Buhari's one-term plan unfair to North-PDP GOVS

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62359

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Female suicide bomber kills Why we're sticking with card readers—INEC 20 in Maiduguri market >>9

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Buhari's one-term plan unfair to North—PDP GOVS •Say APC'll destroy rotation between North, South •APC formed out of anger, hatred, says Gov Lamido •It's PDP's tale by moonlight to create disaffection —APC

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor & Charles Kumolu

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AGOS — THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday rolled out its governors in a concerted attack on the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Continues on page 5

See Inside Most Rev Ezeonyia, pioneer Catholic Bishop of Aba goes home

My step-father sneaked into my room •P.44

Mr & Mrs UTME EXAM: Candidates writing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, in Abuja. (INSET): Candidates waiting for accreditation before the examination at the University of Abuja, yesterday. Photos: NAN.

CARD READERS: A hole INEC must plug Ethnicity, Nigeria’s drug addiction •P.17 C M Y K

>>38

COLUMNISTS: Fayose’s recklessness fast approaching that of a suicide bomber •P.19

Does the PDP really want the 2015 election? •P.19

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

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POCKET CARTOON

RECOVERED: Some of the ammunition and weapons belonging to Boko Haram terrorists recovered by the army, in Gombi yesterday.

Buhari's one-term plan unfair to North — PDP govs Jonathan himself signed an Continues from Page 1

Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), warning among others that Buhari planned to serve only one term and derail rotation between North and South.

The PDP governors, who converged on Lagos from their respective states, dismissed Buhari’s reputation as an anticorruption crusader, affirming him as a willing collaborator in the human rights and financial abuses that characterised the Sani Abacha era.

The governors, who took turns during an interactive session with civil society groups, used the opportunity to honour some martyrs of Nigeria’s democracy, including Chief Moshood Abiola, Kudirat Abiola and Shehu Musa Yar‘Adua.

The governors also expressed strong reservations on the use of the card readers as they warned that no single individual should be left out of voting on account of what they described as poor performance of the card readers.

The governors also cited what they claimed as insurgency provoking poverty in APC states as evidence of the poverty of

ideas in the opposition political party which they flayed for thriving only on propaganda.

Roll call

Present at yesterday’s meeting were Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Usman Dakingari (Kebbi), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Bala Ngilari (Adamawa).

Also present were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Ministers of Agriculture and Power, Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina and Professor Chinedu Nebo, respectively.

On Buhari's alleged one-term controversy

Governor Aliyu cautioned against voting for Buhari on the ground that he would only serve for four years and consequently cause power shift back to the South in 2019. Governor Aliyu also had in the recent past stirred controversy for alleging that President

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

The world can use more of positive people of light. Where I can, I want to be light— Steve Goodier.

T

HE world can use more solvers and fewer blamers. More folks showing a better way and fewer folks complaining about how much better things used to be. More folks, offering help and fewer folks wringing their hands about the problems. More hope bringers and fewer hope killers.

To use another image… the sun rises every morning and sheds light, vanquishing the night’s darkness. The rooster also rises every morning only, unlike the sun, he simply makes noise. But the darkness of the night is dispelled by sunshine, not by the rooster’s crowing.

Gandhi, sums it beautifully! “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

agreement to serve for one term.

Governor Aliyu said: “Buhari promised us that he is going to do one term.

The implication of that would result in the shortchanging of rotational presidency when it gets to the turn of the North. Even as a young man, Buhari was not a good administrator. He allowed his subordinates to steal the show.”

It's a tale by PDP to create disaffection —APC

His assertions were immediately dismissed by APC spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who described it as a tale created by the PDP to divide one section of the country against the other.

Mohammed said: "The APC will not abridge the right of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to spend the constitutionally-guaranteed two terms as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria if elected in the March 28 poll.

"No conditionality, whatsoever, was attached to Gen. Buhari’s candidacy.

He won the party primaries fair and square in a globally-acclaimed transparent manner, and he was neither a compromise nor a consensus candidate, hence there is no need for him to make a deal with anyone.

"We are, therefore, telling Nigerians to disregard the tales by the moonlight which some PDP elements are spinning in their desperation to muddle the waters ahead of the forthcoming elections and create disaffection between a section of the country and another."

APC said it had ignored the myth all along because it was being peddled by fringe elements in the PDP, but decided to put the record straight once and for all after those who were thought to be saner

elements in the ruling party started parroting the same incredulous lies.

He said: "This myth that Buhari will spend one term, after which power will return to the South-West, is along the same line as the outlandish claim that our Vice Presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has sworn to an oath to resign in favour of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu once elected.

"The question to ask is: When will the PDP stop this campaign of calumny and character assassination against our candidates and leaders? When will they stop this one-day, one-lie nonsense?

"The truth is that Gen. Buhari’s candidacy has brought out the worst in the PDP leadership and supporters, including Mr. President and his wife.

Unfortunately for them, the more they campaign against our candidate, the more popular he becomes.

"Perhaps, the PDP would have stood a better chance of winning the forthcoming polls if its state governors, in particular, have devoted as much time and energy to running their states as they have devoted to maligning Gen. Buhari."

Govs pay homage to Abiola, Kudirat

The meeting of PDP governors with civil society and the media was heralded by meetings on Monday night where the governors took a decision to launch the blistering attack on the APC, its presidential candidate, and its leading lights.

Opening the occasion yesterday, the PDP Governors Forum chairman, Akpabio courted civil society with a oneminute silence in memory of some of Nigeria’s slain pro-democracy activists.

Acknowledging the sacrifices, he said: “Some distance away from here lie the bodies of that great patriot and democrat, Chief MKO Abiola and his wife, Kudirat. They died so that we could breathe the air of democracy."

Noting what he claimed as the PDP’s sterling role as the unifying body for Nigerians and the only party genuinely fighting corruption, he said: “But, we abhor the politicization of corruption by military veterans.

"We know what Buhari did after he indicted our respected leaders like Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Dr Alex Ekwueme and others for corruption. These military veterans and their cohorts are today still trying to use the same old trick to hoodwink our people.

“Today, General Buhari, like in 1983, is posing as an anti-corruption crusader, even when surrounded by people of questionable means, all in an effort to cajole the electorate ahead

of the forthcoming election.

Interestingly, the party that is parroting anti-corruption slogans epitomizes corruption in all its ramifications."

On Buhari's age

In a departure from Governor Fayose’s campaign that Buhari was too old, Akpabio said: “We are aware that some people have complained about the age of General Buhari. But we do not see anything wrong with his age if he thinks he can withstand the rigours of the job.

“But, we are extremely concerned about the age of his ideas. We are concerned that a man who could not take charge when he was in his 40s but rather bequeathed, to historical infamy, a regime named after two people (Idiagbon/ Buhari regime instead of one person as has always been the case) cannot take charge at 73 when his health would need constant monitoring.

“We are concerned about the age of his ideas because 50 years after the first coup, hinged on fighting corruption, Buhari is still thinking of using the same subterfuge to deceive us today. We dare not allow anyone to use a 50-year-old trick to destroy our democratic values. We are wiser today."

On war against Boko Haram

The governor also cited what he claimed as contradictory positions by the APC on the Boko Haram insurgency, saying the party has moved between accommodating the group and pushing for its extinction.

“When the Federal Government was contemplating negotiating with the dreaded Boko Haram group, Boko Haram nominated Gen. Buhari as their chief negotiator. The APC is like the man who set his seat ablaze in the theatre, and ran out screaming, 'fire, fire, fire.'

But God has intervened, and we are defeating Boko Haram.

“Despite the antics of the opposition and others sympathetic to Boko Haram, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the

Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and indeed the military have been able to rise to the occasion by decimating insurgents and restoring hope of a peaceful NorthEast in particular and Nigeria in general."

Faulting INEC's preparations for the elections, Governor Akpabio warned that voters must not be deprived of their rights on account of what he described as the failures of the card readers.

“We reassert that on no account should any registered voter be disenfranchised for nonpossession of PVCs owing to no personal fault or rejection by faulty card readers.”

On plot by 7 PDP govs to defect to APC

Following him, Governor Aliyu of Niger State debunked insinuations by Governor Okorocha that some PDP governors were on the verge of defecting to the APC. “One of the APC governors reportedly said that seven PDP governors are in Lagos to negotiate joining the APC. Any of you conversant with the APC will know that it is not true.

We understand that some of us have personal ambitions, have reasons to live, while those of us who are committed stayed in the PDP. I don’t see any reason now why I will join the APC through the back door when I had the chance to join through the front door.

All they are doing is propaganda.”

APC formed out of anger, envy —Lamido

Also speaking, Governor Lamido said the APC was formed out of hate, envy and anger as he said that all the evils so condemned in the PDP were obtainable in the APC. He also flayed Buhari for keeping mute in the face of the onslaught against personal liberty and the common treasury by the Abacha regime.

He said: “Under Abacha’s government that Buhari served, a lot of high profile murders took place and Buhari never spoke against them. Kudirat was killed, Rewane was assassinated."

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Bail terms keep man in prison for 8 months

By Bartholomew Madukwe, Victor Ogunsola & Echewodo Jane

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Lagos High Court in Ikeja was told, yesterday, that a 37-year-old man, Max Evbayiro, charged for being in possession of fraudulent documents and granted bail eight months ago, was still in prison custody, following his inability to meet the bail terms.

Evbayiro was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 12-count charge, but granted bail in the sum of N10 million, and asked to deposit his international passport and two sureties.

At the resumed hearing, the presiding judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, adjourned till April 23 for ruling on request to vary the bail terms of the defendant.

JAMB TROUBLE: Candidates waiting to be accredited for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, in Abuja, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Sacked oil firm staff send SOS to Jonathan

Wonder bank director docked for fraud in Enugu

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—TWO former staff of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Messers Okirika Okeoghene and Datame Gilbert, who were allegedly sacked by the oil company, have appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail on the management of the company to respect the directive of the National Assembly and re-reinstate them.

In an open letter to the President, they recalled that the National Assembly in a letter it addressed to the Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited, through the Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa in October 2013, directed the company to reinstate them after the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions had looked into their petitions.

They said: “Our request and plea for your intervention is hinged on the fact that the Federal Government has a majority share of 60 percent stake in the Joint Venture agreement with Chevron and has an oversight function of its activities through the National Assembly, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Ministry of Labour and Productivity.”

By Austin Ogwuda

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NUGU—A middle-aged man, Anthony Eze, has appeared before a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu for allegedly luring members of the public to deposit their monies into his voodoo bank, with mouth-watering promise of high interests return.

He was arrested and arraigned by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an 11count charge of diverting deposited funds to personal use through a purported investment company he floated.

The prosecution stated that customers, who deposited N26,000 per slot for two months were to get N6,000 interest, while those who signed a long term of three years would be given N30,000 per slot.

Part of the charge read: “That you Eze Mark Anthony, Managing Director of Dominus Vobiscum Investment Limited on or about August 11, 2011, in Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court transacted business without valid license from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. “Thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58 of the Banks & Other Financial Institutions Act Cap B3, Laws of the Federation, 2004 and punishable under Section 59 (6) of the same Act.

“That you, Eze Mark Anthony, being a Director of Dominus Vobiscum Investment Limited sometime between June to August 2011, in Enugu State with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N3,048,000 from Okeke Valentine by false pretence when you presented yourself as an investment company

capable of paying high returns on the said investment.

“Which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(I) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud & Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section (3) of the same Act.” When the case was called up,

the accused pleaded not guilty.

The defense counsel, Mr. J.O. Nwatu, move for bail application was resisted by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Mainforce Ekwu, who told the court that he was just being served.

The case was adjourned to March 16 for hearing of the bail application.

Bizman in court over N1.9m cashew deal

By Onozure Dania &Tayo Ogundipe

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AGOS—A 29-year-old businessman, Sodipo Akinwunmi, was yesterday docked before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court sitting in Lagos Island for allegedly obtaining N900,000 on the false pretence of supplying cashew nuts.

The defendant is facing a twocount charge of obtaining and stealing preferred against him by the police.

Police prosecutor, Corporal Francesca Okere, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence on July 23, 2014.

She said the defendant obtained N900,000 from one Aaron Philip under the pretence of supplying him cashew nuts, being part payment of the N1.9 million deal, which he knew was false.

Okere said the offence committed is punishable under Sections 312 (1) (a) and 285 (1) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Section 285 (1) prescribes three years jail term for anyone convicted of the offence of stealing.

The defendant, however, denied the allegations when the charge was read to him.

Magistrate A. T. Omoyele granted the defendant N250,000 bail, with two responsible sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the matter till April 7, for mention.

Two killed as PDP, LP supporters clash in C'River

By Emmanuel Una

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ALABAR— TWO persons have been reported killed at Ekori in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, following a clash between supporters of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Labour Party, LP, in the area.

