PDP, govs fight, as NWC cancels endorsements

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62250

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

Court martial: EU rejects death sentence 8

PDP, govs fight, as NWC cancels endorsements

By Henry Umoru

•Party warns govs to remain unbiased umpires A •Governorship primaries hold November 29 •Uncertainty over next move of govs

BUJA— THE Na tional leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has cancelled all endorsements of candidates by the state executive officers.

Rising from its National Working Committee, NWC, meeting yesterday, the national leadership of the PDP also warned all the zonal and state executives to jettison the idea of having any anointed candidate ahead of the November 29 Governorship Primary election when governorship candidates would emerge.

It will be recalled that there have been reports of full or indirect endorsement of candidates

Continues on Page 5

COLUMNIST: Donu

Zambian perspective •P.17

Mr & Mrs RECEPTION—President Goodluck Jonathan with athletes and officials at a Presidential reception for victorious athletes and officials at international competitions in 2014, Wednesday night in Abuja. Photo: NAN.

EKITI: Stop assault on judiciary, APC tells Jonathan •P.11

Wike's supporters beat PDP members, journalists

•P.5

Briton dies of Ebola

57

ADAMAWA: Fintiri returns as Speaker, vows to pursue appeal against •P.9 Ngilari

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 —

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4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,OCTOBER 10, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

BANK LAUNCH—From left: GMD/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd,

Bisi Onasanya; Chairman, FBNBank Ghana Ltd, Joseph Yieleh Chireh; President, Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama; Group Chairman, FBN Holdings, Oba Otudeko and Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, Prince Ajibola Afonja at the launch of FBNBank Ghana.

Wike's supporters on rampage, hit PDP members, journalists

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—SUP PORTERS of Minister of State for Education, who is also a governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike yesterday unleashed terror on opponents and journalists in Abuja.

The venue was the PDP Presidential Campaign Office, Legacy House, Maitama, at the second day of the Senator Iya Abubakar led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP South South Integration Committee’s sitting. The Committee had on Wednesday met with PDP stakeholders, leaders and members from Akwa Ibom and Edo States and it was the turn of Rivers State for reconciliation.

Soon after the minister arrived the venue, the atmosphere was charged as his supporters blocked and stopped members of PDP perceived not loyal to Wike from entering the hall to submit or defend their memoranda which they had earlier submitted.

Journalists who had covered the previous meetings were harassed, humiliated and beaten.

Television camera men working with Channels Television, Silverbird as well as a Vanguard correspondent were molested.

The supporters manhandled the reporters and attempted to seize their cameras,recorders and telephones. The supporters who blocked the entrance to the hall, were prepared to beat up any-

one. Some of the aspirants like Kenneth Ibikani Dublin, Chief Larry Allison; Major Lanstort Annyayan, among others could not enter the venue.

Displeased with the development which saw Rivers PDP stakeholders prevented from presenting their memoranda to the Iya Abubakar Committee, former Commissioner for Water Resources in the state and Rivers State Coordinator, Yar ’Adua/ Jonathan Campaign Organisation in 2007, Hon. Lolo Ibienye expressed strong concern. The protest attracted instant rebuke from the minister.

Throughout the period the Minister was in the hall with members of the committee, other aspirants were not allowed to come close to the venue as the hefty looking supporters of Wike molested and stopped everyone.

The waiting room of Legacy House was completely taken over by the Minister ’s supporters.

Narrating his experience to Vanguard, Lolo Ibienye claimed he was shoved by the minister, warning that if the national leadership of PDP fails to address these problems, the party in Rivers State was sitting on a keg of gun powder, waiting to explode at any time. He added that with the molestation of party members and journalists by the Minister of State for Education's thugs. It would have been disastrous if the exercise had taken place in Rivers.

Ibienye who noted that the molestation and punching was not neces-

sary, said that the Committee received 22 petitions from the state and of the petitions received, only four persons from the state were allowed to defend their petitions.

How it happened — Ibienye He said: “I am Hon. Lolo Ibienye, Commissioner for Water Resources during former governor Peter Odili's tenure and Rivers Coordinator, Yar ’Adua/ Jonathan Campaign Organisation in 2007. What happened there was that the group led by the Honourable Minister of State, Education, Nyesom Wike brought people intended to stop petitioners from going to defend their petitions.

Only a few people were allowed into the hall. 22 petitions were received from Rivers State and only four out of the 22 persons who petitioned were allowed to defend their petitions. Professor Israel Owate presented his, Chief Paworiso Samuel Horsfall presented his report, while Barrister Alalivo Frederick and Elechukwu Ogbowu presented theirs as well.

“In an attempt to stop the molestation and harassment of party stakeholders and preventing them from entering the hall to defend their petitions, Wike then shoved me. That is not what we expect at the moment at all; the molestation of stakeholders and journalists should

not have happened, it is not necessary at all. If it happened in Abuja with few of us in attendance, what would have happened if the meeting had taken place in Rivers State?

“The national leadership of the party must know that it is not well with Rivers PDP, it is a clear indication that PDP in the state is sitting on a keg of gun powder.”

When asked to comment on the fracas, he said: “It happened, go ahead and use it that way, what happened there was not necessary at all.“ When Vanguard called Mr. Wike and sent a text message for his response, he said he was at a meeting and would call back. He had not responded at press time.

Meanwhile, a group stormed the Legacy House , the Wadata Plaza, National Secretariat of the party, demanding the zoning of governorship seat to the riverine area of the state was stopped by security operatives.

Addressing the group, PDP national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh who advised them to always imbibe democratic tenets and the rule of law, urged them to ensure that they put their house in order to ensure that PDP wins the election in Rivers State.

There was however a reprisal action at Legacy

House at 11. 40 am when an aggrieved member, and legal adviser to Network for Defence of Democracy and Good Governance, NDDGG, Barrister Tubotamuno Dick, led a group of boys who carried bottles of soft drinks, forced themselves into the premises, and it became a free-forall among the two groups, but the police intervened.

Policeman hit me — Dick Barrister Tubotamuno Dick who sustained injury in his left eye in the course of battling with the Police to gain entry told journalists that the act of not allowing justice and fair hearing to prevail was not good for the nation’s democracy, adding, “They were stopping people but I said we came to defend our petition. They molested our people, pushing them down. I went there and presented myself as a

lawyer. Can you imagine a Nigerian Policeman hitting me in the eye? This means that the committee set up by the federal government has already being compromised.

“In Rivers PDP, we have only chairman and secretary and we have written to the national secretariat that if we allow a two-man exco as constituted to go for elections, we will have so many legal issues. As we speak, 70 per cent of PDP exco members decamped with Amaechi to APC.” Nyesom Wike who was there from 9 a.m, left the place at 12.32 p.m with his supporters, thereby giving room for some persons to enter.

Speaking with Vanguard, a governorship aspirant who was locked outside, Kenneth Ibikani Dublin, said: “ I was not even allowed in; I expect that PDP National Secretariat will look at the issue. Iam going back to my people, inform them of what happened, then we will come up with a communique.”

PDP, govs fight, as NWC cancels endorsements Continues from page 1 by the PDP governors.

In Enugu State, member representing Udenu/ Igboeze-North in the Federal House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on Marine Transport, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was endorsed by Governor Sullivan Chime as his possible successor.

Also in Akwa Ibom State, Governor Godswill Akpabio was said to have settled for the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, while Martins Elechi of Ebonyi State endorsed the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu. In Delta State, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was said to be backing Anthony Chucks Obuh while the Minister of State, Education,

Nyesom Wike has the backing of the Rivers State chapter of PDP. A statement signed, yesterday, by PDP National Secretary, Prof.

Wale Oladipo read: “The National Working Committee (NWC) at its meeting today, Thursday, October 9, 2014 noted that some elected officers of our great Party at the state level have continued to engage in processes aimed at endorsing candidates for the 2015 general elections despite warnings from the national leadership that they, as unbiased umpires, should not be involved in such.

“The NWC strongly frowns at this development and issues this as a final warning to all elected party officials and chapters at all levels, and shall not hesitate

to sanction such erring officers or chapters.

“The sanctity of our nomination processes must be protected at all times. We, therefore, wish to assure all party members that there shall be a level playing field for all aspirants intending to participate in the nomination processes.

“Consequently, the NWC will not hesitate to protect any of our members who in any way stands to be shortchanged, cheated or victimized by such endorsements.

“The NWC charges all our members and supporters to disregard all such endorsements as the PDP will conduct primaries to duly elect our flag bearers in line with provisions of the Electoral Act and the constitution of our great party.”

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

7 killed in Plateau by suspected Fulani herdsmen

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS—SEVEN persons were killed yesterday morning in Rim and Shonong villages of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

This is the third time in one week that villages in the area have been attacked and property burnt by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Chairman of the local government, Mrs. Josephine Piyo, said: “One person was killed at Rim village on Wednesday and six killed at Shonong village yesterday morning.

“The people were going to Badok when they were ambushed and killed.”

Mrs. Piyo lauded efforts of the Special Task Force, STF, in tackling the situation but appealed for “intensified efforts at securing the people because these attackers are adamant.”

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—OGUN State Police Command, yesterday, said it had arrested three fake Custom officers and a serial killer, Olufemi, popularly known as Femi Kuti, who claimed to be a leader of Aye Confraternity in Ijebu-Ode. The state Police Commissioner, Ikemefuna Okoye, who spoke while parading the suspects arrested by men of the Special AntiRobbery Squad, described the arrest of Femi Kuti as a major breakthrough for the command, accusing him of masterminding the spate of cult-related killings in Ijebu-Igbo and Ijebu-Ode axis in the last three months.

Okoye said his men also arrested Brilliant Oruaro, Ajayi Jemibewon and Farotimi Sunday at Ibafo axis of LagosIbadan Expressway, with 11 different cars which they allegedly took from their owners, while masquerading as Customs officers.

Modu operandi

According to him, the suspects operated on the

L

AGOS—SILENCE pervaded the chamber of Lagos High Court, Igbosere, Lagos, yesterday, as Justice Olabisi Akinlade, the judge presiding over the murder charge against a 34-year-old woman, Idowu Matthew, got set to give her judgement.

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

E N I N — COMMERCIAL activities were grounded for over four hours yesterday, as serious fighting ensued between two rival revenue collection groups at Lagos Street area of Oba market in Benin.

One person was feared dead, while two others were injured in the fight which grounded activities at the popular Oba Market, as other traders scampered for safety.

Calm returned after soldiers and policemen, led by the state Commissioner of Police, Folunso Adebanjo, arrived at the scene.

Vanguard gathered that one of the groups, identified as Obaze, had approached the other group, known as Osula, to harmonise areas of operation within the market.

The Osula group, said to have more revenue collectors, rejected the request, leading to the clash.

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Police nab serial killer, three fake customs officers in Ogun highway as genuine officers, and wave down motorists, demanding for Customs duty papers from them.

He said: “They had illegally impounded cars and 11 of such were recovered from them. The ring leader, Oruaro, who hails from Bayelsa State, had a car mart in Akure, Ondo State, where some of the vehicles were

recovered.

“The suspects had confessed to the crime and we are calling on members of the public, who had had their cars impounded by these fake officers to come forward with genuine papers.

“The suspects said they were pushed into the nefarious activity by poverty.

“They said two of their

Murder suspect acquitted after six years in custody

By Onozure Dania

... one in Edo, as rival revenue collectors clash

Olufemi, popularly known as Femi Kuti.

Idowu Matthew.

‘Customs Officers' Brilliant Oruaro, Ajayi Jemibewon and Farotimi Sunday.

Matthew, accused of killing her lover, Emmanuel Ugochukwu, had been in Kirikiri Prisons for six years, five months.

She had expected the worst, wearing a mournful look and occasionally squatting in the dock.

As soon as the judge gave her judgement setting the suspect free of the murder charge, she sprang to her feet, expressing tears of joy.

Matthew said: “I prayed this morning before coming and my mother also prayed with me when I called her yesterday that my judgement was today (yesterday).

“She said I would be free. I now believe that I am really serving a living God.” Giving her judgement, Justice Akinlade had discharged and acquitted the suspect, saying she murdered her deceased

lover in self-defence.

The judge added that after going through all the evidence before the court, she had been able to establish that the accused did not kill the deceased intentionally.

The judge said the prosecution was able to establish without reasonable doubt that there was death and that the death was caused by the act of the defendant, but was unable to establish that she killed him in self-defence.

She further said that if the defendant had not killed the deceased, the deceased would have killed her, since he was pursuing her with knife.

Akinlade also admonished the prison warden not to leave Matthew alone, but take her to a rehabilitation centre where she could be re-integrated back to the society.

accomplices, including a dismissed officer from Nigeria Customs Services, are on the run.”

Suspected serial killer

Okoye said the serial killer had confessed to have killed no fewer than 10 people, while members of his gang, now on the run, had killed at least 50.

According to him, Kuti, who was rusticated from the Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu, was arrested around 6.30p.m. at Ijebu Ode, where he and some members of his cult were preparing to launch another attack.

Okoye added: “We got information from members of the public about him and our men began gathering intelligence report on him. We succeeded on Monday during the Ojude-Oba Festival.

“Members of his gang put up a resistance and a gun battle ensued. Eventually, he was arrested after he was shot on the left leg.

“Femi Kuti and members of his gang were drinking and smoking skonk, a type of hard drugs. He is not only a cultist, but also serial killer.

“He said himself and members of his gang had killed about 60 people.”

Meanwhile, Okoye said a special squad had been moved permanently to Ishefun, a border town between Lagos and Ogun states, to curtail the rising wave of crime in the area.

Pastor accused of impregnating church member zAs 14-yr-old allegedly rapes goat

By Austin Ogwuda

E

NUGU—A pastor in Enugu State has been arrested for allegedly impregnating a female member of his ministry and went a step further to force the girl to abort the pregnancy.

Meanwhile, men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, have

arrested a 14-year-old boy in Enugu for allegedly sleeping with a she-goat.

State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the alleged crime committed by the Pastor, said: “A pastor in charge of Hospital Chapel Ministry located at Obollo Eke in Udenu Local Government Area of

Enugu State and identified as Pastor Friday Onuh has said that he never impregnated one Miss Favour Onah and took her to a patent medicine dealer to abort the baby as alleged by the parents of the girl.

“The pastor had allegedly impregnated the girl, a worshipper in his church and took her to a patent medicine

dealer at Ikem in Isiuzo Local Government Area of the state.

“It was reported that severe complications resulted from the abortion and that she is currently lying ill at a hospital.”

The goat incident allegedly took place at Ugbo Odogwu in Enugu.

State Public Relations Officer of the Command, Mr. Denny Iwuchukwu, told Vanguard: “He is a minor so we told the parents to bring him to our office every Monday.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014—7

Police orderly, 4 others gang-rape 17-year-old girl in Kano

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

K

ANO—A police orderly attached to the Executive Chairman of Kabo Local Government Council of Kano State and four others have been arrested for allegedly gangraping a 17-year-old girl at gunpoint.

The Police Corporal, whose identity is being concealed by Kano State Police Command, was said to have conspired with four other persons to carry out the act by using his service pistol to subdue the lady at a location at Shanono, headquarters of Shanono Local Government Area.

A security source confided in Vanguard that the chief suspect, a tall randy police officer, had been apprehended and kept behind bars, alongside his accomplices, pending the outcome of internal investigations.

The source said: “A Police Corporal has been arrested and taken to state Criminal Investigation Department for investigation over the complaint that him and two others gang raped a lady.

“It is suspected that the lady was threatened. You know orderlies that are attached to VIPs are normally armed. So as I speak with you, a police corporal and two other suspects have been detained for raping a lady in Shanono Local Government and the police officer is the orderly to Kabo Local Government chairman.

“It was a gang rape; the case is with the police authorities and they are handling the matter. We know that the suspects have been detained; we are waiting to know what would come up next.”

Police story

When contacted, the acting Police Public Relations Office of Kano State Command, ASP Mustapha Abubakar, confirmed

the incident in a phone chat.

ASP Mustapha said: “Yes, it is true our officer was involved in a gang rape and the affected officer and his accomplices

have been taken into custody.

“We have in our custody the police orderly and four other suspects. The CID has commenced investigations to

E

NUGU—OPERATIVES of the Umunmba Division of the Nigeria Police Force, Enugu State Command, has smashed a notorious car snatching and vandalism syndicate for allegedly terrorising residents of the area in the early hours of October 7.

The hoodlums were arrested, following a tip-off from members of the public while they were dismantling

By Peter Okutu

A

ACCIDENT: A Lexus car with number plate Abuja BOILER, and a trailer, collided at 2nd Rainbow Bus Stop, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Diran Oshe.

School proprietor docked over N26m exam fraud

By Austin Ogwuda & Chibundu Abugu

E

NUGU—PROPRIETOR of OBFO International Academy, Nsukka, Enugu State, Mr. Luke Oshi, was yesterday arraigned before a State High court sitting at Nsukka for allegedly conniving with some staff of his school to dupe students, who were to write their West African Examination Council, WAEC, May/June 2012 examination.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which is prosecuting the case, stated in the papers filed before the court that the accused allegedly failed to register the students for the said examination after collecting money from 580 candidates as

registration fees.

He was earlier in April arraigned before an Enugu Federal High Court on a 10count charge of stealing, contrary to Section 342 of the revised Criminal Code of Enugu State and punishable under Section 353(g) of the same Act. However, yesterday ’s arraignment at Nsukka took a dramatic turn of event as over 300 students, who fell victim of the alleged scam, besieged the court premises for a possible refund as they got wind of an underhand arrangement to refund part of their money which did not, however, materialise.

Consequently, the enraged students, who were accompanied by some of their parents, returned home disappointed.

Police smash car-snatching syndicate in Enugu

By Francis Igata

get to the root of the matter. “ The Kano Police spokesman disclosed that the suspects would be charged to court when investigations were completed.

Journalists to boycott Ebonyi Assembly over intimidation

a 608 Mercedez Benz minivan at Umunmba bush.

Police Public Relations

Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, DSP, confirmed the incident in a statement.

... nab shop robber in Bauchi

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCHI— AN armed robbery suspect has been arrested by the Bauchi State police command as he and four others attacked a provision store in the metropolis.

A statement by the spokesman of the command, DSP Haruna

Mohammed, said the suspect was caught after officers responded to a distress call by one Musa Sanusi, owner of the provision store that was attacked.

It added that police dispersed the five-man robbery gang who were hiding an AK-47 rifle and arrested one of them.

When the case came up for hearing, plea was not taken as counsel to the accused, Mr. Elias Ugwu, quickly sought for adjournment to enable him make proper consultations, saying “ this is an EFCC case.”

The presiding judge, Justice F. I. N. Ngwu, adjourned the matter to October 14.

BAKALIKI— JOURNALISTS in Ebonyi State, yesterday, threatened to boycott all the sittings of the state House of Assembly over intimidation of their colleague and muzzling of the press by certain individuals still aggrieved over the manner Vanguard had been covering activities of the House.

It was gathered that a Personal Assistant to one of the lawmakers and the Sergeant-at-Arms of the State House of Assembly (names withheld) moved to intimidate the journalist by sending him out of the chambers, even when sitting was going on.

He was allowed into the chamber after his colleagues, policemen, members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC among others, persuaded the authorities to allow him in.

Some of the journalists, who came to cover the sitting, said if such intimidation continued, no media coverage will be given to the House throughout the tenure of the current Speaker.

Police probe 60-yr-old woman's alleged suicide in Ondo

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—DETECTIVES in Ondo State are battling to unravel the mystery surrounding the alleged suicide by a 60-year-old mother of three, Mrs. Deborah Lawani, said to have hung herself in Akure, the state capital.

Her daggling body was discovered in her house located at 56, Araromi Street, Araromi area of the Akure metropolis.

Immediately the news filtered in yesterday, tongues began to wag on why the housewife committed suicide.

Report had it that the deceased who slept on the same bed with the husband, woke up in the middle of the night and committed suicide.

She was said to have sneaked out of the room and hung herself by the stair case of their storey building.

However, some residents in the area told newsmen who visited

the scene that the deceased left her husband’s house some 20 years ago after an undisclosed disagreement, but returned to the house two weeks ago.

They said the deceased had complained that all the years she had disagreement with her husband she was the one taking care of their three children.

They alleged that she might have committed suicide because husband, 65-year-old Olabamgbe Lawani, abandoned her.

Another resident alleged that the deceased was sent packing by the husband after it was said that she was behind a strange ailment that struck the husband.

The family of the husband reportedly advised him to stay away from the deceased for some time so as to seek divine intervention.

However, detectives in the state said the matter was still under investigation.

C M Y K

8— Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

COURT MARTIAL: EU rejects death sentences

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HE European Union (EU) has rejected the death sentence handed to 12 Nigerian soldiers by the General Court Martial in Nigeria for alleged mutiny.

The EU in a statement issued yesterday on the occasion of the World Day against Death Penalty condemned all death sentences especially after mass trials as was the case with the Nigerian soldiers.

The union, headed by Secretary- General, Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland, argued that execution had stopped in that region of the world for close to two decades According to the statement: “On the European and World Day against the Death Penalty, the European Union and the Council of Europe reaffirm their strong and absolute opposition to capital

punishment in all cases and under all circumstances, and their commitment to its worldwide abolition.

“We are deeply concerned about setbacks in some countries, such as recent mass trials leading to a vast number of death sentences.

No execution has taken place in our member states in the last 17 years. The European Union and the Council of Europe welcome the fact that all Member States of the European Union have now ratified both Protocols 6 and 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights, and urge all other European States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify these instruments which aim at the abolition of the death penalty.”

178 days in captivity: Ezekwesili, Ita-Giwa renew call for release of Chibok girls

By Laju Arenyeka & Vera

Anyagafu

A

S Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the International Day of the Girl Child tomorrow, Bring Back Our Girls campaign group and other well meaning Nigerians yesterday renewed the call for the release of the girls who have been in captivity for 178 days.

Former Minister for Education and Convener of the campaign, Prof. Oby Ezekwesili, alongside renowned politician, Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, led the call for the release of the Chibok girls at an event organized by the Public Affairs Department of the United States Consulate General’s office to mark the upcoming International Day of the Girl Child in Lagos.

Ita-Giwa, who said the International Day of the Girl Child, scheduled to hold tomorrow, should serve as an opportunity to bring attention to the challenges facing girls around the world, added that the issue of the missing Chibok girls “has been a source of concern to everybody.

It is so unfortunate. I do wish and hope that soon, they will come back home. According to what we are told by the security agencies, they have to be very careful so as not to put the lives of the girls in more danger. But as a mother, I

Advan Awards

T

HE 2014 edition of Advan Awards for marketing excellence will be held tomorrow at Shell Hall, Muson centre Onikan Lagos. The event will start at 5 pm.

cannot even think of what it would be like if it was any of my children that such a thing happened to.”

Ezekwesili, also speaking, said she cannot help put herself in the shoes of the missing girls. “If it had been thirty-five years ago when I was just about getting out of secondary school that such a thing happened to me, where would I be? And I just look at it and I say that only God knows what these girls are going through. That is why they need a voice, whether the people speaking out for them are ten or one million; the more the better for them. We must stand and insist that these girls are brought back, safe and alive. We do not know who these girls are going to be. They could be the ones that would solve our problems as a nation. So why should we give up on them. The voices of these girls have been taken, therefore we must become a voice for them. And we will be a voice. It comes at a price. I have been pelted with insults, I’ve been maligned, but it doesn’t matter, because nothing any of us is going through can be compared to the plight of those girls.”

Also present at the event, was the Executive Director, Women Consortium of Nigeria, WOCON, Mrs. Bisi OlateruOlagbegi, who spoke on the need to end marginalisation of women and girls in the country.

She said, ‘the positive multiple effects of educating the girl child should not be overlooked. Gender disparity is still very much on in Nigeria and as we celebrate the girlchild, every effort towards assisting them achieve their full potential is imperative.”

THE SUN WOMEN SUMMIT, ASABA, DELTA STATE. Photos by Henry Unini.

From left; Former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State declaring the event open, while MD, Akanuon, Plantain Flour, Mrs. Aoyere Roseline Ayo watch.

BELOW: From left; Mrs. Farida Waziri; former Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Josephine Anenih; Editor-In-Chief, The Sun newspapers, Mr. Femi Adesina; Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Mrs. Mulikat Akande; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan; his wife, Roli and former Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Mrs. Evelyn Oputu.

Waziri lauds The Sun summit, hails Nigerian women

A

SABA—FORMER Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri has said that Nigerian women are strong and hardworking and advised them not to lose their feminity while pursuing their dreams.

Mrs Waziri, who said this at the ongoing Women Leadership Summit in Asaba, Delta State also commended The Sun Newspaper, organisers of the event.

Speaking at the event, she said, ‘’It is timely that such an event for women is taking place now because many things are evolving. There is globalisation and the Beijing declaration which includes 35 percent of women in leadership positions is being actualized. This summit has created an avenue

for networking, sharing ideas and proffering solutions that will shoot woman to the top of leadership positions.”

Waziri noted that her faith in Nigerian women gave her the strength to attend the programme, because they are strong and hardworking. She advised women to know themselves, know what they want and go for it without feeling scared or intimidated.

She added that they shouldn’t lose their feminity in the light of pursuing their dreams. Dignity and self respect remains key to a lasting successful life, she says. ‘’Nigerian women need to be confident and work extremely hard more than the man. Don’t sit down and say women want affirmative action, you have to prove yourself as a woman.

When you display your worth and value to the men folk, they will respect you. When you are given a task, give it your best, so that when you look at what you have achieved, you will be proud of yourself. You have to leave a lasting legacy for the young ones so that they can learn and emulate your right principles.”

Waziri added that the summit has to be continuous to make the desired impact and create the much needed change for Women in leadership positions in Nigeria. If it becomes an annual event, it will create avenue for feedback and the benefits from the discussions.

It will create a platform for mentorship which women desperately need to leave lasting legacies for young women.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 — 9

Fintiri returns as Speaker, vows to pursue appeal against Ngilari

FG waves olive branch at insurgents

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—POISED for a last fight, the ousted Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umar Fintri, has gone before the Abuja Division of the Appeal Court to enumerate reasons why Bala Ngilari should not be allowed to function as the substantive Governor of the state.

In his eight grounds of appeal against the Federal High Court judgment that sacked him from office, Fintri, who acted as governor for 86 days and has since returned to his former position as Speaker of the state House of Assembly insisted that the erstwhile Governor of the state, Murtala Nyako, received and accepted the resignation letter of his former Deputy, Ngilari, and appointed his replacement, before he was eventually impeached on July 15.

He accused both Ngilari and the impeached Governor, Nyako, of suppressing valuable facts from the high court, stressing that one Adamu Kamale, a legislator in the state, was already nominated to take over as the Deputy governor.

Consequently, Fintri, through his lawyer, Mr. Duro Adeleye, SAN, urged the appellate court to set aside the judgment of Justice Ademola Adeniyi and compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to proceed with the byeelection already scheduled for Saturday.

He argued that the high court judge erred in law by not allowing the parties to call witnesses with a view to proving that Nyako actually received Ngilari’s letter of

By Kingsley Omonobi

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CONFERENCE: From left; Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof Rahamon Bello; Member, House of Representatives, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Service, University of Lagos, Prof Duro Oni at the 9th Unilag Annual Research Conference and Fair at the Multi-purpose Halls, University of Lagos, yesterday. Photo by Ovadje Elliot resignation before he was impeached by the Adamawa State House of Assembly.

Fintiri who presided over the House at the time Nyako was impeached from office, maintained that the exgovernor wrote a letter to the State Assembly wherein he not only intimated it of Ngilari’s resignation, but also forwarded the name of Kamale for approval.

According to the appellant, “The learned trial judge erred in law when he failed to convert suit to one commenced by way of writ of summons having regard to the hostile and contentious nature of facts on crucial issues that emanated from the conflicting affidavit evidence.”

2015: Nda-Isaiah to declare for president

By Charles Kumolu

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PRESIDENTIAL aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, has concluded plans to formally declare his intention to run for the office of the president on October 28, 2014.

A statement by the Executive Director of his campaign organisation, Sam4Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Tukur, said the public declaration would offer delegates, party members and the public the opportunity of deepening the conversation about the country’s future.

The statement reads: ‘’Our country has never been in greater need for change. What came out loud and clear during our

consultative tours were people telling us that they were tired of change as a slogan – they need change as an action word, now.

“For the first time in the history of Nigeria, our great party, the APC, offers change as an action word, a real possibility. The overwhelming feedback is that we also have an aspirant, Sam, who embodies the hopes and aspirations of party and country.

“Sam stands for big ideas about the country’s future. At a time when the country is deeply divided he offers a strong unifying message and generational connectedness. ''He is in touch. It’s time for all those who are truly fed up with 15 wasted years of the ruling PDP to stand up with Sam and be counted.''

He told the appellate court that, “There was a conflict between the parties as to whether the plaintiff (Ngilari) wrote Exhibit AU1, the letter of the plaintiff to the 5th defendant (Nyako) resigning from office.

“There was a conflict between the parties as to whether the 5th defendant wrote Exhibit AU2, the letter of the then governor of Adamawa State to the Speaker nominating Hon. Adamu Kamale as the Deputy Governor, the plaintiff having resigned his position.”

