describing various programmes of the current federal administration as monumental.

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2015: Ijaws in Edo demand stewardship from office holders

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN— AHEAD of the 2015 general elections in the country, a socio-cultural organisation, the Izon-Ebe Network for Good Governance, Justice and Accountability, INEGOJA, has called on the Ijaws of Edo State to make elected political office holders, who represent them at the local government, state and National Assembly accountable for their actions.

Speaking with newsmen in Benin shortly after a meeting of INEGOJA, its National Coordinator, Mr Samson Uroupa, who doubles as the Organising Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress, INC, Edo State Chapter, said the Ijaws of Edo State were marginalised and neglected.

The group insisted that in the next electioneering year, its members will go round to sensitise all Ijaws on the need to rise up and demand for stewardship from those who they have supported in the past, adding, "This is to ensure that they come out in their numbers to cast their votes wisely this time

for a credible candidate, who will feel their pains and help them realise their Ijawness in Edo State. It is a true fact that democracy does not discriminate, therefore, we see no reason why we should be discriminated

against in the state.”

Uroupa noted that apart from being denied elective positions since the creation of Edo State in 1991, political leaders in the three local government areas (IkpobaOkha, Ovia South-West and Ovia North-East) and Edo South

senatorial district in general have never recommended any Ijaw person for any appointment either as commissioner, chairmanship of any board or parastatal since the dawn of democracy in the country.

LAUNCHING: From left, Engr. Mutiu Sunmonu, Chairman, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Mrs Carolinne Annwu, Deputy MD, Diamond Bank,Dr Alex Otti, GMD/CEO, Diamond Bank Plc, and Chief Ephraim Faloughi at the launching of a new ultra business location by Photo: Bodun Ogunleye.

Diamond Bank in Lagos yesterday.

Umana lauds Attah over comment on zoning, open contest

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MMEDIATE past secretary to Akwa Ibom State government, and PDP gubernatorial aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Umana Umana, has congratulated former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, for his support of zoning and advocacy of a free and open contest in the upcoming PDP primary election.

Umana said in a congratulatory

message to Obong Attah that the former governor has lived up to his true billing and status as father of all Akwa Ibom people through his clarion call for a level playing field for all the gubernatorial aspirants.

He described Attah’s comment at during a reception for him at Asan Ibibio that there was the “need to restore confidence in government and rebuild the

Group cautions PDP over Nwaoboshi

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By Festus Ahon

GHELLI—WORRIED by the alleged insult heaped on the leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, National Coordinator of Urhobo Network, Dr. Dafe Akpocha, yesterday, asked the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP at both the state and national levels to call the Delta State Chairman of the party, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi to order or risk Urhobos support for the party in 2015.

Describing Nwaoboshi’s claim that the Urhobo people had always opposed PDP as false and misleading, he said “Nwaoboshi lacks the moral justification to say Urhobos did not vote for Chief James Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in the elections that brought them to power.”

Nwaoboshi had said in recent media reports that UPU had no business with the affairs of PDP in Delta State because it did not support the party in the past.

Akpocha said in a statement, “The Urhobos will not succumb

to threats from any political party especially those directed at UPU. Let me make it clear that the Urhobo people cherish and respect UPU as our socio-cultural organisation and we will not let anyone or political party undermine it for whatever reason.

Nwaoboshi is not current with the statistics of how people voted.

“Urhobo people supported Ibori and Uduaghan and we’re even more instrumental to the success of both men than his Anioma people. Nwaoboshi goofed by insulting UPU for expressing its legitimate right.

"As an interested group, UPU has done nothing wrong when the Urhobo apex organisation made the ‘Uvwiamuge Declaration’ to mobilise for the emergence of Urhobo governor for Delta State in 2015. Nwaoboshi has made it clear that the imposition of an Anioma governor is being contemplated because there is no way any party can win the governorship of Delta State without Urhobo votes except through imposition."

state, “ stressing that this was stronger than the clamour by some people for zoning.

Umana quoted Attah’s speech at Asan Ibibio, the cradle of Ibibio civilisation, as saying, “with reference to the process of choosing the next governor of the state, though some people would expect a sequential movement of power to Eket through zoning, the time and circumstances of the day demanded that such a sequence in power shift should bow to the superior consideration of meeting the crying need of the people to recover, restore and rebuild the state for the benefit of all those who call it home.

“As I looked around, I see a number of faces here of people I

know are aspiring to the office of governor of this state. A large number of those aspirants are from Eket senatorial district. This is as should be expected because of the sequential logic that after Uyo and Ikot Ekpene, it should be Eket.

But there must be a level playing field for all aspirants. This is particularly true at this time when there is such a crying need to give hope back to our people: to restore their confidence in their government and to rebuild the state.