The crisis, according to an eyewitness, started on Monday afternoon when the LP

candidate for Yakkur/Abi Federal Constituency, Dr Alex Egbona, immediate past Chief of Staff to Senator Liyel Imoke, who was scheduled to visit Ekori as part of his campaign tour, was barred by youths from entering the community.

Ekori is the home of the incumbent House of Representatives member, Bassey Eko Ewa, who is seeking a third term to

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015—7

11 MONTHS AFTER:

Woman allegedly raped by DPO accuses police of shielding suspect

By Esther Onyegbula

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31-year-old woman, allegedly raped by a former Divisional Police Officer, DPO, last year, has said she had been denied justice, alleging that police authorities were shielding the suspect.

According to the victim, Idowu Akinwunmi, who was reportedly raped while in detention at Onikan Division by the Police officer in April last year, “in spite of several reports on print and broadcast media and campaigns by Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, to ensure that I get justice, nothing has been done.”

After the incident, then Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State, Ngozi Braide, had assured journalists that the

outcome of police investigation would be made public.

However, almost one year after the incident, police was yet to make public the outcome of their investigation, which went from Lagos State Police Command to Zone 2 and then Force Headquarters.

The victim further alleged that the suspect had been promoted.

He is presently serving in Lagos State Command as second in command to an Area Commander.

The National Coordinator, NOPRIN, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, said contrary to the promise by police authorities of impartial and transparent investigation, they are yet to make public the outcome of the investigation.

He said: “The police

Rainstorm took off this house's roof at Alafia Street, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, Monday. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

deliberately delayed and prolonged the investigation to wear out public patience. Once public interest subsided and attention shifted, the matter was swept under the carpet.

“The victim has lost faith in our judicial system. Despite losing her job, dignity and

reputation in the aftermath of the violent sexual abuse, she has not received justice.”

When Vanguard contacted Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, he said he would get back, which he had not done at press time.

We posed as indigenes of Katsina, Kano to get PVCs — ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

By Evelyn Usman

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WO Nigeriens arrested with Permanent Voter ’s Cards, PVC, during raids by officials of Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, weekend, have revealed that they posed as indigenes of Katsina and Kano states at the registration points.

The illegal immigrants were among 55 others arrested in Surulere, Ajegunle, Idi-Araba and other parts of Lagos.

Shortly before they were repatriated, the command’s boss, Comptroller Justina Ahmadu, assured that the raid would continue until Lagos was rid of illegal immigrants.

She cautioned aliens in the state to desist from meddling in the country ’s forthcoming elections, adding that it was

strictly an all-Nigerians’ affair.

In an encounter with one of the arrested illegal immigrants, Adamu Abdul, he disclosed that he had been living in Nigeria for 16 years, without necessary papers.

When asked how he got his PVC, he said: “I claimed I was from Katsina State at the point of registration. I did not know how Immigration officers got wind of the information.

“I was sleeping in my room where I pay N5,000 a month as rent, when I heard a bang on the door.

“I intend to spend a week in Niger after being repatriated.

“Thereafter, I would do the necessary papers and come back to Nigeria because I am leaving my wife and our daughter behind with only N8,500,” the 45-year-old tricycle operator added.

Some people of Owerri North council of Imo State protesting non-availability of Permanenet Voter's Cards. represent the area on the platform of PDP. The fight went on throughout Monday night and the early hours of yesterday, leading to the deaths of two persons, while several others sustained injuries.

Efforts to reach the Cross River State police command spokesman, Mr. Hogan Bassey, were not successful as his phone was switched off.

The Divisional Police Officer for Ugep, who superintends Ekroi, CSP Kabiru Salisu, said people were injured, but that the situation had been contained by his men.

CULT KILLINGS:

P'Harcourt community still mourning

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— THREE days after the brutal assassination of six youths at Oroworoko in DLine area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the community is still in mourning.

Former Chairman of the community, who gave his name as Sunny, said the ugly incident had no link with the political differences between Peoples Demo -cratic Party, PDP, and All Progressive congress, APC. He said the incident, which led to the death of two of his relatives, was entirely cult-related.

He said: “It was not political. If anybody said it was political, the person got it wrong. It was cult related.”

Vanguard gathered that some of those who died were not cultists.

According to Mr. Welinda Wosu, elder brother of Thomas Wosu, who lost his life that Saturday, his late brother, Thomas was standing on the family land, when the gunmen stormed the place shooting indiscriminately.

He said his late younger brother attended a traditional wedding of a family member in the community, adding that he left the place at the end of the ceremony for the place where he met his untimely death.

Welinda said his late brother was an artisan.

Pointing at a work shop, Welinda said his late brother combined private practice at the workshop with being a staff of a building firm in Port Harcourt.

Man, 35, charged with unlawful sale of N350m warehouse

By Bartholomew Madukwe, Victor Ogunsola & Echewodo Jane

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35-year-old man, Bidemi Okeowo, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for unlawfully selling a warehouse for N350 million.

The accused, whose address remains unknown, was said to have committed the offence at 7, Assembly Road, Satellite

Town area of the state.

According to the charge, Okeowo sold the said warehouse to two persons, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar and Francis Babajide, under the pretext that he had the authority to do so.

The accused was arraigned by the police on a one-count offence, but pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.

The charge read; “That you Bidemi Okeowo, sometime in

July 2013 at about 12noon in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did unlawfully offer to one Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar and one Prince Francis Hunsu Babajide to outrightly sell a warehouse/piece of land measuring 10.087659 square metres situated at 7, Assembly Road, Satellite Town, Lagos, at the rate of N350 million, property of De-Cees & E International Company with the pretext to have authority to do so, a representation you know

to be false.”

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Soyinka accuses presidency of using vulgar language at campaigns zDescribes OBJ's books as doctored, self-serving

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AGOS—NOBEL laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has condemned what he described as crudity and vulgar abuse of language that has dominated the electioneering campaigns in the country and blamed the presidency as the major culprit.

Professor Soyinka, who spoke yesterday in Lagos at the public presentation of a book titled “Modern and Tradition Elite in the Politics of Lagos” written by Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole also dismissed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s book, “My Watch”, as “three tonnes of doctored and self-serving narratives”, concluding that, “a little learning is a dangerous thing.”

According to Professor Soyinka, what the current political actors have done is to take Nigeria to “hitherto imaginable low in the art of public persuasion which – we have a right to imagine – forms the foundation of political life.”

He said never before had Nigerians been so subjected to what he called “sheer venom, crudity and vulgar abuse of language in such prodigal quantities as in this current political exercise”, and accused the Presidency of being “at the centre of this uncultured art of political persuasion”.

His words: “All of us here have passed through the electoral process furnace before now and I suspect we would mostly agree that never before have we been subjected to this level of sheer venom, crudity of and vulgar abuse of language in such prodigal quantities as in this current political exercise.

“The very gift of communication, considered the distinguishing mark of cultured humanity even in polemical situations, has been debased, affecting even thought processes, I often suspect.

Speaking as objectively as is possible in such circumstances, I would say that, among the various camps, the most reckless and indecorous has sadly proved the incumbency camp, where restraint has been thrown to the wind with such abandon that even highly privileged spouses have publicly urged supporters to stone any voices raised in opposition to their cause.”

Criticising Chief Obasanjo's book, “My Watch” he descred it as “three tonnes of doctored and self-serving narratives”.

He, therefore, tasked Dr Dele Cole, who was a former adviser to the former president, to give Obasanjo tutorial on how to write history.

Soyinka further asked Cole to investigate alleged allegations that the Presidency was training some 1000 snipers and write about it. He argued that there were more

political murders during the former president’s reign than at any other time, noting that even during Gen. Sani Abacha’s time, he could not boast of 1000 snipers at his disposal.

Soyinka also cautioned Cole for denigrating African religions by calling the practitioners as ‘pagan’ in his book and warned, “any more of that condescending stuff and I shall invoke Ogun, Sango and other Yoruba deities to pay you a reeducational visit and then you‘ll

see whether your Christian eponymous patron saint, Saint Patrick, can save you from their corrective can for your profanity.”

Chairman, Editorial Board of The Guardian, Prof. Wale Omole praised Prof. Soyinka for doing a “content-analysis of the book” through the review while asking other book reviewers to take a cue from that formula.

In his review titled “Learning From Yesterday”, Professor Soyinka commended the author, for his efforts which made it

possible to “ weed out the pretenders in our own time and evaluate the contributions of genuine leaders to the very formulation of both our collective and individual identities such as Herbert Macaulay and Henry Carr, who are captured in Cole’s book.

“Perhaps, the most memorable personae in this work, for instance, are two pivotal figures in the Nigerian nationalist struggle, even though convergence from two

BRIEFING: Media Director of Buhari Presidential Campaign Organization, Alhaji Garba Shehu (centre) addressing pressmen on APC's mode of campaign, while Deputy Director Media, Mazi Paul Ibe (left) and Deputy Director, APC Presidential Campaign Media, Mr Ayobami Oyalowo look on at the briefing in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

contrasting personalities and ideological tendencies, and who emerge as crucial protagonists and luminaries of this history in the making. It is impossible to think of either without invoking possibilities of what other directions a colonial Nigeria could have taken without the emergence of one or both – I refer here to the flamboyant and tempestuous Herbert Macaulay, and the more reserved, erudite and conservative Henry Carr – rivals, yet collaborators”, he said The author, in his remarks said, “I have pretensions of being an academic at some point and I was teaching. The book that you have in front of you is, in actual fact, my thesis for my Ph.D in the University of Cambridge. I wrote it in 1974.

The thesis itself was presented in 1969. But as Prof. Soyinka has pointed out, nothing much has changed. The only thing that has changed is my singular failure to be able to educate some Egba people on how to write properly. ''And the coming together of the three main classes i.e. the tradition, the then elite, and the educated others… these three groups came together to insist that even the British subject should be treated accordingly. I am glad that Prof.

Soyinka had pointed out the highlights. The judiciary had been messing up, and they would continue to do so unless there is change. I will urge you to read the book. Though it is an academic work, but there are quite some interesting moments.

Other personalities at the occasion included; chairman of event, Prof. Edward Ayensie; Chief Segun Osoba; Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, Managing Director, The Guardian, Mr. Emeka Izeze, former Life magazine photographer, Sunmi Smart-Cole, Editor of The Guardian, Mr. Martins Oloja, Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, Mr. Debo Adesina.

PIB: Senate c'ttee proposes privatization of refineries

By Michael Eboh

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BUJA—THE Senate Joint Committee on the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, yesterday, disclosed that it has finished working on the Bill and is proposing the privatisation of Nigeria’s four refineries two years after the passage of the Bill.

Just as the lower chamber, the House of Representatives, proposes the complete deregulation of the nation’s downstream sector, not exceeding six years after the divestment of government stakes from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. Speaking at a PIB Roundtable in Abuja, a Principal Consultant to the Senate Joint Committee on the PIB, Mr. Francis Adigwe and a member of the House Committee on the PIB, Mr. Uzor Azubuike, said the committee had concluded its work on the Bill.

They further intimated that the Bill might be laid before the Senate and the House next week

...House c'ttee to submit Bill tomorrow Thursday, respectively.

Specifically, Adigwe told participants that the bill has been finalised, while the work of the joint committee has been concluded and the final print is with the Senate.

He said the committee had set up a mechanism for the liberalisation and deregulation of the downstream sector in the Bill to include the sale of the refineries within two years of the passage of the PIB. According to him, the Bill also provides for the scrapping of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund, PEF, immediately the downstream petroleum sector is deregulated. Currently, the PEF reimburses marketers for the bridging of petroleum products from the depots and or refineries to the hinterlands by road in order to have uniform pricing.

Other proposals in the bill include the sale of the Federal Government’s stake in the company that will emerge from

the NNPC, through the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. He said, “In the Bill, we set up a fund for abandonment and decommissioning. That is, every company that gets a licence or lease to operate an oil asset will be required to pay certain amount into that fund. This is because environmental management requires huge fund.

“Also a section on Frontier Exploration was introduced. This was not in the original Bill brought before the Senate. The Bill is proposing the setting up of an agency, with adequate funding, to cater for frontier fields.

“However, we included Sunset Clauses, regarding the life span of the agency in charge of the frontier fields, especially when all the fields reach the end of their productive lives.”

Adigwe further revealed that the Bill also proposes incentives for investors that are planning to build refineries, such as crude oil supply to the refineries, among

others. The supply of feedstock was one of the biggest constraints faced by investors who were issued licences to operate private refineries.

He also disclosed that a section of the Bill deals with Open Access and Third Party Assets, making it possible for private investors to access existing pipeline network and depots and also build and operate their own pipelines and depots.

He defended the powers given to the Presidency to award oil blocks on a discretionary basis, saying that the world over the President had powers to award blocks on discretionary basis based on certain criteria, such as economic development and promotion of local content.

However, he added that the PIB allows for discretionary award of oil blocks only for the purpose of national interest.