He further argued that Justice Adeniyi,”erred in law when he held that there was no proof that Exhibit AU1 was received by the 5th defendant.

“Exhibit AU2 was written by the fifth defendant (Nyako) to the Speaker wherein he informed the Speaker (inter alia) that the plaintiff (Ngilari) had resigned his appointment that morning.

“There is no requirement under section 306 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) for the 5th defendant to inform the Speaker in the letter of nomination of a deputy governor that he had received the resignation letter of the plaintiff.

“A replacement could not have been for the plaintiff by the defendant if he (plaintiff) remained in office as deputy governor.

“The learned trial judge erred in law when he held that Exhibit SASHA AU2 was not made by the 5th defendant.

“Exhibit AU2 had the letterhead paper of the governor, informing the 2nd defendant of the nomination of Hon. Adamu Kamale as the

deputy governor, the plaintiff, having resigned from office that morning and was duly signed by the governor.

“The issue of whether the 5th defendant authored the Exhibit or not could not have been resolved without an examination of the witnesses to test their credibility.

“An allegation of forgery that is contemplated by the denial of the 5th defendant is a criminal offence and requires proof beyond reasonable doubt.

“No evidence was called; no particulars of forgery was supplied by the plaintiff or 5th defendant”, he added.

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

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

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

The trial judge equally noted that the documents that were presented before the court with a view to proving that Nyako accepted Ngilari’s resignation were of “doubtful origin”.

N D I C AT I O N S emerged yesterday that following the surrendering of hundreds of Boko Haram insurgents in the wake of the killing of many of their Commanders including the late imposter, Mohammed Bashir, the presidency has waved an olive branch of irresistible offers almost akin to the Political “amnesty solution” if more of the terrorists surrender.

The political solution, which Vanguard gathered was going on underground is seriously being pursued as President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have stated that the insurgency must be brought to an end by any means possible.

According to sources, the underground moves to get the insurgents to come to table and talk has commenced and many of the insurgents who believe the battle and destruction they have been embarking upon made no sense and was a no win situation, are beginning to show signs of remorse and are willing to give up.

Moreover, it was gathered that many of the insurgents, having experienced the new resolve and determination of the Nigerian military to deal with the group, following new and highly sophisticated acquisitions of ground and air weaponry to which they would stand no chance, believe that government’s offer of olive branch was the best way out.

Vanguard however gathered that failure of any member of the group or unrepentant members to retrace their steps and surrender will continue to receive the full weight of the military’s onslaught, as the military will not rest until all violent and vicious members are not only wiped out, all their camps and communities they occupy are recovered.

“A Committee which the source said was operating underground for reasons of confidence building and protection of correspondences and exchange of information, has been set up” the source said adding, “we see no reason why they should not lay down their arms and come forward for talks”.

10— Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

Group slams Jonathan over 16,000mw of power

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We can kick out noise pollution like Ebola —Fashola zSays a noiseless society is possible

By Biodun Alade

A G O S — A professional arm of the All Progressives Congress, APC, The Salvage Group, TSG, has berated President Goodluck Jonathan over his alleged failure to fulfil one of his 2010 campaign promises to give Nigerians at least 16,000 megawatts of electricity within two years in office.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Peter Ajayi, the group said that Jonathan, having allegedly failed to achieve 16,000 megawatts of power within the two terms he has been sworn in as President, and is seeking for another term in 2015 is as good as taking Nigerians for a ride.

Ajayi who is a chairmanship aspirant for the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, said: “President Goodluck Jonathan during his campaign in 2010, promised Nigerians a steady electricity supply if voted into office. He promised 16,000 megawatt in the first two years of his administration."

....As another kicks against bad leadership

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By Olasunkanmi Akoni

AGSO—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, urged residents, particularly, motorists to desist from activities capable of generating needless noise in the state, saying a noiseless society is possible, if the residents collaborate with government in reducing noise pollution as they did in the containment of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. Fashola, gave the charge at the First Lagos Drivers’ Appreciation Day, a programme organised by the state‘s Ministry of Transportation, aimed at sensitizing drivers on the forthcoming maiden hornfree day slated for October 15, 2014 .

According to him, if Lagos could contain EVD despite its fatality, noise pollution could also be contained.

His words: “The whole world feared that we would not be able to survive Ebola but we stood up as a family from the primary health care workers, the religious leaders, the “Obas” (traditional rulers), the chiefs, the local government, the civil societies. We all decided to confront a threat that has never happened in an urban centre before.

“Lagos is the first test case.

I remember what they were telling me from the Centre for Diseases Control that there was no precedent for

what was happening in Lagos because that was the first time in 40 years that Ebola would be breaking out in an urban centre.

Almost other experiences were in the rural areas. But again, we learned, we worked together and we overcame that. If we can do that, can we not then overcome noise pollution which is self-inflicted? Let’s go and do it, the horn-free day and noiseless society starts with you and I.”

Award to distinguished drivers

The governor, who also yesterday, honoured 25 distinguished professional

drivers for obeying traffic regulations, stressed that the volume of noise resulting from the ever busy state was selfinflicting horrible condition residents have chosen to bear, adding that things could be better if only citizens amend their ways of living.

He said: “What you see is the way we now chose to live. It is because we choose to live in a very noisy environment which could be changed for the better.

We also tend to be noisy. So, we speak at the top of our voices, we play music at a very high volume.

We do so many things at a very high pitch. You will be amazed with the number of text messages from citizens on daily basis.

VISIT: Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha (middle) with the management team of Federal Radio Cooperation of Nigeria, FRCN, South-East zone, during a courtesy call on the Deputy Speaker by the team, at his Owerri residence, marking their conference in Owerri.

PENSIONERS: Court adjourns contempt suit

against CBN till Oct 29

By Iyabo Aina

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AGOS—A group, Advocates for collective Transformation, ACT, yesterday, in Lagos marched in their hundreds to kick against bad leaders in Nigeria, while demanding a level playing field in the forthcoming general elections.

The group which rises against corruption and corrupt leaders in a bid to save the youths who have been said overtime are the leaders of tomorrow, added that their mission is to make informed decisions in positioning the right leaders to elective offices at all levels in the country.

The group warns that the masses are disappointed in the ruling elite that has ruled the country since it gained its independence.

Meantime, the Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa said that government would not sanction any driver for honking on the horn-free day, but about 2,000 traffic personnel would only be on the road to caution drivers on safe driving culture.

He stated that the state government's desire to promote safety on the road, made it set up the Lagos State Drivers Institute in 2009 to retrain, recertify drivers and correct the deficiencies identified in their behaviour.

The Drivers’ Appreciation Day programme he said is therefore, to celebrate those drivers who have contributed to safe driving habits on the roads.

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By Innocent Anaba

AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, adjourned till October 29, hearing in the committal proceedings initiated by some pensioners, against the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, over the alleged disobedience of the judgment of the court by the apex bank.

The plaintiffs are Mr James Jemilo, Mr Thompson Edun, Mr Jacob Amao, and Mr Joachim Ajala.

The plaintiff for themselves and on behalf of all CBN pensioners, who had prayed the court to compel the CBN to comply with the Federal Government’s directive on pension harmonisation, obtained a favourable judgment from the court.

They returned to court, seeking to commit the CBN and others to prison for refusing to

obey the judgment of the court.

Other alleged contemnors are the CBN Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleiman Barau; Director, Human Resources, Ms Chizoba Mojekwu, and Director of Legal Services, Mr Simon Onekutu.

Hearing in the committal

proceedings, which was earlier adjourned till October 6, was adjourned by the court, yesterday, as the earlier date fell within the Sallah holidays.

Meanwhile, the court will on the new date hear the main suit and a preliminary objection to the suit.

The plaintiffs had averred that the harmonisation policy was introduced in the public service with effect from January 1, 1997, as same “Was designed to eliminate the disparities in the pensions of workers who retired on the same grade, with those who served the same number of years but retired at different times.”

Why youths engage in cyber crime, by LG boss

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By Ikenna Asomba

A G O S — CHAIRMAN of AmuwoOdofin Local Government Area, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, yesterday, blamed the little or no drive shown by the youths towards participating in development programmes, especially in the area of information technology for their indulgence in cyber-crime.

Speaking at the presentation of certificates to over 200 youths graduates, sponsored by the

council to undertake Certificate Programmes in Management Information System, Hardware and Networking, Microsoft Office 2010 and Multimedia Skills from NIIT West Africa Ltd, AmuwoOdofin, Lagos, Adewale stated that the future remained bleak if nothing is done by government at various tiers to address the situation.

In the presence of party chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, traditional and religious leaders, as well as

leaders of trade unions, the council boss also commissioned the Block B of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Primary Health Care Centre, Abule Ado; a block of classrooms at Universal Primary Education, UPE, School, 3rd Avenue, Festac Town, even as 7, 000 school bags and poverty alleviation items such as fridges, deep freezers, out-board boat engines, generators, bags of rice and popcorn machines, among others were distributed to beneficiaries.

11 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

EKITI: Stop this assault on judiciary, APC tells Jonathan zLai Mohammed is misinformed —PDP

By Gbenga Ariyibi & Bartholomew Madukwe BUJA—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, has charged President Goodluck Jonathan to stop his administration’s brazen assault on the judiciary by ordering the immediate withdrawal of the security agents deployed to block the resumption of the courts in Ekiti, as ordered by the National Judicial Commission, NJC, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the act of deploying security agents to prevent the courts from re-opening as directed by the NJC amounts to undermining the Judiciary and the Constitution. He said: ‘’The chief Justice of Nigeria, who is the head of the Judiciary, ordered that courts in Ekiti must re-open and that security personnel should do their jobs by providing security. Instead, the security agents were wilfully deployed to prevent the courts from opening.

"This violation flies in the face of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This undemocratic encroachment and erosion portend great danger for our nation and constitute a threat to our democracy. ‘’The Presidency is not constitutionally in any role able to second guess, override or reverse the Judiciary.

Our constitutional democracy recognizes separation of powers, and the constitution clearly identifies the scope of each organ’s powers and the head of each branch. This administration’s conduct in frustrating an order of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the NJC is a new low in lawlessness and

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illegality. The Presidency is implicitly conveying the message that it is unnecessary to obey the Judiciary. The only result of such conduct is anarchy and chaos.

"Essentially, the PDP-led administration of President Jonathan is holding litigants to ransom, preventing and perverting the course of justice, and restricting access to the common man’s last hope. This action is tantamount to arresting a judgement, something the bar and bench consider with the utmost vile.’’

APC said the truth of the matter is that it is the Presidency that is encouraging both the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police and the Brigade Commander to thwart the directives of the NJC by deploying security agents to seal the court, under the pretext of some phantom security report. The party said the entire plot is simply aimed at ensuring that the courts will not be opened until Governor-elect Ayodele Fayose is sworn in. ‘’The NJC has directed that the case against Fayose,

being a pre-election matter, should be completed before he is sworn in on October 16.

The NJC further directed that the same judge that started the matter should complete it, and then asked the Inspector-General of Police to provide adequate security to enable the judge hear and conclude the matter.

Lai Mohammed is misinformed —PDP The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in its reply has

TOUR: A cross section of party faithful listening to the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, at Panseke, Abeokuta South Local Government Area, during the governor's assessment tour of the 20 Local Government Areas in the state, yesterday.

described the All Progressives Congress, APC, as a party of misinformed people, who are always out to use falsehood to create tension in the country, saying; “It is myopic for the APC spokeman, Lai Mohammed to claim that President Goodluck Jonathan deployed security agents to block the resumption of courts in Ekiti State.”

In a statement issued yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, PDP said: “The whole world knew it when the state Chief Judge, CJ, Justice Ayodeji Daramola ordered the closure of all courts in the State and up till today, the CJ has not issued any order reopening the courts.

“Apart from the CJ ordering the closure of the courts, judiciary workers in the State are also on strike and one wonders whether it was President Jonathan that ordered the judiciary workers to go on strike.”

The PDP, which also accused the APC of plotting judicial coup-d'etat in Ekiti State, said it was obvious that the APC was out to manipulate the judiciary against the popular will of Ekiti people as expressed on June 21, 2014, hence the party’s decision to rush to Abuja to file another suit, using an unregistered Young Democratic Party.

Lagos LP distances self from party's convention

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AGOS—LAGOS State chapter of the Labour Party, LP, has distanced itself from the national convention scheduled to hold on October 11, 2014 in Ondo State.

In a statement by its publicity secretary, Mr Tony Okorocha, LP described the planned convention as a huge joke.

According to the party, after the exhaustive consultation with the state Working Committee members and other stakeholders of the party, it was unanimously agreed that the chapter should distance itself from the

Party's National Convention slated to hold in Akure, tomorrow.

The party said: “A list of party delegates submitted and admitted by the outgoing National Exco by an unknown person does not in any way represent the State Executive Council member’s or other members of the party who are constitutionally mandated to attend and vote at conventions.

"We hereby state unequivocally that we consider the convention a huge joke, immoral and wholesome anti-party, the conduct of an event of such magnitude."

12 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

PDP faults Rivers govt's claim on Ebola control

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IVERS State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, claimed that no health centre in the state had protection kits or doctors equipped for Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, control, despite the hype by the government about efforts and programmes put in place to checkmate the spread of the disease in the state.

Chairman of the state PDP, Mr. Felix Obuah, in a statement through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Jerry Needam, demanded to know what happened to the over N1.5 billion the state government claimed it had spent on the control and programmes to checkmate the health challenge in the state.

This, according to him, is exclusive of the N200 million the Federal Government gave to the state to control the disease.

He said: “The party notes with dismay that in all the 23 local government areas of the state, there is no hospital with Ebola disease protection kits

for health workers, not even in the Braithwaite Memorial, BMH, and the so called Kingsley Harrison, Specialist Hospitals in Port Harcourt.

The PDP recalls that it was

also the need to properly equip the schools and the health centres for the EVD control that Governor Rotimi Amaechi rejected the Federal Government’s directive on

SWEARING-IN: Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and the newly sworn-in Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr. Tom Ogar, shortly after taking the oath of office, in Calabar.

APC slams Delta govt over burning of 300 motorcycles A

LL Progressives Congress, APC, Delta State chapter, has condemned the burning of 300 motorcycles by the state government. It noted that the development which was hinged on the state government's ban on commercial motorcycles, was not in the interest of the people who voted the government to power.

Prophet Jones Erue, state chairman of APC,

Pa Musa Aigbe

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A Musa Aigbe of Irua in Ugbegun, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, is dead, aged 89.

He died after a brief illness. He is survived by two widows and seven children.

Burial arrangement shall be announced by the family.

Late Pa Musa Aigbe

lamented that the motorcycle ban policy by the state government would further impoverish the poor in the state, saying that a policy without an alternative means of livelihood was detrimental of the people.

Erue said: “On October 4, 2014, about three hundred commercial

motorcycles popularly known as okada were confiscated in Sapele by the Delta State Directorate of Transport in line with the state government’s ban on the use of commercial motorcycles in Ika South, North and Sapele local government areas of the state and later burnt."

Emerhor joins Delta gov race

By Egufe Yafugborhi NVESTOR and politician, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, yesterday declared his intention to contest the 2015 governorship election in Delta State on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, and promised to lead the party in dislodging the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

Emerhor also announced N5 million monthly funding for Delta APC, aside allowances for the state executives and separate financial support for the party structures from the state to ward levels.

During his declaration before the party leaders who gathered at Asaba state secretariat of the APC,

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resumption date for all schools in the country, fixing that of Rivers State for October 6, 2014 yet all the schools are as they were before the Ebola outbreak."

Emerhor said that after 16 years of democracy, Delta was ready for a change.

He said: “PDP for 16 years formed a caucus which just shared among themselves. Even at the centre, the majority have realised we need change and so we came together as different parties to form an alternate party."

Ijaw mourn Aziza as burial rites begin

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JAW Monitoring Group, IMG, has described the untimely death of General Patrick Aziza, President General, Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, as a dark chapter in Urhobo history in particular and the Niger Delta in general.

The group in a tribute by Comrade Joseph Evah, said the Ijaw lamented that General Aziza’s untimely departure at a time the Niger Delta was looking for more courageous and committed leaders to groom the younger generation was shocking and sad.

He said: “The death of this great general one year after the death of another great star of Urhobo nation, Senator Pius Ewherido, has depleted the leading political lights of Urhobo nation."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 — 13

Attack on Edo lawmaker: Police arrest Speaker, Majority Leader

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN CITY— POLITICAL tension heightened in Edo State yesterday as Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Uyi Igbe, and Majority Leader, Mr. Philip Shaibu, were detained by the Police over the attack on the lawmaker representing Etsako West constituency, Mr. Rasaq Momoh.

This came on a day the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, invited the duo to appear before it in Abuja next Monday.

The reasons for the invitation are unclear, but All Progressives Congress, APC, has raised an alarm over alleged plot by the Federal Government to incarcerate all loyalists of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Momoh, whose seat was declared vacant by the House in July, was attacked by thugs after he defied the instruction of security men in the House of Assembly quarters not to scale the perimeter fence of the state legislators’ quarters to gain access to the facility.

Prof Yesufu passes on at 88

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ROFESSOR Tijani Yesufu, a renowned Economist and first Nigerian Vice Chancellor of University of Benin, UNIBEN, has passed on at the age of 88.

A statement signed by Mr. Bala Yesufu on behalf of the family said Prof.

Yesufu has been buried in his country home, Agbede, Etsako West Local Council of Edo State, according to Islamic rites.

Meanwhile, the eighth day Fidau prayers will hold tomorrow at his residence, 7, Boundary Road, G.R.A. Benin City.

Late Prof. Yesufu C M Y K

The PDP accused the Majority Leader and other APC lawmakers of masterminding the attack, a claim he described as frivolous.

Speaker Igbe, Shaibu and Folly Ogedegbe were invited to the state police command by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, at about 11am.

The lawmakers and their colleagues who thronged the police command in solidarity, were still being detained there at the time of filing this report.

Efforts made to speak with the Commissioner of Police on the issue proved abortive.

However, Shaibu, who spoke with Vanguard at the police command headquarters, said: “We came in response to an

invitation by the Police.

They have kept us here for over three hours for a matter we know nothing about. The EFCC has also invited us to Abuja on Monday.

“You could see the intimidation. When the PDP lawmakers, including Momoh, forcefully broke into the Assembly complex, the Police did not invite them, let alone arrest them. All the court orders that were issued against them, were disobeyed and the police did nothing to enforce the court orders. But you can see that we have been detained here for hours over an issue we know nothing about. This is an attempt to intimidate and eliminate all Oshiomhole’s loyalists before the elections."

Stop blackmailing Oshiomhole over attack on Momoh—Edo govt

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DO State Government has condemned the attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State to drag the name of the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, into the attack on Mr. Rasaq Momoh, a former member of the state House of Assembly.

In a statement, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs, to the Governor, said that rather than accuse the governor, the PDP should look inwards especially as Mr. Momoh had a history of violence which dates back to his days as a lecturer at the Auchi Polytechnic.

He said: “We wonder what Rasaq Momoh was doing at the Legislators’ Quarters at about 11:00pm when he has been ejected from the place. It is curious that Momoh, a supposed “honourable” member had to scale the fence to gain access to the quarters, in company of some of his thugs, because the gates had been locked. That act in itself, portrays a sinister motive.

“We recall that as a member of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Momoh was arrested by a team of Operation Thunderstorm

in April, 2013 for unlawful possession of firearms during the local government elections in the state.

“Even as a member of the ruling party, the governor insisted that the full weight of the law must be brought to bear on the offender and he was duly charged to court, a case which is still pending in court. If anything, Momoh’s grouse was the refusal of Governor Oshiomhole to shield him from prosecution which precipitated his eventual defection to the PDP in search for cover.

“We can say without equivocation that Governor Oshiomhole does not have a history of violence in all his struggles in Nigeria both as a labour activist and as an elected governor of Edo State.

“However, the PDP, to which Momoh now belongs, has a long history of violence in the state and beyond. We recall with painful nostalgia how three members of the then ACN: Hon Philip Shaibu, Hon Johnson Oghuma and Hon Kabiru Adjotor were macheted and axed by “honourable” members of the PDP on the floor of Edo State House of Assembly four years ago."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014—14

ASABA MASACRE: Asagba demands

apology, reparation from FG

By Hugo Odiogor

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SABA—THE Asagba of Asaba and paramount leader of Asaba, Delta State, Professor Chike Edozien, has demanded public apology and restitution from the Federal Government for victims of massacre of defenceless civilians in non-combat situations during the civil war in old Midwest region The paramount leader of Asaba told Vanguard that the apology and reparation by the Federal Government for the dastardly act committed by the 2nd Brigade of the Nigerian Army led by late General Murtala Mohammed, were long over due, lamenting that Asaba was the worst hit with the death of over 9000 men, women and children.

He said: “But the Federal Government should publicly apologise to the victims of the massacre whose crime was that they came out to dance and welcome the Federal troops chanting 'One Nigeria.' The occasion of the memorial is not for hate mongering or to emit bitterness towards any group of people or towards the government but to remind

ourselves of the need to eschew ethnic and religious intolerance which provided the cannon to cause mayhem and insecurity ion the country.

"The blood of Anioma and Asaba people shed during the civil war was the unfortunate price that they have to pay for the unity of

Nigeria and the Federal government must go the extra mile to provide security of its citizens.”

He said the people of Asaba and Anioma nation deserved better treatment than they were getting in the present political arrangement where they were

treated as people without culture and political identity.

Edozien insisted that the time had come for Delta North to produce the next governor for the state, as it looked forward to the creation of Anioma state as a step to heal the wounds of the civil war.

PRESENTATION: From left: Kano State Governor, Alhaji Rabiu Kwakwanso, special guest of honour/Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, during the public presentation of the Ekiti State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, as part of events marking the 4th anniversary of the Fayemi's administration, in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday.

Warri North PDP assures of victory in Delta LG polls

By Godwin Oritse

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OKO—AHEAD of the council elections in Delta State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Warri North Local Government Area, LGA, has expressed optimism that its chairmanship candidate, Mr. Francis Maku-Eyituoyor, and councilor hopefuls in all the wards will emerge victorious at the polls.

Speaking in Koko yesterday, chairman of PDP campaign committee in the Local Government Area, Mr. Isaac Willkie, said Warri North LGA was an undisputed PDP stronghold which the opposition party was too weak and ill-prepared to challenge in any meaningful form.

According to him, "the PDP structure in the LGA is very formidable and the support for the party by the people is total.”

Kalabari people ask Jonathan to ignore Amaechi

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ORT HARCOURT— K A L A B A R I stakeholders have urged President Goodluck Jonathan to ignore alleged statement of Governor Rotimi Amaechi that the President disliked the Kalabaris, saying it was a case of the charcoal calling the kettle black.

They spoke when the Minister of Sports, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, and his political associates gathered at the Kingdom to thank them and award undergraduate scholarships to 153 indigent university students.

The minister had used the occasion to catalogue the President’s projects, love and plans for the kingdom and showered encomiums on him for his uncommon transformation agenda for Nigeria in general, Rivers State and the Kalabari Kingdom in particular.

He urged the people, "to continue to support their fellow Ijaw man,

President GoodLuck Jonathan, who is their son, brother and in-law; their sister and wife of the President Dame Dr. Patience Jonathan, the Minister of State for Education, Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. “ In their response, the Kalabari Stakeholders from all the 33 communities/towns who spoke through Chief Hon. David Briggs (First Executive Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, and two time commissioner in Rivers State); Chief E.S. Lawson (1st sole administrator of Akuku Toru Local Government Area), Chief Precious Elekima, Opakrite Jackcrece (former Executive Chairman of Asri-Toru LGA-1999); Pleasant Braide (former Executive Chairman of Degema LGA-1999), Mrs. Daizy West (former member Rivers State House of Assembly-1991), among others, thanked President Jonathan for his love for the

Kalabaris and appointment of one of them, Dr. Danagogo, as minister.

They promised to support President Jonathan and the PDP through thick and thin in the LGAs, State and National Levels, urging President Jonathan to "ignore the ranting of the governor."

The group said: “They are aware that after their meeting with President Jonathan, he directed the boundary commission to proceed immediately to demarcate the boundary but upon their arrival the governor disallowed them insisting that Rivers State must be paid her claims from 2004 till date before they will go to the field; knowing that it is impossible to make any payment without first demarcating the boundary.

"The Governor should know that Kalabari people are aware that he did that to perpetuate the boundary dispute, so as to further alienate the Kalabaris from their kinsman, the President and to score cheap and shameless political points.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 — 15

ENGAGEMENT: From left: Mrs. Oluwatoyin Adedoyin and Chief Samuel Adedoyin, parents of the bride, during the engagement party for Anuoluwapo Adedoyin and Nosike Adah, in Lagos last weekend.

From left: Groom's father, Mr. Christopher Adah; stepfather, Mr. Fatai Adebayo and groom's mother, Mrs. Ngozi Adebayo, at the occasion.

East-West Road expansion to cost $1bn —Minister

By Emmanuel Una

C

ALABAR—MINISTER of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Stephen Oru, said yesterday, that the expansion of the East-West Road would cost $1 billion.

He spoke in Calabar during

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the graduation of the Second Batch of participants of the Identify, Train and Engage Scheme, ITRENS, a youth empowerment programme sponsored by the ministry.

Oru also stated that the road would be put to use by the end of December, saying: “We are

very hopeful that the largest portion of the East-West Road will be put into full use towards the end of this year.

Between now and December, a substantial portion of one aspect of the dual carriage way will be fully in use.”

According to him, the delay

in the completion of the road was due to excessive rainfall.

He explained that with the dry season at hand, a major portion of the road would be completed before the end of the year.

“The road will be extended to Cross River State. That is

the new aspect of the upcoming contract which will be financed by China-Exim Bank in the sum of about $1 billion.

About 90 per cent of the road will be made of bridges and it would be extended to Calabar,” he added.

16 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 —17

Zambian perspective

S

OMEONE just sent me a fascinating article.

Written by a US-based Zambian called Field Ruwe in January 2012, it is based on a conversation he had with a White man he met on a plane on New Year’s Eve, 2011.

I have taken the liberty of summarising and slightly paraphrasing parts of Ruwe’s account because the original version is too long to fit onto this page.

I regard it as poignantly instructive and relevant to Nigeria. I would love to know what Vanguard readers think of it.

He extended his hand as soon as I settled in my seat.

“My name is Walter…Where are you from?” he asked.

“Zambia.”

“Zambia!” he exclaimed.

“I’m sure you regard me as a racist. But let us put our skin pigmentations aside. Tell me, my friend, what is the difference between you and me?”

“There’s no difference,” I replied. “ A b s o l u t e l y none…Scientists in the Human Genome Project have proved that…And yet I feel superior,” he smiled.

“Every White person on this plane feels superior to a Black person. The White guy who picks up garbage, the homeless White trash on drugs, feels superior to you, no matter his status or education… “…I can pick up a White nincompoop from the New York streets…and take him to Lusaka and you’ll all be crowding around him, yet he’s a riff-raff. Tell me why!”

For a moment I was wordless.

“Please don’t blame it on slavery like the African Americans do, or on

,

A fundamental transformation of our country requires a bold, risk-taking, educated leader with a triumphalist attitude

“…I spent three years in Zambia in the 1980s…and wined and dined with many highly intelligent Zambians.”

At midnight we were airborne. The captain wished us a happy 2012 and urged us to watch the fireworks across Los Angeles.

“Isn’t that beautiful,” Walter said looking down.

I took a glance and nodded admiringly.

“That’s White man’s country,” he said. “We came here, turned Indian [native American] land into a paradise and are now the most powerful nation on earth.

We built this aircraft you are travelling in…and we come to your country and take your resources and leave you with morsels. We get what we want and you get what you deserve. Crumbs is what lazy Zambians and Africans get…

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,

colonialism, or some psychological impact or on some kind of stigmatization.

And don’t give me the brainwash poppycock. Give me a better answer.”

I was thinking.

He continued: “Excuse what I am about to say….but you and all your kind - are lazy…When you rest your head on your pillow, you don’t dream big. You and other so-called African intellectuals are damn lazy…It is you, and not those poor starving people, who are the reason Africa is in such a deplorable state.”

“That’s not a nice thing to say,” I protested.

He was implacable. “I will say it again, you are lazy.

Poor and uneducated Africans are the most hardworking people on earth. I saw them in the Lusaka markets and on the streets, selling

merchandise. I saw them in villages toiling away. I saw women crushing stones to sell and I wept… “…I asked myself: ‘Are Zambian engineers so imperceptive that they cannot invent a simple stone crusher or a simple water filter to purify well water for those poor villagers? Are you telling me that after 37 years of independence, your university has not produced a scientist or engineer who can make simple small machines for mass use? What is the university there for?’”

I held my breath “Zambian intellectuals work from 8 till 5 and spend the evening drinking. We Whites reserve the evening for brainstorming.

“And you Zambians in the Diaspora are just as lazy and apathetic…You don’t care about your country and yet your parents, brothers and sisters are in villages, living in squalor. Many have died or are dying of neglect. They are dying of AIDS because you cannot come up with your own cure. You are here calling yourselves graduates, researchers and scientists and are fast at articulating your credentials once asked—oh, I have a PhD in this and that—PhD my foot!”