"Zoning will certainly be a major consideration, but at a time like this certain other compelling determinants cannot be sacrificed on the altar of zoning alone.”

Delta 2015: Clark commends Akpodiete

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JAW leader and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has commended the member representing Ughelli North II constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Edoja Akpodiete, for showing appreciation each time he was accorded any kind of assistance.

Clark who gave the commendation when the lawmaker paid him a consultative visit at his country home, Kiagbodo as part of efforts for his re-election into the Delta State legislature come 2015, noted that, unlike Akpodiete, so many people come for his blessing but after achieving their desire, they were seen no more.

He said, “People come for fourth

and third terms but you are only asking to go back for the second time. I think it is just. After all, you have done very well and you always appreciate.” He gave his blessing and offered prayers for the legislator’s success both at the primaries and the general elections.

Speaking earlier, Akpodiete who was accompanied by his political entourage, recalled how Chief Clark intervened during the turbulent period of his suspension from the House, adding that as his father and national leader, it was only proper that he came to announce his desire for re-election, having hearkened to the clarion call of his people to run again in 2015.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014—55

Jonathan meets Chadian President over Boko Haram

By Ben Agande

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BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, Monday night, held closed-door security meeting with his Chadian counterpart, Idris Deby, in Ndjamena, Chad, to discuss ways of ending the spiralling cross-border insurgency and acts of terrorism in the region, particularly the Boko Haram menace afflicting northern Nigeria.

Though details of the meeting were not made known, it is a follow-up to the discussions in Nairobi, Kenya, last week during a meeting of the African Union Security Council summit between the two Presidents on the on the sidelines of the summit.

It was gathered that the meeting between both leaders centred on the actualisation of agreements for greater cooperation against insurgents and terrorists reached by Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon at a meeting in Paris earlier this year.

It would be recalled that presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, while announcing the President’s trip to N’djamena, said the talks between the two leaders were expected to lead to

the strengthening of the Paris Accord on joint border patrols and intelligence sharing.

“Also on the agenda is the prevention of illicit movement of terrorists, criminals, arms and ammunition across shared borders,” he added.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has called on all African countries to become more active participants in the

digital revolution going on in the world.

Speaking at an international conference on Information and Communications Technology, ICT, in the Chadian capital, hosted by the country’s President, Idris Deby, yesterday, President Jonathan noted that African countries stood to gain a lot from the effective adoption of the new technologies, in view of the strong

correlation between the efficient deployment of ICTs and socioeconomic development.

He noted: “Africa and Africans must be active participants in the digital revolution that is taking place all around the world.

“We must in fact be at the forefront of that revolution, creating information societies and knowledge based economies.

LAUNCH: From left, Chris Prowse – Regional Sales Director of Polycom; Olamide AyeniBabajide - Presales Manager, VAD-(Unified Communication and Video); Rajiv Pitel, Country Manager, Mitsumi Distribution Nigeria, at the launch of Polycom, in Lagos.

SHAKE-UP IN POLICE: 21 new commissioners appointed ...32 re-deployed

By Kingsley Omonobi

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BUJA — BARELY 24 hours after he appointed 21 new commissioners of police to man commands in the country, the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has re-deployed 32 other commissioners.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, noted that the deployments were to further enhance the administrative and operational effectiveness of the

Nigeria Police Force.

The re-deployed commissioners include Ibrahim Idris, new CP, COMPOL MOPOL; Pius Imue, CP Admin. Department of Logistics & Supply; CP Felix Ogundeji, in charge of Training, Police Mobile Force; CP Hibufuro Harrison, in charge Port Authority Police, Western Zone, and CP Michael Ogbodu, in charge Homicide.

CP BTM Shobulo is the new CP in charge of Police College, Ikeja; CP Ikechukwu Nwodibo is the new CP in charge of Legal

Department; CP Etop Johnson James is in charge of Community Policing at Force HQ; CP Joshak Habila is the CP in charge Counter-terrorism Unit.

CP Damilola Agbetuyi is the new CP in charge of Special Fraud Unit; CP Olatunde Akintuyi is attached to Force Intelligence Bureau, CP Istifanus Shettima is Commandant, Police College, Maiduguri, CP Ezekiel Zang is the new CP in charge Air Wing; CP Johnson Obeh is the Commandant, Police College, Kaduna; CP Ghazali

TCN apologises to Maiduguri residents over power outage ….To repair damaged transmission line in 8 weeks

By Chris Ochayi

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BUJA — THE Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, yesterday, apologised to the people of Maiduguri, Damboa, Biu and the environs in Borno State for the power outage being experienced there since mid-July, 2014.

The TCN in a statement, explained that the outage was caused by a cut conductor on the 132kv transmission line from Damboa to Maiduguri as well as a 330/132kv transmission substation in Damboa which was

set ablaze in June, 2014.