He said, “The Bill provides that if an individual is found to use his position to get awards of blocks illegally, the block can be revoked in the future when discovered.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 — 9

Again, female suicide bomber kills 20 at Maiduguri market

Jonathan sacks Gen Agwai from SURE-P

By Ndahi Marama

By Ben Agande

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AIDUGURI—NO fewer than 20 people were feared dead yesterday with many others sustaining injuries when a female suicide bomber who hid an Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) in her gown blew up herself at the Monday Market in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

Eyewitnesses said, the explosion took place at about 4pm on Tuesday, barely two hours after Governor Kashim Shettima visited some mosques in the metropolis where he gave over N200, 0000 to each of the families that lost their beloved ones in the multiple explosions that rocked the city last Saturday that claimed more than 100 lives.

Unconfirmed report had it that one suicide bomber blew up herself at the Elkanemi roundabout near fresh fish sellers, while few minutes later, the other suicide bomber also hit another location near Milk shop (Gidan Madara) in Maiduguri metropolis just about 300 metres to the market.

But the Police Commissioner, Borno State command, Mr. Clement Adoda insisted that seven people were killed with 27 injured in the explosions.

Adoda in a telephone conversation said, “Yes seven people were killed in the explosion while 27 were injured at the Monday Market Roundabout on Tuesday”.

Adoda however did not say whether it was a single or twin explosions, but said, police antibomb disposal squad had been deployed to the scene to evacuate victims and restore

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HEARING ON POLITICAL ADVERTS: Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon Umar Buba Jibril addressing media professionals and Regulatory Body of Adverts on Political advertorial that create crisis, while his Deputy, Hon. Abayomi Kako Are (middle) and Hon Ayo Tajudeen Yusuf (right) look on at the National Aseembly, Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan. normalcy to the affected areas.

Meanwhile, hospital sources said, that the death toll may rise as most of the injured persons brought to the hospital by military operatives and men of the civilian JTF sustained serious injuries as they have lost much blood due to excessive bleeding.

While sympathising with the families of those who lost their lives, Media Director of Muhammad Imam Campaign Organization, the PDP governorship candidate in Borno, Mr. Inuwa Bwala said, the PDP has been compelled to rise in condemnation of the spate of explosions in Maiduguri in recent times.

Meanwhile, more than eight persons were also killed yesterday while several others

were injured when suspected Boko Haram terrorists laid ambushed on motorists along Maiduguri-Damaturu road near Dogon Waya, Ngamdu village of Kaga local government area of Borno State.

One of the passengers who narrowly escaped the attack (name withheld) said the incident occurred at about 9:30am when the insurgents came on horses and pretended as if they were travellers who were trying to cross the road but when the motorists slowed down their their vehicles, the terrorists opened fire on them.

He said “the insurgents brought out the occupants of a black Jeep car and a red Honda saloon car and killed them before they took the cars away. Our driver who saw them quickly turned back but the

insurgents continued opening fire on our vehicle while a stray bullet hit one of our passengers at the back of his head.

“One of the buses behind us also tried to turn back but unfortunately, the Boko Haram terrorists shot him on right his eye”.

He said both the driver and our passengers who sustained gunshot injuries were currently receiving treatment at the Umaru Shehu General Hospital Maiduguri.

He said “no fewer than eight people were killed in the incident, as all the occupants of the two vehicles snatched by the terrorists were killed and several other motorists, as we were told that the insurgents also burnt several cars and trucks abandoned by their occupants who ran for safety”.

Why we are sticking with card readers – INEC ...80% of PVCs now distributed; Kano, Lagos with highest number

By Joseph Erunke & Jude Opara

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B U J A — T H E Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, gave reasons why it would go ahead with the deployment of the Card Readers for the forthcoming general elections as it formally confirmed its satisfaction with last weekend’s trial run in 12 states.

Also yesterday, the commission disclosed that 80.61% of voters who registered for the elections have collected their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs. Vanguard had yesterday reported the resolve of the national commissioners to deploy the card readers despite the challenges and opposition by some sections of the political class.

The commission in explaining its decision nevertheless admitted

challenges arising from the use of the card readers in the authentication of the ownership of the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs as it said that only 59% of voters were successfully authenticated with the lowest rate in Ebonyi.

As a result of the high failure rate in Ebonyi, the commission said it would repeat the test in the state.

Explaining its decision in a statement articulated by Mr. Kayode Idowu, the chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the commission said that its decision to deploy SCRs for the 2015 general elections had four main objectives, namely: ''To verify Permanent Voter cards (PVCs) presented by voters at polling units and ensure that they are genuine, INEC-issued (not cloned) cards.

From the reports on Saturday’s exercise, this objective was achieved 100 per cent. ''To biometrically authenticate the person who presents a PVC at the polling unit and ensure that he/she is the legitimate holder of the card. In this regard, there were a few issues in some states during the public demonstration.

Overall, 59% of voters who turned out for the demonstration had their fingerprints successfully authenticated.

But the Commission, in agreement with registered political parties, had provided in the approved Guidelines for the conduct of the 2015 elections that where biometric authentication of a legitimate holder of a genuine PVC becomes challenging, there could be physical authentication of the person and completion of an Incident Form, to allow the person to vote.

''The SCRs provide disaggregated data of accredited voters in male/female and elderly/youth categories – a disaggregation that is vital for research and planning purposes, but which INEC until now had been unable to achieve. The demonstration on Saturday fully served this objective. ''The SCR sends the data of all accredited voters to INEC’s central server, equipping the Commission to be able to audit figures subsequently filed by polling officials at the PU and, thereby, be able to determine if fraudulent alterations were made. The public demonstration also succeeded wholly in this regard.

The Commission took a serious view of the high rate of the SCRs’ failure to authenticate voters’ fingerprints in some areas, particularly in Ebonyi State.

B U J A — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday sacked the chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Gen. Martins Agwai.

He was replaced by the former Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, Mr. Ishaya Dare Akau.

Though no reason was given for the sack which is with immediate effect, it may not be unconnected with his statement last week Thursday at a lecture in honour of former president Olusegun’s 78th birthday lecture where he said ‘change was inevitable’.

In the lecture titled, “Imperatives of a National Security framework for the development and progress of Nigeria”, Gen. Agwai noted that “In life, you find out that everything needs change, if that is what the community wants, what the people want, you must give it to them and as such, it becomes inevitable.”

He added: “You can have everything nice, but, if you don’t have the right leadership to propel it, it cannot go anywhere.

“Integrity matters, doing what is good for the larger society, and not just what you want to do for a narrow society to please yourself”.

His statement was interpreted at some circles as being targeted at president Jonathan whose frosty relationship with former President Obasanjo is well known.

Announcing the sack of Gen. Agwai, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati in a statement said the action was in furtherance of president Jonathan’s “efforts to continuously re-energize and reposition agencies of the Federal Government for optimal service delivery”.

The statement reads in part: “Mr. Akau, whose appointment takes immediate effect, replaces Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd.) who served as Chairman of the SURE-P until today.

“The new SURE-P Chairman hails from Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State and holds Bachelors’ Degrees in the Arts and Law.

10— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Lagos doctors resume indefinite strike Monday L

By Chioma Obinna

AGOS—AS Lagosians prepare to go to the polls in less than two weeks, they may also have to contend with yet another industrial action in the health sector, as medical doctors in the employ of the Lagos State Government have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike.

Disclosing this in a press statement in Lagos, the doctors under the platform of Medical Guild accused the state government of withholding their May 2012 as well as August/ September 2014 salaries.

The statement signed by the Chairman of Medical Guild, Dr. Biyi Kufo, also blamed the strike on the attitude of the government towards them.

“We have embarked on a threeday warning strike from February 18 to 20, during which emergency services were provided to protest the non-payment of their wages.

This followed an exhaustive and protracted six-month period during which the Medical Guild, along with Nigerian Medical Association had appealed to the administration for peaceful resolution, all to no avail.

“We are bewildered that the

administration ignored all our efforts to resolve the matter without a strike, and only invited us to talk when we threatened to go on strike.

“There has been little in terms of a positive response from the administration since the warning strike was concluded.

Since resolution was not achieved at the end of this period, members of the guild should proceed on an indefinite strike from Monday the 16th of March, 2015. However, emergency services will be provided in all the hospitals during the action.”

Salaries of the doctors were withheld under the ‘no work, no pay ’ policy of the state government after it joined its parent body, the NMA, on a nationwide strike last July to protest issues of relativity and other federal appointments in the health sector.

LAUNCHING: From left: CEO, Ejiro Amos-Tafiri Designs Ltd, Mrs. Ejiro Amos-Tafiri, CEO, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, Head, Marketing & Communications, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs. Nkiru Olumide-Ojo, CEO, AOP Logistics Ltd, Mrs. Enitan Rotimi, and CEO, Stanbic IBTC Capital, Ms Yewande Sadiku, at the launch of the Stanbic IBTC Blue Women Network, and commemoration of the International Women’s Day in Lagos.

AD expels presidential candidate, adopts Jonathan

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By Dapo Akinrefon

AGOS—THE Alliance for Democracy, AD, has adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as its flag bearer for the March 28 election.

The party also said its National Executive Council, NEC, has suspended its former National Secretary, Rafiu Salau, stating that the NEC ratified the report of disciplinary committee that found Salau culpable of anti-party activities.

Addressing newsmen after its NEC meeting held in Lagos, the party’s national chairman, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, said with the adoption of President Jonathan, the AD machinery and structures across the country, are available for the president.

Akinfenwa said: “Our decision to endorse Dr. Goodluck Jonathan

did not come easy. We had to critically compare his record with that of General Buhari and we can affirm that Jonathan has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that he is a true democrat.”

While stressing that it did not see the candidate of the All

Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as a true representative of patriotic, detribalized northerners, the party said the opposition APC cannot change the tide of the country because its leaders have no moral conscience.

EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT: Oyo

Assembly summons state Acountant General, others

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By Ola Ajayi

BADAN—THE 32-member Oyo State House of Assembly has directed the State Accountant General, Mr. A.F. Oyadayi and two top officials of the Ministry of Local Government to appear before it

tomorrow for allegedly ignoring an earlier summon on the probe of the spending of excess crude oil account allocation to the 33 councils in the state.

The decision was taken at the plenary sitting of the legislative arm yesterday.

Confusion as Ogun workers begin three-day . warning strike disobeyed the order and strike The council last Friday

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By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—OGUN State public servants were thrown into confusion, yesterday, over whether to join the strike action directed by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council or not.

While some workers obeyed the warning strike by staying away from duty posts , others especially teachers in public primary school

The party said Salau who emerged as the factional presidential candidate of the party was expelled after NEC decision of 41 for and 2 against votes found him culpable of gross misconduct, anti-party activities, unruly behaviour to the chairman of the party, among others.

resumed for work.

Many parents were also confused over the development as some did not allow their wards to go to school while others allowed their wards to go to their schools.

The strike action which paralysed both academic and government activities in the state as the civil servants stayed away from their duty posts, to obey the three-day warning

directed its members to proceed on a three-day warning strike from Tuesday, over the failure of government to remit the sum of about N2.8billion deducted from their salaries to the appropriate agencies.

The JNC’s Secretary, Mr. Modiu Bello at a press briefing held at Iwe Iroyin House, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta, had announced that the warning strike would start on Tuesday and end

Others to appear before the House are the Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, the Director, Inspectorate for Local Governments, Mrs. Ogunesan and an administrative officer.

The government officials were asked in the initial summon to provide details of the income and expenditure in respect of the excess crude oil account from 2011 till date.

The Assembly asked the Commissioner of Police in the state to produce the officials.

The lawmakers who were led by the Speaker, Monsurat Sunmonu, after reading the letter presented the matter for deliberation.

One of the lawmakers, Mr. Fakorede Farinto complained that it had become habitual for the members of the executive arm of government to ignore the House summon, the action, he said would no longer be tolerated.

Afe Babalola bags honourary Doctor of Law degree

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By Gbenga Ariyibi

DO EKITI—LEGAL l u m i n a r y , philanthropist and founder of Afe Babalola University, ABUAD,Chief Afe Babalola will today receive the prestigious Honorary Doctors of Law degree, LLD, of the University of London.

The award, which will be the 12th honorary doctorate conferred on Babalola, is coming three months after he bagged a honorary doctorate degree of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, in appreciation of his remarkable works as a legal practitioner of 52 years standing A statement by the Public Relations Officer of ABUAD, Mr Tunde Olofintila, read: “The crème-de-la-crème of the society made up of members of the Bar and the Bench, Legal Academics, the Royalty, the Clergy and Captains of Industry as well as members of the diplomatic community will congregate at the Barbican Centre in London to celebrate the international legal icon and philanthropist who has been chosen for the award on account of his impacting other people’s lives through his numerous humanitarian programmes.”

Clark's wife attacked by hoodlums in Abeokuta

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BEOKUTA—THERE was pandemonium yesterday in Abeokuta when hoodlums suspected to be loyal to one of the political parties, attacked wife of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, Dr. Bisola SodipoClark and her supporters in the Sokori area of Abeokuta North Local Government Area, Ogun State.