I was deflated “Wake up!...You should be lifting ideas, formulae, recipes and diagrams from American factories and sending them to your own factories. All those research findings and dissertation papers you compile should be your country’s treasure.

Why do you think the Asians are a force to reckon with?

They stole our ideas and turned them into their own ideas. Look at Japan, China and India… “…And for as long as you are dependent on my plane, I shall feel superior and you shall remain inferior…Africans are at the

*Field Ruwe

bottom of the totem pole…Get over this white skin syndrome and begin to feel confident.

Become innovative and make your own stuff for God’s sake.”

When the plane touched down, Walter reached for my hand. “I was too strong [harsh], but I have been to Zambia and seen too much poverty.”

I watched him walk to a waiting car. And he left a huge dust devil twirling in my mind, stirring up sad memories of home. I could see Zambia’s literati—the cognoscenti, intelligentsia, academics, highbrows, and scholars, guzzling drinks and talking irrelevancies. I remembered how some of them got the highest possible grades at top foreign institutions like Harvard, Oxford and Yale; and yet none has provided us with a single invention or discovery.

Walter is right. It is true that since independence we have failed to nurture creativity...We as a nation lack a workhorse mentality and behave like 13 million civil servants dependent on a government pay cheque.

We believe that development is generated 8to-5 behind a desk, wearing a tie with our degree certificates hanging on the wall.

Such working environments do not offer the opportunity for fellowship, the excitement of competition or the spectacle of innovative rituals.

But the intelligentsia is not solely, or even mainly, to blame. The larger failure is due to political circumstances over which we have had little control.

Past governments embraced orthodox ideas and failed to

offer opportunities for drawing outside the line…and failed to create an environment of possibility that fosters camaraderie, rewards innovative ideas and encourages resilience.

Let’s begin to look for a technologically activepositive leader…so we can make our own stone crushers, water filters, water pumps, razor blades and harvesters.

Let’s dream big and also make tractors, cars, and planes, or, as Walter said, forever remain inferior.

A fundamental transformation of our country requires a bold, risktaking, educated leader with a triumphalist attitude.

Don’t be highly strung and feel insulted by Walter. Take a moment and think about our country.

Our journey from 1964 has been marked by tears. It has been an emotionally overwhelming experience.

Each one of us has lost a loved one to poverty, hunger or disease. It is time to change our political culture.

It’s time for Zambian intellectuals to cultivate a progressive movement that will change our lives forever.

Don’t be afraid or dispirited.

Rise to the challenge.

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 OR 0811 675 9752 (texts only).

PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

BASKING in the universal acclamation of Nigeria for setting the pace in the containment of the Ebola Viral Disease (EVD), the Federal Government’s decision to set up an international Ebola Volunteers group comes highly commended.

It is important that we make the most of this achievement by taking it forward to assist our neighbours in the sub-region, such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, which are suffering from a vicious pandemic that has clearly overwhelmed them. At this juncture of this frightening emergency, it is no longer a question of whether Nigeria is benefiting commensurately from our unending sacrifices both within the region and the African continent as a whole. It is now a matter of meeting the Ebola challenge at its present ground zero and helping to overpower it there before another index case finds its way to our shores to threaten our population. The single index case of Patrick Sawyer from Liberia claimed the lives of some of our best medical hands and threw panic into the populace.

According to the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu after the

By Sufuyan Ojeifo

I

WAS not surprised when on Thursday, October 2, this year, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Erediauwa, Oba of Benin, adorned an illustrious son of Benin, Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, JP, with the “Traditional Beads” for being a worthy son of the ancient Kingdom. This recognition, which I understand is a precursor to a traditional chieftaincy title that is in the offing, is well deserved when gleaned from the prism of his invaluable contributions to the development of the Kingdom and its people.

With a lifestyle of building business empires, massive investments in human capital development, philanthropy, respect for constituted authorities and loyalty to friendship, leadership and followership alike, Captain Hosa (as he is widely referred to by his associates) has defined his eon and occupied his space in the socio-economic and political setup of Benin Kingdom in particular as well as Edo State and Nigeria in general.

Perhaps, it is in the locale of philanthropy that he has, by far, impacted positively and manifestly on the lives of his people. The narratives in many quarters in Benin bear confirmation of how God has used Captain Hosa to liberate people from the shackles of poverty and how he has assisted institutions to thrive. Having prospered in his business enterprises, he must have reasoned that the best way to appreciate God and man is to give to charity, uplift the poor and give back to society.

Captain Hosa is, indeed, a successful man in ventures that span a wide range of sectors, including oil and gas, power, security, properties, etc. His chain of investments C M Y K

Nigeria’s Ebola Volunt eer s Squad olunteer eers Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting last Wednesday, no less than 519 volunteers from the various arms of the medical services have already signed up at the three centres – Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt – where registers were opened. This is cheering news, compared to the period that Sawyer ’s infection rocked the nation while medical doctors conveniently stayed on strike.

We must see the fight against Ebola as something akin to the various ECOMOG operations we have undertaken to salvage some of these countries from

disintegration, except that this time, the war is on the medical front.

It is important, however, before our team of volunteers departs for these countries that a comprehensive memo of understanding spelling out a code of conduct, especially by the locals, is agreed to. One of the reasons that we contained the disease while it went out of control in these countries was that we adopted a positive attitude and followed prescribed scientific procedures. The various acts of indiscipline and barbarism exhibited, especially in Liberia and Sierra Leone, whereby corpses were abandoned on the streets, and mobs attacked medical personnel looking after stricken patients must not be allowed.

These countries and their citizens must submit totally to the dictates of international containment procedures.

Otherwise, we must not allow our volunteers to plunge into an exercise in which their lives will be needlessly exposed to man-made dangers.

To eradicate the Ebola disease from the face of the earth is a task that must be done.

OPINION Okunbo's heart of gold and royal recognition supports his multi-billionaire status in all its ramifications. But one virtue that characterizes the life of this 56-year-old businessman and perhaps neo-politician is his simplicity. He does not play to the gallery. He does not crave for recognition despite having the wherewithal to get it. He may have something close to the wealth of Croesus, the last King of Lydia who was renowned for his great wealth; he certainly does not splash it with the sybaritic indulgence of Adnan Khashoggi, Saudi Arabian businessman, who spent his wealth on lavish parties and was reported to have, in his heyday, spent $250,000 daily to maintain his lifestyle.

For Captain Hosa, his focus is peopleoriented, transformation-driven and human capital development-targeted. He is said to have given out multi-billion naira over time in donations to noble and progressive causes.

Apart from his philanthropic gestures, he has played a frontline role in the integration of the Benin Kingdom in the politics and policies of the Federal Government. This is after he has become sure-footed about his own sphere of influence as a key player in the nation’s politics and economy.

He was instrumental to the Friday, April 25, 2014, visit of the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Ambassador Eheneden Erediauwa, to the Presidential Villa to deliver a message of goodwill from his father (the Oba of Benin) to President Goodluck Jonathan. The highly respected Oba, who was constrained by age to travel, in the goodwill message commended

the President, prayed for him and invoked the ancestral spirits of the Kingdom to give him the strength to continue with his good work, in spite of daunting security challenges.

Significantly, the monarch had urged the President to seek a second term to complete his work of transforming the nation.

Captain Hosa’s other involvements in socio-political and economic activities at the Federal level have in recent times projected him as a force to reckon with in the critical economic sector. Before now and way back in 1997, under the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha, he led a team that nurtured the idea that culminated in the introduction of transparent ballot boxes for use in the nation’s elections. This remains a landmark contribution to the electoral process in Nigeria. These and other accomplishments must have convinced the Oba of Benin that it was time he recognised him (Captain Hosa) as a worthy son of the Kingdom.

Prior to the latest honour, this illustrious son of Benin kingdom was in 2007 honoured with the Justice of the Peace, JP, in recognition of his astounding contributions to the promotion of peace and good governance as well as development of his constituency. Again in 2012, in faraway United States, the American Congress honoured him with the “African Titans” Award for being a voice of the Niger Delta people through a multi-million dollar movie production that he sponsored, titled: “Black November.”

Consider, for instance, what he did in 2005 in Benin: He assisted over 774 women of Oba

Market in Benin who suffered varying degree of losses as a result of the inferno which gutted the market with a multi-million naira intervention to keep their various trading activities afloat. He had also financed a youth empowerment programme with a view to uplifting the quality of life of his people as a service to humanity. It was against the backdrop of these huge accomplishments that the University of Benin on November 24, 2012 conferred on him the honorary Doctorate of Science (D.Sc) degree.

Indeed, with incredible streams of income, he is arguably the Nigerian equivalence of Midas-a Phrygian King in Greek mythologywho turned objects, everything he touched, to gold. This may explain his meteoric rise to the top of his chosen profession as a pilot from where he retired before venturing into other businesses such as the Hoslyn Ventures Nigeria Limited, which has been into procurement in the oil and gas sector; Ocean Marine Security Limited, a company responsible for offshore asset protection for major oil companies in Nigeria, including the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC; PPP Fluid Mechanics Limited, a crude oil logistics company; Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Limited, a company that won the bid for Ibadan and Yola Power Distribution Companies, Discos); and a host of others.

Captain Hosa’s friends and well wishers must be keeping their fingers crossed as the Benin Kingdom plans a bigger recognition for a worthy son, an ambassador of good fortune. *Mr. Ojeifo, a journalist, wrote from ABuja.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014— —19

N

IGERIA at 54 as a nation, has survived many challenges, including religious ,and ethnic violence that led to three years civil war, from 1966 to 1970.Nigeria has fared reasonably well, some will say; after all, today, we have mobile phones with communications technology growing and spreading very fast; we have more roads, many villages have become state capitals with dual carriage ways, more exotic cars on our roads, many private jet owners. We have more airports; we have more institutions of higher learning churning out educated folks by the year; we can draw money and do some transactions using ATMs.We have run the presidential system of governance for 15 years , and adding all together, we have done well. Never mind the power failures, bad roads, ever rising unemployment and crime rates, etc; they all make up growth challenges.

Nigeria has, so far, survived religious and ethnic cleansing in the North, Niger Delta creek militancy, political violence in the South West, Kidnapping in the South East and terrorist insurgency in the North East. We have continued to exist as one nation in spite of all the challenges.

This may account for the confidence expressed by our political leaders across the divide of the ruling PDP and opposition APC, that at 54,our nation will not crumble due to insurgency.

However, this phenomenon we call insurgency today started as religious violence as far back as 1980 with the Maitatsine group in Kano State. It reformed, multiplied and grew into religious killings in Kaduna, Bauchi and Plateau states. We kept prevaricating over it, till it turned into terrorism in 2009, in the name of Boko Haram.

Nigeria even protested openly when the USA listed Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation; that was until the sect bombed the UN building, the Police Headquarters, media houses, all in Abuja. Boko Haram infiltrated the Fulani herds men who have since been causing havoc within the village communities across the North. It was when they raised their flag for the first time in Borno State last year, that our leaders quickly found the word insurgency. Boko Haram wants a nation of their own, they want to create a caliphate comprising territories from this country, Niger Republic and the Republic of Cameroon, just like the terrorist ISIS wants to run their caliphate between Iraq and Syria. Nigeria as a nation has allowed what started as religious

Let politicians agree in the best interest of Nigeria to stamp out Boko Haram, to pave way for elections that will involve and re-integrate the whole of Nigeria as one nation

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violence 34 years ago to become Boko Haram now demanding for a full caliphate within Nigeria.

Nigeria is a nation in a full blown war.Our soldiers seem to have psychological challenges fighting this war with all the commitment that it deserves, and our political leaders are not helping them by coming together to fight the new caliphate of Boko Haram. The religious undertone of this war makes it very complicated for our Commanderin- Chief, President Jonathan. This war may have caused more casualties on the Nigerian army and civilians than the 1966 civil war, yet our leaders, including those from the affected areas don’t seem to appreciate the enormity of it.

For example,on the same day, 96 army personnel, including four Lt Cols and a Major, are facing

Nigerians, slackers @ 54

By Eddie Mbadiwe

T

HE excellent performance of the Falconets in the recent FIFA World Cup was a source of pure unadulterated joy to many of us. I stayed up late into the night and watched all their matches, for apart from being good entertainment, those teenagers exhibited such flair and dexterity in a game previously monopolised by men.

The wonder girl Aishat from Ikorodu mesmerised the opposition.

The Federal Government, but particularly, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu – the Minister of Health; the Lagos State Governor, Raji Fashola and his team deserve tons of encomium for the speed with which the wicked Ebola virus disease was contained and kept off limits and at bay.

Those two recent performances made me walk tall as a Nigerian. We cannot, of course, let our guards down as our borders are extremely porous and there are still many Tom Sawyers lurking around seeking whom to devour.

As the big brother in Africa, it is my considered view that it is now time for Nigeria to export our expertise in EBOLA DISEASE MANAGEMENT to those sister African countries that are still hurting. Their grief must be shared with all who can help and we must not leave this to the United States or Europe.

The examples given demonstrate convincingly that WE CAN WIN IF WE TRY HARD ENOUGH. Nigerian students, especially at the post-graduate level, have demonstrated repeatedly their ability to hold their own against the best in the world.

The great mathematician and physicist adjudged by Time Magazine as the greatest genius of the last century was once eulogised by his peers for his brilliance. His response was that it is not a matter of brilliance. The difference between him and his peers was that he stayed at PROBLEMS much longer than his colleagues.

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Every birthday is a milestone, whether celebrated or not. There is a class of people who forget their birthdays but this is a minority. Each birthday is, therefore, unique.

Age 54 which Nigeria has just celebrated is nothing special. The more important milestones are 50, 60, 70, 75, 80 and for those genetically richly endowed 90 and above.

At 54 however, middle age spread accompanied by ‘pot belly’ and metabolic slowing down processes are beginning to manifest, depletion in our chemical makeup presents. Visits to the drug store looking for substances like melatonin become more frequent. In some men there is visibly what the late AjieUkpabi Asika called ‘strains of office’. This is a fusion caused by deposit of excess fat in the neck region. The head and the neck more or less fuss, giving one massive bulge - ‘Strains of office’ or ‘Executive neck. Men inflicted with this condition have a minimum neck size of 20.

These individuals are also predisposed to heart attack and have an early ticket to the morgue. Complete zipping of their mouth coupled with regular exercise can reverse this journey.

Age 54 is also time to redefine our goal as a nation and reassess our road map to that destination.

Please pause for a brief interjection. There is this unfortunate but misguided phobia in some of the President’s men. These see any criticism of government or governance as an attack on the President. Reflexively, they mobilise with all cylinders firing in defence.

For avoidance of doubt, let it be clear to all who care to listen that government as defined by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) is the sum total of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary working in synergy.

For further clarification let us also be aware that there is a fine dividing line between the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the person Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. You can call this line a

court martial for various offences in this war. A new video has been released claiming that Shekau, the “dead” Boko Haram leader, is alive, thus creating more confusion in the minds and psyche of our army and civilian populace.

If convicted, these men will be killed, as that is the military law.

A Brigadier-General has just been arrested for running into the bush in fear, and making way for the enemy to access heavy Nigerian war weaponry, including armoured vehicles. Boko Haram today is well equipped, have their flag flying in some Borno and Adamawa villages, and who knows where next. Can Nigeria continue as if nothing is wrong in the face of all these ?

An Igbo proverb says that when the coffin of a stranger is being carried, it appears like a log of wood to another person.The refugee problems, the sufferings of the people, their disenfranchisement as a result of this war, make it imperative that we should reconsider and win this war before conducting an election that will involve all Nigerians from Gwoza in Borno, to Uturu in Abia State, and from Bonny in Rivers to Talata Mafara in Sokoto State.

Certain Northern elements who claim to be speaking for the Hausa Fulanis, such as Aliyu Gwarzo, should be watched.His article published on the Blanknews .com website, contains unprintable things like: “We also captured Ilorin, killed their local king and installed our Fulani emir. We took that ancient town away from the barbarian Yoruba and their filthy

,

By Clement Udegbe

,

Nigeria's raging war and 2015 elections

Age 54 which Nigeria has just celebrated is nothing special; the more important milestones are 50, 60, 70, 75, 80, and for those genetically richly endowed 90 and above

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thin permeable membrane if you will.

Enough for the detour.

There are a few questions which a country at 54 must address. Have we achieved all we are capable of? If not, why not and can we do better going forward? Have our levels of efficiency or inefficiency in routine administrative matters affected or slowed us down in our march to ELDORADO? Why is it that in October 2014 (three months to the end of the financial year) only 30% of the capital projects in the 2014 Appropriation Act have been implemented?

Why must it take the whole life of the current 7th National Assembly to pass an important bill like the Petroleum Industry Bill? Why must anybody, including all government departments, award contracts without capturing the necessary payments funds in banks?

My fellow compatriots, can we really be talking TRANSFORMATION if these basic and fundamental issues are not addressed and rectified?

The NIGERIAN PROJECT IS OUR COLLECIVE MARCH but the direction to a large extent is determined by the HELMSMAN. Each month the Federal Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Finance roll out a lot of figures – most of which try to convince us that our economy is getting better. The reality on the street, and that is what matters most as any straw poll will show is totally different. The average

pagan gods. We liberated all these places and all these people by imposing Islam on them by force.

"It was either the Koran or the sword and most of them chose the Koran. In return for the good works of our forefathers Allah, through the British, gave us Nigeria to rule and to do with as we please. Since 1960 we have been doing that and we intend to continue.

"No Goodluck or anyone else will stop us from taking back our power next year. We will kill, maim, destroy and turn this country into Africa's biggest war zone and refugee camp if they try it.”

Gwarzo may well be speaking the mind of millions of Hausa Fulanis, making it necessary for all contenders for Aso Rock to be given a level playing ground, which can only come if we reassess, refocus and stamp out Boko Haram.

Let politicians of the ruling PDP, the opposition APC and the National Assembly agree in best interest of Nigeria to consider and review the Election Time Table by INEC, make necessary amendments to enable Nigeria to find time, focus on the war, stamp out Boko Haram, to pave way for elections that will involve and reintegrate the whole of Nigeria as one nation.Now is the time to stop Boko Haram before it stops us as one nation.

•Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

Nigerian says life was better ten years ago than today. The money in peoples pocket has diminished purchasing power and there is insecurity in the land. Night life don quench – to put it in Fela’s language.

Our newspapers and media houses have a sacred responsibility to write and reflect the true state of the nation. For purposes of emphasis, let us take one more look at the time we waste in processing documents for this is crucial. A director literally sat on a file to be processed for C of O for a period of 12 months. That director has no business being in the civil service and the Permanent Secretary who continues to shield him is inflicting terrible damage to Nigeria. Both of them are enemies of this country. The explanation when queried is that it is the Nigerian system or factor. That of course is rubbish as there is only one acceptable system and that is EFFICIENCY SYSTEM. I understand that Chief ObafemiAwolowo as Premier of Western Region made sure no file stayed on his desk for more than 24 hours. He also did not take any office work home. Paul Ogwuma, as Managing Director of Union Bank, adopted Chief Awolowo’s style but went one step further and could see as many as 20 customers in an hour, leaving all of them satisfied. The current Head of Federal Civil Service straight from Petroleum may like to explore this route.

Not too long ago, I was in a discussion with a foreigner who said he was frustrated out of investing in Nigeria because of delays and bureaucratic bottlenecks. Another doctor friend of mine who retired from the Federal Public Service has been processing his retirement benefits for two years and is still counting.

The reality is that all these need not be so.

A paradigm shift in our work ethics is an urgent desideratum if we want to join the league of developed nations.

*Dr. Mbadiwe, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Lagos.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, OCTOBER 10, 2014

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 — 21

Ebola, terrorism, other risks pose concern to Africa’s economic growth —World Bank

T

HE World Bank Group has warned that if needed action is not taken to check the activities of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, Al Shabaab and the onslaught of ebola virus, the economic fallouts may derail the continent’s growth path. According to Francisco Ferreira, the World Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa, ”Overall, Africa is forecast to remain one of the world’s three fastest growing regions and to maintain its impressive 20 years of continuous expansion”. He said the, ”Downside risks that require enhanced preparedness include rising fiscal deficits in a number of countries; economic fallouts from the activities of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Al Shabaab and, most urgently, the onslaught of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.”

According to him A World Bank study of the likely economic impact of Ebola, released last month, suggested that if the virus continues to spread in the three worst-affected countries, its economic impact could grow eight-fold, dealing a potentially catastrophic blow to the already

DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

fragile states of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The World Bank Group he said is mobilizing a $400 million financing package for the countries hardest hit by the crisis.

The Bank said that growth trends in Africa slowed notably in South Africa, the region’s second largest economy, due to structural issues and low investor confidence. The South African economy expanded a modest 1.0 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2014, its lowest growth rate since the 2009 financial crisis. By contrast, economic activity strengthened in Nigeria, the region’s largest economy. GDP advanced 6.5 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, up from a 6.2 percent expansion in the first quarter. Growth also remained

robust in many of the region’s low-income countries including notably Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Tanzania. In Cote d’Ivoire, for example, a strong increase in cocoa production and rice output boosted agriculture growth and helped to sustain the country’s high growth. Ethiopia’s robust growth continued to be supported by agriculture, as well, and by public investment, particularly in infrastructure.

Inflation rates edged up in a number of countries, but were more of a concern in the frontier market countries that also sustained large currency depreciations—notably Ghana. In a few cases, including Ghana and Zambia, the fiscal position remained weak due to increasing current expenditures, led by rising wage bills, and in some cases weaker revenues. Large fiscal deficits are reducing fiscal buffers and affecting these

countries’ ability to respond to exogenous shocks. Economic transformation will become more critical: in a special study of Africa’s patterns of structural transformation and poverty dynamics, Africa’s Pulse finds that the region is largely bypassing industrialisation as a major driver of growth and jobs.

Instead, the study says, extractive industries in the natural resources sector and a surging services industry are propelling

IMF warns against external borrowing for consumption

T

HE International Monetary Fund IMF has warned Countries in the West African region including Nigeria to use the money borrowed from external sources on projects that will enable them recover the cost and pay back such debt.

Answering reporters question at the ongoing USC 222.15 IMF/World Bank Group USC 7.70 Meeting in Washington, USD 17.00 the IMF Deputy Director USD3,055.00 Fiscal Affairs Department Mr Sanjeev USC -0.23 USC 16.69 Gupta said “What we have noticed in many countries, is that USD 89.99 USD -1..39 increases in borrowing has not necessarily been USD 85.79 USD -1.52 accompanied by higher spending on infrastructure on the capital side, but has 154.75 155.25 155.75 249.7046 250.5114 251.3182 been accompanied by 195.4957 196.1273 196.759 increase in spending on 161.737 162.2596 162.7822 the current side. So that 1.4217 1.4263 1.4309 has an impact on the 0.2783 0.2883 0.2983 228.7066 229.4455 230.1845 ability to pay this debt.

25.2068 25.2887 25.2887 “So, that is one of the 41.248 41.3812 41.5145 aspects of borrowing 26.2595 26.3444 26.4292 from abroad. Essentially 229.8502 230.5928 231.3355 one of the points which

CBN Exchange Rate as 09 /10 /2014

From left: Dr. Chris Onyemenam, Director General, National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Aaron Ukodia, Chairman, ICT Media initiative, Peter Igoh, Chairman, Board of Nigerian communication Commission, NCC and the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC yesterday in Abuja during the Nigerian ICT centenary conference 2014 organized by the ICT media initiative. Photo by Emeka Aginam

the fiscal monitor makes is that there is a need to improve the fiscal governance related to external borrowing in a number of countries, which means there should be allocation of resources, there should be efficient use of resources that are borrowed, so that the countries are able to grow, which is the purpose of that borrowing and repay those funds”.

Nigeria it will be recalled has been borrowing from the international capital market in recent time. Nigeria has floated a $1 billion Eurobond, it has borrowed another $1billion to prosecute the war against Boko Haram.

The federal budget despite these borrowing has been 75 percent recurrent, with capital taking just 25 per cent.

The borrowing spree has also open the gate for Nigerian banks to raise funds from the international capital market.

According to the Guardian from March 2013 to June 2014, Nigeria external public debt jumped by 40 per cent from $6.7 billion to $9.38 billion while domestic

public debt increased by 37 per cent from N6.5 trillion to N8.9 trillion. The combined external and domestic debt as a proportion of the rebased GDP is about 12.51 per cent. The private sector has responded with great enthusiasm. Since 2009, 23 Nigerian companies have issued bonds to raise N223 billion domestically. DMO in statement indicated that Nigerian firms had so far raised over $30 billion from the international market to expand their operations.

Remarkably, the ratio of the issued external bonds or debts to domestic bonds raised by the private sector is 24:1. That ratio throws in a caveat: Nigeria’s experience drives home the fact that the private sector’s external debts translate into external national debt. The country’s previous problematic external debt arose largely from nonrepayment by Nigerian companies for genuine and trumped-up commercial transactions with foreign firms.

But the eventual repayment of the debts was exacted Shylock-like by governments of the home

countries of the foreign firms under the erstwhile London and Paris clubs of not creditor firms but creditor countries.

The known external national debt stands at $39.38 billion (that is N6.3 trillion). Also domestic bonds issued by private sector companies contribute to the national debt burden until they are redeemed. Without splitting hairs, the take-over of bank toxic assets (which were not even bonds) by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, (AMCON) is enough proof.

Thus AMCON’s N5.7 trillion bonds plus the earlier noted private sector domestic bonds together with the DMO’s public sector domestic debt put the inferable domestic component of NDB at N14.8 trillion.

The resultant combined external and domestic debt figure of N21.1 trillion represents 26.38 per cent of the rebased 2013 GDP thereby overshooting the recommended national debt threshold. Even then, that high debt ratio is but a subtotal of the NDB under which the economy labours..

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

Foreign firms may leave Nigeria if forced to list on NSE — PwC

By PETER EGWAUTU

P

ricewater House Coopers, PwC has warned that compelling companies to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) market may drive away foreign companies from Nigeria to other African countries.

A partner, Tax and Regulatory Services, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Mr. Taiwo Oyedele gave the warning during the media enhancement training organized by PwC in Lagos.

According to him “If all the companies operating in Nigeria with shareholders’ funds in excess of N40 billion or with annual turnover of over N80 billion are forced to list on the Nigerian bourse, the foreign firms may leave the country for other African countries because such it is not encouraging.

Also, he stated that if private big companies list on the exchange, the market may not have the capacity to absorb the shares.

Giving reason why the stock market may not absolve the share capital of the big entities, he said “This is because investors will want to sell their shares in other companies to buy the shares of companies like MTN, Glo, Chevron and so on. So if everybody is selling and nobody is buying, prices will tumble and this may crash the market.”

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

A

From left : Managing Director, Capital Bancorp Plc, Mr. Aigboje Higo; Chairman, Mr. Olutola Mobolurin; and company secretary, Mr. Adeyinka Jafojo, during the 26th Annual General Meeting , AGM of Capital Bancorp Plc held in Lagos.

He said the Nigerian stock market is low to absorb the listing of big private companies.

According to him, “When Dangote Cement came to the market, because of the huge shares it has, it could only list 5 per cent of its shares. The $80 billion market capitalization of the NSE is just a fraction of the market capitalization of a company like Apple with $500 billion. If all the telecom companies and the International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the country are

forced to list, the market will crash as prices of other stocks would fall.

Responding to tax avoidance by many private companies, he said compelling companies to list is not a solution, “there is no connection between tax avoidance and forcing the companies to list.”

He said what MTN which is not listed on the exchange paid as tax last year was higher than what all the listed banks paid.

Meanwhile, Hon. Emeka Azubogu, sponsor of Private

Companies Conversation and Listing Bill, 2013 had recently said the Bill would deepen Nigerian capital market and develop a strong economy for Nigeria.

The proposed Bill, according to the sponsor, would provide for the private companies whose shareholders funds exceed N40 billion or its annual turnover exceeds N80 billion or its total assets exceed N80 billion, to convert to public liability company and get its shares listed in the stock exchange market.

Capital Bancorp surpasses capital base, promises to pay dividend 2015

By PETER EGWUATU

C

apital Bancorp Plc has disclosed that it has surpassed the minimum capital base for its operations and assured its shareholders that it would return to paying dividend by next year, 2015.

The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Capital Bancorp Plc, Mr. Aigboje Higo, who disclosed this to Vanguard on the sideline of its 24 th Annual General Meeting, AGM held in Lagos said “ We have a shareholders’ fund of over N1.4billion.

We have complied with the minimum capital base of N300 million required by our regulator. Not only have we met the capital base several times but have surpassed it by about five times.”

While answering question on whether Capital Bancorp is

NSE, stockbrokers laud performance of X-Gen

considering acquiring other stock broking firms that may not be able to meet the required capital base as deadline for recapitalisation draws closer, he said “We are keeping an opening mind. If an opportunity comes we will look at it. Right now we have not made up our mind to acquire any. If we must acquire any firm it should have the core values similar to ours and nothing short of that.”