TCN said further that with the necessary security and logistic support from the Federal Government, it had already organised necessary materials and mobilised manpower to carry out necessary repairs on the transmission line as well as the reconstruct the burnt transmission substation.

However, the TCN due to the magnitude of the repairs required, work on the transmission line and substation might take up to eight weeks to be completed.

The statement read: “TCN has

also put in place urgent plans to complete the 330kv transmission line from Gombe to Maiduguri and the new 330/132kv substation at Maiduguri to enable it supply electricity through the 330kv transmission line to Maiduguri and environs.”

“Also a 150MVA, 330kV transformer meant for Maiduguri sub-station would now be moved from the Shiroro Substation en route Abuja to Maiduguri. The contractors and in-house engineers that would ensure speedy repairs are set for the task."

Mohammed is the CP in charge, Election Planning and Monitoring at Force Headquarters.

CP Augustine Evbakhabokun is the new CP in charge, Federal SARS; CP Adekunle Oladunjeye is CP Administration, Dept. of Finance and Administration; CP Emmanuel Iyang is the CP, Courses at NIPSS; CP Olufemi Oyeleye is in charge Admininstration at Force CID; CP Victory Menta is in charge of Communications at Force HQ. Others are CP Mohammed G. Mohammed, Deputy Commandant, Police Staff College, Jos; CP Silvester Umeh, Deputy Force Secretary; CP Henry Fadairo, Commandant, Police College, Orji River; CP Mohammed Hussein, Deputy Commandant, Police Academy, Kano; CP Sherifat Olajoke is CP, Force CID Annex, Lagos; CP Salisu Abdullahi, Special Protection Unit; CP Fatai Owoseni is in charge of Administration at Department of Operations; CP Emmanuel Ibine is CP in charge, Provost.

Furthermore CP Murtala Mani is CP in charge, Welfare, Department of Finance and Admin; CP Adeyemi Ogunjemulisi is the CP in charge, INTERPOL, and CP Aminchi Baraye is the CP in charge, Inspectorate and Training.

World Bank grants Nigeria $500m loan to fight erosion

By Funmi Olasupo

ABUJA — IN a bid to tackle gully erosion in the South East, the World Bank has provided about $500 million soft loan and $9 million grants to the federal government to kick start the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP, in the region.

World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, who made the disclosure during the official launch of the project in Abuja, said gully erosion was not just an act of God, but manmade.

“If you don’t build at the right place and if don’t plan the use of the land, gully erosion is what you will find,” she said.

According to her, the project is an innovation to address the means of livelihood of the people.

She explained: “Gully erosion is a massive problem in the country, even with $500 million which seems to be a bigger amount, is a small amount compared with the need.

So we see ourselves as playing a role to kick-start an approach so that we can have a demonstration effect with the leading states.

Rev. Canon Adesina's dead

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EV. CANON Michael Adewole Adesina is dead, aged 73.

He died on June 17, 2014.

According to the family, Rev. Canon Adesina will be buried on September 12, 2014 in Ebo Quarters, Oka Akoko, in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

He is survived by a wife, nine children and several grand-children, among whom is Ven. Ebenezer Adewole, vicar in charge of St. John, the Evangelist Anglican Church, Akowonjo, Lagos.

Late Rev. Canon Adesina

56—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Bayelsa Assembly passes confidence vote on Dickson

NCCT commissioners brainstorm on way forward for ICT devt

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By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA —THE reelection bid of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State come 2016, received a boost as members of the state House of Assembly, yesterday, unanimously passed a vote of confidence on his administration.

The governor had during the last Monthly Transparency Briefing commended the various groups in the state for endorsing him for a second term, stating that their request would be prayerfully looked into and responded to at the appropriate time.

Acknowledgement of the governor ’s efforts at transforming the state, especially in the area of human capacity building, was attested to by the lawmakers during the inspection of the remodelled Assembly complex.

Impressed by the developmental initiatives of the Governor Dickson-led administration,Deputy Speaker, Chief Sam Ateki, in a motion which was supported by Hon. Jonathan Obuebite, representing Nembe constituency I, was unanimously adopted by other members of the House.

Ateki said: “In the light of dwindling financial resources, Governor Dickson has performed creditably well beyond expectation in all the sectors of the economy and deserves a vote of confidence.”

Also, Speaker of the state Assembly, Hon. Konbowei Benson, assured that they would continue to work with the executive arm of government to build a united, peaceful and prosperous state for the benefit of generations to come.

Commenting on the achievements, he called for the cooperation of members to enable the restoration government of Governor Dickson achieve more, noting that the number of people-oriented motions and bills passed would not have been possible without their loyalty and dedication.