The incident which dispersed large members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the area who had gathered to welcome their leaders left many injured and hospitalized.

Mrs. Sodipo-Clark who is the senatorial candidate of PDP for Ogun Central zone was on a tour of her constituency following the shift of the poll earlier scheduled for February 14, 2015 to March 28, 2015.

She was whisked away by her security details shortly before the thugs got to her.

Some of her security details were however injured.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 —11

Fayose asks court to dismiss Omirin's case ALLEGED IMPEACHMENT:

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By Innocent Anaba

AGOS—GOVERNOR Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, has challenged the jurisdiction of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to hear the suit against him and others by embattled Ekiti State House of Assembly, Speaker Adewale Omirin and 18 other members.

The governor is contending in his objection, that he cannot be sued outside Ekiti State where the “cause of action” took place.

According to him, the court lacks the “territorial jurisdiction” to decide the case.

The plaintiffs are praying the court to nullify Omirin’s purported “impeachment” by seven Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers for being unconstitutional.

Other respondents in the suit are the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, the Department of State Services, DSS, and the new Speaker, of the state House of Assembly, Dele Olugbemi.

Olugbemi’s loyalists, namely; Samuel Ajibola, Adeojo Alexander, Adeloye Adeyinka, Isreal Ajiboye, Fatunbi Olajide, Olayinka Abeni, and the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, the three commissioners cleared by the House under Olugbemi - Owoseni Ajayi (Attorney-General), Kayode Eso

(Commissioner for Works) and Toyin Ojo (Commissioner for Finance) as other respondents in the suit.

The plaintiffs in the suit are praying the court to declare that Omirin and his deputy were entitled to occupy their offices except removed by the Assembly’s two-third majority votes.

They further want the court to also declare that Fayose’s alleged attempt to force them to join the PDP and denounce the All

Progressives Congress, APC, was against their constitutional right to freedom of association.

They are praying the court to hold that Olugbemi’s election as Speaker is illegal, and all deliberations and actions of the seven lawmakers are invalid.

But Fayose, in a preliminary objection by the three “commissioners” (12th to 14th respondents), is praying for an order striking out or dismissing the suit in its entirety for lack of jurisdiction.

“The suit as presently constituted is incurably defective and grossly incompetent.

Consequently, this Honourable court cannot sit over an incompetent suit,” he said.

Besides, the governor said the action was not filed through due process as it was not signed by a judge as required by law.

“This court lacks both subjectmatter and territorial jurisdiction to entertain the suit,” the respondents said.

Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned till March 25, for hearing of the preliminary objection.

VISIT: Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (right), presenting the state's plaque to the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jonathan Ango, during a visit to the governor in Abeokuta, yesterday. Photo: Wunmi Akinola.

Osun workers protest 5-month unpaid salaries zGovt links unpaid salaries to ‘revenue crisis'

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SOGBO—CIVIL servants in Osun State trooped out yesterday to protest alleged nonpayment of five months salaries by the state government.

The workers, led by the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, in the state, Mr. Olatunji Akinyemi, marched through the Osogbo/Gbongan Road, chanting anti-government songs.

The workers said apart from the failure of the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration to pay them the outstanding salaries, the same government had refused to remit pension contributions, deducted from their previous salaries, to various retirement savings accounts.

They claimed that the governor was busy spending the state’s resources on campaigns of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and left workers to suffer untold hardship.

The TUC chairman, who spoke in an interview, said workers who were due for promotion since 2013, had been denied their rights, adding that the government had not shown that the workers meant anything to his administration.

‘Revenue crisis’

Meantime, the state government has said that salary issues cannot be divorced from the revenue crisis hitting Nigeria as a whole. The government also sought the worker ’s understanding.

In a statement signed by the

media aide to the governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the governor said in part that while he recognised the right of the workers to seek for the payment of that which is legitimately theirs, we wish to repeat for the upteemth time that the unfortunate owing of salaries running to about three months

cannot be divorced from the crushing revenue crisis that has hit Nigeria as a whole.

According to him; ‘’What is required at this stage is for all and sundry to properly understand the genesis of this whole saga which will be helpful rather than being viewed as a deliberate act on the part of the government.’’

Ogun INEC takes delivery of additional 170,000 PVCs

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By Daud Olatunji

B E O K U TA — T H E Independent National Electoral Commission in Ogun State, yesterday, took delivery of additional 170,000 Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs from its headquarters in Abuja out of the remaining 425,454 expected.

The state administrative secretary of the commission, Mr. Dickson Atiba, disclosed this yesterday, shortly after he supervised the delivery of the new PVCs brought to the INEC office in Abeokuta.

Atiba said the commission had received 1,370,340 PVCs before

the recent delivery, saying the new consignment brought from Abuja to the state contained between 170,000 and 190,000 PVCS. While allaying the fears of the people of the state over the unavailability of PVCS, Atiba noted that the remaining ones would be brought before Friday this week.

He said: “The PVCs just arrived from Abuja. We have them in cartons, we have like 74 cartons that have just arrived.

“We have 15 cartons for Ifo Local government, 12 cartons for IjebuOde local government, 14 cartons for Ado-Odo/ Ota local

government, 19 cartons for Sagamu local government, four cartons for Odogbolu local government, 1 carton for Obafemi Owode local government, 1 carton for Abeokuta South local government, 1 carton for Abeokuta North, 1 carton for Ijebu East and then we have some pieces which are in about five small cartons.

“We cannot tell the exact number that are in a carton, unless we count them. But in rough estimation, all should be less than 200,000. It is above 150,000 and less than 200,000. It is between 170,000 and 190,000.”

Daniel, Akinjide, drum support for Isiaka

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AGOS—FORMER Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will win convincingly, the April 11, governorship election in the state.

Daniel who spoke at the fund raising dinner organised by friends and colleagues of the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos on Sunday said people have seen the difference between the PDP government and that of the incumbent All Progressives Congress, APC, which he said has under performed.

Daniel, who reeled out many achievements of his administration said Ogun State would have turned to Eldorado if the government of Senator Ibikunle Amosun had continued with the sound economic policies and blueprint he bequeathed to the State, but regretted that the government lacks the capacity to pursue developmental projects.

Also speaking at the event, Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ms Jumoke Akinjide said, the time has come for the party to take over the South-west and expressed confidence in Isiaka’s ability to transform the state.

LP national leadership gets confidence vote

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By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—THE Ogun State chapter of Labour Party, LP, has passed a vote of confidence on the new national leadership of the party led by Abdul Kareem Abdul Salam.

The party in the state at its Executive Meeting described the exit of former national Chairman of the party, Dan Nwanyanwu from the party as a good omen.

Both the chairman and Secretary of the party in the state, Olabode Simeon and Sunday Oginni respectively acussed Nwanyanwu of slowing the pace of the party.

The party also described the position of Board of Trustees as illegal and allien to the party's constitution.

According to the secretary, the resignation of the former Chairman of Board of Trustees of the party is a good omen.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

NDDC begins work on Delta-Ondo coastal road link

By Samuel Oyadongha

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E N A G O A — NIGER Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has started work on the Delta-Ondo axis of the proposed coastal road linking the littoral states of the SouthSouth to Epe in Lagos.

Speaking at an interactive session with newsmen, NDDC Managing Director, Chief Dan Abia, said the project was expected to reduce the distance between the coastal states and the rest of the country.

The NDDC Managing Director, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Youth, Conflict Resolution and Women Affairs, Mr. George Turnah, said: “There is a road linking coastal communities in Delta up to Ondo, in fact the managing director was there a few weeks back to inspect ongoing work on the project."

Getting our projects to work is the new focus.”

He added that the new NDDC had re-invented itself and had been given the mandate by President Goodluck Jonathan to complete all outstanding projects within the shortest possible time.

“In Delta, we commissioned a road recently and the Governor

(Emmanuel Uduaghan) confessed that he never believed that NDDC could ever achieve that project. ‘’There is also a road project linking Patani in Delta State with other Ijaw communities in the deep riverside areas which have never had such opportunity.

“The NDDC now known as

the new NDDC under Sebastian Dan Abia is keeping faith with Mr. President’s directive of completing ongoing projects. The results are coming and we are happy with the status that the NDDC has assumed,” he said.

According to him, the new board of the commission inherited so many abandoned

projects that a presidential panel on the commission came out with a frightening figure of over 6,000.

He said though the presidential mandate given to the new board forbade the award of new contracts, this had become inevitable, in view of the prevailing situation relating to some projects.

BRIEFING: From left: Olorogun O'tega Emerhor, Delta State APC governorship candidate; his campaign Director of Media and Political Communication, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesive; Women Affairs Director, Chief Kessiena Ubiri and the Director of Administration, Mr. Ore Ohimor, during a briefing with key staff of his campaign team.

Military not involved in politics, forum of SURE-P chairmen tells Agwai

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—CRISIS is brewing in the hierarchy of the Subsidy Re-investment Programme, SURE-P, as the Forum of chairmen of the programme in the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, yesterday, faulted the statement credited to the National chairman of SURE-P, and former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin-Lurther Agwai (retd.), who called on the military to stay out of politics.

They described the statement as uncalled for, particularly when it was made at an event where the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who they described as an APC sympathiser, was seated.

Addressing journalists in Benin City, Edo State chairman of SURE-P, Mr Lucky Imasuen, said they decided to disassociate themselves from the comment made by their chairman, Gen. Agwai, because they strongly believed the military had been very professional and had not been involved in politics.

He said: “Gen. Agwai is a retired military man, so we believe that if he has any advice for the military, he should have

channelled it through the right medium and not making such speech at an APC gathering where they have severally accused the military of meddling in the politics of the nation.

“We also learned that he spoke about change like the APC slogan. But we want to state that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has changed a lot of things since he came in and the change is still

on going in the area of the economy. ‘’In agriculture, he has stabilized the cost of food items in Nigeria. It is under Jonathan that fertilizer is now accessible to every farmer in Nigeria."

A-Ibom, C-River indigenes back Jonathan for second term

By Etop Ekanem

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NDIGENES of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, under the aegis of Association of Akwa-Cross Indigenes Nigeria, have endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for reelection on March 28. According to the group, the president has contributed to the development and growth of Nigeria’s democracy more than any Nigerian leader, dead or alive.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos, National President of the association, Etubom Unyime Samson, said: “We are not supporting him because he is our brother but because he has contributed to the development and growth of Nigeria’s democracy more than any Nigerian leader, dead or alive.

“We should all be honest with ourselves.

President Jonathan’s government is a

success, no matter its little challenges, especially insecurity, which is a global phe nomenon. ‘’When a government is do-

ing good things we should encourage and commend it and when it is not doing the right thing, we should criticise it constructively."

Okowa, part of rot in Delta —EMERHOR

By Festus Ahon & Ochuko Akuopha

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SABA—GOVERNORSHIP candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor, has said that his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, had been part of the rot which the rulling party foisted on the state in the last 16 years.

He promised to tackle the challenge of unemployment as an emergency and assured that he would earmark the sum

of N10 billion for job creation within his first one hundred days in office, if elected.

Speaking during an interactive session with professional bodies in the state, Emerhor noted that Okowa had served in various capacities in the State Executive Council before he attained his current position as a senator representing Delta North in the National Assembly.

“He will tell us that he has experience but the experience has brought us nothing,” Emerhor said.

Campaigner vows to ensure Jonathan's re-election

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HEAD of the March 28 presidential election, Mr Eterhisan Oputu, Udu Local Government Area Coordinator of Presidential Campaign Council in Delta State, for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday reaffirmed the body’s commitment to work and campaign for the President till he got victory.

Oputu, who made the assertion during a campaign tour of Udu, urged the people to ensure they collected their Permanent Voters Cards and also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to cancel the use of card readers in the general elections.

“The aim of our work is to sell our presidential candidate’s, re-election on March 28 and also to deliver other PDP candidates in the different positions right from the national assembly to governorship and state houses of assembly," Oputu said.

Odjoma for burial

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UNDAY Odjoma, of Ovwor-Olumu, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, is dead. He was aged 36.

Service of songs holds at No. 5, Ekpokpo Street, behind First Bank, off Airport Road, Effurun.

Corpse leaves for his home town, OvworOlumu, Ughelli South Local Government Area, March 13, 2015.

He is survived by a widow and two children.

Late Sunday Odjoma

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015—13

PDP, APC, 16 other parties clash in Rivers

By Davies Iheamnachor

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ORT HARCOURT— THERE was drama, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as 18 political parties contesting the forthcoming general elections engaged in physical combat during a protest against alleged bias of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Supporters of All Progressives Congress, APC, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and 16 other political parties in the state barricaded the Port Harcourt-Aba Express Way, causing traffic gridlock.

The protest rally, which was to terminate at the INEC office, ended up in a fight amongst the parties involved.