While commenting on the returns of Initial Public Offering, IPO in the capital market, he said “It is a good thing for the market. The market is ready to absorb them because investors’ confidence has returned. Without the IPOs the market would have been slow and low.”

Commenting on dividend payment to its shareholders Higo said “There will be no

dividend payment for this year, however, with our current result, especially for the nine months, we should pay dividend next year 2015.

In the same vein, the Chief Finance Officer, Capital Bancorp, Mr. Rotimi Odeyemi, said “The company has adopted a new strategic direction mapped out and approved by the board, so it should be paying dividend next year.”

He expressed optimism for the growth of the company, saying “We have complied with the International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS and we made various provisions and adjustment. So, hopefully next year we would be doing better.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Capital Bancorp, Mr. Olutola Mobolurn, in his remark to shareholders, said “ We remain confident that the stock market

will continue its positive trend in 2014 and beyond, albeit at a reduced rate. However, we would be cautious and on the lookout for defining moments in the political space, as a main opposition party emerges and internal wrangling within the ruling party remains unabated. The security situation in the country has largely been uncontained. We do not expect to see improved activities in the primary market segment, while secondary segment may also dip as net inflow of Foreign Direct Investment, FDI is likely to reduce on the back of an impending election. We are upbeat about the opportunities in our other lines of businesses, the Bureau De Change, and Leasing and remain hopeful that whatever shortfall from the capital market will be surpassed by incomes in these areas.”

fter one year of successful operation, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, and operators in the capital market have applauded the initiative of launching a new trading engine, X-Gen, into the market.

According to them, the new trading engine has over the period demonstrated its innovative trading capabilities, as the Nigerian capital market has benefited immensely from the project.

In a statement made available to Vanguard, Mr. Ade Bajomo, Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, NSE, said that the X-Gen had remained the Game Changer, adding that it has enabled the Exchange to create an improved trading experience.

“With the launch of X-Gen, we have achieved so much in one year; improved market order flow, increase in the number of trades, high availability, direct market access, remote trading, and income diversification. We are mostly excited that XGen has also brought about the advent of mobile trading technologies to the retail and institutional segments of the Nigerian capital market”, Bajomo said.

He expained that the XGEN platform has the capacity to allow investors to have real time access to the market as well as their portfolios, via the web and mobile phones (including smartphones and tablets running IOS and Android operating systems).

“This gives investors the ability to execute market orders in near real time conditions anywhere in the world. Riding on the new platform, many dealing member firms of the NSE have tapped on the benefits to introduce on-line trading platforms to deepen their businesses,” he added.

In his own contribution, the President, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr. Emeka Madubuike, remarked that “The X-GEN system is very robust and has friendly market features that make the trading experience simple and easy.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014—23

Ebola could hit cocoa prices, Nestle warns

N

LAUNCHING: From left: Programme Manager, Sub national World Bank, Ms. Mierta Capaul, Head, DFID, Nigeria, Mr. Ben Mellor, Country Director, World Bank, Ms. Marie-Francoise Marie-Nelly, Kogi State Deputy Director, Arc Yomi Awoniyi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Abdulkadir Musa and Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Mrs. Umar Sarah at the launching of Doing Business in Nigeria 2014 Report in Abuja.

OPS should support govt in funding R & D — FIIRO

By NAOMI UZOR

T

he Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) has called on the Organised Private Sector, OPS, to support the Federal Government in financing Research and Development (R&D) activities in the country.

The Director General/Chief Executive Officer, FIIRO, Gloria Elemo, made the call in Lagos when she addressed the dialogue session organised by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) on “Enhancing Agricultural Export Through Adequate Financing.’

The Director General said that it is strongly recommended that R&D activities, even from farm to fork, should be adequately financed in order to make our agro-commodities more competitive on the global market and urgent private sector initiative and intervention is required to complement Government efforts.

She noted that the infrastructural facilities available to FIIRO are too obsolete to churn out meaningful R&D results that would be globally competitive, due to inadequate funding.

Nevertheless, she added that FIIRO within the limits of its slim budget has been able to add value to agricultural raw materials to enhance export, as over 250 commercialisable technologies have been developed, 50 have been commercialised and transferred directly to only about 5,000 investors, 25 of these are on regular technology transfer trainings and 200 of these are currently on the shelf awaiting commercialisation.

According to her, major challenges in relation to financing are inadequate financing of R&D activities in the country, inadequate funding of commercialization of research results, hence the low drive and lack of funds to finance awareness

creation and publicity/promotion of R&D results to end users.

The President of NACCIMA, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar, said, over the years, agriculture has proven to be one viable sector more than capable of contributing 75 per cent to the GDP of our nation as against the current giving of 24 per cent in a country so dependent on oil like Nigeria and that there are innumerable amount of value chain in the stream of agriculture, from cultivation to the final consumer.

“Agricultural value chain is an important option for agricultural development because higher

financial returns can be realised through value enhancing inputs.

It also contributes to the improvement in the effectiveness and efficiency of agricultural values.

It is a known fact that the value chain concept creates opportunities for farmers, agribusiness and entrepreneurs along agricultural value chain to transform commodities into higher value products- a process that can play an important role in poverty reduction; creation of employment, provision of raw materials for industrial growth and generate income” he said.

NEPC targets N2bn from Obollo-Afor cashew processing factory

By FRANKLIN ALLI

T

he Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has estimated that the cashew mini-processing factory it set up at Obollo-Afor in Eungu State can earn N2 billion foreign exchange for the country every year.

Mr. Segun Awolowo, the Chief Executive Officer of NEPC disclosed during a cashew export promotion meeting organised by the Council in collaboration with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Nigeria Expanded Trade and Transport (NEXTT) in Lagos.

Commenting on cashew particularly, he said that in 2013, cashew exports generated N17.7 billion ($110m), which represents about 10 percent of agricultural exports; however, if they compared this figure with India’s export of over US$2.5bn and Vietnam’s export of US$3bn mainly from processed kernel, annually, it means Nigeria most definitely needs a well-articulated strategy to

grow the cashew sector.

“We therefore cannot over emphasis why what we are doing here today is crucial.

“The main objective of the projects is to harness the abundant raw materials (RCN) and tap the skills of women in cashew processing. The pilot scheme which had success could be replicated by potential investors in other cashew producing states.

Some investors have approached the council for possible collaboration in investing in cashew processing”, he added.

He noted that a recent study by USAID, an increase of 20 percent from Nigeria’s current products figure would create more than 344,000 new jobs and US$75, 875,000 additional incomes.

According to him, the stakeholders are fashioning out the cashew sector strategy would assist the council to develop a new implementation strategy that would grow the sector in line with the Transformation Agenda of the Government.

ESTLE has warned that the skyrocketing cocoa prices that have already risen 16 per cent recently could rise further if the Ebola virus in Liberia and Guinea spreads to Ivory Coast, the world’s biggest cocoa-bean producer.

Martin Brown, Nestle’s General Manager for confectionery and snacks, said the company was forced to lift prices this year for its branded chocolate due to wild swings in commodity prices, but at this stage no decision had been made on a fresh round of -increases.

However, the rapid spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa is a huge concern, as hedge funds reportedly are already speculating that the cocoa price will surge as concerns grow that the Ivory Coast could soon report its first victim.

Brown, who oversees local sales for chocolate brands such as KitKat, Aero, Smarties, Wonka and Milkybar, said the Swiss-based global confectionery manufacturer was keeping a watchful eye on events in West Africa.

“There are no cases of Ebola (in the Ivory Coast yet); clearly it’s a major concern for us,’’ Mr Brown said. “We are very active. We have a big business there with our leading R&D centre in Africa based in Ivory Coast, and we are watching the Ebola crisis with considerable concern for the communities we work in.’’

Nigerian delegates attend Tecnargilla 2014 in Italy

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pina Technologies Limited led Nigerian delegates to Tecnargilla, the world’s leading fair for technologies applied to the ceramic and brick industries. It was held in Rimini Italy.

In a statement, Patrick Oaikhinan, CEO Epina Technologies, disclosed that the event which was organised

by ACIMAC and Rimini Fiera drew 32,120 visitors from 101 countries.

“The 500 companies, who came to Rimini, showcased the latest technological innovations applied to process and design for the fine ceramic industry (tiles, sanitary fittings and tableware) and the brick industry.

“The number of presences at the fair was the highest ever in the history of the event, that reached its twenty-fourth edition this year.

“There was also a new record in the international character of the event.

International visitors from 101 countries represented 49 percent of total presences, confirming that Tecnargilla as one of the most international of the world fairs, as well as its record as the mostattended fair in the ceramic technologies sector,” said the report.

24—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014—25

I N S I D E

Akwa-Ibom PDP: The men and woman after Akpabio’s job Page 26

The Senate contests in Edo Page 27

the structure and synergy in the Nigerian federation.

Arguably, the most revolutionary proposal in the about 90 minute lecture was his call for the abrogation of the 36 state structure and the replacement of such with a six geo-political zones federating units.

“My take is that we should return to the regional arrangement with the six geopolitical zones as the federating units. This will help us to shrink the size and number of government and increase the volume of resources available to the regions. It will also help the federating units to benefit from the economy of scale, doing mega development projects as we had in the First Republic.”

The senator also used the opportunity to reiterate his call for the establishment of multilevel policing saying that recent developments had vindicated him. It was also noted that several stakeholders, notably, northern governors who had in the past opposed him on the issue have recanted on the issue.

PDP’s Right of First Refusal:

First unusual lie

Ekweremadu’s proposal to break up Nigeria

Corporate entities

LAST WEDNESDAY was the 54th Founder’s Day of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the nation's first indigenious university established a week after the country's independence

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

I

T was thus fitting that the big green coloured anniversary cake prepared by the university was decorated to also capture Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary that was marked a week earlier.

However, Founder ’s Day events in campuses are also opportunities by universities to sound off statesmen on contemporary issues. For UNN, the 54th Founder’s Day was an opportunity to hear from one of its most popular alumni, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy president of the Senate and concurrently, speaker of the ECOWAS parliament.

For Senator Ekweremadu who graduated from the University’s law programme more than twenty five years ago and subsequently taught constitutional law in the

school, it was a sort of homecoming. Not much apparently would have changed in the eyes of the senator especially given the seeming failure of the university town to develop despite hosting the country’s first university for more than 54 years.

The venue of the lecture was the Princess Alexandra Hall, and dignitaries from far and near were around. Among them were the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, Brig-Gen. Benjamin Alanotu who as commander of the army brigade in Maiduguri apprehended the, Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, the managing director of AIT News Mr. Imoni Amarere and a surplus of leading lights of the academia led by the UNN vice-chancellor and chief host, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba.

The event had commenced

•Ekweremadu: Let's break up Nigeria as it is shortly after noon with the academic procession led by the vice-chancellor. Though he was in the procession, Ekweremadu was difficult to point out, reason being that he was clad in the academic robe of the university.

Sonorous renditions He was also more difficult to identify because of the unusual attire of an Adams Oshiomhole like khaki suit he wore. He was to later explain that he donned the attire of a comrade essentially because of the revolutionary ideas he had prepared to propound in the lecture.

Following prayers, a welcome address by the vice-chancellor

and ceremonies interspersed with sonorous renditions by the university choir, Ekweremadu was called on to deliver his address.

His lecture was titled “Key Governance Issues in Nigeria: My Perspectives.” He surely had many perspectives, given his political antecedents. From local government chairman, to chief of staff to the Governor of Enugu State and subsequently, secretary to the state government, senator, and for the past seven years, deputy president of the Senate, Senator Ekweremadu offered revolutionary proposals to ameliorate the malaise in governance in the country. It was to some, an act of class suicide as he proffered radical steps to

He said: “My take is that we cannot continue to live in denial.

The cost and embarrassment are clear like daylight. And whether we accept it or not, many of our states, communities, and corporate entities are already practicing multilevel policing by using vigilantes, the Sharia police or Hisbah, neighborhood watch, and other assorted arrangements aimed at beefing up security around. My worry, though, is that they are largely illegal, poorly regulated, prone to abuse, and indeed often abused.”

“Decentralised or multilevel policing is the order of the day because it enables sub-national entities such as the states, local governments, and communities as well as organisations such as universities to have their own police under strict regulation and supervision. It allows for competition in the provision of security as a way of attracting investment and quality residents.

These levels of government and corporate entities package and prioritise the security of lives and property to suit their local

Continues from page 28

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

ARGUABLY, Akwa Ibom is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state. All things being equal, anyone who emerges as the PDP governorship candidate can be taken as the governor-in-waiting. It is therefore not surprising that the race for the PDP ticket is intense often leading to high-wire politicking, bickering and controversies.

Akwa-Ibom PDP: The men and woman after Akpabio’s job Alliance, is spread across the local councils in the state.

As a technocrat with leadership and managerial skills his supporters said he is the best bet to continue and sustain Governor Akpabio’s uncommon transformation of the state.

However, Emmanuel is being opposed by some leading politicians of the state because he is not a core politician and to them he has played no role in the recent political development of Akwa Ibom and may not ensure the right political atmosphere conducive for rapid development.

His supporters insist that elsewhere in Lagos and Anambra where astute technocrats like Babatunde Fashola, Peter Obi (and now) Willie Obiano were given opportunities to govern, the states are the better for the decisions.

In a chat with reporters recently, Udom Emmanuel said he is under pressure to run because “the people are looking at capacity, integrity, and proven managerial and leadership skills that may harness all the God-given resources of the state. They are also looking for someone to build on what Akpabio has done for the past eight years and see how that person can leverage on those.

By Clifford Ndujihe & Chioma Onuegbu

W

ITH PDP governorship primaries fixed for November 29, those jostling for the party’s ticket and expected succession of Governor Godswill Akpabio at the Uyo Hill Top Mansion have upped their consultations.

The aspirants Those in the race include former Secretary to State Government, Umana Okon Umana; former Finance Commissioner, Albert Akpan and current Secretary to the State Government, Udom Emmanuel. The rest are former deputy governor, Nsima Ekere; Senator Helen Esuene; Senator Udo Udoma; Honourable Okpolum Etteh; Bishop Samuel Akpan; Larry Esin; Benjamin Okoko and Honourable Effiong Abia.

Factors that ‘ll shape primaries Factors that will shape who among these aspirants picks the PDP ticket and wins the governorship election proper include the zoning formula, charisma and popularity, party platform and voters’ choice.

In the PDP, a major factor at the primaries stage is zoning arrangement. The Akwa Ibom State PDP has zoned the governorship slot to Eket Senatorial district, a move that aspirants from, Uyo and Ikot-Ekpene senatorial districts are kicking against.

The party’s decision to zone the seat to Eket was taken at an enlarged meeting of party leaders last April, shortly after Governor Akpabio’s town hall consultations with party stakeholders, who agreed to the peoples’ demand to zone the position to Eket senatorial district.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the party’s State Executive Committee meeting, held in Uyo and signed by the state chairman of the party, Obong Paul Ekpo, the party resolved to zone the governorship position to Eket Senatorial District “without prejudice to the right of any other person from other senatorial districts to contest for the governorship seat in 2015.”

Will this decision hurt or help the aspirations of the aspirants?

Umana O Umana Chief Umana, who was SSG until recently was seen as the governor-in-waiting until in 2013

•Akpabio: Outgoing governor

Sustainable development

•Umana: Aspirant from Uyo when he fell out with Akpabio.

He rejected the position of Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), a prime slot Governor Akpabio had secured from the Presidency on the ground that it was a ploy to get him out of the governorship race. He is one of those opposed to zoning and wants the best aspirant to be nominated as the PDP flag bearer. He has the support of some PDP stakeholders and elders. He is from Uyo senatorial district, which is counting against his ambition because former Governor Victor Attah is from Uyo. The governorship hopeful sees himself as the best man for the job. It is to be seen if he would secure the PDP ticket or leave the party to realise his ambition on an opposition platform.

Udom Emmanuel Emmanuel established himself as a good private sector player.

He left his appointment as the Executive Director of Zenith Bank Plc, to join Akpabio’s cabinet as

•Udom: From Eket

•Esuene: Former First Lady SSG in 2013 following the exit of Umana.

Hailing from Eket where the slot has been zoned to coupled with his rich financial background, Udom Emmanuel is considered to be hugely favoured to pick the PDP ticket. He is from Onna local council in Eket Senatorial District.

Currently, his campaign structure, Akwa-Ibom Consolidation

That is why I said that once you see uncommon transformation, the next phase is that of sustainable development, and sustainable development comprises what I call sustaining superior performance and that is what we must uphold or else we can just be here and discover that the street lights are no more functioning, the roads are dirty – it happened in so many places.”

Senator Esuene The former Minister of Environment and Housing under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration , is the only female aspirant in the race. The senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District (Eket) is the Chairman Senate Committee On Women Affairs & Youth Development.

She is favoured by the party zoning arrangement and some Akwa Ibom stakeholders who still hold her late husband and former administrator of old Cross River State in high esteem.

Tension in Akwa Ibom over PDP primaries Meanwhile, there is heightened tension and confusion among PDP supporters ahead of the primaries. The leading aspirants such as Udom Emmanuel and Umana have already started thronging the state party sec-

retariat located along Nsikka Eduok Avenue to consult with the party executive as part of preparation for the screening and clearance exercises coming up on October 10. The confusion in the party is linked to the unhealthy rivalry between major PDP stakeholders, elders and Governor Akpabio over the running of the party’s affairs.

However, there were indications on Monday that the national secretariat has begun moves to iron out the differences among the parties.

Indeed, major stakeholders from Akwa Ibom state were in Abuja on Wednesday to meet with the National Chairman Dr Adamu Mu’azu on the lingering issue to avert any unforeseen circumstances that could affect the structure of the party in view of the elections.

At the meeting some PDP stakeholders and elders including former Governor Victor Attah accused Akpabio of side-lining them in the running of the party in the state and trying to impose Udom Emmanuel on them as the governorship candidate.

Expression of displeasure However, the governor denied the allegations saying he is a democrat, adding that the outcome of the PDP primaries will reflect the will of the people.

Last Monday, some Akwa Ibom PDP stakeholders under the aegis of ‘Elders and leaders of Akwa Ibom PDP’ led by Chief Don Etiebet while addressing newsmen at the NUJ press centre expressed displeasure with the configuration of events in the build up to the 2015 elections.

“You can imagine the impact of the absence or inactiveness or decampment of such individuals like Obong Victor Attah , Obong Rita Akpan, Otuekong Sunny Jackson Udo, Dr. Maurice Ebong, Chief Ufot Ekaette, General Edet Akpan, Senator Effiong Bob and others from the party.

“They are deliberately shut out so that the governor can run the party as his personal property and so the party is not functioning in the state as it should since we the elders of the party have voiced out our grievances against the state of the affairs in the party to allow a level playing field for all aspirants at all levels to contest in the spirit of internal democracy.”

Having initiated the reconcilation process, the PDP hierarchy is expected to ensure that the best person emerged as its standard bearer so that f the PDP will go into the election as a united front.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014—27

The Senate contests in Edo AS the race for 2015 general election enters the finishing lane, the battle is between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state.

By Simon Ebegbulem

T

HE fight in the South IN Edo South senatorial district, popularly known as the Bini speaking area, the inclinations of the incumbent senator, Senator Ehigie Uzamere are yet to be fathomed as he weighs the options of the governorship and an unprecedented third term in the Senate.

Those who want to take Uzamere’s job on the side of the PDP include the incumbent Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Edo state, Pharm. Matthew Urghoghide, Mr Victor Edos Ebomoyi, Barr. Ehioge WestIdahosa. On the APC side, are the incumbent Minority Whip in the House of Representatives, Mr Samson Osagie, the Chief of Staff to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Patrick Obahiagbon (Igodomigodo) and House of Representatives member Jim Adun.

Sympathy of many On the PDP side, it was learnt that majority of the state Executive of the party is rooting for Urhoghide who lost out in the primaries when he was in the APC to Uzamere. And he enjoys the sympathy of many who believe that he deserves the ticket due to what happened when he was in the APC. Ebomoyi is one person who has been in the PDP since 1999 and if the party wants to go according to Chief Tony Anenih’s philosophy of loyalty to the party, he might pick the ticket.

But the factional war between

•Uzamere: Weighs his options loyalists of Chief Anenih and that of the former chief of staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadohme will be rekindled when the primaries commences.

Ebomoyi is a close associate of Oghiadohme. West Idahosa recently dumped the APC for the PDP and his fresh return may not have boosted his chances.

Vanguard learnt that the PDP leadership is determined not to gamble by giving the ticket to new comers to avoid the sort of crisis which was experienced in the APC. Urhoghide stands a better chance to emerge as PDP senatorial candidate in the South.

Ebomoyi is also a strong aspirant but the internal politics of the PDP may not be favourable to him.

In the APC, the battle is between Samson Osagie and Obahiagbon. Both of them are experienced lawmakers having grown from the state House of

•Urghoghide: Is this his time Assembly to the National Assembly.

It is still unclear who will emerge between them. But what is clear is that Osagie commenced campaigns immediately after Uzamere left the APC for the PDP. And he has represented his party APC well at the National Assembly. bahiagbon, who is respected within the APC for his continued loyalty to the party even after he lost out in the primaries of the party in 2011 to Rasaq Bello Osagie, has remained a strong pillar in the Oshiomhole administration.

The tussle in Edo North

Edo North senatorial district, where Governor Oshiomhole hails from is the only area where the APC presently has a senator, in the person of Deacon Domingo Obende.

Domingo is gunning for a second term but he is currently

•Obahiagbon: Is this gangatuan?

facing stiff challenges from the incumbent secretary to the state government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere and Chief Francis Alimekhena while in the PDP, the battle is among the quartet of Barr. Paschal Ugbome, Chief Richard Lamai, Bobby Ikhazobor and Abubakar Momoh.

Domingo being the only remaining APC senator after Senator Uzamere left the party for the PDP, has some sympathy within the ranks of the party, even though there have been mutterings that he neglected the people after he won the senatorial election a situation some said gave way for the emergence of people like Ihonvbere and Alimekhena.

He is from Owan axis.

Alimekhena is from the same Esako like Oshiomhole and the argument of the Etsako people who have dominated the Senate and other political appointments allocated to the region is that

...Intrigues in Central

By Gabriel Enogholase

E

DO Central EDO Central Senatorial district of Edo State since the advent of the current nascent democracy in 1999 has always rotated political offices among the old Agbazilo and Okpebho local governments which today constitutes five local governments, that is, Esan North- East, Esan South- East, Esan- West, Esan Central and Igueben to ensure that unity and peace prevails among the Esan people. And at the same time, they did not forbid individuals aspiring for elective positions from testing their popularity at the primaries of the party.

It was this zonal arrangement

that saw Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor representing the senatorial zone from 1999 – 2007 as the seat was zoned to old Okpebho local government.

And in the House of Representatives, the two seats allocated to Edo Central Senatorial zone were occupied

by Hon. Tony Aziegbemi who represented Esan North-East/ Esan South- East and Hon. Gabriel Oiboh for Esan-West/ Esan Central/Igueben. While Hon Aziegbemi hails from Esan South- East, Hon Oiboh is from Esan Central.

However, that zonal and rotational agreement by the founding fathers of the PDP aimed at fostering peace and unity is what is now brewing crisis in the party. The three

Esan lawmakers in the National Assembly Senator Odion Ugbesia, Hon. Friday Itulah and Hon. Patrick Ikhariale are now insisting that the zoning formula adopted by the party and which hitherto had favoured them in the past must be jettisoned. They have vowed not to recognise the arrangement and insisted that they must go for the party’s primaries.

Rotational formula The argument that the zoning/rotational formula must be thrown overboard by the party was sequel to a statement endorsed by the PDP Edo Central senatorial

Zonal secretary, Mr Richard Okosun at the end of the caucus meeting held at Uromi on 12, September 2014 affirming the zoning of the elective positions. Details of the zoning arrangement show that the senatorial seat was zoned to the old Okpebho Local Government Area as against old Agbazilo where the incumbent Senator Ugbesia hails from. In the Esan Central/ West/Igueben Constituency, either of Esan West or Igueben was asked to produce the candidate of the party, thereby killing the aspiration of Hon Ikhariale, who is from Esan Central. And Esan South East to produce the next House of Representatives candidate as Continues on page 28

Oshiomhole will leave by 2016, hence their need of the Senate seat. Domingo is from Akoko Edo axis and they were marginalized in the politics of Edo state before the coming of Oshiomhole.

For the PDP, Ugbome stands tall among other aspirants. He is from Etsako and as a former lawmaker in the state House of Assembly and chairman of his Etsako Central Local Government, he is popular among his people.

Strong contender He is expected to be backed by the PDP hierarchy for the senate.

Momoh is also a strong contender but he will face the challenge of being a new comer in the party. He recently left the APC on whose platform he won election to the House of Representative seat for the PDP. Lamai is an experienced politician who may also count on his father’s heritage as a former senator and connection with Chief EK Clark for the PDP ticket.

For the APC the influence of Oshiomhhole would count much in determining the ticket while for the PDP, the influence of its state chairman, Chief Dan Orbih would also determine to a large extent who gets the PDP ticket.

But beneath all these, one factor that could weigh in is the issue of power shift. The Etsako speaking area has produced the majority of the past senators for Edo North including Senators Lamai, Franca Afegbua and Victor Oyofo. Senator Yisa Braimah was the first to represent the Owan speaking area but his ambition for the second term was cut short with the election of Senator Domingo from AkokoEdo

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

•Osunbor: Former senator and governor

•Ugbesia: Incumbent senator

•Itulah: Contender

The Senate contests in Edo against Esan North East where Hon Friday Itulah hails from.

To douse the storm that was already gathering following the decision of the PDP in the area, Chief Dan Orbih and his party executives visited the Edo Central Senatorial Zonal office at Uromi on Sunday, 21, September 2014 where he made the declaration that the party recognises zoning adding that whoever wanted to contest against the arrangement was free to test their popularity in the primaries.

Reacting to Orbih’s visit, Senator Ugbesia told newsmen that, “the state executive decision on the zoning is what we expected. What we are saying is that everybody should

party State Executive Committee led by the chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, who has come with members of his committee to address everybody. He told us the party position, and the summary of all he has said is that it is the primary that will determine who will represent the party. ” And as for Barrister Segius Ogun who is contesting for the House of Representatives seat

,

Continues from page 27 be given a level playing field.

So that is what the party has provided and I am very happy.

It is my constitutional right to seek the third, fourth, fifth election. There is no tenure limit in legislative arm.”

Engr. Clifford Ordia the Senatorial aspirant from the old Okpebho power bloc also welcomed the decision of the state PDP executive on the issue saying he was ready for the primaries.

Rep. Itulah Friday, who represents Esan North- East and Esan South- East and one of the lawmakers angling to come back to the House of Representatives on his part also welcomed the decision saying: “The highest organ of the

categorically that the party will zone and will respect zoning.

But, however, that should not stop anybody from coming out to contest. They want to come out, that have always been the case.”

“Twice the National Leader has spoken to us and he brought out references through the days of Obasanjo how people contested with him, even when they knew it was

However, that zonal and rotational agreement by the founding fathers of the PDP aimed at fostering peace and unity is what is now brewing crisis in the party

for Esan North-East/Esan South – East federal constituency, he said, “The party chairman read the constitution and stated

,

zoned to the South, Rimi and others came out, but the party will always support where they have zoned it to. I think

that is what Orbih, the state chairman told us today. There has always been zoning, from 1999, Osunbor went for 8years, our amiable Senator Odion Ugbesia, did not collect the form to go to the Senate; he was pushing for the governorship but when he did not get it, another aspirant from Okpebho, got the ticket in the name of Engineer Clifford Ordia. They took it from Ordia and gave it to Senator Ugbesia, so, that it can be zoned. That is how it has been in Agbazilo for the past 8 years. So naturally it should go back to Okpebho.”

Meanwhile, the PDP in Esan land are waiting anxiously as to whether the issue of zoning or the ambitions of the three lawmakers who are insisting that they must run for the primaries come November will make or mar the fortunes of the party in the area.

Ekweremadu’s proposal to break up Nigeria Continues on page 25 challenges and resources. The system is so effective in the United States of America, USA, that the police pays you a compensation if they fail to answer a distress call by being physically present at the scene of distress in eight minutes and something untoward happens thereafter. That way, crimes are averted, and when they occur, because they inevitably do, response is timely and solid, while punishment is quick and certain.”

Perhaps in line with his revolutionary zeal, Ekweremadu sought to bring the welfare and issue of the common man to fore as he lamented that the “dominant public sentiment is that leaders show insufficient

commitment to the citizens’ welfare and gravely under appreciate the need to use powers to achieve public good and national interest”.

“The welfare of citizens should not depend on the goodwill of those in power, but should be the center piece of government policies and programme; hence I consider it obscene and irreligious when those in governance insist that the people role out the drums to celebrate and glorify them for providing them with what they in government were elected to do in the first place”, he added.

He insisted that “only an aggressive pursuit of citizens’ welfare can mute the uneasy feelings and agitations percolating in the society about

leaders’ insensitivity to citizens’ welfare”.