Governor Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State (2nd right); outgoing state Commissioner of Police, AIG Usman Gwary; Special Adviser on Security, Mr Chikaodi Anambra and DCP Adeoye Finihan during the presentation of three refurbished Armoured Personnel Carriers to Anambra State Police Command at Governor ’s Lodge, Amawbia, Anambra State.

CHIBOK GIRLS: The bulk stops on Jonathan’s table —Fashola

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA— GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State said yesterday that it was the President and Commanderin-Chief who is in possession of the whole security report that has the final decision to make on the issue of the abducted schoolgirls from Chibok.

Fashola, who was one of the moderators at the political debate tagged: “Fixing Nigeria: The nuts and bolts” organised by the Kukah Centre, which also had the Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State in attendance, said it was the President that was in control of the Nigerian Army and the armed forces.

Although, he noted that the dimension the Chibok issue had taken had made it difficult to make a decision especially as it concerned the safety of the girls, he said the abduction had become one of the issues that should provoke debates about the method and clarity of the choices of words that should be used.

Answering questions from some of the guests on the sincerity of government in ensuring that the abducted girls regained their freedom, he said: “As far as sincerity about Chibok is concerned, honestly, let me just say that the problem that Chibok symbolises has assumed a dimension that is ordinarily outside the authority and control of government.”

He stated that on national security, he did not have the briefing that the president had, adding: “That is why I have always said that the easiest thing to do is to criticise. Do you have the facts that are at his disposal because it is only then that we can have a very serious disagreement that on this set of facts this should be my own choice.

“It is now a matter of insurgency

and therefore the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Armed Forces have only one Commander-inChief and that is Mr. President.

The bulk stops on his desk on this matter and it cannot be an easy decision.

“The most I am willing to say, I can’t measure sincerity. I know it is a tough call now. The Chibok parents, who are grieving, want their children back. There are many options on the table, but I don’t also think they are expecting body bags of their children.

“It is a difficult place to be. But of course I have always said, issues of this nature may provoke a debate about the methods, and by the clarity of the choices that

are being made, about the judgment calls that are also being made.”

Debate

Fashola also canvassed the need for a debate before leaders were elected, pointing that quality debate among the contestants of various positions would give the electorate the idea about the dispositions of those who want to lead and their knowledge of the problems facing the people.

According to him, democracy does not guarantee good governance as people vote for so many reasons including emotional reasons.

LL commissioners and Special Advisers in charge of ICT in the 36 states and FCT are converging on Yenagoa, Balyesa State to deliberate, appraise and agree on the way forward to leveraging ICT for the transformation of Nigeria into a digital economy.

The commissioners under the auspices of the National Council on Communication Technology, NCCTconstituted by the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology as from the 3rd will commence its 3rd Regular Meeting from the 10th of September 2014 at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa Bayelsa state.

The Theme for the 3rd Regular Meeting of the Council is “Mainstreaming ICT in National Development: Moving from Talk to Action.”

Minister of Communication Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson, who is the Chairman of the Council, will chair the meeting.

The meeting is expected to, among other things, review various actions taken by members towards implementing decisions taken at the 2nd NCCT held in Ondo State in August 2013.

Ebola scare at OAU as student evacuated to Lagos for screening

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO— ACADEMICS and social activities at Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, were yesterday paralyzed following report that one of the students, who had been on admission at the university’s teaching hospital, manifested signs of victim of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. The management of the institution, however, said the student had been evacuated to Lagos, where she would undergo thorough screening to verify if she had actually contracted the dreaded disease.

There were rumours in most parts of Osun State, yesterday, that a student of the OAU, IleIfe contracted the virus and had been admitted at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital OAUTH, Ile-Ife. A student of the university

who preferred anonymity said a student who recently returned from Port Harcourt was in the early hours of yesterday rushed to the university ’s health centre from where she was referred to the OAUTH after showing symptoms of EVD. The “ rumour ” however spread quickly as parents and guardians of students were said to be making contacts with their wards and children over the development.

A source at the OAUTH told Vanguard that a patient who claimed to be student of OAU was admitted at the hospital yesterday.

The source, however, failed to explain whether the patient was diagnosed of EVD or not as she was silent on the result of the diagnosis carried out on the patient.

But the institution’s Public Relations Officer, PRO, Mr.

Abiodun Olanrewaju, said the rumoured outbreak of EVD in the university was false as it was yet to be clinically proved.

Giving detail, Olanrewaju said the female student was discovered to have had primary contact with EVD victim in Port Harcourt, stressing that she fell sick when she arrived the university and was rushed to OAUTHC. According to him, the student had been evacuated to Lagos, where she would undergo thorough screening to verify if she had actually contracted the disease.

While assuring that there was no established case of EVD in OAU until the result of the diagnosis to be carried out on the suspected student was released, Olanrewaju said the university community and the entire Ife town should not entertain fear over the development.