One of the groups, Concerned Political Parties, a coalition of 17 political parties, led by APC, went to INEC office to register their complaint.

While attempting to kickstart the protest, a PDP group invaded the scene and this led to a free-for- all.

In a statement issued to newsmen, the 17 political parties accused INEC of bias, alleging that the Supervisory Officers for the election in all the local government areas were constituted to favour the PDP.

However, the 17 parties said they still had confidence in the commission but urged it to review and re-examine its adhoc staff.

Similarly, Mr. Bright Amehule, leader of the PDP

group, also accused INEC of bias, alleging that two close relatives of Rivers State Chief of Staff, Mr. Tony Okocha, were its staff.

According to him, the testrun of the card reader

machines was influenced by APC. He accused INEC of dining with the APC and questioned how the commission could use 300 minutes to accredit over 500 voters in the election.

Y

BRIEFING: Abia State Commissioner for Information, Dr. A.C.B. Agbazuere, flanked on the right by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Charles Ajunwa and on the left by member, representing Ikwuano state constituency, Hon. Chukwuemeka Osoagbaka, at a press conference in Umuahia on the alleged shooting of Mr. Frank Dickson by armed guards of a governorship candidate in Umuahia.

Aftermath of Rivers cult killings, residents recount ordeal

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— THREE days after the brutal assassination of six youths in Oroworoku community in D-Line area of Port Harcourt, the community is yet to recover from the effects of the violence.

Former chairman of the community who simply gave his name as Sunny, said the incident had no link with the political differences between the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC. According to him, it was entirely cult related, adding that he lost two of his relatives.

“It was not political. It was cult related.”

Vanguard gathered that some of those who died were not cultists. According to Mr Welinda Wosu, elder brother of Thomas Wosu who lost his life that Saturday, his late brother, Thomas, was standing on the family land when the gunmen stormed the place shooting indiscriminately.

He said his late brother attended a traditional wedding of a family member in the community that black Saturday, adding that he left

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1998 MOBIL SPILL: Impacted communities protest over alleged diversion of $16bn compensation

the place at the end of the ceremony to the location where he met his death.

Welinda said his late brother was an artisan. Pointing at a workshop operated by his late brother before his demise, Welinda said he combined private practice at the workshop with being a staff of a building firm in Port Harcourt.

“He was around our family land in the community when he was killed. Many who heard of his death said he was a gentleman, that he was not supposed to be killed. He operated this Alumaco workship before the sad incident,” he said.

Welinda said they had not had the courage to tell their mother about the ugly

development. “We have not told our mum. She is just recovering from a health challenge. So we want to mind how we break the news to her,” he added.

He said it was a deaf and dumb in the neighborhood that mustered courage to tell him his brother was among those killed that evening.

N25BN FRAUD: Court reserves judgement on Igbinedion, others till April 17

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—THE Federal High Court sitting in Benin, has adjourned till April 17, 2015, judgment in the case of money laundering against younger brother to former governor of Edo State, Michael Igbinedion, Patrick Eboigbodin and four other companies.

Justice J. Liman, who is adjourning judgment for the third time, apologised for the several adjournments, attributing it to illhealth and the prolonged strike by federal judiciary workers which ended in February.

However, he assured that “this will be the last adjournment which will be for a very close date, after

counsel re-adopt their written addresses.”

Earlier, counsel to the defendants, Ricky Tafa, SAN, and Mike Ozekhome, SAN, who were represented by Abubakar Shamsudeen and Omosede Igbinedion, respectively, re-adopted their written addresses to discharge and acquit their clients, which were first adopted before Justice Liman on November 14, 2014.

Richard Ahonaruogo, also tendered his written address as one of the counsel to the defendants.

Tayo Olukotun, who held brief for counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, who was represented by Tayo Olukotun, also re-adopted his written address.

By Samuel Oyadongha

E N A G OA — INDIGENES of oil producing communities from the six states of the Niger Delta yesterday disrupted vehicular movements along the East-West Road axis of Bayelsa State in protest against alleged diversion of $16 billion compensation paid by Exxon Mobil for the 1998 oil spill incident in the region.

The aggrieved communities, which cut across Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Cross River and Ondo states, said though the agitations for the payment of the compensation to impacted communities of the region took over 15 years in dialogues and meetings, the compensation paid was allegedly diverted by representatives of their principal attorney.

The angry indigenes of the impacted communities, armed with placards with inscriptions such as “Exxon Mobil: All we need is our money since 1998”, “Exxon Mobil: Refuse our money and face war ” among others, left hundreds of travellers heading to Port Harcourt, Rivers and other eastern parts of the country stranded for hours.

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Confusion, as server failure mars commencement of UTME exams

According to the parent, who simply identified herself as Mrs. Adeola, “When the candidates arrived the exam centre this morning, they were told that JAMB provided the centre with just 250 laptops. Of these, only 150 were

By Dayo Adesulu, Ikenna confirmed to be functional that Asomba & Tare Youdeowei morning. Following this development, the candidates were divided into two batches.

While the first batch was to begin HE POSTPONED 2015 their exams by 7am, the second Unified Tertiary batch was billed to commence by Matriculation Examination, 10am.

UTME, billed to commence “But as I speak with you, the yesterday, nationwide, was again first batch and the second batch marred by some hiccups over the neither wrote the exams, as the failure of internet servers as well JAMB officials in the centre comas failure of the biometric plained that the centre’s server machines to capture candidates’ had been down since morning. thumb-prints and other data at What is more worrisome is that some centres. officials of this centre have failed Another controversy which to address the candidates and we emerged was the complaints the parents, instead, the candiraised by candidates who dates have been locked inside the registered for the UTME in Lagos examination hall since morning State, but were posted to neighbouring states of Osun, Crowd during the All Progressives Congress,APC, Presidential/ National and State House of without writing the exams.”

Adeola then urged the JAMB Ogun and Kwara to write the Assemblies Electioneering Campaigns to Ifewara, Atakunmosa-West Local Government, Osun authorities, to cancel the examiexaminations.

State. Insert: Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, discussing with the Adimula of nation and fix new dates, when This development it was learned Ifewara, Oba Hezekiah Adeniyi Owolola. they (JAMB) must have comwas as a result of shortage of Computer-Based Test, CBT of candidates who were expected CBT centre with about 2000 com- since other data provided by them pletely put its house in order.

However, reacting to the develcentres in Lagos State to cater for to start the examinations did not puters. The initial problems of lack during registration for the exams the huge number of candidates start until at about 3.30 pm due to of internet servers were rectified were correct, supervisors at the opment, former Executive Secrebilled to write the exams. by some JAMB officials before the centre allowed them to be tary, National Universities Comlack of the internet.

According to the Public Thousands of candidates who first batch started. About 24,000 screened based on the exemp- mission, NUC, Prof. Peter Relations Officer of Joint travelled from different areas to the candidates would write the ex- tion mode. This was even as Okebukola, who lauded JAMB’s Admission Matriculation Board, centre waited endlessly. JAMB amination in the school during the three of the four visually im- Registrar, Professor Dibu over 1.4 million candidates will officials who were on hand asked 10 days that the test would last. paired candidates expected to Ojerinde, for initiating the total be writing this year’s UTME candidates for batch two who were This year’s UTME was initially participate in the examination CBT format for the 2015 UTME, however blamed the problems across 400 CBT centres to write their own from 10 am to slated to commence on Monday, yesterday, showed up. which marred the commencenationwide. wait so that they would not come March 9, but following some loment of the exams in some cenAccording to reports from the back on Friday for the CBT. Posting controversy gistics problems, the Joint AdmisUniversity of Nigeria, UNN, Some parents whose children tres on teething logistic probIt was however, a success story sion Matriculation Board, JAMB, Nsukka, Enugu State, where the at Oko Polytechnic, Oko, shifted the examination till yes- or wards registered for the ex- lems.

Okebukola said: “I am sure this UMTE was held at the Depart- Anambra State, where the insti- terday. amination in Lagos State but were ment of Economics, the first batch tution had earlier established a However, despite the shift in posted to neighbouring states to must be for logistical reasons and to ensure that candidates are best date, which JAMB said was to allow it put its write the examinations lamented served in the most conducive enhouse in order, Vanguard gathered from some that they had to pay more for vironment to conduct a compuof the centres in Lagos, that the hitches per- travel and hotel bills over alleged ter-based test. The technology has incompetence of JAMB. sisted.

Also, at the Certified Institute to be right. The security and surAt the Island Computer College, XYZ veillance against cheating has to Plaza, centre in the Ajah area of Lagos, can- of Shipping, CIS, Magbon in be right. The power supply has Badagry, candidates who went didates who showed up at the centre as early to be right. The overall ambience as 7.00am, could not begin their exams, as to the examination centre yester- of the environment has to be conday morning, were said to still the College was said to be fixing its internet ducive for the candidate. To satserver which encountered technical problems. be at the hall as at 7.25pm, when isfy all these conditions next door an aggrieved parent called our The delay led to agitation by the candidates for every UTME candidate is like and their parents who had accompanied them correspondent on telephone to asking for the moon." complain over the situation. to the centre. Save for the timely intervention

T

of some police men and JAMB officials, the centre would have been thrown into confusion.

Similarly, at Chams City in Ikeja, the examination for the first batch billed to commence by 8am could not start until around 9am. Efforts by Vanguard to speak with exam officials proved abortive as none was ready to speak to the press over the issue.

This delay, it was observed forced hundreds of candidates for the second session to loiter around the Isaac John Street, where the centre is located.

At the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka, there were about four candidates whose thumbprint did not match with what the exam body had on its database.

H o w e v e r,

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PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS REPORT:

Buhari, APC saying nothing new —Group

M

OVE ON Nigeria, a civic action organisation promoting democracy, good governance and the Transformation Agenda of the present administration, has called on the presidential flag-bearer of APC, General Muhammadu Buhari to quit misleading the public on the issue of missing money from NNPC. In a statement by the National Coordinator of the group Mr. Clem Aguiyi to newsmen, the group said ‘there is no integrity in re-echoing the same old lies already debunked by several probe panels and investigations including forensic audit reports while keeping quiet on massive looting of Lagos.

Buhari must therefore speak up now on the Lagos saga except he is saying it is okay for his cronies and financiers to remain looters.

According to the group, "when the issue of missing $20 billion first came up, NNPC as a responsible corporate organisation submitted to investigations by the National Assembly and later to an independent forensic audit by PriceWaterhouseCoopers - a foremost auditing firm.

It will be recalled that the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi panel found no evidence of missing money just like the forensic audit, the first of its kind in over 25 years of NNPC, also found no evidence of missing money.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 —15

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16 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Dele Cole's book, 'Modern and Traditional Elites in ... Lagos' launched

From left, Mrs. Mina Cole, wife of the Author; Professor Wole Soyinka, Book Reviewer; Chief Maiden Ibru, Publisher, The Guardian Newspapers Limited; Ambassdor Patrick Dele Cole, and Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State, during the launch of the book authored by Ambassdor Patrick Dele Cole, entitled, 'Modern and Traditional Elites in the Politics of Lagos,' at NIIA, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. Photos: Mr. Sunmi Smart Cole, and Mr. Wale Babalakin, Kehinde Gbadamosi SAN, Chairman, Bi-Courtney (right).

From left, Professor Wale Omole, Chairman, Editorial Board of The Guardian Newspapers Limited; Chief Taiwo Alimi, Mr. Rotimi Fashola, and Professor Theo Ogunbiyi, Past Chairman, Lagos State Teaching Hospital.

Nigerians must resist using military to shift polls — JAF April 11, urging the Nigerian electorate to resist whatever reasons that may be given for a further shift.

NE OF Nigeria’s frontline and The civil societies group which made this vociferous civil societies group, the call, at a State of the Nation press Joint Action Front, JAF, yesterday, called conference in Lagos, tagged: “The on the Federal Government, Independent Imperative of a Broad Movement for a National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Political Alternative,” stated that the masses the security operatives never to shift the must oppose all manner of electoral forthcoming polls, billed for March 28 and manipulations and postponement under whatever guise, including the ongoing rumour of a military coup or imposition of an interim national

By Chidi Nkwopara fundamental rights for the government to scuttle the commission to insist on the election.

WERRI — THE use of the PVC for the JAF Chairperson, Dr. people of Owerri elections when it was Oladipo Fashina, who was North Local Government obvious that the none flanked by JAF Secretary, Area of Imo State, have provision of the PVC was Comrade Abiodun Aremu; dragged the Independent INEC’s fault.

JAF Deputy Chair, Achike Electoral Commission, Reacting to the Chude and Chairman, INEC, to the Federal High development, the All Academic Staff of Court, Owerri, praying the Progressives Universities, University of Grand court to order that they be Alliance, APGA, candidate Lagos, UNILAG, Dr. Laja allowed to use their who is also from the area, Odukoya said: “The Temporary Voters Card, Capt.