Senator Ekweremadu added: “Those in politics have the binary moral choice to make: to use power for evil or to use it for good; this is an era of immense challenges and the nation needs leaders who use their powers for the good of the nation. The logical and serious way to recapture public trust is by providing honest and effective leadership. Good leadership will assuage citizens discouraged and alienated by what they view as insensitive, corrupt, and ineffective leadership at various levels of government” Before concluding he offered a ray of hope for Nigeria, saying: “There is legitimate optimism about the future of Nigeria, as

problems that bothered us seem to be dissipating; hence nothing should alter our mindset, vitiate our commitment, enfeeble our resolve or distract our purpose.

We must work together for to make Nigeria a better, more secure, and more prosperous nation”, he urged.

Another act of class suicide that many in the senator’s Peoples Democratic Party, PDP would be quick to disown was the proposal for the introduction of proportional representation in the election to parliament.

Through that process, smaller political parties would be represented in the legislature based on the total number of votes scored in the election.

Following his presentation, the discussants Prof. Sam Egwu,

Brig. Gen. Alanotu, Prof. Ben Elo Amucheazi and Mr. Amarere took turns to offer their insights into the issues raised by the senator.

They without exception agreed with the deputy Senate president on the proposals he pushed.

Brig. Gen. Alanotu was to add the need for the nation to have a data base to capture all persons living in the country saying it was essential in the light of contemporary security needs.

Mr. Amarere even while applauding the submissions, however, questioned the capacity of the electoral body to superintend over an election based on proportional representation as he pointed at regular questions pointed at the electoral register.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

Yes, Nigeria is great; but can be greater!

By Jossy Nkwocha

A

NYONE who has visited other countries would know that Nigeria is a great country. I have several reasons to back this assertion. For instance our population which is approximately 170 million people is a mark of greatness, considering the fact that Nigeria is a huge market, which can be fully harnessed for greater socioeconomic value.

Nigeria is recognized as the most populous black nation in the world, with its people living, working and successful in almost every country of the world.

Wherever you see Nigerians, you will recognize them: lively, friendly, boisterous, aggressive and hardworking!

Humongous natural resources The way Nigeria has handled Ebola outbreak shows it is a great country, and should be celebrated. About 65 days after a Liberian, Patrick Sawyer imported the deadly disease into Nigeria, statistics shows a marked difference from other West African countries where the disease has claimed about 2,500 lives.

Nigeria is blessed with humongous natural resources, enough to make Nigeria the utopian land flowing with milk and honey...where poverty is alien. Available statistics show that Nigeria is the 12th largest

producer of crude oil in the world, averaging 2,525 million barrels per day; and the eighth largest exporter. Our country has the 10th largest proven reserve of petroleum worldwide.

Our gas resources are enormous. Nigeria produces about 2,000 billion standard cubic feet (scf) of natural gas annually, about 40 per cent is said to be flared. Nigeria is the seventh largest holder of natural gas reserves in the world.

Currently, there are 187 trillion scf of natural gas reserves in Nigeria. Indeed, in 2012, Nigeria was the world’s fourth leading exporter of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Nigeria is equally blessed with so many solid minerals as well as large, huge expanse of land resources, very good soil, good weather, good sunshine and good rainfall, among others.

As a result of Nigeria’s huge market and workforce (population) and huge oil and gas resources, the country is currently the desired investment destination in Africa.

In 2013 alone, Nigeria, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development attracted Foreign

Prof. T. M. Yesufu, pioneer UNIBEN vice chancellor passes on

T

HE pioneer vice chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. T. M. Yesufu, a world renowned economist passed on during the Sallah break and has been buried in his home town, Agbede Etsako West in Edo Stae on Tuesday, October 7, 2014, according to Islamic rites.

Survived by many children, nieces, uncles and nephews, the renowned economist would, forever be remembered as the pillar behind the establishment of the University of Benin that started as the Midwest Institution of Technology in 1969.

The seventh day Fidau prayers would be held on Saturday, october 11 at his residence in Boundary Road, Benin City, while the 40th day closing prayers would take place on November 13, 2014.

The late Professor sired many famous children among whom are Dr. Aminu, the proprietor of Summit Hospitals both in Lekki, Lagos and London, Dr. Nana Yesufu, health consultant and proprietress of Health Gardens, Dolphin Estate and Sefinatu Yesufu, an educationist based in Benin City, Edo State.

Contacted on phone, Barrister Abubakar Yesufu, chairman, League of Patriotic Lawyers, activist and former president, Student Union, University of Benin who is the nephew of the late icon confirmed the death and described the Prof’s death as a painful exit to contend with. He described the late Prof as a “firm believer in the rule of law, individual liberty, university autonomy and academic excellence. This is indeed the passage of an icon, sage, guru and corporate oracle.”

He called on the vice chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and President Jonathan to immortalise the icon.

Direct Investment of USD76 billion. Having overtaken South Africa as the largest economy in Africa with GDP of over $500 billion post re-basing, there is no doubt that the country is set for the world staged sitting as the world’s 26th largest economy.

In the field of football and other sports, Nigeria, no doubt, is a great country. In the movies industry, Nigeria’s Nollywood is currently ranked second in the world, only behind India’s Bollywood. Indeed, Nigeria is a great country. Ironically, while Nigeria earns tremendous amount of money from its crude oil, gas, Nollywood and all, it still

Map of Nigeria

remains a poor country!

Unable to fix its roads, hospitals, schools: unable to fund its capital projects, equip its police and armed forces: and create employment for its teeming university graduates. How can we make Nigeria greater? Let our leaders tackle frontally the cancer

— 29

of corruption, which has eaten up every facet of our society. Let’s tackle the issue of ethnicity and allow merit and excellence to thrive. Let’s talk less, and take more a c t i o n !

There’s much arguments, debates, conferences w i t h o u t concomitant action and results.

Let’s get rid of ostentatious lifestyle, lets bring back discipline and order in public life so that the guilty can be punished. With these, I believe Nigeria would be greater!

Happy 54th Independence anniversary!

30 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

Why I don’t expect crazy things from female fans — Adeh MARKETING graduate of Lagos State University, Gbolahan Adeola, a.k.a, Adeh has arrived on the scene not to follow the bandwagon, but to carve a niche for himself as a different specimen with a lot to prove. His first album which is just beginning to get off the ground is a potpourri of different genres.

Yes, such is the talent of Adeh, he could spin different things together and evolve a song that is unique. Listen to his story:

By ANOZIE EGOLE & IYABO AINA

W

HAT are you working on right now?

I am working on my new album titled Kingdom Call, which has 12 tracks. Two were recorded in South Africa. It has a South African language, a Congolese language and a core Nigerian language.

How do you mean a core Nigerian language?

Let me not say a core Nigerian language, but it has some Nigerian languages like, Igbo Hausa and Yoruba.

In one of the tracks; Welcome To Africa, I projected Africa.

It has South African , Congolese and Nigerian languages.

Why did you choose South Africa for the video?

I was in South Africa earlier this year for the Cape town

Olamide, Phyno to drop album titled 2kings next year C M Y K

Jazz festival just to view and witness what was happening. In the process I met people like Lahala Atawe and a whole lot of others I cannot remember now. So, I used that opportunity to explore the language. In exploring the language, I also met a Congolese dude and I added them to my album.

What is the story behind Kingdom Call?

It was after analysing all the tracks in the album, I found out that, it is gospel, inspirational , jazz and highlife kind of music. It is a fusion of different genres of music.

What genre of music do you do?

I am a gospel, inspirational

and jazz artiste but I don’t do dirty songs. When I mean gospel, you can be doing gospel and the sound is inspirational or jazzy. I present the songs in a jazzy form.

Yemi Alade is my darling — Alex Ekubo

How long have you been into music?

I have been into music since I was born. But professionally, I started music in 2010.

Since that time till date, how many albums have you

Nigerian subscribers weary of constant messages from service providers

released?

This is my first album.

What have you been doing for that number of years?

I always tell people that in this part of the world, you must learn how to be patient, and not to be over-zealous.

When you are over-zealous, you will over do things. So for me, I want to bring out something that will be appealing to people without being overzealous about the delivery.

How do you intend to compete with all these top men in the industry, what is Continues on page 35

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014—31

Vol. 1 No. 2

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

Sallah homage and to further consult on their political future.

The Lagos débâcle: Tinubu, is said to have a preference to succeed incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola inspite of criticisms against that choice.

However, there are strong indications that the state chapter of the APC has agreed to conduct primaries to select its flag bearers for elective offices in next year’s general elections.

Before now, the belief in political circles in Lagos is that Tinubu is the king maker and that his choice of a candidate for an office is unquestionable.

Aspirants for the position

2015: South West, a major headache for Tinubu F

ORMER Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, currently has many headaches. As an unusual politician, he is said to have further cut down on his three and a half sleeping hours (3.00 am to 6.30 am) to between two and two and a half hours.

One of his major puzzles is how to retain the three states of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo especially after unexpectedly losing Ekiti to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on July 21.

Osun State, governed by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as at today, is the only state that can be said to be fully in APC’s kitty.

There won’t be governorship election in Ondo state until 2017 since the Labour Party C M Y K

won the 2013 polls. The incumbent governor, Segun Mimiko has however moved to the PDP. As Lagosians continue to await what plays out within the ranks of the APC in the next few weeks, it is being said that picking Governor Raji Fashola’s successor is going to be a major headache for the party’s national leader.

However, the Sallah break provided the opportunity for Lagos politicians to get endorsements from Asiwaju Tinubu.

Endorsements from Asiwaju The break has turned the Bourdillon, Ikoyi home of the former governor to a beehive of activities as various politicians paid Sallah homage and used the opportunity to make their intentions known to the Asiwaju whom many Lagosians consider as having

the final say as to who gets what as the elections get closer.

When Vanguard visited the home of the former governor, several exotic cars were parked in front of the house and inside the compound, a situation that further confirmed that not only Sallah homage was taking place but some politicking as well.

According to some residents around the home of the former governor, the area has been very busy since the Sallah celebrations.

A resident who spoke under the condition of anonymity said, “This area has been so busy with cars parking on both sides of the road and you can see that this goes beyond paying Sallah homage. This place has turned to a Mecca of sorts since the Sallah holiday started and it is evident that some politicians keep entering and exiting the home of Asiwaju and we know all these have to do with the forthcoming elections.”

Although the gates to the house remained closed with stern looking policemen and Lagos State Transport

,

By Leke Adeseri, South West Regional Editor, Ola Ajayi & Gbenga Oke

The Jagaban Borgu is said to be unmoved by the criticisms of his choice and that he has instructed leaders of the party to continue working on the project with the belief that other aspirants for the position of the state governor are merely trying their luck.

“Asiwaju Tinubu has insisted that a right candidate should succeed Fashola. He has instructed leaders of the party to carry on with the project.

And I believe he will have his way at the end of the day. He didn’t just arrive at his choice.

It was borne out of a careful thought,’’ a party chieftain was quoted as saying.

However, it was learnt that unlike in previous elections where aspirants were asked to step down for a favoured candidate, the party leadership has agreed on the need to have a primary to elect the flag bearer.

Notable aspirants who have

Asiwaju Tinubu has insisted that a right candidate should succeed Fashola. He has instructed leaders of the party to carry on with the project. And I believe he will have his way at the end of the day

Management Agency, LASTMA officials guiding the environment, cars were parked on every available space, a situation that further confirms speculations by some residents that politicians have been coming to receive one endorsement or the other from the APC national leader.

When Vanguard sought further information from some people standing close to the home of the ex-governor, it was said that various politicians from both the state and across the country have been visiting Tinubu to pay

,

indicated interest in the governor ’s job come 2015 include incumbent Commissioner for Works, Obafemi Hamzat, former Commissioner for Health, Leke Pitan, Senator representing Lagos West, Ganiyu Solomon, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and Tola Kasali, among others.

Little worry over Oyo’s candidate In the ruling APC in Oyo, Governor Abiola Ajimobi is the

Continues on page 34

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

Contenders and pretenders to Agodi Govt House AS the governorship race for the Agodi Government House thickens in Oyo State, each aspirant for the exalted position is trying to convince the electorates that he is the best candidate for the seat.

As things are now, out of 10 aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, vying for the governorship slot, only eight of them have collected the expression of interest forms.

They are Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Governor of the state; Senator Teslim Folarin; Senator Ayo Adeseun who just defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC to PDP; former Senate leader, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja; former State Chairman, Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Soji Adejumo; also former boss of the board, Engr. Seyi Makinde; Mr. Kehinde Olaosebikan; Engr. Femi Babalola; Dr. Azeez Adeduntan and Dr. Gbola Adetunji.

Others who are yet to collect forms are Elder Wole Oyelese and Azeem Gbolarumi.

In the ruling APC, Governor Abiola Ajimobi is the only visible contestant for the ticket. Former Governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja is also the only governorship candidate for his party, Accord party, AC. There are only two aspirants in Labour Party, LPComrade Olu Abiala, former Secretary of the state Nigeria Union of Teachers and Mr. Sarafadeen Alli.

Looking at the array of those eyeing the governorship seat in the state, it is true that politicians, no matter how unpopular they may be, are incurable optimists. Some know from the outset that it is a tall dream that can never come true.

By Ola Ajayi

G

overnor Abiola Ajimobi

Even though, the power of incumbency cannot be underestimated, getting a second term ambition actualized in a state where forces work day and night to ensure that nobody breaks the jinx of being the first governor to govern the state twice, it would be a herculean task to get re-elected.

It is no doubt that the state has witnessed tremendous transformation during his four-year tenure, but, there are so many winds against his soul who are hell-bent that he doesn’t rule the state again.

These, forces as gathered, rejected the Sallah gift sent to them.

Like a politician said recently, the rebellion that dictates Ibadan politics is on.

Besides, some of his policies have been seriously criticized and tagged anti-people.

Irrespective of what some traders say, an outsider now sees the state as one of the neatest in the country. The

•Gov. Abiola Ajimobi

once-violent and dreaded drivers’ union, has been effectively caged. If these and other achievements mean much to the people, he may be re-elected.

Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala He first governed the state for about 11 months when his then boss, Senator Rashidi Ladoja was controversially impeached in 2006 and later ruled the state as a democratically-elected governor in 2007. Omo iya Alaro as he is fondly called, seems to understand the political language of the people in the state.

Though, some elites particularly from Ibadan who ensured his exit from the Government House in 2011 still have reservation for him; and has the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC case hanging on him which many people believe was politically motivated, he is undoubtedly a rallying point in Oyo politics.

His admirers still want him back as the governor because they say there was cash flow during his administration. He

•Otunba Alao Akala understands that development is good and desirable but it is of no use if the people live in perpetual hunger that may not even allow them to enjoy the said development.

Senator Teslim Folarin

He was the Senate leader between 2007 and 2011. He was highly instrumental to the exit of Chief Alao-Akala due to strained relationship between them.

During the crisis, he was accused of being involved in the death of a former National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW leader, Alhaji Lateef Salako. But, the court later exonerated him

Sen. Rashidi Ladoja

•Engr Femi Babalola

from the case.

He is believed to be the ‘anointed candidate’ who currently enjoys the support of the national leadership of the party.

He has been transversing the length and breadth of the state where Vanguard gathered he has got no fewer than 24 local government councils in his kitty.

Prof. Taoheed Adedoja A former Minister of Sports and Special Duties is another contestant on the platform of the PDP. He has mass followership in Ibadan, Ibarapa, Oyo, Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso zones of the state.

Having tested political waters

twice as governorship candidate in 1998 and 2007, he stands a very good chance.

He was the governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in 2007, but his late defection to the party took its toll on his election then. If experience in governance and public acceptability count in the state politics, he may spring surprises.

To him, irrespective of the faction you belong to in the party, he relates with all. He is considered in political circle as a bridge builder.

Prof. Soji Adejumo Continues on page 33

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Contenders and pretenders to Agodi Govt House in Mathematics when he wrote his As a seasoned academic, Joint Admissions former sub-dean, and a and Matriculations complete gentleman, one Board (JAMB) wonders why this Professor of e x a m i n a t i o n s Animal Physiology, chose to between 1980 and swim in the murky waters of 1981.

After politics. His political career graduation from the started in the second republic university, he was when he joined the defunct posted to Ibadan Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN. again for the He was a member of the mandatory national Constituent Assembly youth service, and between 1988 and 1989. He served at Solel also had political stint in the Boneh Nigeria Peoples Solidarity Party and Limited.

Peoples Front. He has also A philanthropist to served at various levels. the core, he stands He has was former a good chance if he Chairman, Governing scales the hurdles of Council, Emmanuel Alayande his party, the PDP. College of Education, Though, he is Executive Director, Directorate standing trial for a *Folarin of Foods, Roads and Rural corruption related Infrastructures, Executive case which many Chairman, Oyo State Youth observers view as development Council and political witch-hunting, the Special Adviser to the State court is yet to decide on his political grave. He can move Government and many other culpability or otherwise. His “mountains.” positions. political credentials may not Dr. Adeduntan Azeez be that lengthy, he is an Dr. Azeez Popoola Kehinde Olaosebikan intelligent young man with a Adeduntan, graduate of This young, agile and promising future.

Harvard Medical School, Seyi Makinde quintessential gentleman was Seyi Abiodun Makinde, a Boston Massachusetts, was born on 29 October, 1962. He remains a key player in the former senatorial aspirant, born in Ibadan. As a very politics of the state since the graduated from the University brilliant medical student , he first day of the present of Lagos, Akoka with B.Sc in was chosen as the Best All E l e c t r i c a l / E l e c t r o n i c Around Student in 1972 and democracy.

His début in Oyo politics was Engineering in 1990 and later also won the Federal on May 29, 1999, when he worked with Shell Petroleum Government of Nigeria Company Scholarship for Medicine. was appointed the Chief Press Development Thereafter, he attended the Secretary to the then State (SPDC), where he was later Governor, Alhaji Lam engaged as a Pupil Engineer, College of Physicians and Adesina, after a glowing He veered into politics having Surgeons in a Columbia had a successful business University, Harlem Hospital journalism practice in Abuja.

Center, New York City, New Apart from his well career.

He was in the PDP but had York till 1993.

He then served as an Assistant Professor of Surgery, His party which was formed few days in Atlanta and Georgia. He to the 2011 guber elections sprang tried unsuccessfully to clinch the governor’s seat in 2011 on surprises as it won no fewer than four the platform of the Labour seats in the State House of Assembly Party. He is not all that known in the political circle. Many established professional to leave the party following the people believe he just wants adroitness, he is accessible to insistence of late politician, to try his luck once again in all.

Chief Lamidi Adedibu to the PDP which he defected to Inspite of his unsuccessful impose his son then. He later last year. Undoubtedly, he will attempt to the House of rejoined the party before the have a tough time getting the Representatives as the 2011 elections. With his party ’s ticket going by his Alliance for Democracy philanthropic gestures, he political antecedents. candidate for Oluyole Federal controls many followers.

Constituency in 2003, he He is seen as the Dr. Isaac Owolabi never gives up and continues representative of the youths in He is intellectually sound. making profound the gubernatorial race. He has As the Commissioner for contributions to Oyo politics. not left anybody in doubt that Health in the administration he is an aspirant to contend of Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, Engineer Femi Babalola with. he improved the health sector He is popularly called Jogor. a great deal. Besides, he was Though born in Ibadan, his Philanthropic so useful for the former parents are from Fiditi, Oyo gestures governor that he handed so State. The fifth of six children, many things to him. he attended the popular He belongs to the school of Though, his foray into Government College and also thought that says the politics is not up to two the premier university, decades like other governorship seat in the state University of Ibadan, where contestants, any of the should not be an exclusive he studied Civil Engineering. contestants who underrates preserve of Ibadan indigenes.

As a very brilliant young him is digging his own As a governorship aspirant in man, he scored 100 per cent the PDP, he needs a lot of

Continues from page 32

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*Olaosebikan

vigour and doggedness to emerge the candidate for the party. He denied fronting for his former boss, Akala with whom he had parted ways shortly before the end of the tenure.

But, he recently said he holds Akala in high esteem and that he would always remain his boss. Political analysts believe he could be a good candidate but he has narrow chances of becoming the governor of the state.

Accord Party Senator Rashidi Ladoja, born in Gambari village, Ibadan on 25 September, 1944, a onetime governor of the state is for now, the sole aspirant for the governorship ticket. He attended the University of Liège, Belgium between 1966 and 1972 where he obtained a degree in Chemical Engineering.

He worked with Total Nigeria, an oil company, where he was for 13 years. As an astute business man, he ventured into Shipping, Manufacturing, Banking, Agriculture and Transportation.

Political influence

1993 and later became a director of Standard Trust Bank Limited. His political influence in the state speaks volume. His party which was formed few days to the 2011 guber elections sprang surprises as it won no fewer than four seats in the State House of Assembly.

He became the governor of the state on May 29, 2003 as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party but was impeached in January 2006.

Many believed the impeachment was orchestrated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. However, Ladoja was later re-instated in December 2006 by the Supreme Court.

Labour Party Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli

He is a well-bred legal practitioner. He was the immediate past chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited. He was known in the political circle when he became the first executive Chairman of Ibadan North local government at 28 years in 1991.

He has been at the forefront

He became a Senator in

Continues on page 34

The Team Editor: Correspondents: Ola Ajayi Gbenga Olarinoye Dayo Johnson Gbenga Ariyibi Dapo Akinrefon Daud Olatunji Ikenna Asomba

Adeleke Adeseri Ibadan Osogbo Akure Ado Ekiti Abeokuta

34—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

Ojude-Oba: A festival that showcases affluence and success

By DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

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JUDE-Oba festival has been one of the alternative avenues to the people, especially, Ijebus who are not financially buoyant to embark on holidays in such places as Durban, South Africa, the Caribbean or among other tourists attracting countries, to let off the steam once in a year.

To many prominent Nigerians , Ojude-Oba is one of the greatest festivals of culture in the South West and it has been creating a melting point for all strata of the society in Ijebu land through the yearly convergence on the palace *One of the Regberegbes at this year’s Ojude-Oba festival. square, where the festival was being observed.

The event, which has its origin in Islam He said “the current Awujale has people’s clamour for equity and justice.

He said, “We thank the National holds the third day after Muslim festival transformed the festival into the entire of Eid-el Kabir when the faithful usually Ijebu affair to show our loyalty and Conference for recommending the pay homage to the Monarch. appreciation to the Oba and trust the creation of Ijebu State. We are now Historians have said the festival started Ijebus, the women see it as the best time appealing to the Federal Government some two hundred years ago and has to show up their best apparel in fashion and the National Assembly to give effect incidentally gone beyond being a and the men to show their success. So it to this recommendation by doing all that Muslim affair, Ijebu or Ogun State show is an occasion to return home, to come is desirable to actualise our clamour for as it has assumed a global outlook. and thank the reigning monarch and to justice and equity.”

While describing Ojude Oba festival as Annually, the Awujale and paramount say thank God since last year we have an international event Oba Adetona commended the partnership of corporate Ogun State prides itself as cultural ambassador in organisations such as Globacom, First Nigeria, the Ojude Oba festival demonstrates the hard City Monument Bank Plc among others, for their support.

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work, industry and hospitality of the Ijebu people

ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona has been using Ojude Oba festival to address issues germane to the development of Ijebu land in particular and Ogun State in general.

Speaking on the significance of the festival, Olori Omo-Oba of Ijebuland and Chairman First City Monument Bank , Otunba Subomi Balogun said the festival has a direct impact on the people of Ijebu.

He said: “The direct impact is that people are proud to be Ijebus, people are proud to say this is Ijebu’s version compared to what they do in Brazil.”

According to Otunba Balogun, Oba Adesunbo Tunwase was the monarch who established the Ojude Oba as far back as 1892, but Balogun Kuku was the one that organized that the muslim community should go and thank the Awujale .

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archived these things.

“First of all,he brought in the regberegbes (the age groups)which are part of community development vehicles. I happen to be the Baba Egbe of those who were born within 19381940 and in addition to that he got everybody involved both christians and muslims as an opportunity to show peace and this is unique because Ijebu land then turned into international tourist attraction to be compared to the international festival.”

Oba Adetona, however, used the opportunity to appeal to the federal Government and the National Assembly to expedite action on the creation of Ijebu State.

Awujale who had been campaigning for the creation of Ijebu State, stated that its creation would address the Ijebu

Also speaking at the the event the state governor, Senator lbikunle Amosun, described the festival as a display of the real cultural symbol of unity of the Ijebu people and Ogun State in general.

According to him, Ogun State prides itself as cultural ambassador in Nigeria, the Ojude Oba festival demonstrates the hard work, industry and hospitality of the Ijebu people.

The special guest of honour, a former chief of army staff, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) also described the festival as unique, which paraded the best of the culture of the people. He said, “I saw the joy and excitement on the faces of the people, and the colourful robes and dresses. Also the genuineness of the adulation of the king was wonderful. I don’t know of a kingdom in the country with such number of people pouring adulation on their king.”

The festival witnessed of his meritorious parade of age grades contributions to workers’ known as ‘regberegbe’ struggle. who dressed in various He was a pain in the neck of colourful attires, and successive governments in the adornments, taking their state as he stood unshaken turns to pay homage to from the cause that would the Awujale. benefit his fellow teachers.

The horse riders, who Given his antecedents in the were the descendants of 33,000 member-union, he warriors (Baloguns) possesses the leadership made fascinating qualities to lead the state if his displays with their horses party presents him as its festooned with colourful flagbearer. adornments.

Contenders and pretenders to Agodi Govt House Continues from page 33 of politics since the days of the National Republican Convention. He contested the senatorial seat on the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party which he won in April, 1996. But, he could not serve in that capacity due to military intervention in politics.

Before he left Ladoja, he had served as the Secretary to the

State Government and later the Chief of Staff. He just resigned his appointment as the chairman of Odu’a Investment in the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

Comrade Olu Abiala He proved his mettle while he served as the scribe of NUT. So many people including members of the Nigeria Labour Congress did not want him to retire because

Cultural symbol

2015: S-West, a major headache for Tinubu Continues from page 31 only visible contestant for the ticket. Former Governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja is also the only governorship candidate for the Accord party.

There are only two aspirants in Labour Party, they are Comrade Olu Abiala, former Secretary of the state Nigeria Union of Teachers and Mr. Sarafadeen Alli.

Looking at the array of those eyeing the governorship seat in the state, it is true that politicians, no matter how unpopular they may be are incurable optimists. Some know from the outset that it is a tall dream that can never come true but they will still stick out their necks.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi Even though the power of incumbency cannot be underestimated, getting a second term ambition actualised in a state where forces work day and night to ensure that nobody breaks the jinx of being the first governor to govern the state twice, it would be a herculean task for Ajimobi to get re-elected.

Tremendous trasnformation It is no doubt that the state has witnessed tremendous transformation during his fouryear tenure, but there are many political forces against him who are hell bent that he doesn’t rule the state again. These forces, as gathered, rejected the Sallah gift he sent them.

Like a politician said recently, the rebellion that dictates Ibadan politics is on. Besides, some of his policies have been seriously criticized and tagged antipeople. Irrespective of what some traders say, an outsider now sees the state as one of the neatest in the country. The onceviolent and dreaded drivers’ union has been effectively caged. If these and other achievements mean much to the people, then, Ajimobi will enjoy the people’s backing at the 2015 polls.

Ogun suffering from implosion The factionalisation of Ogun APC is the main problem there.

For the Asiwaju, time to find a lasting solution is ticking fast.

Even governor Ibikunle Amosun, the most likely sole candidate may no longer be feeling comfortable with the turn of events.

Things are really getting out of hand and as one of his aides told Vanguard recently; ‘’we hope former governor Segun Osoba will not play the role of a proverbial rat that will scatter the beans if he could not eat it.”

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 —35

Why I don’t expect crazy things from female fans Continues from page 30 so unique about you?

I was going to say that I am not in any competition with anybody but one thing I must tell you is that my aim in music is not to acquire wealth, but to make music that pass good message to the people. My aim is to motivate people. That is why you have the likes of Kenny Okoye, and Segun Obey in the album. If you listen to the lyrics of the album, they are words to inspire people, especially women. And another thing that makes me different again is that I play my instruments and they appeal to people. So, I export the Nigerian kind of music to the Westerners.

I am in music to sell the Urhobo brand

What is so special about your album?

It is an album that presents all the Nigerian genres of music in a jazzy way.

There is high-life, Calypso and even SouthAfrican house music and all that. So, it is a fusion of many genres.

What challenges have you encountered so far?

The major challenge I will say for now is the financial constraints. There is also the looming threat of piracy.

What keeps you going despite the challenges?

The fact that people enjoy what I do keeps me going.

Is there any woman in your life?

Right now I am completely single.

Beside my guitar, there is nothing else in my life.

What is the craziest thing a female fan has done to you?

She just screamed when I was performing, that is all. I do not do dirty songs, so, I don’t expect a crazy thing from a female fan.

What has been your most memorable experience?

For me, the memorable experience I have had was playing at the festivals in Nigeria. That time that you would be playing and governors walk in.

There was a time I was performing at the just concluded centenary pageant in Bayelsa when the Governor of the

— Shuun Bebe

BY AKPOKONA OMAFUIRE

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State walked in, I was asked to announce the presence of the governor.

What was your growing up like?

Yes it was rough, but I thank God that I was disciplined by my parents How did you parents accept your choice of career?

Even till now, I am still battling with my dad to accept my chosen career but my mother is on the same page with me. My father keeps stressing that he didn’t send me to school to study music. But I thank God that gradually, peace is beginning to reign in the house. At least, my mother gave me a larger share of the money to buy my first guitar What are we expecting from you soon?

Expect the best of me anywhere you hear that I will be performing. Before this album, I have released four singles.

ESIENA Okpan Arhibo a.k.a Shuun Bebe has become a household name in Delta State musical scene with his fusion of pidgin English and Urhobo language. His hit track ‘Enaiso’ is so captivating and popular, that it is sung at all marriage ceremonies across and beyond the state.

The upcoming musical exponent from the scion of the Urhobo foremost music icon, Chief Okpan Arhibo, the King of Catch Fire credits his foray into the lucrative musical industry, his dream and forthcoming projects to his father and mother, who gave him the requisite encouragement.

The Law student turned musician said his name Shuun Bebe was extracted from the name Sean and Bebe was derived from the word Baby.

According to him, “I have always wanted to be a musician like my father.

I registered into the Delta State University, Oleh Campus to study Law, but I discovered my whole life and interest is in music; So I decided to create a different pattern of music to stand out. I actually followed my father’s steps and copied his style but I felt singing in Urhobo will help me identify with my people and blending it with a mix of English will make it more significant beyond Delta areas. For me, if Yoruba and Igbo music are being appreciated everywhere, then Urhobo music can also be accepted. That is the brand I’m selling

as a musician.

“I actually started music when I was 14.

I later joined a musical group called “Street Disciples” when I was 20, I ditched my academic career and later got a musical contract with 2 Runz Concept. I’m now working under a new label Moxie Entertainment with a co-management deal with Warri Boy Xclusive. I just dropped my third album titled”Corrupt File” and it’s doing well in the market.

He added, “The title of this music is informed by the focus and message I wish to pass across to my audience. In music, you pass a message through your style.

‘Corrupt File’ happens to be my third album after my debut album “Like Father Like Son” and ‘Inspira Shuun”. The album title ‘Corrupt File” draws the attention of the public to the high moral corruption in our society today, thereby sending a message to the public through the songs in the album.”

Shuun Bebe dreams of collaborating with top musicians soon, hear him, “I am working on a new work with Timaya which will drop by the end of the year. I am also working on the possibility of collaborations with Phyno, Vector and Oritsefemi.

“I got over nine nominations in 2013 and I won seven. Some of the awards include Next Rated Artiste of the Year Award 2013 (Peace Legend Awards); Best Upcoming Artiste of the Year 2013 (Niger Delta Awards in Benin City, Edo State), Revelation of the Year, and Fasting of the Year 2013 among others.”

36 — Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, OCTOBER 10, 2014

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014—37

Yemi Alade is my darling

2Face, Wizkid dish out bottles of Hennessy at Hennessy Artistry club tour

— Alex Ekubo

BY IYABO AINA

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or those who don’t know who Alex Ekubo is, the guy is a one-time first runner up in the Mr Nigeria contest 2010. He’s a fast rising actor and “friend of Uti Nwachukwu”.

Recently, speculations were going viral that the Nollywood dude and Nigerian music act Yemi Alade, are in a relationship.

Following this rumour, the Nollywood act has come out to deny the story spreading like wildfire, saying, Yemi is just a darling and sweetheart to him. “Yemi is vibrant, she’s a breath of fresh air, and she’s young, creative and talented.

Have you seen Yemi dance?

I’ve been in two of her videos and she is my darling, a sweetheart and there are two things I don’t talk about; they are my finance and my relationship”. He said.

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ennessy Artistry 2014 headliners, 2Face Idibia and Wizkid made a debut live performance of “Dance Go”, the landmark collaboration between the two superstars.

Throughout the night, 2face and Wizkid kept giving out countless bottles of Hennessy XO and VSOP to fans who came out to party with them, as they supported Lil Kesh and Yung Grey C who also performed at the event.

2Face and Wizkid also went back to back on their individual hit tracks including Show Me The Money, For Instance, Ojuelagba, If to say, In My Bed, Catch the vibe, etc. They later closed their performance with this year ’s Hennessy Artistry theme song, “Dance Go”.

2Face said during the performance, “This is Wizkid’s first time at Club Rumors, Festac… Let’s show him how we do it in Festac!”

VIP guests present also kept showering bundles of crisp Naira notes on 2Face and Wizkid as they performed. They also threw thousands of Naira in the air as Wizkid performed “Show Me The Money”.

Guests present at the event include Annie Idibia, Yvonne Nwosu, Moet Abebe, Yaw, Mathew Ohio amongst others.

Abuja gets e-supermarket

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esidents of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory will as from October 15th, 2015 save themselves the cost of visiting Supermarkets as a new improved online store, www.yuzos.com will begin to deliver products such as groceries, drinks, household, personal and baby care products as well as over the counter pharmaceuticals through an innovative supplier management and logistics architecture right to people’s homes and offices.

Commenting on the development, Akin Alayoku, Managing partner of the YUZOS said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of such services in Abuja. Our unique selling proposition is the fact that our strong partnerships across the consumer goods spectrum enable customers to shop from their favourite stores, through an interactive web portal, while at the same time offering the best prices through internal ‘shop-bot’

algorithms”.

In order words, customers get a wide variety of quality products from trusted stores at the best prices in the market.

Speaking on customer experience, he said: ‘our order fulfillment teams range from order pickers, warehouse officers, customer call agents to delivery officers. These are beautiful people who have been thoroughly schooled in Quality Control, Preservation and Packaging techniques as well as Customer Sensitivity; towards achieving effective communications and relationships” Paul Dinwoke, Co-Founder of Yuzos says: “We are proud to offer a service optimized through technology, from back office processes to customer interfaces (whether they use a computer or a mobile device). Customers can now find everything they need to ensure their home runs smoothly; with over 50,000 great value and quality products at their fingertips”.

Olamide, Phyno to drop album titled 2kings next year I

n a recent interview with Yaw of Wazobia FM, ‘Story for the gods’ hit maker, Olamide revealed that himself and Phyno are both working on a studio album.

When asked why he loves working with Phyno, the YBNL CEO stated that Phyno usually brings out the best in him and they both say the same thing in their lyrics, which makes it easier to do a track.

He further added that the album will be titled “2kings” and it will drop next year 2015.

38 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,OCTOBER 10, 2014

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HE West African Women Association (WAWA) last Saturday in Lagos played host to Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at the request of the Asian organization on an information collecting mission.

The survey objective is to understand the business and entrepreneurship support available to Nigerian business women, the status and activities of business women associations, donor/NGO assistance related to supporting business women and challenges as well as success stories of business women.

All the information collected through the survey will be utilized as key inputs for the formulation of the 2nd African Women’s Development Seminar, which aims to strengthen not only the networks not only between the seminar participants but also between the participants and Japanese government’s personnel and business women that might “broaden business opportunities for all actors” Welcoming guests, the WAWA Focal Person Mrs. Beatrice Ubeku stressed the importance of continuous networking and sharing ideas on a continual basis. She said gatherings such as these provide the opportunities for co- operations both locally and internationally.

Meanwhile members availed themselves of the opportunity

Japan-Africa Businesswomen seek co-operation with West African women to make new contacts and forge new cooperations with guests.

Japan International Cooperation Agency dispatches the Information Collection mission on JapanAfrica Business Women

Exchange Program in four countries- Tunisia, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso in the aim of collecting the basic information about the surrounding environment and challenges faced by African

business women. The findings of this survey will be utilized to formulate the 2nd African Women’s Business Development Seminar which will be held in Japan from 26th January to February 6th, 2015.

The West African Women Association is a consortium of women owned nongovernmental and developmental organizations within the West African subregion under the ECOWAS umbrella.

Police of es offficer icerss wiv wives ge w cchair hair per son gett ne new hairper person in Lagos

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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IFE of the Assis tant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Hajia Rabi Manko has handed over the leadership of Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) in Lagos State to the wife of the new Commissioner of police, Mrs. Maudlyn Aderanti.

The handing over ceremony took place at the POWA Multi-purpose Auditorium on Tuesday. During her tenure as the POWA leader, Mrs. Manko embarked on regular visitation to some orphanages and Old people’s homes where donations of money and materials were donated. She was also the brain behind the

commissioning of the multimillion-naira POWA multipurpose hall in GRA, Ikeja.

Her administration also sponsored the training of police officers wives on skills acquisition and business management.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs. Manko noted that her administration ensured that the welfare of officer ’s wives was not treated with kid glove.

“I will miss my officer ’s wives. They supported me throughout my tenure and I would describe them as wonderful people. We have transformed the Oduduwa Police environment. The building was completed during my tenure. The project started during the reign of the former wife of DIG Marvel Akpoyibo, Mrs. Grace Akpoyibo.

•Mrs. Rabi Manko handing over to the new POWA Chairperson, Mrs. Maudlyn Aderanti in Lagos

Her successor, Mrs. Maudlyn Aderanti noted that she would improve on the effort of her predecessor.

“I intend making sure that the welfare of police officers

wives is taken seriously.

These facilities I met would be upgraded and maintained. We would bring in people who would teach our people skills. We would

bring experts to carry out medical screening on our members. We would visit rehabilitation centers and orphanages often, she stated”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 —

A Simple Guide to Rocking Ballet Flats

Independent producers to boycott some media agencies

BY VIVIAN ENEMUO

BY CHRIS ONUOHA

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IKE most things in fash ion, the ballet flat is a style recycled from centuries past. A lot of women would prefer wearing high heeled pumps and sandals because it provides them with the extra height, sexiness as well as confidence that they need. However, not all women can have the skill to wear high heeled shoes day in and day out. It can really be stressing on the muscles as well as your ankles. This is also one good reason why a lot of women would prefer wearing ballet flats.

Ballet flats are actually classical, practical and comfortable. In fact, ballet flats can be used to complement all kinds of wardrobe. Yet, there is one problem that comes with wearing flats. At times, the shoes can make you look a little more frumpy than fabulous.

In order to avoid this problem, here is a simple guide to wearing ballet flats.

Do you know ballet shoes are worn by ballet dancers?

But now, it is used as fashion trends by the ladies.

Ballet flats also known as ballerina flats, have been inspired from ballet shoes and have become very useful for women of all shapes and sizes. A ballet flat is a flat heeled, enclosed shoe, almost like a slipper. It is easy to slip on and is available in different fashionable collections which includes solid basic colors, print, shapes and flowers. If you think ballet flats are boring, then you must lead a sad life When Should You Wear Flats?

When going on the shopping.

Ballet flats are your best friends whenever you decide to go out on a shopping spree. This is because, these will make your life a lot easier when changing on and off your clothes. All you need to do is to easily slip it on or off whenever you need to.

When having coffee with friends Ballet flats will also come handy when you are going on a brunch or meeting up for coffee with friends. This will definitely make your outfit instantly chic.

When walking to work.

Commuting to and from work will certainly torture your ankles. This is why it is always best that you keep a pair of ballet flats in your bag, so you can easily slip into it when it’s time to go home.

When walking on the beach.

Aside from slippers, this is your best choice of footwear since it can be easy to slip off

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and on. Plus, this can be easily emptied of sand.

Rocking Ballet Flats?

Keep your outfit lean.

In order to avoid looking frumpy, you must establish a streamlined silhouette in order to make your body look a lot longer and leaner. In order to achieve this, it is best that you opt for a belted shirt-dress, great shorts, pants and a simple top to be paired with your fancy ballet flats.

Reveal some of your skin.

In the event that you have the confidence to bare some of your skin, this is when your

ballet flats will look at its best.

It is best paired with skirts, dresses or shorts which fall just above the knee. At times, it would also go well with capris that just reveal your ankles.

Wear with skinny pants.

In the event that you wish to wear your ballet flats with skinny pants, it can be quite tricky especially since if it is quite short. In order to remedy this, it is best that you try wearing your pants long to cover the back of your ballet flats.

With these simple tips, anyone can surely rock their ballet flats!

39

HE Executive Council of the Association of Electronic Media Content Owners of Nigeria, EMCOAN, has directed that all its members should boycott defaulting media Agencies until further notice.

This directive is part of actions being taken by the Association recently to get the Media Agencies to pay up the huge debt being owed its members and to begin to project electronic media content owners as vital partners without which Agencies cannot successfully run their operations and therefore should accord them due regard.

For sometime now, the Association has complained about the manner in which media agencies treat independent producers, especially regarding payment, alleging that the affected Media agencies default on the agreement signed by both parties, completely oblivious of the harsh terrain where producers go through thick and thin to produce programmes and battle TV stations to ensure

transmission so that advert placements run at all cost.

She mentioned that some of her members are owed millions of Naira for several years and it would not be on her watch that such would go unaddressed.

According to the President, Mrs. Debbie Odutayo, apart from delayed and irregular payments, these Agencies demand a ridiculous unjustifiable 25% volume discount even when the contract being issued cannot be said to be in any volume. She also claimed that in some cases, some of these media Agencies take more, even up to 40%, thereby stifling members to run at a huge loss.

On what would be the next line of action, the President asserted that the Association would not hesitate to publish names of these media agencies should they refuse to do due diligence within the specified time.

She however assured that the overall interest of her members is her most paramount call and would do all in her power to ensure that their interest is protected.

Nigerian women in real estate set to take centre stage

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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T was indeed a milestone for women in Africa at the official launch of Africa women in Real Estate roundtable AWIRE as major stakeholders gathered at this year ’s edition of Real Estate Unite conference, organised by 3Invest, to address issues affecting the sector.

The discussions centered on the stance of women in real estate industry, ideological restrictions or lack of business acumen, facilitating the lucrative career path for women in Nigeria, snare deal, slice the prejudice, landed properties and women possessory rights in Nigeria women funds and real estate ownership.

Speaking at the launch Ruth Obih, CEO 3invest, said that the launch of African Women in Real Estate (AWIRE) is to address factors that affect women’s participation in the business of real estate and property development; and identify steps towards creating a strategic plan to assist women in leveraging existing tools and resources and promote

shared prosperity for all”.

Encouraging women in the sector to move with the trend, Tosin Ajose, (Detail Solicitor) said that “ women need to conquer fear and believe that they can succeed in real estate. They need to be wise and curtail their spending.

Revisit their financial goals all the time and make plans for every dime they get. Adding that as a matter of urgency women in real estate must invest in books and educational resources that are real estate related, acquiring knowledge consistently is the only way they can prove themselves and remain relevant especially in a male dominated terrain like real estate. We must make conscious effort to improve and learn new skills”.

Citing the Supreme Court ruling stopping the discriminatory tradition against women and the girl-child that forbids a female from inheriting her late father ’s estate, the key note speaker Udo-Maryanne Okonjo, CEO Fine & Country, West Africa noted that “there is nothing de-enfranchising women in Nigeria from in-

vesting in real estate. Rather women should take advantage of the incredible opportunities that abound in the sector, which is why international firms that are coming Nigeria to invest in real estate sector. Presently nothing is preventing women in Africa from being key players in Nigeria real estate, from Kenya to South Africa to China women are investing in real estate”.

Emphasizing the unique strength of the average woman, Udo notes that “although the men bring a huge part of the deal to the table, women are just as important as they bring a part of that equation that completes it. There are certain ways women do business and reason why women do business which has a lot to do with their personal lifestyle. Men are usually very focuses which is why they determined to succeed but women define success differently, for them success includes result at the home front. There are so many ways women relate to different issues. Success for women in real estate must go beyond profit and loss.

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

Unwanted attention?

Nigerian subscribers weary of constant messages from service providers

BY PAUL IKUFORIJI, CYNTHIA OKERE & FAVOUR ANTHONY

I

n this day and age, an individual’s right to privacy is more emphasized than ever before. You determine who you give your phone number, what password to use for your email, and whether or not to accept friend requests on Facebook. However, that same right is today, subject to more abuse than ever before, sometimes even by the telecommunications network providers who are

custodians of that right.

Mr. Lekan Olaitan is a business man who is constantly disturbed by unsolicited calls and messages by his service providers. He told Glamtech that his phone lines are ‘‘very helpful because talk is cheap especially with his relatives. However, they keep sending unnecessary messages they are usually unhelpful to me.’’ ‘‘They keep killing my battery with these messages,’’ said Mr. Ezekiel Olusegun, ‘‘I get at least five messages a day from my network. My battery is not good and the messages just

make it worse.’ The issue of constant disturbance through unsolicited calls is also an issue for many subscribers.

Another subscriber, Princess Are, told Glamtech: ‘‘The ring tone of one of my phones is

very loud and I usually forget to put it off because very few people have that number.

But my service provider’s automated lines call me almost every day to advertise one product or the other especially when I am at work. It is so annoying; even after I called their customer care, they won’t relent.’

It is bad enough that people have to deal with constant disturbance, dwindling battery life, and unwanted messages, but some networks make matters worse and charge customers for these

Could ASUS’ Transformer Book Flip truly give computing freedom?

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t could be extremely stressful carrying around a laptop and a tablet at the same time, but today’s professional rarely has a choice. It’s very difficult to find a tablet that can replace a Personal computer and vice versa. This usually means more cost, more maintenance and more stress.

However, ASUS has said that its Transformer Book Flip could be the answer to this dilemma. This laptop with 360-degree rotating touch screen that flips in an instant for use as a powerful laptop, a responsive tablet, or anything in between tagged a stylish, innovative and affordable Windows 8.1 laptop, ASUS Transformer Book Flip has a remarkable hinge design that enables the screen to be set at any angle between zero and 360 degrees. Flip is incredibly versatile, and can be used as a powerful laptop, a responsive tablet, or anything in between.

The device features a bright and clear up to Full HD 1920 x 1080 touchscreen.

Four gears in the hinge provide a smooth, steepless movement, ensuring that the screen stays exactly where the user wants it while making it effortless to adjust.

From standard laptop mode, it’s easy to flip the screen

instantly to suit whatever task the user wants to perform — whether it’s a media stand for watching a movie or viewing photos, a shared view for easy collaboration with friends,

family or colleagues, or a tablet for playing the latest games. An automatic keyboard and touchpad lock is activated whenever Flip is used in non-laptop modes, so users won’t have problems with unwanted input.

Flip’s touchscreen is incredibly accurate and responsive thanks to its high-precision 6mm-diameter actuators, which are more than twice as sensitive as the 9mm industry standard.

The compact aluminum chassis gives Flip strength, durability and elegance. The

seamless one-piece chiclet keyboard is ergonomically designed for optimum typing feel, and the large multi-touch touchpad supports Smart Gestures for precise and natural fingertip control.

Flip only takes two seconds to resume from sleep, and users don’t need to worry about losing data when in sleep mode for up to 14 days — when the Lithium-polymer battery’s charge drops below 5%, files and data are automatically backed up.Exclusive ASUS SonicMaster audio gives flip the best audio experience in its class.

With larger speakers and resonance chambers than standard laptops, the audio quality is spectacular. Users

UHD TV: The cinema experience at home

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o matter how many times you’ve seen a movie on television, there’s nothing like the cinema experience to make the characters come alive. That was the general belief…until recently. LG Electronics’ recently introduced 105-inch, 21:9 curved Ultra High Definition TV is reported to come very close to the ultimate cinema experience.

The LG 105-inch curved

Ultra HD TV, also known as 105UC9 is equipped with a 21:9 Cinemascope aspect ratio screen which features 5K resolution (5120 x 2160) that packs 30 percent more pixels than regular 4K TVs. This TV’s massive screen provides a resolution of over 11 million pixels, five times more than a 1080p Full HD TV. The 105UC9 achieves its picture quality through the company’s True 4K Engine Pro and IPS 4K panel. True 4K Engine Pro eliminates visual errors and can upscale lower-resolution content into near-Ultra HD quality.

unsolicited messages. One of such told our reporters: “I usually receive some text messages which I just read and delete, but some there are some others which you would be asked to reply and win prices. I replied to one of such, and since the day I first replied, I was charged for weeks until I had to myself to the network’s office and deal with the situation.’’ Mr. Emmanuel Obi also had a similar experience; she was charged N200 to reply a question sent to her via text message by her service provider. Another lady, who referred to herself as Blessing Udom is still being charged N5 a day for daily health tips that she has tried, unsuccessfully for months to unsubscribe from.

The customer, they say, is King. If this saying is true, then for telecoms subscribers around the country, the crown on their heads is fast becoming a noose around their necks; as they are now suffocated by the unwarranted attention that the networks had hoped would honour them.

experience deeper and richer bass, a wider frequency range, distinct vocals, and pristine clarity.

This makes Flip a perfect multimedia partner, with every song, movie or game sounding better thanks to its carefully balanced and dynamic audio. The Flip also gives users the opportunity to store everything and share anything.

Each device includes ASUS Web Storage, giving users free access to the most complete platform for online living. Files and documents are accessible anywhere from a host of devices. With ASUS cloud services, convenience and intuitive is the main priority, offering users easy storage, sharing, and syncing of everything from business presentations to photo albums and favorite multimedia content.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 — 41

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42— VANGUARD,

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

N what seemed like a Sallah message to Nigerians on the state of nation, the Muslims CommunityinLagosStatehaslends its voice to myriads of national and international issues affecting the Muslims.

The group which comprised of several Islamic groups and organizations in the state, led by the ChiefImamofLagos,SheikhGaruba AkinolaIbrahim(OON)and96-year old elder-statesman, Senator H.B Fasinro,OFR,chairman,BOTofthe group, said the activities of Boko Haram and ISIS in Iraq and Syria are not only anti-Islamn but also capable of tarnishing the reputation of Islam and its adherents all over theworld.

Speaking through Barrister L.O Okunnu, (SAN) a Trustee of the group, during the press conference held at the Lagos Central Mosque, Wednesday, the group affirmed categoricallythatterrorismwasalien toIslamicfaith.

“Over the years the Boko Haram sect has been perpetrating various despicableactsofviolencenotablyin thenortheasternpartofNigeriaand Abuja,terminatingthelivesofmany people, both Muslims and Christians. Unfortunately, some

sincerity of purpose, to curb and put astoptocorruptionsothatwecanbe reckoned with as true believers. We urgetheFederalgovernmentaswell as all state governments in Nigeria to take all measures to eradicate all forms of corruption and pursue programmes that will enhance the quality of lives of our people.”

Lagos Muslim Ummah on State-of-the-nation

Bok o Haram, ISIS are anti-Islam Boko •Frowns at Israel’s involvement in arms purchase •Laments govts’ inability to tackle corruption in the name of Islam is a sinful act.

Clearly, they are violating the fundamental principle of Islam, which is “the Religion of Peace”.

“TheHolyQur’andoesnotenjoin violence, killing, terrorism and force asinstrumentsofpropagationof,and conversion to the faith and culture of Islam. Still less, they are not means ofattainingblissinParadiseormeans

Violence, killings are not means of attaining bliss in Paradise or means of gaining the favours and pleasure of Allah in this world

,

people regard the sect as Muslim.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we affirm that Boko Haram does not correctly present the stand of Islam on knowledge and some aspects of lslam.Wecannotoveremphasizethe falsehoodintheclaimofBokoHaram that“bookisharam.”

“As it has been acknowledged by many scholars, Islam treasures knowledge; it is knowledge-driven; and it urges the acquisition of knowledge from the cradle to the grave and far and wide. It is well known that Muslims have made distinguished intellectual contributions to human civilizations down the ages. Indeed, the false positionofBokoHaramonthisissue is flawed fatally by its deployment of sophisticated military weapons and mediastrategiesmadepossibleonly by recent advancements of knowledgeandtechnology.

“Boko Haram claims it has justification for the employment of violenceandterrorism.Despitetheir claims of being jihadists, it is clear that Boko Haram terrorists are not propagating the cause of Islam, and theydonotrepresentIslam.Wewish toaffirmcategoricallythatterrorismis alientoIslamicfaith.Islamrepresents peaceful co-existence and tolerance ofotherfaiths.Embarkingonviolence

,

of gaining the favours and pleasure of Allah in this world.

On forceful conversion of people to Islam, the group maintained that there is no compulsion of religion in Islam.

“Al-Qur’an chapter 2 verse 256 says, “There is no compulsion in religion”; Qur’an chapter 109 verse 6 says, “Your religion is for you and my religion is for me”.

ForcefulMarriage “Even forceful marriage is not endorsed by the Holy Qur’ an as shown clearly in Chapter 4 verse 19 -“Youareforbiddentoinheritwomen against their will”.

HencetheMuslimCommunityof Lagos State disassociates itself fully fromthisperverseandextremistsect, and hereby urges the Government to find a lasting solution to the rise of these misguided fanatics and

criminalswhowagewaragainstour fatherland in order (God forbid) to gain political power.

On Chibok Girls “It is over 170 days now that the Boko Haram marauders have abducted the Chibok girls! Islam abhors this un-Islamic and illegal incarceration;anditdeploresallforms of inhuman treatment. Our hearts and souls remain with these young school girls and we continue to pray fortheirsafetyandliberation.Wealso urge the authorities to exert more effortstobringbackourChibokgirls.

ISISasanti-Islam “We want to use this medium to condemn, in the strongest terms possible,theactionofISISinitsentirety asantiIslam.Theiractionsareaimed at tarnishing the reputation of Islam and its adherents all over the world.

Thereisatendencyforthemisguided philosophyofISIStospreadtoother parts of the world, especially Africa.

Indeed, the Boko Haram Sect, with its connection with AI-Qaeda and ISIS, has overrun some towns in the north-eastern parts of the country in theirquesttoestablishaquestionable caliphate. We, therefore, call on peoples and governments of the world to work together to wage war against, and defeat this growing monster before it overruns or consumes the world. It should be noted that ISIS which beheads humanbeingiscondemnedevenby Al-Qaeda, another terrorist organization.

Sallah: Okoya family sues for peace

BY EBUN SESSOU

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USLIMS all over the world have been advised to imbibe the peaceful doctirne of Prophet Mohammedin alltheir

•Imam AbdulHafeez Abojututu (2nd left) delivering the Eid-il-Adha sermon after the two rakaat prayer in Ikorodu last Saturday.

doings so as to make the world a better place.

Chairman, Eleganza Group of Companies, Alhaji Rasak Okoya gave the advice at the ocassion of Eld-el-kabir, which took place at the Idiat Abeke Mosque, Oluwanisola Estate.

He said, Muslims are not into violence adding those who engage in violence and destroying lives and properties in the country are not Muslims neither are they representing the Muslims.

He said: “the Sallah celebration is a true reflection of Prophet Mohammed’s fellowers obedience to Allah. While calling on Nigerian leaders to be thorough and truthful in their service to mankind even as elections are near, he said, the improvement and success of the country should be their paramount aim.

Isreal and arms purchase “It is particularly unfortunate that intheprocessofpurchasingarmsand ammunition,ostensiblytofightBoko Haramterroristsandinsurgents,the services of an Israeli has been secured. This might be capitalized upon by the insurgents and their allies to whip up sentiments and sympathiesinsomequarters.Hence, we believe that the procurement of ammunitionshouldbedonethrough normal and official channels that would not boomerang, be selfdefeating or counter-productive.

Because of the belligerent relationship between Israel and the Muslim world, Israel should not in anywaybeinvolvedinourwareffort againstBokoHaram.”

The corruption gangrene “In spite of various steps taken by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the regular and special agenciestofightandcurbcorruption in its totality, it seems we are failing as a nation to excise this cancer or gangrenefromthebodypoliticofthe country. As a divinely-revealed religion, Islam frowns at all forms of corruption and ill-gotten wealth. We must therefore as Muslims resolve, through concerted efforts and

Thesanctityofthetempleofjustice “Of particular interest to us as citizensofthiscountryandasbelievers inthetenetsofafaithnotedforpeace anddivinelaw(Sharia),wefeelreally concerned about the fresh threats to law and order in our country. We believethatademocraticsocietythat cherishes law and order must hold the judiciary and legal processes as sacrosanct.Undernocircumstances, should we condone recent and increasingassaultsonjudicialofficers inthedischargeoftheirlawfulduties.

The “temple of justice” must be regarded as sacred. Physical assaults, suchasreportedinAdo-Ekitirecently, couldunderminethesmoothfunction of justice, erode public confidence in theruleoflaw,andencourageresortto junglejustice.Theincidenceofphysical assault on Ekiti High Court Judge is the first ever in all our history. It is an attackonJUSTICEandRULEOFLAW. Andoncethesearedestroyed,Nigeria asaNationwillbedestroyed.Thatsort ofassaultshouldbethelastinNigeria.”

Various Muslim organizations representedatthepressbriefingwere Anwar-ul Islam Movement of Nigeria, Ansar ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Jamatul Islamiyya Society of Nigeria, Zumuratul Islamiyya SocietyofNigeria,Nawair-ud-deen Society of Nigeria, Ansar-ul Islam SocietyofNigeria,RahmatIslamiyya Association of Nigeria, Muslim Association of Nigeria, United MuslimCouncil(UMC),Federation of Muslim Women of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Muslim Lawyers Association, Islamic Medical Association, Crescent Bearers, NASFAT, National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations and Council of Muslim School Proprietorstomentionamongothers.