Emmanuel General elections of TVC, during the Ihenacho, lamented that it February 14 and 28 were forthcoming general was saddening that he postponed and despite the elections. didn’t have the PVC, even new dates of March 28 and The citizens hinged their when the elections were April 11, there are prayer on what they called around the corner. worrisome signals of the the inability of the Capt. Ihenacho, who conspiracy to again commission to provide spoke through his media postpone the election. The Permanent Voters Card, aide, Barr. Emperor Iwuala, use of military to force the PVC, for the people of the said it would have been a postponement of the area ahead of the polls. big embarrassment to the elections is dangerous and In the suit filed on behalf Imo APGA gubernatorial threatens even the new of the people by Barr. candidate if the election dates. Who, except the Chinedu Mezu, the people had held as earlier military itself, determines also averred that it would scheduled. whether or not there is amount to breach of their enough security?

From left, Prof Edward .S. Ayensu, Chairman of Occasion, and former Chairman of World Bank inspection Panel; Mrs. Mina Cole, wife of the Author - Ambassador Cole.

Edo State Ijaw political leaders drum suppport for Jonathan's re-election

By Ikenna Asomba

O

Citizens of Owerri North LG sue INEC over PVC

Sitting at the centre are: The Pere of Olodiama, Alagbabunafa, Pere Oguoyibo and other community leaders, during the rally organized by notable Ijaw leaders, politicians, professional bodies, among others, of of Edo State, to drum up support for President Goodluck Jonathan's re-election.

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Some of the ex-militant leaders with Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ovia House of Representatives candidate, Omosede Igbinedion, at the centre.

Scarcity: Fuel sells for N120 a litre in Enugu

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU — RESIDENTS of Enugu State and its environs are gnashing their teeth over the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, at most filing stations in the state.

This came as the Federal Government assured Nigerians that the scarcity would ease by last weekend.

Vanguard gathered that

the scarcity,which is artificial, is allegedly orchestrated by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria,IPAM, who are protesting the reduction in the pump price of fuel from N97 to N87 per litre.

The scarcity has led to a hike in pump price of fuel in the state as some of the filing stations where the product is available sell

between N120 and N125, against government price of N87.

The prevailing situation has led to long queues where the product is available in the state.

The operators have cashed in on the scarcity to alter the meter reading. The quantity of product they dispense per litre is less than what it ought to be.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 — 17

S

OCIAL scientists determine ethnicity to be an artificial construct based on shared beliefs of identity created over time. Groups (and their leaders) create certain beliefs in order to implement political strategies and control their followers. Ethnicity is thus a construct based more on power and status than on any real, intrinsic feeling. Indeed, it is now believed that social, cultural and behavioural differences between people are not inherited but rather created for different purposes by those with the power, resources and will to do so.

Therefore, one can assume there is no basic or fundamental hatred between people that was not created to serve a particular interest.

Unfortunately, Nigeria is no longer governed by humanists, people who studied the “triple threat” as it is called in universities, “politics, philosophy and economics”. The intellectuals have left the scene for those who see politics as a business, rather than a purpose, those who would rather bring in their cronies to share their loot than ask why we do the things we do.

Had we been serious, from the point of independence, about building “nationstates” based not on nepotism, cronyism and personal interests but on service provision for the majority and representation, not of groups, but of fair and equal opportunities for all, which is our superseding national interest, Nigeria would not be in the predicament it is in today where a First Lady can speak of “those people” (referring to Northerners) with disdain and champion the rights of the “Ijaw nation” as opposed to the rights of all Nigerians.

Of course, my name is from the Niger Delta. But I have chosen, like all those who see a future beyond ethnic competition (as it should be in order to ensure peace and cohesion) to think both strategically and soundly, in the interest of Nigeria.

Futhermore, 21st century thinking and education does not allow one to wallow in the shallow waters of ethnic identity. In football, perhaps the quintessential Nigerian sport, they say “play for the name on the front of the jersey and they will remember the name on the back”. I play for team Nigeria so if I am asked what I stand for, it is for my country, first and foremost, for its unity and greatness which I am ready to dedicate my life to. So, when as a citizen and as a journalist, wrong-doing is observed, honesty and critical thinking shunned, I cannot justify it in the name of so-called ethnic solidarity.

Everyone somewhere

from

tprincewill@yahoo.co.uk

Ethnicity, Nigeria’s drug addiction Nigerians are often told “everybody is from somewhere” and that to move forward one must believe in one identity and endorse a regional axis and perspective to survive. Such petty, wrong advice! In the fullness of time, we will all come to realise this

For me, it’s equal opportunity, promoting and retaining the talents to develop Nigeria, irrespective of where they are from. Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we will always stand

and those who don’t will be left behind. What makes a country? What makes its inhabitants live together in peace? The short answer is opportunity and social mobility but definitely not the number of states allocated to each individual ethnic group. The idea of an “oduduwa state” proposed by some Yoruba Obas in exchange for supporting Jonathan’s re-election bid is ludicrous.

The world bemoans the increasing cost of governance and its negative impact on development, Nigerians must refuse the path of heavy expenses and support streamlining our expenditure, even if it means “hand-outs” will end.

Corruption is nobody’s friend in the long run, not even those currently benefiting from it. Indeed, for money to multiply, it must be invested.

But what will the rich invest in if both people and infrastructure are so far gone that investing in fixing them becomes a bottomless pit, due, ironically to corruption?

Public to private governance

C

ORRUPTION in Africa is different from corruption in the West. Rather than withdraw mind-boggling sums from the public purse and do jail time, politicians abroad are sometimes found using their position to make contacts and influence business deals for their proxies, which falls into the domain of ethics when it is proven no bribe exchanged hands. I am fascinated by how meticulous and watchful their journalists and civil society are. Hilary Clinton is facing an inquiry due to use of her personal email during her time as secretary of state.

Indeed, all correspondence by public officials in the US is housed by state owned Internet servers which watchdogs can pour through in cases of suspected wrongdoing. By using her personal email, she might have attempted to keep some aspects of her dealings during her time in office away from potential inquiry. In another famous example, Cherie Blair, wife of former British prime minister, once asked football

club Manchester United for jerseys for her sons but insisted on paying for them (although she did ask for a discount) so that she would not have to declare them as gifts.

Jonathan might unknowingly have been on to something when he said “some of these cases we call corruption, it’s just stealing”.

These are truly the best and worst of times.

Ethnic sentiments Rather than address the root causes of so many of our problems as a nation, we hide behind ethnic sentiments: whose turn is it to occupy power? What zone should be rewarded? In the modern world, it is no longer about tribe or where one is from but about being the best man for the job. After all, in football, team members are not chosen based on their ethnicity but rather, based on who can guarantee a win for all. So long as one is a lawabiding, tax-paying citizen with the talent to justify one’s ambitions, the sky should be the limit. Zoning encourages

ethnic competition rather than cooperation. The concept of state of origin itself is divisive and encourages both corruption and discord. Why should one be promoted simply on account of one’s ethnic group or home state?

What if there are more capable individuals around? That they are expected to simply “wait their turn” like many young people in today’s Nigeria are told, is a miscarriage of justice. If people with ideas and solutions to offer, had been told, in Europe or America, to “ wait for their turn” many of the revolutionary changes and inventions we take for granted today would not have occurred. In other climes, men and women are taught “no guts, no glory”, “dream big and win” etc. In Nigeria, people of all ages and backgrounds are taught to be meek and to stifle their inner light so that others, who are often less qualified, can shine.

Then, we wonder why our country is still so underdeveloped. Why call our next eleven, rather than our best eleven to play for team Nigeria? What is change? For me, it’s equal opportunity, promoting and retaining the talents to develop Nigeria, irrespective of where they are from. Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we will always stand.

International women’s day

T

ALENT must be incentivised and rewarded, not because one belongs to a particular group, not because one is of a particular sex but simply because one is deserving.

Nigeria must operate a meritocracy for women to truly thrive. Those asking for a particular number of

positions to be reserved for women are missing the point: this simply promotes a culture of handouts and mediocrity, where women are figureheads rather than real players. In modern democracies the powerful are talent scouts who go around looking for “the next best thing” as retention of talent in business and p o l i t i c s guarantees entrepreneurial success and e n a b l e s parties to win elections.

There is also a greater purpose for attracting such talents.

I firmly believe God Minister of Petroleum, Allison Madueke. uses them to create a future greater than we can imagine: meritorious leaders create a sense of limitless possibility for people, or the idea that there is something out there for you too, if you are willing to work for it.

Hilary Clinton, former US Secretary of State.

Minister for Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Tabia Princewill is a strategic communications consultant and public policy analyst. She is also the co-host and executive producer of a talk show, WALK THE TALK which airs on Channels TV.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 CONCERNS for peaceful outcome of the 2015 general elections have led to two major initiatives to promote peace in the country.

The first was the signing of an accord on violence-free conducts before, during and after the election by presidential candidates of 14 political parties, notably President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Peoples Congress, APC, on 14 January 2015.

The National Peace Committee for the 2015 General Elections, which comprised eminent Nigerians from different spheres of life, with former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, as its Chairman, was the other. It was convened by founder of the Kukah Centre for Faith and Leadership Research, and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah.

The involvement of respected national figures and international statesmen such as former United Nations Secretary-General, Dr. Kofi Annan, and former SecretaryGeneral of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, in these quests for peace underscores the depth of apprehensions about the elections.

Unless extraordinary steps are taken, most experts agree, the desperation for power the PDP and APC camps exhibit could

Peace Committee’s Herculean Task boil over and put the nation and Africa at risk of destabilisation. We note the eagerness and patriotic zeal with which members of the peace committee embraced the assignment. It shows that in the midst of tumult among politicians and their supporters, there are still individuals who are ready to cast aside selfish and partisan pursuits to secure the most important element in the continued existence of the nation: peace. Without peace and security, there will be no election, and indeed, no nation.

The committee must swing into action and rally the Nigerians, especially the youth, behind its noble objectives,

leveraging the credibility and nonpartisanship of its members. Though the time for its work is short, the committee should reach out to volunteers to spread the word. Nigerians have to realise the imperative of peace for the sustenance of the country, which is more important than the collective greed of politicians. It should use the media, the clout of its members to connect with non-partisan civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, to market the centrality of peace to our people. The electorate needs more information on how to vote peacefully while resisting incitement to violence, no matter who wins or loses.

These pre-election activities should douse the tension in the polity and preserve Nigeria, which needs peace to achieve the economic greatness and prosperity her peoples desire. We should not allow politicians to nudge the country over the brink into a chasm of disaster and disintegration, which some prophets of doom have divined for Nigeria this general election year, 2015.

OPINION

By Humphrey Ifeanyi

D

AME Patience Faka Jonathan is the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, the most maligned president that Nigeria has ever produced.

By virtue of being the wife of the president, she is the first lady, and she shares the humiliation that her husband is subjected to. Nigerians are not particularly enamoured about the office of the first lady which attained visible profile during the regime of Gen. Ibrahim Babanginda. His wife, Maryam had poise, elegance and grace.

She had charisma and she carried her beauty with humility.

Mrs. Ndidi Nneamaka Babangida had presence and intellect that has not been matched by any other first lady.

She made the office of the first lady visible with her Better Life for Rural Women Programme. The other women that came after her maintained visible presence in that position as the first lady.

But none of them has been as politically exposed and vibrant as Dame Patience Jonathan. She has a strong personality that evokes mixed emotions.

She is outspoken and unpretentious. She is not the type of woman male chauvinists and anachronistic men would find easy to accommodate.

She is not even the type of woman so many women with fickle minds would dare to come close to. Dame Patience Jonathan is a grassroots woman and she is not pretending about it.

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Dame

Jonathan's

The Genesis of attacks Her disagreement with Governor Rotimi Amaechi over the latter’s plan to demolish the Okirika Waterfront led to series of events which her detractors capitalised on to savage her.

She has been called all sort of names and presented to the world as a dim witted woman who is unworthy of the office of a first lady.

Her husband was not equally spared.

Several unsavory details of their private life, as untrue and unfounded as they are have been hurled into the public place.

Even when she had health challenges, she was openly mocked by the same

She is not even the type of woman so many women with fickle minds would dare to come close to.

Dame Patience Jonathan is a grassroots woman and she is not pretending about it

detractors

people that are crying blue murder that she said that Gen. Buhari is brain dead.

She too was pronounced dead right in this country.

The gaffs and laughs Dame carries herself with respect and dignity that is informed by her sociocultural milieu. She has never told anybody that she has an upper class training and cultural exposure.

She is comfortable in her native Okrika world view.The initial attempts by her handlers to create an image of the Jones’ for the first Lady was like forcing her to live a false life which she could not adapt the pretences of public office at that level.