FEEDBACK Although I am not a Muslim but the fact is that I love your write ups in your newspapers and the brilliant mannerism of showcasing Islam as a religion of peace. We give kudos to people like you that make us proud of our Muslim friends.

Please, let us know more about Islam.

Barr Olanrewaju, Faculty of Law, DELSU, Abraka, Delta State.

Islam was truly exemplary and great in generosity and civility in those days and there are still very good Muslims around. Kudos to Yoruba and other Southwestern Muslims.

What is happening is that the power hungry and extremely wicked few people from the north are behind the great damage suffered by Islam through extreme violence and wanton mass murders of non-muslim minorities and southerners resident in the north. They portray Islam as a religion of great hate and pain and they have spread hatred and wickedness across the land.

Logoma.

I believe so much in the Unity of Muslims and Islam. How I wish all Muslims can work together as one to stand against corruption and injustice in our land. I am afraid there are more questions than answers the President can offer as far as the $9.3million arms deal is concerned.

Bolade Abdul The author is not Boko Haram but very close in thinking to Boko Haram. I think he does not understand the meaning of uniting the nation for common good and evil in his disposition as a public writer.

Blonde Johnny Bass

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 — 43

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44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

VANDALS: Lawmaker commends Navy but...

RALLY: The Advocates for Collective Transformation, ACT, held a rally on Credible Election in Nigeria by 2015; Voting the Right Leaders, along University of Lagos Road, Akoka. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

By Lamidi Bamidele

T

HE Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora and member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has commended the Nigerian Navy for arresting pipeline vandals in Majidun area of Ikorodu in Lagos.

In a statement yesterday, Abike Dabiri said while the role of the Navy in arresting pipeline vandals was commendable, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin should investigate allegation that his men were forcing motorists and other road users to load the jerry cans seized from the vandals into Navy trucks.

She also urged the naval boss to caution his men, whose activities had caused traffic congestion on Ikorodu road, lamenting that commuters spend several hours to get to their destinations.

She said residents had had to endure five days of blockade of the road as Naval officers led an operation, code-named AWATSE, to dislodge the vandals.

NIPOST intercepts banned items worth N13.647bn

By Emmanuel Elebeke

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HE Nigerian Postal Services has intercepted about 159 scam letters containing counterfeit financial instruments and other prohibited items worth N13.647 billion in the past nine months.

The Post MasterGeneral, Mallam Ibrahim Baba, disclosed this yesterday at a briefing to mark the 2014 World Post Day in Abuja.

He also disclosed that 2,060 staff from grade level 03 to 16 were promoted across the federation between January and September this year, as an incentive to motivate staff moral and reverse the ongoing trend of irregular staff promotion in NIPOST.

MUTINY: Agbakoba drags Army to court over death sentence on 12 soldiers

By Bartholomew Madukwe

F

ORMER President of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has dragged the Nigerian Army General Court Martial before a Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging its decision to convict and sentence 12 soldiers to death by firing squad for mutiny and other offences on September 16.

It will be recalled that the Military Court Martial had sentenced to death 12 of the 18 soldiers charged for mutiny on May 13 and 14, at Maimalari Cantonment.

In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/ 708/2014, Agbakoba, on behalf of the 12 condemned soldiers, is challenging the decision of the Court Martial on the ground that its composition was unconstitutional and contrary to Section 36(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees a fair trial to accused persons by a tribunal constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.

His affidavit

In his affidavit in support of the Originating Motion, Agbakoba stated that all the members of the Court Martial were Army Officers appointed by the 2nd Defendant, Brigadier-General D. T.

Ndiomu, Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro Abuja.

The affidavit also stated that the prosecutors, LieutenantColonel A.A. Audu and Lieutenant-Colonel Ukpe

Ukpe, are Army Officers also appointed by the 2nd respondent.

Dr. Agbakoba asserted that the independence and impartiality of the Court Martial was not secured in the trial of the soldiers.

He noted: “All those who participated in the events related to the Court Martial are Army officers. They are the investigators, prosecutors, President, Judge Advocate, Waiting Member and other members of the Court Martial.”

Minister makes case for gender-based violence survivors

By Funmi Olasupo

A

BUJA—THE ongoing consultative and inclusive process towards the development of National Intervention Plan for the treatment and support of survivors of insurgency, especially women and girls, is critical to the development of the country, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina, said yesterday.

The Minister stated this at a one-day national validation meeting on guidelines for prevention and response for intervention on gender-based violence in the North-East and other parts of the country in Abuja.

Maina said the guideline was expected to include, among others, counselling, provision of mental health services and continued schooling of affected victims of school age.

Maina said the guideline was expected to include, among others, counselling, provision of mental health services, continued schooling of affected victims of school age, provision of communitybased initiatives and services, involving other professional

agencies and personnel.

In her remarks, Director, Women and Gender Affairs, Mrs. Iran Ajufo, said ending the scourge of gender-based violence was imperative for the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs.

CNPP urges Jonathan to declare assets

By Chris Ochayi

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BUJA— THE Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, yesterday, advised President Goodluck Jonathan to declare his asset openly, instead of issuing threats over a publication by an online medium, which listed him as the sixth richest African President.

National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, who gave the

advice while reacting to the development, said: “Open declaration has become imperative to prove beyond reasonable doubt that President Jonathan is unconnected with the malfeasance of his subordinates.

“CNPP for the umpteenth time challenges President Goodluck Jonathan to as a matter of urgent national importance declare his assets openly.”

Lagos targets 25% food production by 2018

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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S part of efforts to ensure food security, Lagos State government, yesterday, said its target was to meet 25 percent of food production in the state by 2018.

This came as the state government concluded plans to construct a Metropolitan Park at Ajetutun in Ibeju-

Lekki Local Government Area of the state.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the activities slated for this year ’s World Food Day at Alausa, Ikeja, said the decision to set the 25 percent target was to ensure that the state’s teeming population did not at

any time experience food scarcity.

Lawal added that apart from the acquisition of land from Osun, Oyo and Ogun states and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, respectively, for farming purposes, the state was also embarking on several programmes and projects targeted at boosting food production in the state.

He said: “For fish production, in 2010, we were able to produce 109,000 metric tonnes.

At the end of December 2013, we are at 159,000 metric tonne.”

He added that demand for rice was huge, and Nigeria will benefit a lot if only the players in the private sector partner with the state government to boost rice production.

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46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

2015 GOV RACE:

2015 GOV RACE: PDP to decide my

Group drums support for Obanikoro

successor —Suswam

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AGOS—THE League of Concerned Lagosians, LCL, a political pressure group in Lagos State has endorsed the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikolo to be the next governor of Lagos State in 2015 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In campaign posters being circulated throughout the State tagged “Obanikolo save Lagos now ” the LCL opined that Senator Obanikoro was the only person that can save Lagos from the ironfisted clutches of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader of the APC, and former governor of the State.

According to the group, on coming to power in May, 2015, Senator Obanikoro will carry out a “deep, thorough, all encompassing and forensic” probe of the APCled governments of both Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola.

LCL said Lagos State has been deprived of genuine development because of the profligacy that has been witnessed under the rule of the APC in the state, stating that vast amount of scarce Lagos State resources have been diverted by the former governor of Lagos State to fund his pet project of imposing his political will on the whole of South-West Nigeria.

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By Peter Duru

A K U R D I — GOVERNOR Gabriel Suswam of Benue state, has said that he would not impose a governorship candidate on the people of the state saying that members of ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would collectively decide who his successor would be in 2015.

He also assured that he would avail all the aspirants, from the three senatorial zones of the state, a level playing field to canvass support for their candidature irrespective of tribe.

Suswam spoke yesterday in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi, the state capital, pointing out that over 26 aspirants were jostling to succeed him.

His words, “as the Governor of Benue state, I honestly would ensure a level playing field for all the aspirants who are presently jostling to succeed me; I would therefore, not for any reason impose any candidate on the people.

“The race is open to Tiv and Idoma candidates, but the decision on who picks the ticket of the PDP lies with the party members because they would have the final say on who

eventually emerges.

“There are rumours making the rounds that I have anointed some candidates, but the truth is that some persons may be engaged in name dropping in order to convince the people, its all part of politics.

“Ordinarily, I would have preferred to give it to my deputy because he has been with me since the inception of the administration and should be in

a better position to understand the workings of government, but my hands are tied because whatever we arrive at has to be the collective decision of the party.”

Suswam, then cautioned politicians against the use of inflammatory words in the course of their campaigns, pleading that the contest should not be a do or die affair.

Meanwhile, Gov. Suswam

has said the state government had not sold its shares in Dangote cement.

Suswam, who refuted claims that the shares were valued at N20 billion at the stock market, said the state government owned only N43 million shares with the company.

According to him, the shares were warehoused with the Benue Investment, Property Company, BIPC, and blamed his detractors for peddling such falsehood on

LETTER OF INTENT: Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State (middle), presenting his Letter of Intent to contest the 2015 governorship election to the state Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman, Chief Abubakar Gaya Haruna (right), and Deputy Governor, Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga, at the Party Secretariat in Kaduna. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Toure expresses confidence in Nigeria's broadband plan

By Emeka Aginam & Emma

Elebeke AGOS—THE Secretary General of the International telecommunication Union, ITU, Dr Hamadoun Touré, Wednesday in Abuja expressed confidence in the implementation of the Nigerian

L

National Broadband plan.

Touré spoke through video conference during the Nigerian ICT Centenary conference and Award 2014 organized by the ICT Media Initiative, saying that the country has laid a solid foundation for the implementation of the

broadband plan through the Open Access Model.

The plan developed by the Presidential Committee on Broadband is expected to address the national broadband challenges in the country.

According to him, discipline and collective commitment were

needed for the full implementation of broadband strategy in the country.

His words: “I am very confident that Nigeria will achieve the broadband plan approved by President Goodluck Jonathan. Broadband roll out and access will help build strong communities and bridgedigitaldivide."

On South Africa seizes another $5.7m

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HOSE who are be hind this propaganda must fail because Nigerians are not fools.

APC can do better by telling Nigerians what they will do if elected, and not this outdated style of politics. Ms. Judith Ekwu- Student

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HY can’t our gov ernment come clean and do business the right way? Why all these “mago-mago” and “ wuru-wuru”? One day, we shall all stand before our Maker for judgment.

Mr. Abiodun AremuWorker

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IGERIA has now become a mockery to other countries. This country is fast becoming a modern day Colombia.

What Nigerians need to be told is whether legitimate arms deals are done through an illegal means? Mrs Morayo Simeon- Self Employed

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HY should any re sponsible government resort to a cash transfer method, which is inimical and runs counter to even all our national and international financial laws including anti- money and terrorist financing laws.

Ms. Anne Kelechi- Fashion Designer

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NYONE with knowledge of money laundering operations should certainly be aware that, fictitious and obnoxious arms deals are vehicles used to launder money. After a while, the matter will be swept under the carpet for a fresh one.

Mr. Okechukwu NeneBanker

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T is extremely sad that, most Nigerians have suddenly lost their nationalistic instinct and conscience to query and hold our central government responsible and accountable due to our excessive intake of religious-politico- ethnic opium. Ms. Chinonye Chinny- Communicator

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Ebola: Spanish nurse battles to live

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Britain tightens screening of West Africans B

RITAIN yesterday said it would start screening travellers coming from Ebola-hit parts of west Africa at Heathrow and Gatwick airports and on Eurostar trains from Belgium and France.

“Enhanced screening will initially be implemented at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports and Eurostar terminals,” the government said in a statement.

It said this would include researching passengers’ recent travel history “as well as a possible medical assessment, conducted by trained medical personnel rather than border force staff”.

“These measures will help to improve our ability to detect and isolate Ebola cases,” it said, adding: “It is important to remember that the overall risk to the public in the UK continues to be very low”.

The government said this would offer “an additional level of protection” on top of

•British PM, David Cameron screening of passengers boarding planes in Guinea, Liberia and

Sierra Leone.

“However, it is important to stress that

given the nature of this disease, no system could offer 100 percent protection from nonsymptomatic cases,” it added.

The announcement follows public pressure in the wake of the Ebola case in Spain. The government had dismissed screening in a statement on Tuesday.

“This would require the UK to screen every returning traveller, as people could return to the UK from an affected country through any port of entry. This would be huge numbers of low risk people,” it said at the time.

HE Spanish nurse infected with Ebola is at “serious risk” of dying from the disease after her condition worsened on Thursday, officials said.

The nurse, so far the only person to have been diagnosed after catching the disease outside Africa, “is at this time very ill and her life is at serious risk as a consequence of the virus,” the Madrid regional president Ignacio Gonzalez told parliament.

A spokeswoman for the

Haiti denies “Baby Doc” state burial

H

AITI’S former dictator JeanClaude “Baby Doc” Duvalier will not receive a state funeral after all, his lawyer said Thursday, after public outrage that a man accused of corruption and mass killings could receive such an honor.

Duvalier will instead be remembered at a family ceremony on Saturday in

US, UN demand for swift action against Ebola

A

top US health official yesterday urged swift action to prevent the deadly Ebola virus from becoming the next AIDS epidemic, as the health of an infected Spanish nurse deteriorated.

The United Nations chief meanwhile called for a 20fold increase in the world’s

response to the spread of Ebola, which has killed nearly 3,900 people in West Africa since the beginning of the year.

Ebola’s spillover into the United States and Europe has raised fears of a wider outbreak, and led the United States and Canada to start tougher airport

screening of passengers arriving from West Africa.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has predicted the number of cases could mount to 1.4 million by January unless strong measures are taken to contain the disease, which is spread though close

La Paz-Carlos III hospital where Romero is being treated told reporters earlier: “Her clinical situation has deteriorated but I can’t provide more information,” because of the express wishes of the patient.

The nurse, Teresa Romero, helped treat two elderly Spanish missionaries who died after returning from west Africa with Ebola in August and September. She tested positive for the disease on Monday.

contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.

“We have to work now so that it is not the world’s next AIDS,” CDC director Tom Frieden told the heads of the United Nations, World Bank and International Monetary Fund gathered in Washington."

the chapel of his former Catholic school SaintLouis de Gonzague in Port-au-Prince, more than a quarter-century after he was driven into exile by a popular uprising.

When the 63-year-old died of a heart attack last week, Haiti’s President Michel Martelly declared in a tweet that he had been “an authentic son of Haiti,” and his spokesman told AFP that a national funeral would be the appropriate protocol.

But the idea that a man accused of overseeing the looting of Haiti by a corrupt elite and of unleashing the murderous Tonton Macoute militia against his opponents be honored in such a way outraged opposition groups and surviving victims of his regime.

50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,OCTOBER 10, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 — 51

52 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 — 53

Aig-Imoukhuede to face $1 trn capitalisation target challenge innovations, etc.

The issue of attracting HE emergence of Mr. more companies to list Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede as on the NSE is receiving the President of the Nigerian the Federal Government Aig-Imuokhude Stock Exchange, NSE has been and National Assembly described as a good omen for the support. There is a Private instrumental to the transformation Nigerian capital market. it is Companies Conversion and of Access Bank. beginning with expected that he will bring his listing Bill before the National the transformation of Access Bank vast experience to bear, to Assembly. The purpose of the Bill from a lowly-rated Nigerian bank surmount some of the challenges is to compel private companies into one of the leading African facing the stock exchange and the whose shareholders funds exceed financial brands with his deputy, market in general N40 billion or whose annual Herbert Wigwe, every of his touch The new President came on turnover exceeds N80 billion or and initiative delivered superior board when the stock market is its total assets exceed eighty value to stakeholders and the gradually regaining investors’ billion, to convert to public liability African continent. confidence after the market company and get its shares listed Specifically, Aig-Imoukhuede, crashed in 2009. The crash of the on the NSE. The Bill has steered the affairs of the Bank off Nigerian capital market was undergone second reading and the storm and turned the unprecedented in its historic soon will go for public hearing. perennial loss-making institution evolution since 1960. The market Also, there have been concerted into a profit making venture. capitalisation nose-dived from all efforts by government agencies to Interestingly, in his first year at time high of N13.5 trillion in ensure that newly privatized the helms of affairs, the Bank March 2008 to less than N4.6 power companies are made to list recorded a Proftit Before Tax , trillion by second week of January on the exchange.

PBT of N1billion, an amount 2009. However, the market has It will be recalled that the NSE which was more than the total regained about 195 per cent from on Wednesday September 24, profit recorded by the Bank in its when it crashed in 2009. officially installed Aigboje Aig- entire 13 years of operation before Market capitalisation is the Imoukhuede as the President of the appointment of Aigboje and total value of all stocks quoted the exchange. He succeeded the Herbert, which marked the on the NSE and is derived by out gone President and Africa’s creation of value for the Bank’s multiplying all the prices of richest man, Alhaji Aliko shareholders. shares quoted on the exchange Dangote.

Aig-Imoukhuede, is an and the issued shares of the Notwithstanding the exemplary business leader whose companies . challenges, operators in the achievements have earned other African professionals the Aig-Imuokhude’s uncanny ability to bring admiration and respect of the international business dreams alive has earned him a pride of place community. in the chronicle of successful corporate After his retirement from Access Bank as Group Managing restructuring in the world Director in December 2013, Besides, the All Share Index, ( market have shown their support general expectation was that he a measure of the general price for the new President, who is would be named the next movement ) also plummeted from expected to lift the exchange to a Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN because of his about 66,000 basis points to less new height.

Aig-Imoukhuede, the man, who excellent pedigree and than 22,000 points in the same period . However, the index has is regarded as the most famous accomplishment. regained over 19000 basis points alumnus of a Tier-1 Access Bank from when it crashed in 2009 to Plc, has begun a tenure that many Excellent close last week at 41,103.94 points. operators in the Nigerian capital pedigree Some of the challenges that market see as one that will Aig-Imoukhuede is a noble and Aig-Imoukhuede are expected to provide a new and energizing surmount include the chapter for the exchange. This extraordinary business leader actualisation of $1 trillion mark belief is largely founded and with a special capacity to inspire capitlistion ,which the NSE has driven by the fact that the man, others to greatness.

A quintessential banker and set to achieve by 2016. It is an who along with his Deputy arduous task to overcome as Managing Director and current outstanding manager of Nigerian stock market currently Group Managing Director/CEO resources, his uncanny ability to lacks breadth and depth of of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, bring dreams alive has earned securities .The companies listed transformed Access Bank to what him a pride of place in the on the exchange have it is today. He is known for his chronicle of successful corporate inadequate capacity to take the deep and elaborate application of restructuring in the world, and the innovative change management transformation story of Access market to that level.

Other challenges before the principles, and particularly for Bank under his leadership was new President include: how to bringing an exciting leadership listed a case study for MBA attract more companies to get style in his many previous roles students in leading Business listed on the exchange; at the top, the most famous of Schools across the hemisphere.

Access Bank which is now demutualization (public listing ); which is the transformational capitalisation of dealing leadership that took place in his credited with the most successful growth trajectory in the history of members, enlightenment 12 years at Access Bank.

Aig-Imoukhuede was banking in Africa and perhaps in programme ; product

BY PETER EGWUATU

T

,

the emerging markets was incorporated in February 1989 as a privately owned commercial bank obtained a banking licence and commenced business in May 1998.

Banking licence The Bank was converted to a public limited liability and was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in November 1998.

Until March 2002 after the recapitalisation of the Bank when Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede was appointed by the Bank’s Board of Directors alongside his partner, Herbert Wigwe who currently serves as the Bank’s Group Managing Director with a clear mandate to reposition the Bank as one of Nigeria’s top 10 Banks by 2007 to salvage its dwindling fortune.

Under the watchful eyes of AigImoukhuede, Access Bank emerged from 65th position in 2002 to rank amongst bank top 10 banks in Nigeria before the banking consolidation.

Subsequently, the bank went ahead to acquire Capital Bank International and Marina International Bank to meet the capitalisation requirements.

Aigboje’s acumen and resourcefulness have not only nurtured his personal vision to success but served the Nigerian nation in different capacities and contributed significantly towards building a better world for the habitation of mankind. Most recently, Aig-Imoukhuede who is a member of the National Economic Management Committee, dedicated to shaping national economic policies also served at the Chairman of the Fuel Subsidy Verification and Repayment Committee.

Consistent with his reputation, he made success of the herculean task which brought huge discomfort to his family and threat to his life by saving the country of a whooping sum of N1 trillion when he blocked the channels through which our beloved country is fleeced of her resources.

He toiled day and night, forensically combing through paper works and activities of

interested parties with members of his committee, to unravel the misery behind the yearly ballooning of Fuel Subsidy Repayment that has consistently seen it overshooting budgetary provision annually.Therefore, it is expected that he will contribute greatly to lift the exchange to a greater height.

A team player, who does not take personal credit for collective accomplishments, he openly acknowledged the contributions of every member of the presidential committee and their selfless efforts at nation building.

An alumnus of the Harvard Business School and law graduate of the University of Benin who started his career in the Legal department of Continental Merchant Bank discovered early enough that he enjoyed making deals than doing legal works, and quickly transited to core banking. He spent over 19 years of professional and senior management banking experience at Guaranty Trust Bank (now GT Bank), where he was Executive Director superintending the Public Sector Group before resigning in February 2002 to lead a team of other professionals to reposition Access Bank for global recognition.

Global recognition It will be recalled in Sandton, South Africa, at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, AigImoukhuede, who was then the First Vice President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, was on centre stage. On the occasion of the third, Building African Financial Markets Capacity Building Seminar (BAFM), hosted by the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and African Securities Exchange Association (ASEA), with the support of the World Bank Group, he presented a keynote address which touched on what seemed like a prelude to what we can expect about the way he thinks the financial markets, particularly stock exchanges should work to create wealth in society.

In the address entitled: Africa Rising – The Role of Securities Exchanges, Aig-Imoukhuede, lawyer, consummate banker and a major player and influential person in the Nigerian economy, could not pass over an opportunity to express the broadness of his thinking about the role of wealth in society and how those who are in positions to act can broaden their intervention in society.

,

54—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

Itsekiri students laud Barlow on enlightenment programmes

W

A R R I — N AT I O N A L President of National Association of Itsekiri Students, NAIS, Augustine Leleji, has lauded the efforts of Mr. Alero Barlow in reawakening the educational consciousness of Itsekiri people.

Leleji spoke during a seminar on sensitisation and prevention of teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and Ebola Virus Diseases, EVD, organised by the office of Miss NAIS, in conjunction with Alero Barlow2015 Campaign Organisation, tagged Good Health for the Betterment of Itsekiri Nations, at Ugbuwangue, Warri.

He said: “It is only pertinent and of paramount important that Itsekiri students recognise Barlow's effort in positioning Itsekiri indigenes.”

He explained that the seminar was an initiative of Miss NAIS, who came up with the health programme to tackle issues of teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and EVD, discussed the idea with the lawmaker who accepted to finance the project through her campaign organisation and awarded scholarship to six undergraduates.

Burial

M

RS. Cecilia Egbe (nee) Akintoye, 92, is dead.

Service of songs is Tuesday, October 28, at Egbe’s compound, Idumu-Ogbele quarter, Onicha-Ugbo, Delta State.

Requiem mass is next day at All Saints Catholic Church, Onicha-Ugbo, followed by interment and entertainment of guests at the family compound.

I 'll govern Delta no matter what it takes—GBAGI

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA— FORMER Minister of State, Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, has said no matter what it would take, he will govern Delta State, vowing to fight against alleged zoning of the governorship seat to Delta North.

Gbagi, who spoke when he paid a consultative visit to the state leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Asaba, said the governorship position had always been contested by aspirants from the three senatorial districts since the country attained democratic rule in 1999.

He said: “No matter what it

takes, I will govern Delta,” insisting that he was the most qualified among those vying for the gubernatorial seat in 2015.

He said he had washed his hands very clean as a politician and had more stakes than other governorship aspirants in the state.

Gbagi said: “Nobody has ever come to say I have stolen or that I have taken anybody’s wife. I will not take Delta State’s money.”

He solicited the support of the party ’s leadership and promised to use his wealth of experience and contacts to transform the state.

Responding on behalf of the state executive of the party, Chief Solomon Ogba assured

that the party had agreed that delegates’ votes would count at the party’s primaries.

On zoning

He said: “The party has not taken any position on zoning and that is why we are receiving all aspirants. It is a contest and whoever emerges with the highest votes will be the party’s candidate.

“My appeal is that when someone emerges as the party ’s candidate, other aspirants should support him.

Only one person can be governor at a time and it is only God that can decide that.

“Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan clarified a lot of issues when he said he does not know who will succeed him.”

VISIT: Chairman, A m u w o Odofin Local Government, Mr. Ayodele Adewale ( l e f t ) ; Coordinator, South-West, Niger Delta Congress, Mr. G e o r g e Utomini (2nd right) and members, during a courtesy call on the chairman.

Abraka people petition Uduaghan over alleged marginalisation

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HE people of Abraka in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State have called on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to, in the spirit of justice, fairness, sense of belonging and brotherliness, and correct alleged political imbalance in elective positions.

In a statement by High Chief Nath Anho, after a meeting in Abraka, the people drew the attention of the governor to the “marginalisation and drought of elective positions in Abraka,” noting that since 1999, no Abraka person had held either the chairmanship position of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, or represented the constituency at the state House of Assembly.

While endorsing the aspiration of Engr. Blessing Enamuotor to represent Ethiope East in the state House of Assembly in 2015, the people also passed a vote

of confidence on Governor Uduaghan’s administration, the leadership of PDP state Chairman, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, and the party leadership in Ethiope East.

At the meeting were Mr. Lawrence Odogho, Abraka Ward I PDP Chairman; Engr.

Enamuotor, Chief Andrew Ekakitie, Chief Emmanuel Egheneji, High Chief Peter Erakpotobor, Chief Sunny Ogune, Chief Julius Ogboru, Cheif Skinn Ogboru, Mr. Emmanuel Idogho, Mrs Grace Ughwumiakpo, Mrs Victoria Obukowho and Madam Onome Onoko, among others.

$9.3M SCANDAL: Publishers exonerate Oritsejafor

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ARRI—NIGERIANS have been called upon to disregard insinuations that the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has anything to do with the purported $9.3 million discovered in an aircraft with two Nigerians and an Israeli in South Africa.

The call was made by the Delta State Indigenous Newspaper Publishers Association, DINPA, in a release issued at the end of its meeting in Asaba.

In the release by its

President, Mr. Femi Odonmeta and Secretary, Mr. Daniel Ekiugbo, the association noted that the dimension the issue had assumed was unwarranted.

According to DINPA, “it is saddening that despite the fact that the company running the jet has owned up and the Federal Government has agreed to the ownership of the money, the advocates of campaign of calumny continue to whip up negative sentiments in their bid to tarnish Oritsejafor’s reputation.”

Edo North PDP backs Lamai for NASS

T

HE leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo North senatorial zone has expressed support for the senatorial ambition of National Coordinator of PDP Reloaded project, Chief Richard Lamai, to represent the area in next year’s general elections.

The leadership, which included youths and women leaders, assured the senatorial hopeful of its support when they paid a courtesy visit to Chief Lamai at his country home in Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Area during the Sallah celebration.

Speaking on behalf of the 64 ward chairmen in the senatorial zone, Alhaji Bashir Momoh of Etsako West; Monday Okpodi, Etsako Central; Paul Omoaka, Etsako East; Kenneth Momoh, Owan East and Chief Wasoso of Akoko Edo, identified themselves with Lamai’s aspiration and his desire to represent the area in the senate.

Urhobo professionals back Edoja’s senatorial aspiration

By Brisibe Perez

S

APELE—THE senatorial ambition of Mr. Solomon Edoja, yesterday, got a boost as Urhobo Professionals in the Diaspora, UPD, backed his aspiration to represent Delta Central senatorial district in the National Assembly.

The group, in a communiqué by its President and Secretary, Efemena Dafinone and Mr. Oshevire Omamode, respectively, after a meeting in Sapele, described Edoja as experienced in executive, legislative and political affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The group said: “We believe that Edoja would meet public expectation if he is given the chance to represent the people of Delta Central Senatorial district.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014—55

Ekweremadu seeks abrogation of 36-state structure

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

N

SUKKA—DEPUTY President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has called for the abrogation of the country’s 36 state structure and replacement with six regional governments.

Speaking at the 54th Founder’s Day of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ekweremadu also advocated a social welfare scheme for the weak and unemployed in the country.

He said the challenge of every democracy was to prove to its citizens that it had the capacity to respond to the challenges of governance.

Ekweremadu, who spoke on the topic: “Key Governance Issues in Nigeria: My Perspectives”, however, noted that to achieve this, the nation must deal with challenges of effective leadership, reform of the electoral process, reform of party politics, insecurity, corruption, poverty and unemployment, and the revamping of public institutions.

Noting the inefficiency of the federal system, which he dubbed feeding bottle capitalism, Senator Ekweremadu also called for the introduction of multi-level policing as a way of redressing present and whatever security challenges that might face the country.

He said: “My take is that we should return to the regional arrangement with the six geopolitical zones as the federating units. This will help us to shrink the size and number of government and increase the volume of resources available to the regions. It will also help the federating units to benefit from the economy of scale, doing mega development projects as we had in the First Republic.

“A country that does not provide for its weak and unemployed can never know true peace, for the rich will never sleep when the poor is awake. What will secure us is not high perimeter fences,

but ensuring that the elderly and the unemployed have something to live on. I am a fan of social welfare scheme. Those who insist that the country cannot bear the bill are not telling the world the truth.

“A report published in January 2011 by the US-based Global Financial Integrity entitled “Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2000 – 2009” estimated

AWARD: Chris Uwaje, former President, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON (right), receiving indigenous software/IT Policy Advocate Award from Ernest Ndukwe, former Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC in Abuja . The award was conferred on Uwaje by Information Technology Initiative during the Nigeria ICT Centenary Award.

Unity Schools workers insist on strike

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

A

S the ongoing strike in the Federal Ministry of Education and 104 Federal Government Colleges, FGCs, otherwise known as Unity Schools, across the country enters its third week, Association of Senior Civil

Okorocha hosts 2014 NMMA in Owerri

O

WERRI—THE 22nd edition of the Nigeria Media Merit Award, NMMA, the biggest annual media excellence event in Nigeria and Africa, will take place in Owerri, Imo State, between Friday October, 31 and Sunday, November 2, 2014.

The event is being hosted by public and private sectors of Imo State, led by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

The programme, which has become the highest focus of media institutions and professionals for recognition and

illicit money siphoned out of Nigeria in the ten year period at USD130 billion. In April this year, the Minister of Finance relying on the report of the former South African President, Thabo Mbekiled panel set up by African Ministers of Finance lamented that at least USD50 billion was expropriated or disappeared from Africa, especially through the sharp practices of multinationals.

If we are able to plug these holes, we should be able to guarantee social security for our citizens.”

The Deputy President of the Senate said the “dominant public sentiment is that leaders show insufficient commitment to the citizens’ welfare and gravely underappreciate the need to use powers to achieve public good and national interest. ''The welfare of citizens should not depend on the goodwill of those in power, but should be the centerpiece of government policies and programme.''

acknowledgement of excellent achievements in the industry, is already gathering momentum.

The three-day event will be attended by the best of media professionals, veterans and chief executives in Owerri, Imo State.

The highlight of the event would be the Grand Presentation Award ceremony on Saturday, November 1, 2014, where winners would emerge from the over 150 outstanding media professionals who have been nominated for the 53 categories of NMMA awards in 2014.

Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, said yesterday, there was no going back until all demands were met.

The union is protesting among others, unpaid salary arrears, and other benefits for members.

A statement by the Secretary General of ASCSN, Mr. Alade Bashir Lawal, enjoined members at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Inspectorate Offices, and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges to remain firm and obey the strike order until directed otherwise by the union.

It noted that the tripartite Task Force set up by Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity in respect of the strike had recorded some positive results.

The union said “ we can confirm that N527,643,440.00 (Five hundred and twenty-seven million, six hundred and fortythree thousand, four hundred and forty-four naira) has been released by the Budget Office to the CBN for onward transmission to the Federal Ministry of Education to start the payment of the first batch

of promotion arrears. We are hopeful that the money will start entering the personal accounts of the Union at the Headquarters of the Ministry, the Inspectorate Offices, and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges beginning from Friday.”

The union said at a meeting held at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity on October 4 2014, with the Federal Ministry of Education in attendance, it was agreed that the tripartite Task Force should continue to work to ensure that the outstanding N1.7 billion (which covers all other arrears of promotion and other allowances) with the Budget Office was released.

Other conclusions reached at the meeting include the fact that both parties to the dispute should get the necessary mandate from their principals so that when the tripartite meeting reconvened on October 15, the strike would be reviewed.

The union scribe commended the heroic actions of members of the Union at the Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Inspectorate Offices, and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges for standing firm while carrying out the strike directive.

Fuel scarcity hits Abia, Imo, Enugu states as tanker drivers'strike worsens

By Chidi Nkwopara, Anayo Okoli & Francis Igata

I

NDUSTRIAL action declared by Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, branch of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, to protest the deplorable Okigwe-Umuahia and Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene roads, among others, is already taken its toll on Abia, Imo and Enugu states.

Scarcity of fuel has hit the three states and is causing untold hardships for motorists and others.

The tanker drivers are complaining that the deplorable conditions of the roads had been negatively affecting the transportation of products and their trucks.

Most petrol stations in the state refused to sell product, claiming they had ran out of products, giving rise to long queue at the few stations, including NNPC stations that sold fuel yesterday.

Some private marketers have taken the advantage to hike pump prices, dispensing between N140 and N120 per litre.

In Imo State, long queues were seen at most petrol stations.

Some staff of the stations along Egbu Road, Owerri, told Vanguard that they “have run out of premium motor spirit, PMS. We are told that tanker drivers are on strike. I cannot say why they went on strike but this is why this station has run out of petrol.”

However, few stations still dispensing the petroleum product maintained the official pump price of petrol per litre.

Similarly, long queues were seen in Enugu metropolis with restive motorists battling to get fuel.

Most of the petrol stations on the ever busy Ogui road were shut, forcing motorists to patronize black market operators.

Speaking on the strike, Commissioner for InterMinisterial Duties, Mr. Dan Anike, said “NUPENG briefed me yesterday (Wednesday) that they are embarking on a nationwide strike to show resentment to the deplorable condition of South-East roads.”

56 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10 14 10,, 20 2014

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NNABUIFE—I, formerly known and addressed as Kingsley Zimuzo Nnabuife, now wish to be known and addressed as Amaechi Kingsley Nnabuife. All former documents remain valid.

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), banks and general public please take note.

NNAJI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chisom Favour Nnaji, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Amaechi Chisom Favour. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADACHE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Elizabeth Adache, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Elizabeth Igene. All former documents remain valid. Ministry of Defence and general public please take note.

MUHAMMED—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Muhammed Fatimoh Morenike, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Yussuf Fatimoh Morenike. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

T O Y E M E — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Toyeme Hannah Mawusi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okelola Hannah Mawusi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IKPEAMA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ikpeama Collet Nkechinyere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okoro Collet Nkechinyere. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

ONUMONU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Emelda Chigozie Onumonu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Emelda Chigozie Edegware. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OYIBO—I, formerly known and addressed as Victory Ngozi Oyibo, now wish to be known and addressed as Victory Chinenye Azuka. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AROVAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Arovah Faith Orowo, now wish to be known and addressed as Ase Faith Orowo.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UMUKORO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Umukoro Faith, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Bigha Faith. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

O M O E R A — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Blessing Ibhade Omoera, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Obiagba Jacinta Blessing Uche. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ERIKE-ETCHIE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Erike-Etchie Aboyowa Jane, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ijakpimi Aboyowa Jane. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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GOSIOHA—We, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Chukwuka Osmond Gosioha, Miss Linda Ediriverere Ohwonigho, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Chukwuka Osmond Joseph-Gregory, Mrs. Lilly Ediriverere Joseph-Gregory. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014—57

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Confirmation of name I, Theophilus Anthony hereby confirm that the name Bassey Anthony as it appears on my First School Leaving Certificate refers to one and same me. All former documents remain valid. UBE, Bayelsa State and general public please take note.

I, Theophilus Ay e b a t o r u d i g i y o hereby confirm that the name Bassey Ayebatorudigiyo as it appears on my First School Leaving Certificate refers to one and same me. All former documents remain valid. UBE, Bayelsa State and general public please take note.

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U.S. not undermining Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram, says envoy YOLA—THE U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, has debunked media reports that America was not doing enough in helping Nigeria to contain terrorism in the country.

Entwistle who debunked the

Briton dies of Ebola in Macedonia, Spanish nurse critical

M

ACEDONIA said it was checking for the Ebola virus in a British man who died within hours of being admitted to hospital in the capital, Skopje, yesterday.

Authorities sealed off a hotel where he had been staying, isolating a second Briton and hotel staff. A Health Ministry official said the man had arrived from Britain on October 2 and had been rushed to hospital at 3 p.m. on Thursday, where he died several hours later.

Dr. Jovanka Kostovska of the ministry ’s commission for infectious diseases said the man had been suffering from fever, vomiting and internal bleeding, and that his condition had deteriorated rapidly. Amid fears that the disease might spread in Europe, Kostovska told a news conference: “These are all symptoms of Ebola, which raises suspicions with this patient.”

notion at a news conference in Yola, yesterday, said the U.S. Government was heavily involved in supporting Nigerian Government’s response to Boko Haram menace.

He said, “I disagree completely with these headlines; they are quite inadequate. Our two countries have strong military relationship. Over the years, we share a lot of equipment; some of the newest vessels of your navy come from United States, so the idea that U.S. doesn’t support Nigeria is not true.”

Entwistle said the support to Nigeria was in many forms, including training of soldiers and information sharing. On his

perception of Boko Haram, the ambassador said he was not sure of the group’s objectives, adding, “There are still some open questions on who they are, what they want. A year ago, I would have said they were religiously motivated. But as they killed more and more Muslims, it’s hard for me to believe that they were motivated by religion. Who are these guys and what do they want? I don’t think we really understand them. " He observed that Boko Haram had gone beyond being a small insurgent group, with a couple of guns, to very effective collection of conventional force.

L-r: Okunola Joshua, an accounting officer with Price WaterHouse Coopers Ltd, with colleagues, Titilope Abe of Access Bank plc, Mr. Oluwaseun Badejo of Subseat Nigeria Ltd, and Mr. Sola Arikawe of Stanbic IBTC plc, at the 2014 investiture of ICAN, in Lagos

Nigeria not implicated in $15m seized by South Africa—Falana

W

ITHIN the past three weeks the Asset Forfeiture Unit in the office of the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, in South Africa seized two tranches of fund totaling $15million being payment for the alleged purchase of arms by the Federal Government. Initially, the sum of $9.3 million smuggled into South Africa by an Israeli and two Nigerians was seized last month.

The suspicion surrounding the transaction was fueled by the disclosure that the South African company involved in the deal is not a licensed arms dealer and that the jet used to ferry the money belongs to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, who is very close to the Presidency. The CAN has since said the plane which was bought for evangelism was converted and leased to another company to raise some money!

Since the Federal Government could not justify the brazen violation of the money laundering law of South Africa by the three suspects it decided to engaged in the diplomatic resolution of the embarrassing incident. However, while the “diplomatic row” was yet to be resolved another sum of $5.7 million wired by a Nigerian

company to South Africa from Abuja for the purchase of more arms was also seized last week.

Convinced that the latest seizure could not be justified the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) lambasted the South African Government and the fifth columnists in Nigeria who are bent on frustrating the Federal Government in prosecuting the war on terror.

According to Mr. Karounwi Adekunle, the spokesperson for the office of the NSA, “a business transaction actually took place between a legitimate company in Nigeria and another legitimate company in South Africa through the bank. In the course of events the South African company could not perform and decided to refund the money. What is illegitimate in this transaction done through the bank?”

It is interesting to note that the NSA has not said that it was the Federal Government that transferred the controversial fund to South Africa. Neither has the NPA indicted the Federal Government for the alleged criminality associated with the transaction. In fact, the NPA has not questioned the legal status of both companies. What is being investigated by the NPA is the legitimacy of the receipt of $5.7

million by Cerberus Risk Solutions of South Africa whose licence to deal in arms had expired before it entered into the contract. In actuality, it was the Standard Bank through which the fund was transferred which reported the “suspicious transaction.” And the NPA promptly applied for and obtained an order of the High Court for the seizure of the fund.

Both companies- Cerberus Risk Solutions of South Africa and it’s Nigerian counterpart, Societe D’Equipments Internationale are yet to challenge the interim order for the confiscation of the fund.

Therefore, contrary to the mismanagement of information traceable to the office of the NSA the Federal Government did not place any direct order for the importation of arms from South Africa. The fact that the NSA signed the End User certificate for the arms importation is not a licence for the companies involved in the deal to breach the laws of South Africa. In other words, the Israeli and two Nigerians who were arrested last month for smuggling the $9.3 million and the Nigerian company involved in the transfer of the $5.7 million to South Africa are not public officers.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 — 58

• Medical doctors in a theatre.

Rescuing private health care from imminent collapse

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

T

ODAY in Nigeria, the sorry state of the country’s health care system has left many Nigerians with the option of seeking medical treatment overseas.

The reason is not far-fetched as majority of them have lost hope in the health care delivery of the country.

The decision to go abroad is predicated on the conviction that, hospitals in the choice country are better equipped for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

It is no longer news that Nigerian doctors rank shoulder to shoulder with their counterparts in these countries.

Infact, available record showed that Nigerian trained doctors are in large numbers practicing in most hospitals abroad, where they give good accounts of themselves. And this has promoted brain drain in the country.

Most of these doctors go abroad in order to get expose to modern medical equipment, which are lacking in Nigerian hospitals. Apart from the public hospitals that can boast of some of such equipment, only a handful of private hospitals have some of the necessary modern equipment.

In the last 15 years, there has been growth of private sector health organisations and 60 per cent of the country’s health services are provided by the private sector, making it a key entry point. Large role played by the private sector in health care delivery creates the need for standard and best practice and therefore to challenge medical tourism, private sector players need to improve on standard. On the current state of health care in Nigeria, a country with 170 million populations, a 2.8 per cent growth in the health sector is far from achieving the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs. Again, Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality ratio, estimated at 545 maternal deaths per 100, 000 live births, while under five

mortality rate is 157 per 100, 000 live births.

In 2012, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV, prevalence rate among adults (18-49 years) is 3.1 per cent, as the country has second largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa, while 47 per cent of health facilities are not regulatory radars.

In 2013, 18 000 Nigerians travelled to India for medical purposes and are reported to have spent N14.6 billion.

Nigeria Ministry of Health spends about 70 per cent of its budget in urban areas where 30 per cent of the population resides.

According to a Consultant Paediatrician and General Practitioner, Dr. Ngozi Onyia, improvement in standards in the health sector requires significant capital investment. To her, the health care sector lacks access to capital, as only nine per cent are taking loans. Onyia however proffers reasons for why health providers do not have access to capital in form of loans and grants. According to her, most health care organizations do not operate in the same environment as any other businesses; most of them operate as family outfit without having account department or being subjected to auditing. She said they need to be profitable to repay loans extended by financial institutions, stressing that banks as lenders to health care organizations are also taking risks with depositors’ funds, hence the need to reduce the risk involved.

However, to break the barriers in the health care organisations access to loans, Diamond bank plc, one f the leading retail bank in Nigeria launched a new product, ‘Diamond MediLoanQualityCare’, designed to provide loan facilities for improved healthcare delivery in the country. It is a partnership with SafeCare, a medical advisory and standards organisation.

The product, recently launched in Lagos, will afford operators of hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, laboratories, diagnostic centre and other medical establishments the opportunity to access loan facility from the Bank to acquire medical equipment, fixed assets and to undertake the renovation and expansion of existing facilities in order to deliver efficient and qualitative service to their clients. The product has four different tiers of financing, ranging from N200, 000 to N56 million.

At the launch, Mr. Deputy Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Uzoma Dozie noted that the Bank took keen interest in the health sector due to the strategic importance that good health plays in the overall wellbeing of man.

He said: “For any nation to develop, three things are very critical and important; education, health and food.

Citizens, particularly the workforce

must be educated, healthy and wellfed. If the workforce lacks any of the three, they can’t be competitive and if they are not, the country can’t develop.

That’s the reason we are addressing the problem of financing in the health sector. Through this newly launched product, health practitioners would have access to finance to purchase necessary equipment so they could provide affordable and qualitative services.”

Dozie noted that the country loses millions of dollars annually to foreign countries with better healthcare facilities through medical tourism. He argued that this unwholesome trend would be addressed with the new product.

“Health statistics has revealed that Nigeria has estimated 545 maternal deaths per 100,000 births and over 18,000 Nigerians travelled to India in 2013 for medical purposes and spent over N41.6billion naira. When hospitals in Nigeria have the necessary medical equipment, patients would have no need to travel abroad to seek medical treatment, and in the process lose a lot of money. This new facility will help in this regard and make the services affordable. “ he said.

On behalf of SafeCare, Mr. Uzodinma Osisiogu, said his organisation would serve as the quality control partner for the programme, adding that SafeCare would ensure both the technical and business competence of applicants before recommending them for the loan.

“The application process would be thorough so that only competent ones would access the loan. The technical aspect is vital as well as the financials.

We will look at their record keeping processes also. After securing the loan, we would ensure compliance with terms and insist in delivering the promised quality of service because that is the basis of the loan “Providing quality healthcare is no longer an option; it is the way to go.

It confers a competitive advantage on the provider,” he added. This facility, which is available in Lagos currently, will be extended to other cities namely Ibadan, Enugu, Awka, Owerri and Umuahia soon.

• L-R-Chairman, Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, Dr. Bayo Bello, Head, Retail Financial Service, Aishah Ahmed, Deputy Managing Director, Uzoma Dozie, Dr. Ngozi Onyia and Head, Retail Banking, Diamond Bank, Jude Aniele, at the launch of Diamond Bank Mediloan Qualitycare in partnership with Safecare, in Lagos recently.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 — 59

Pinnick wants Eagles to re-enact 2001 spirit against Sudan A S the Super Eagles flew out of the country on last night for the first of two quick–fire sessions against Sudan in the on–going 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series, President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick has charged the players to remember the heroics of their predecessors and imbibe the spirit with which the Class of 2001 demolished the Falcons of Jediane 3-0 at home and 4-0 away in Korea/Japan 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Eagles Continues from B/P moved the match to the Municipal Stadium in Khartoum, which has an artificial pitch.

“We have been training at the Goal Project because of the artificial turf in Sudan,” said coach Stephen Keshi.

“But am not sure it’s going to be the same with the one here because I hear theirs is much newer and we don’t know if its first grade or second level but until we get there to find out.

“All the same we have to take that out of our mind and just play 90 minutes and get out of there.”

On January 27, 2001, the Eagles lashed the Falcons 3-0 in Port Harcourt, and then secured a vital 4-0 win in Omdurman on July 1 of the same year to virtually seal the ticket to the Far East.

“I am of the firm belief that you are capable of re-enacting those wonderful memories of fabulous wins over Sudan home and away, and the NFF is fully behind you to go to Khartoum and conquer.

Then, we will prepare to

complete the job here in Abuja before we plan for the two remaining games in November,” Amaju said in Abuja on Thursday.

He added: “As true warriors and champions of Africa that you are, Nigerians have no doubt about what you are capable of doing in Khartoum. This is the first competitive match under this new administration and we are giving you every motivation to achieve victory.”

Jonathan Continues from B/P Chairman, National Sports Commission, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, the sports–loving Nigeria’s number one man charged Pinnick and his new executive committee to work extra hard at driving Nigeria football to new heights.

“I congratulate you on your coming into office, but it means a lot of work. You have to invest a lot of energy into building on past successes and reaching new heights. You can count on the support of the Government.

“However, I am even more motivated by your pledge to seek greater support from Corporate Nigeria. You know very well how much our people love the game of football,

and it is now your responsibility to work really hard to see how our people can derive greater joy from watching the National Teams play.”

Speaking earlier, the NFF president heaped plaudits on President Jonathan for his keen love for support for Nigeria football, which has been amply demonstrated over the years.

“Mr. President, on behalf of the Nigeria football family, I wish to express deep appreciation to Your Excellency and your administration for the huge support that has been given to Nigeria football and the National Teams over the years. You have indeed been Nigeria football’s Number One Supporter for several years now.''

Keshi Continues from B/P fresh terms.

And now, just like he said before and after the World Cup, the 52-year old has reiterated that he isn’t desperate to retain the job, saying it isn’t a ‘do-or-die’ affair.

“It is not a do or die affair with me and Nigeria because I am not one of those coaches who finds it difficult to coach outside of Nigeria, I’m not,” he said.

The ‘Big Boss’ also refused to confirm or deny whether or not he has received any assurances from the Nigeria Football Federation on a new contract offer, but says his immediate focus is

on beating Sudan on Saturday and next Wednesday.

“No I don’t need to talk about that now, the most important thing right now for me in my career is to win in Sudan. After that, if there’s anything called a contract or not, it’s up to the NFF and whoever is concerned.

But me, let me win my games on Saturday and Wednesday and if Nigerians are happy, we’ll see what happens.”

The former Eagles of Mali Coach however claims there are several offers on the table for him, but admits he would love to continue with Nigeria.

“I thank God that I have other options, so if

it is not here (Nigeria), which I love because it’s my country, no shaking,” he said confidently.

It is still difficult to predict what the Amaju Pinnick led NFF – if they stay in office – will decide as it regards Keshi’s future, with Pinnick himself admitting that they could hire an expatriate to replace Keshi, even though he still described the former Nigeria captain as a hero.

The games against Sudan on the 11th and 15th respectively are expected to go a long way in determining whether or not Keshi remains the ‘Big Boss’ of the Super Eagles.

60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

Uyo Stadium to host Nigeria vs South Africa 2015 Afcon qualifier

BY TONY UBANI, Uyo

N

EWLY constructed ultra modern 30,000 capacity stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State will host the Afcon 2015 final group qualifying match between the Super Eagles and South Africa.

This was confirmed yesterday by the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick in Uyo after an inspection tour of the edifice.

The stadium which has been receiving a lot of media reviews since its completion was described by the NFF boss as “one of the best and could be compared with any other stadium in the world.”

Fenerbahce plan for Emenike’s replacement

Pinnick did not need much persuasion before approving the arena for the all-important encounter which will define Nigeria’s fate in her qualification bid for the 2015 Afcon in Morocco.

Meanwhile, all is now set for the official commissioning of the stadium. It was confirmed yesterday that Governor Godswill Akpabio will commission the stadium on November 20.

We also gathered that the state government and Julius Berger, the company that built the stadium have reached a 10-year maintenance agreement.

CELEBRATION... Super Eagles players celebrate their goal at the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

Hayatou congratulates Pinnick, cautions Nigeria P

•Hayatou

•Pinnick

Nigeria vs Sudan: head-to-head 1963 Africa Cup of Nations 1968 Olympic qualifier ‘’ ‘’ ‘’ 1969 (1970 W/Cup q) ‘’ ‘’ 1976 Africa Cup of Nations 1994 AFCON qualifiers ‘’ ‘’ ‘’ 2002 FIFA W/Cup qualifiers ‘’ ‘’ ‘’

Sudan 4 Nigeria 0 Sudan 2 Nigeria 1 Nigeria 1 Sudan 0 Nigeria 2 Sudan 2 Sudan 3 Nigeria 3 Nigeria 1 Sudan 0 Sudan 0 Nigeria 0 Nigeria 4 Sudan 0 Nigeria 4 Sudan 0 Sudan 0 Nigeria 3

RESIDENT of Confederation of African Football, Alhaji (Dr.) IssaHayatou has extended warm congratulations to the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick on his election as Nigeria’s football supremo.

In a letter he personally signed, Alhaji (Dr.) Hayatou stated: “It is with great excitement that I learned about your election as President of the Nigeria Football Federation following elections held on September 30th, 2014.

“On behalf of the CAF Executive Committee and the entire African football family, I would like to offer you my warmest congratulations for your election as President of NFF, providing the perfect avenue to steer national football to new heights.

“CAF is indeed confident that your experience will benefit not only Nigeria football but also African football as a whole. We look forward to cement our partnership and exchanges in order to benefit the youth of our beloved continent.

S

UPER Eagles new invitee Emem Uduak says he will not be frightened if CoachStephenKeshihandshim a starting shirt in the all important 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Sudan this weekend.

TheDolphinsofPortHarcourt

Falconets get cash reward

forward who was invited to replace injured Stoke City of England winger, Victor Moses for the two-legged encounter said even as he is yet to play for a foreign club, he has what it takes to play on the big stage like the AFCON qualifiers.

He further argued that haven played in the highly

IGERIA players who were beaten in the final of this year ’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup have been rewarded by the country ’s President with a cash gift of a million Naira each (about $6,000).

Coach Peter Dedevbo received 750,000 Naira.

The Falconets lost 1-0 to Germany to make it the second time they will lose in the final of the same competition in four years.

Asisat Oshoala emerged as the MVP and top scorer at the 2014 World Cup. She was also conferred with a national honour.

President Jonathan also rewarded the country’s contingent to the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

•Oshoala

Sudan must fall — Ighodaro N IGERIA Premier League top scorer, Osaguona Ighodar has sworn to record his first goal for Nigeria should Coach Stephen Keshi fields him against Sudan

in this weekend’s Africa Cup of Nations encounter in Khartoum.

Under-fire interim manager Stephen Keshi is pinning all his hopes on securing the maximum six

I’m not scared of a starting shirt — Uduak

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

World Cup:

N

F

ENERBAHCE are mulling over a move for PSG’s Argentina international Ezequiel Lavezzi, if they lose the services of Emmanuel Emenike to Spartak Moscow in the January transfer window.

Report says Spartak Moscow are readying a bid in the region of eight million euros for the Nigeria international, who has fallen down the pecking order at the Yellow Canaries in the last few weeks.

The African Cup of Nations top goalscorer did not make manager Ismail Kartal’s starting eleven in back -to - back Super Lig matches against Akhisar Belediyespor and Konyaspor, fueling speculation that he is set to depart the club when the market reopens.

Emmanuel Emenike arrived Fenerbahce from Spartak Moscow two summers ago, after scoring 24 goals in all competitions during the two years he spent at the Russian capital.

The 27-year-old is contracted to the Turkish champions until the summer of 2017.

FIFA U-20 Women’s

competitive Nigerian league coupled with his involvement in the National U—20 team that participated in the 2013 World Youth Championship (WYC) in Turkey, he knows what it takes to play in an international match.

•Uduak

points in back-to-back matches against the North Africans to get Nigeria’s African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign back on track. ‘’It’s a must- win match and we are aware of it.

Sudan must fall as we are prepared psychologically for this game; we are seriously prepared for anything we might face in Khartoum,’’ says Osaguona Ighodaro. ‘’Of course, I can cope with playing on an artificial surface. It’s not new to me, that’s what we use in the Nigeria Premier League.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 — 61

62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,OCTOBER 10, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014 — 63

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

President Jonathan assures Pinnick of govt support T

HE President and Commander-InChief of the the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck

I’m not desperate for Eagles job – Keshi

Ebele Jonathan, GCFR on Thursday congratulated the new president of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick on his ascendancy, and assured that the Federal Government would afford even more support to Nigeria football.

In a meeting at the Presidential Villa, also attended by Honourable Minister of Sports/

Continues on page 59

E

MBATTLED out-ofcontract Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi has told SL10.ng that he isn’t desperate to remain as the Super Eagles coach, as speculations over his immediate future continues.

Keshi’s future has come under intense scrutiny after Nigeria’s slow start to the qualifying campaign for the Morocco 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. His future was also under scrutiny before the qualifiers began, with the immediate past board of the Nigeria Football Federation led by Aminu Maigari seemingly unwilling to offer him

Continues on Page 59

•Pinnick

Eagles off to Sudan

N

RECEPTION: President Goodluck Jonathan (2nd r) receiving members of Team Nigeria to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday. Minister of Sports, Dr. Tammy Danagogo (1st l) watches with interest. Photo: State House.

IGERIA Super Eagles flew out 9pm last night, from Abuja ahead of a decisive AFCON qualifier in Sudan this weekend.

A top official confirmed that all arrangements was made to ensure a hitchfree flight for the team.

The Super Eagles rounded up their training in the Federal Capital Territory yesterday morning with all 24 invited players involved.

Hosts Sudan have

Continues on page 59

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Avarice (5) 5 Method (6) 8 Elbow (5) 10 Sofa (6) 11 Parched (4) 14 Tell (6) 15 Shortage (7) 18 Tankard (3) 19 Fish (3) 21 Remainder (4) 23 Skirmish (5) 24 Minus (4) 27 Fellow (3) 29 Gratuity (3) 31 Denied (7) 32 Staggered (6) 34 Fruit (4) 35 Coma (6) 38 Yearned (5) 39 Aristocracy (6) 40 God (5)

DOWN 2 Regret (3) 3 Involve (6) 4 Owing (3) 5 Scorch (4) 6 Seaman (6) 7 Demure (6) 9 Determined (7) 12 Material (3) 13 Fruit (4) 16 Relax (4) 17 Claw (5) 20 Under (7) 22 Secure (4) 24 Enticing (6) 25 Pace (4) 26 Noiseless (6) 28 Show (6) 30 Vegetable (3) 33 Cart (4) 36 Colour (3) 37 Sever (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Aviary 5, Beat 8, Piled 9, Rid 10, Dial 11, Life 12, Limit 13, Locker 16, Mere 18, Vast 20, End 22, Van 23, Elk 24, Late 25, Once 28, Enrage 30, Tooth 32, Emit 33, Iota 34, Ice 35, Meant 36, Seed 37, Penned.

DOWN: 1, Airily 2, Indecent 3, Redeem 4, Diligent 5, Believe 6, Editor 7, Teem 8, Pal 14, Revolting 15, Ask 17, Ran 19, Alsatian 20, Eat 21, Devoted 26, Engage 27, Defend 29, Mess 30, Time 31, Hot.

How to Play Sudoku

P

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

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

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

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