Her detractors cashed in on this to assail her with unprintable insults. The media was also at its best to portray her in less dignifying manners, Even if she were to falter in the art of speaking English Language, former US president Mr. G.W. Bush still pronounces INTERNET as INTERNETS. The Americans have a compendium of the Gaffs of their former president. This did not stop them from accord him due respect. Vice President Joe Biden is known for dropping verbal bombs when he speaks, still Americans accord him respect and try to manage him.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is loose cannon. Yet, nobody has crucified him.

She surrounded herself with people who took her out of her natural grassroots habitat.

This resulted in a few missteps which those who never liked her person capitalized on to mess her up in the media.

Chibok Girls saga The Chibok girls saga brought a changed Dame Patience Jonathan as she was exposed to maximum embarrassment by Channel Television which chose to air her hysterical moments when she tried to interrogate the principal of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, where over 200 girls were abducted by members of the Boko Haram Sect.

This was the stage of the crises when there were doubts how the students were left in the school without security and minders. None of the children or ward of staff of the school was taken away.

The Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shettima, abdicated his responsibility to secure the school as he had earlier promised. This resulted in her widely publicised encounter with the principal of the school and the famous "Chai, There is God oo0” episode.

Campaign theme This was the turning point in her life as the first lady as she made it clear to all and sundry that people should stop insulting her husband.

Continues tomorrow on pg 18

*Mr. Ifeanyi, a political analyst, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015—19 —19

Does the PDP really want the 2015 election?

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T is important to ask at this time if the ruling Peoples Democratic Party is really interested in contesting the rescheduled 2015 elections. This question has become pertinent in view of what looks like a deliberate attempt by the party to continue to stonewall any attempt to have the election until such time as it feels ready for it. The ‘filibustering’ tactics of the PDP are too obvious to be ignored. This type of attitude was often to be found among underdog, opposition parties during election in Nigeria. It would seem to me that this is the first time in the history of Nigeria that a party in power would be acting like one in opposition, too frightened and afraid of testing its strength in an election.

It is not often the case that there are no legitimate grounds for concern when opposition parties see booby traps in electoral arrangements made by a ruling party. Since no Nigerian politician, especially one already in office, wants to leave even when they have been defeated in an election, they make all effort to subvert the electoral will of the people rather than acquit

themselves well enough to look credible for re-election while still in office. Their default move thereafter is to ensure that the electoral plans put in place are laced with all kinds of booby traps that would downgrade their relevance or usefulness.

This they do in addition to barefaced electoral fraud like ballot stuffing and violent intimidation of opponents. It is for this reason that opposition parties often see problems even where there are apparently none during build-up to an election.

That is never the story of a party in power which is almost always the aggressor, the culprit and, rightly or wrongly, expected victor all rolled into one.

But that a party in power would not want an election and would do all in its might to prevent one taking place even when it knows it cannot function like in a one party state is a phenomenon that the PDP has introduced into electoral practice in Nigeria. This is not because the party is even-handed and has not made its own arrangements to pervert the electoral process.

No, there are numerous instances to cite in this regard. It

is rather that in spite of its best efforts at turning the tide in its favour, it still sees itself as vulnerable and very open to defeat. This is the real reason it got its military wing to ensure the postponement of the election formerly slated for February 14, 2015 to March 28, 2015. It is still bent on ensuring the election does not hold on the advertised new date until such time as it can be sure that it has won the election even before the first vote is cast. For the PDP, the rescheduled election is a bitter cup it would rather not have.

The PDP’s rejection of election (for that is what all this delay tactics mean) is neither a necessary nor desirable attitude.

It is however one that the party is determined to maintain.

Which is why Nigerians should not just gloss over it or view it as yet another freak incident in our drive towards improving democratic practice in this country. It is an attitude that should be condemned and opposed in the strongest terms given its import. It amounts to a denial of a fundamental imperative of democracy, even

At every point, people have cited one reason or another to oppose INEC or made calls for the postponement or cancellation of the scheduled elections

Fayose’s recklessness fast approaching that of a suicide bomber

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CTUALLY, it is a bit unfair to single out Mr Ayodele Fayose, the alleged rigged - into - office governor of Ekiti State( just listen to the hottest audio record in Nigeria, the Ekiti Election Rigging Tape) as the one, within the ruling party’s crowded barracoon of desperate power-mongers, whose recklessness is fast approaching a suicide bomber’s. Who, I ask you, plays second fiddle to another among these intrepid contestants for the prize of Enemy of Democracy Number One:Fayose; or Call-Me-a-Bastard-if-APC-Survives Doyin Okupe, aka Dr. Attack Lion; or Femi FaniKayode, whose congenital case of logorrhoea, “excessive and often incoherent talkativeness or wordiness,” is his only stock-in-trade; or AIG Joseph Mbu, noncard carrying member of the PDP; or Mujahedeen Asari Dokubo who threatens war if Jonathan loses the election; or National Security Adviser Dasuki, the de facto INEC Chairman; or Mrs. Patience Jonathan, who doesn’t need change because she is not a bus conductor and who knows a thing or two about “brain dead” people; or President Goodluck Jonathan himself, whose refusal to curb the excesses of his troops and corresponding eagerness to reward high crimes (as in nominating the prime suspect in the criminal subversion of democracy in Ekiti for ministerial reappointment), betrays a clear preference, his public utterances notwithstanding, for a hand-picked interim government over a democratically elected one?

But I pick on Fayose for good reason: with his latest outing, he damns President Jonathan’s government as one founded

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on impunity. “The heavens will not fall,” Fayose counsels, if the President does what he sorely desires: sack Jega and replace him with a spineless chairman whose first duty would be to cancel the use of permanent voter cards for biometric accreditation before the elections can take place.

Doubtless, Fayose would denounce impunity as vehemently as anyone, which is not to stop him from recommending blatant illegality.

“It is the President,” says Fayose, “that can determine whether or not Jega will go on the mandatory three months terminal leave which should commence on March 8, and if the President decides that the INEC chairman should go on terminal leave, what can the APC loudmouths do?” No matter, of course, that the INEC chairman is not subject to normal civil service rules. It seems to me that the PDP is traumatised by the shocking fact of having for once to confront a credible opposition party, especially one they had

Fayose’s recklessness is emblematic of the desperation in the ranks of the ruling party; General Obasanjo suggests that it has something to do with the fear that Buhari will send many of them to jail

if ours is only so in name: the right to vote and be voted for.

The PDP may claim it has never made any call for the postponement or cancellation of the rescheduled election. It may deny any direct or indirect complicity in the activities of the ABN-like associations, misnamed political parties, dangerously springing up all over the place, campaigning either for the postponement or cancellation of the elections while dragging the courts into their patently criminal activities. But we are not all too woolly-brained not to know what is happening. The Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) was one of the worst contraptions set-up by the military and its civilian wings to wrongfoot the presidential elections of June 12, 1993. It began its activities in the same manner as the so-called 15 political parties that are rejecting the use of card readers alongside the PDP or, in fact, the self-styled Young Democratic Party that has just won a court judgement to be registered this late hour for the March 28 election.

Let us be clear about the complicity of the PDP in all these anti-democratic initiatives that are disguised as genuine worries for the integrity of the election.

These plans surfaced clearly after Sambo Dasuki, National Security Adviser, first called for the postponement of the 2015 election citing security reasons.

In order to make his call appear as unrehearsed as possible, he chose to make it in faraway London in the course of a perfunctory speech-making.

When it appeared like Dasuki’s call would fall on deaf ears, our so-called military chiefs issued the not-so-veiled threat of violence in their claim that they

certified stillborn in its merger-bed.

For Jega’s crime, let it be noted, is no more than a commitment, through electronic accreditation, to the elimination of rigging, the great bane of our e l e c t o r a l process.But the wind of change, stronger and blowing more loudly by the day, has bared the proverbial rump of the furtive fowl for all to see.

Consequently, we hear now that to insist on rigging-free elections is to be an agent of the rival party! Makes sense. With all their hopes invested in rigging, the irony is lost on them that they have now conceded the moral high ground to the All Progressives Congress.Go ahead, defy the people, Fayose begs the President, his protector.”They boasted before the postponement of the elections that they would go on street protests, but did they do anything? They made noise when Justice Isa Ayo Salami was removed from office as President of the Court of Appeal, what did their noise amount to? Therefore, let me say it categorically that the noise being made by the APC and their agents will amount to nothing because if [you] remove Jega today, [the] heavens will not fall.”

From where does Fayose get this thuggish confidence? From his serial acts of unpunished impunity!Here is what he cleverly refrained from saying: “When the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged me with diversion of money intended for a poultry project, did anything come of it? Despite the unending screams of the professional loudmouths about my alleged implication in murder,

could not guarantee the safety of the electorate and electoral officials should the election go ahead as planned. This was hardly over before the same groups opposed to the election started the Permanent Voters Card controversy. Now that the PVC noise-making seems to be petering out after a few weeks as a national talking point, up came the Jega-must-go campaign, followed by the card readers cacophony. This not over yet but we are already faced with the entry of the Young Democratic Party and the cold possibility of the election being postponed or cancelled should this misguided group have its way.

At every point, people have cited one reason or another to oppose INEC or made calls for the postponement or cancellation of the scheduled elections, the PDP and its stalwarts have been on standby to amplify such calls, leaving nobody in doubt that they were privy to the destabilising activities of these rented elements.

Given institutionalised defects in our electoral practice, it is hardly possible to expect 100% readiness on the part of the body responsible for organising elections in Nigeria now.

Otherwise no election can hold in this country as there would always be one thing or another in the arrangement to raise questions about. This is the loophole that the PDP has been exploiting through surrogates of different kinds even though it could be said that it has both the yam and the knife in its hand as far as this election and the arrangement for it are concerned. It could and has been doing as it pleases. But let it be mindful lest it becomes the lizard that desecrated its mother ’s funeral with its own feet .

and my impeachment, did the good people of my state not reward me with another tenure? When I went to the High Court, and in my presence a mob halted the proceedings of a tribunal deciding my eligibility for political office, ransacked the chambers of a senior judge, shredded his robes and books, and manhandled him, did the sword of justice fall upon me? But, Your Excellency, here is the clincher, if you are still unpersuaded. Even with the tape of the rigging operation leaked by a traitor, and the APC and civil society making the usual noises, have you not insisted on reappointing Musiliu Obanikoro as a minister? Have the heavens fallen on you or me yet? Have I not broken a taboo by advertising my wish that your opponent die before the election?”

Fayose’s recklessness is emblematic of the desperation in the ranks of the ruling party.

General Obasanjo suggests that it has something to do with the fear that Buhari will send many of them to jail. For Fayose, that fear turns to panic at the near certainty that he will be removed from the office that the unanswerable evidence of the Ekiti rigging tape proves he occupies illegally. To be twice disgraced out of office? That is enough to unhinge a man clinging to power with his bare knuckles. If you desire a speedy end to the 16-year buffoonery and torture Nigeria has had to endure, you can only wish Fayose and his ilk even greater recklessness.

And Nigeria a swifter march to March 28!

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

As BH bites the dust...

By Ebele Orakpo

The tough, but exciting world of a female Marwa operator children’s education.

It was at this point that I took to menial jobs. I did this for some years until I met a good Samaritan who introduced me to transport business. But the initial snag was that I didn’t know how to drive.

“I was not discouraged by the development and when some well wishers noticed my eagerness, they volunteered to teach me how to operate a tricycle and I immediately enrolled for the training which lasted for about four months. I thereafter I bought a fairly-used tricycle at the cost of N300, 000 payable on instamental basis of N10,000 per week. I started by operating the Cele expressway to Ijeshatedo route.

By Bose Adelaja

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RS Awolowo Nike, 37, was quite cheerful that Monday afternoon, though she had been working for hours under the scorching sun. In fact, as she went about her business, she had a smile for everyone she met, an indication that she has been enjoying every moment of it since she went into the transport business some four months ago. ‘’Ijesha next turn!

Ijesha, enter with your change o...’’ she hollered, while steering her fairly used tricycle popularly called Keke Marwa towards this reporter and a male colleague. She kept on smiling even after the invitation to board her vehicle was politely turned down.

Though she is not the only female tricycle operator in Lagos, but Madam Nike’s story will certainly serve as a source of inspiration and motivation to other women, especially for those seeking for means of self-employment at a period of increasing unemployment in the country.

Transportation business While some women in her position would prefer to stay glued to their television sets watching different types of programmes, this mother of three chose the male-dominated transportation business to assist the husband in putting food on the family’s table.

The native of Osun State told Vanguard Metro she was initially into the frozen food business for six years before she was forced to close shop due to epileptic power supply, coupled with skyrocketing prices of frozen foods. ‘’I was originally into petty business and was relatively doing well in it. Through it I was able C M Y K

Fairly used tricycle

*Nike...Inside her Keke Marwa to contribute my own quota to the family ’s upkeep. My husband was trying his best as the head of the family. To keep the business going I acquired the necessary equipment, including a power generating set. I was able to service my loan through weekly contributions.

“But at a point, the power situation in my area began to worsen so that most of the profit went into providing alternative electricity through the generating set. I could no longer offset various bills though I wanted to manage the situation believing that sooner or later the public power supply would would improve.

“The power problem lingered for a while with the result that food meant for sale kept going bad on a regular basis. As if this was not bad enough, the prices of frozen food soon skyrocketed, thus

worsening an already bad situation.

“To arrest the situation, I arranged for storage but this also generated further expenses and I was unable to meet up.

At this point, the situation became unbearable and I feared that financial crisis may soon cripple our

Nike’s story will certainly serve as a source of inspiration and motivation to other women, especially for those seeking for means of selfemployment

“To make things easier for myself, I came up with another mode of payment, different from the written one I signed with the owner. Under this new arrangement, I am entitled to be keeping an amount of N1,500 to offset the weekly N10,000 remittance. .

“I start the day’s work as early as 5.30am and close by 11pm. But I rest on Thursdays, while I only operate between 5pm and 8pm on Tuesdays. My younger sister stays with us to look after the children while I am away.

“A major challenge I also faced initially was where to park the tricycle after the day’s business.

But this was soon taken care of after I got a private garage where I am charged N100 daily to park and have it looked after.

“Unlike my male counterparts, I face less insult from other road users who usually come to my rescue whenever the occasion arises.

However, I wish to quit the business as soon as I raise enough money to venture into a less hectic business.”

‘O

H! I’m just loving this. The great Nigerian Armed Forces have suddenly woken up from their slumber. The Boko guys never expected what they are getting now,” said KC, a commuter in the Apapabound bus.

“A beg make we hear word. It’s Chadian, Camerounian and Nigerienne soldiers defeating Boko Haram (BH) insurgents and not Nigerian soldiers,” retorted Ade. “Radio without station! Why are we always so negative about anything concerning Nigeria? If we don’t believe in our country and our security forces, who will believe in us? The Igbos have a saying that if you address yourself as worthless, the world will treat you as such. I am pained whenever I hear our people being so negative about anything concerning Nigeria. We are always quick to judge and condemn while contributing nothing. Look at small Niger, the people trooped out against BH. They carried placards chanting Boko Haram is haram (forbidden) in Niger,” said Edith.

“Didn’t our people protest when the Chibok girls were abducted?” asked Ade. “Protest indeed! Against who? Not BH but government,” replied Edith.

“The truth remains that foreign soldiers are the ones fighting the war for us. What were our soldiers doing all along?” asked Ade, to which Mercy replied thus: “So many factors contributed to the seeming helplessness of our soldiers. One, there were moles in their midst, soldiers sympathetic to the cause of BH. Two, was the issue of outdated and non-functional weapons. Three was politics.”

“All that na story. We’ve heard all that before,” said Ade. “Cool down and let me explain. Remember the soldiers were winning the war at the initial stage with Gen. Ihejirika at the helm. It seemed he had a strategy that rendered the moles amongst them useless. He had those he could really trust working very close- Instead of ly with him and so they joining hands were able to restrict those devils to the Sambisa for- with government est. But then, some North- to fight BH at the ern elders who I am sure are sympathetic to BH, initial stage, they came up with the allega- were playing tion that the soldiers were killing northerners, alleg- politics with it, ing genocide. They vowed and subtly to take him to The Hague.

Of course Ihejirika was re- supporting BH tired and we all know how the battle went from then on. Having been accused of such grievous offence, the morale of the soldiers was low, because not just the Northern elders were accusing them of genocide, the almighty Amnesty International, AI and the West joined in the outcry. This would demoralize anyone. So the soldiers who were honestly fighting B H had to take things easy; they became very cautious so as not to offend the northern elders, AI and the West and the evil ones among them began to have a field day. Since the terrorists have been killing, maiming, beheading, burning, bombing, abducting women and children and sacking town after town, have you heard AI come out to condemn them in strong terms as they did the Army? So, I think now that Chadian, Camerounian, Nigerienne and Nigerian forces have joined hands to flush the BH guys out of our region, and also the Army is better equipped now, and some of the moles removed, the war is going in favour of our soldiers.

Again, it will be extremely dangerous for anyone, no matter how highly placed, to openly accuse the Federal Government and the Army of killing northerners now because such a person will be seen as a BH sponsor. Now, who are they going to accuse? Instead of joining hands with government to fight BH at the initial stage, they were playing politics with it, blaming government and subtly supporting BH because it did not affect them directly but now, it is affecting everyone like a rabid dog who does not recognise its owner. Good will always triumph over evil no matter how long it takes. Bravo to our heroes. May the souls of all those sent to untimely grave rest in peace,” said Edith.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

US export agency doubles Africa offices to boost trade

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he U.S. Commercial Service, the export promotion arm of the Department of Commerce, doubled its presence in Africa over the past year to boost trade with some of the world’s fastest growing economies.

The agency opened offices in Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Tanzania in the past 12 months and is planning its biggest-ever trade mission to subSaharan Africa in September, Donald Nay, a regional senior commercial officer, said in an e-mailed response to questions.

U.S. companies have faced increasing competition from China in Africa over the past decade as the Asian nation targeted the continent for oil and other mineral resources. Chinese trade with Africa amounted to $174 billion in 2013, more than double that of the U.S., which was Africa’s biggest trading partner five years earlier.

“President Obama believes that sub-

Saharan Africa can be the world’s next major economic success story that offers enormous opportunities for American companies,” Nay, who is based in Johannesburg, said. “There’s opportunity for many U.S. companies, big and small.”

Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy is forecast by the International Monetary Fund to expand 4.9 percent this year, the fastest growing region after developing Asia.

The U.S. agency has had offices in South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and

US companies have faced increasing competition from China in Africa over the past decade

Nigeria for more than two decades. It also supports embassies in 21 African countries where it doesn’t have offices.

The Trade Winds Business Development Conference will take place in South Africa in September, with the agency seeking to have more than 100 American companies participate, Nay said. U.S. retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and YUM! Brands Inc., have operations in Africa that they are expanding.

American and Chinese executives have done battle over contracts for mining concessions and railway projects in Africa and in some instances shared the spoils. South Africa’s state-owned transport company, Transnet Soc Ltd., split a $4.7 billion contract for 1,064 locomotives in March last year between China’s CNR Rolling Stock and CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive, Canada’s Bombardier Inc. and General Electric Co., based in the U.S. From left : Mr Dele Alimi, Director, Membership and Trade Promotion, LCCI; Mrs Kone Maman, Ambassador of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire to Nigeria; Dr. Nike Akande, Deputy President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Mr Kouakou Lucien, Acting First Counsellor, Cote d’Ivoire embassy in Nigeria during a courtesy visit to the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

$131.50

-5.00

$2,998.00

- 2.00

$13.13

CURRENCY

-0.14

$57.14

-1.39

$49.58

-0.42

BUYING

DOLLAR 196 POUNDS 296.1168 EURO 213. 0128 FRANC 199. 0858 YEN 1.6204 CFA 0.3116 WAUA 273.1776 RENMINBI 31. 2865 RIYAL 52. 2625 KRONA 28. 5831 SDR 271.852

CENTRAL 196.5 296.8722 213.5562 199.5937 1.6245 0.3216 273.8745 31.3668 52.3958 28.656 272.5455

197 297.6276 214.0996 200. 1016 1.6285 0.3316 274.5714 31. 447 52.5291 28. 7289 273.239

CBN Exchange Rate as at 10/3/15

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— 21

Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire to improve bilateral trade

By Franklin Alli

N

IGERIA and Cote D’Ivoire are talking on how to improve bilateral trade between the two countries.

The discussion is ongoing between the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and the Cote D’Ivoire Ambassador to Nigeria and Benin Republic, Mrs. Toure Kone Maman.

In a statement, the 2nd Deputy National President of the Association, Iyalode Alaba Lawson, commended Cote D’Ivoire on its giant strides on agriculture, explaining that the Nigerian business environment like any other developing countries in the world has tremendously improved with numerous opportunities in agriculture, Oil & Gas, Telecommunication and Power.

She requested the Ambassador to sensitize her country’s businessmen and women through the Chamber of Commerce platform to visit Nigeria in order to explore areas of partnership and possible investment.

Mrs. Toure Kone Maman said Cote D’Ivoire is committed to building partnership with Nigeria as a big brother especially in the area of agriculture and trading between the two countries.

The Ambassador, who recalled the state visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Cote D’Ivoire in 2013, said that a Memorandum of Understanding for Joint Commission and Seven Agreements were signed by the two countries during the visit.

Maman said she was in the NACCIMA Secretariat to share her country’s progress in the area of cocoa, cashew and coffee production as well as enlist NACCIMA’s support and participation in their forthcoming ‘SARA’ Agriculture Exhibition scheduled for April 2015 in Abidjan.

Chevron to accelerate asset sales to $15bn on crude slide

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hevron Corp. will increase asset sales by 50 percent to $15 billion and curtail new investment for the next two years after plunging oil prices squeezed cash flow.

Chevron’s divestment of oil fields and other upstream assets will continue through 2017, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Watson said during a presentation to analysts in New York on Tuesday. Capital spending will decline through the period as construction of mega-projects such as the Gorgon gas-export development in Australia winds down, he said.

San Ramon, California-based Chevron, the second-largest U.S. energy producer, reduced its spending plan for 2015 by 13 percent to $35 billion in January. Even with the cut, Watson reaffirmed plans to raise production by 20 percent to the

equivalent of 3.1 million barrels of crude a day by the end of 2017.

The adjustments are necessary to address “ near-term market conditions,” Watson said during his presentation.

Oil lost almost half its value since late June amid weakening international demand growth and rising supplies from U.S. shale formations.

Chevron’s divestment of oil fields and other upstream assets will continue through 2017

Chevron made 35 oil and gas discoveries and added the equivalent of 1.4 billion barrels of oil to its portfolio last year, Vice Chairman George Kirkland said at Tuesday’s event. Those findings included deepwater assets in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and off the west coast of Africa, as well as North American shale fields, he said.

Kirkland called 2014 “an excellent year for our exploration program around the world.”

Chevron said the start of production from the Clair Ridge offshore development in the U.K. and the Sonam project in Angola will be delayed by a year to 2017. The company is an investor in the BP Plcoperated Clair Ridge development and operates Sonam.

Shares fell 0.89 percent to $103.02 at 10:54 a.m. in New York.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

The Nigerian insurance market is largely untapped and has tremendous growth potential with penetration at 0.4% of GDP.

,

Loss of employment insurance kicks off

By Rosemary Onuoha

T

he National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, has given Anchor Insurance Company Limited and Universal Risk Management and Actuarial Services approval to jointly introduce a new product for workers called URFANS Loss of Employment Insurance Scheme.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Anchor Insurance, Mr. Ademayowa Adeduro said the product URFANS would soon be officially unveiled to the public.

The company noted that the original concept of the product was borne out of intensive research, market survey and test marketing locally and abroad since 2011 by Universal Risk Management and Actuarial Services Limited, an indigenous actuarial service consulting firm.

It said it relied on the competence and relationship between URMAAS Limited USA, PolySystems, Inc USA and URMAAS Limited Nigeria to make a success story from the product.

URMAAS began a research work on how to address the increasing menace of job insecurity and spiral effects of loss of employment in Nigeria.

Adeduro explained that the new product provides cover against sudden loss of employment income for a reasonable period of time that the victim could regain employment and flow of income resumes.

“This product provides benefit for a member who lost his employment through no fault of his. LoEIS will continue to provide financial cushion against income losses from temporary unemployment.”

In the event of loss of employment, he said the policy will pay the insured, the salary earned last in the employment for a period of time during which period the member may have regained another employment subject to a maximum period of 24 months.

The insured, he explained would get 100 per cent of the monthly salary for the first six months, followed by 75 per cent in the next six months if the employee remains unemployed, 50 per cent will continue for the following six month, while 25 per cent will be paid in the last six months.

Chairman, Supreme Adequate Insurance Broker, Mr. Taiwo Akintunde confirmed that his firm is the approved insurance broker for the product.

He disclosed that the product will be out on March 5, 2015 and will be opened for subscription from March 9, 2015 from which time workers will begin to enjoy a new lease of rest of mind under the cover of LoEIS. The Managing Director of URMAAS, Mr. Adekunle Fashola said that LoEIS is the outcome of the research work which was packaged to solve the problem of sudden job loss and redundancy resulting to income loss.

“Losing job or getting laid off can happen without warning and those affected are usually left in panic, scrambling for money to pay rents, children school fees, mortgages, car loans, cater for daily expenses and other financial obligations. The adverse effect of a job loss, he added could be very devastating and could eventually lead to foreclosures, bankruptcy, bad credit, financial hardships, depression or even death,” the statement added.

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INSURAN

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How we intend to use IFC’s £20m convertible loan — Aiico MD

M

r. Edwin Igbiti is the Managing Director of Aiico Insurance Plc. He spoke with Favour Nnabugwu on the International Finance Corporation (IFC)’s $20million convertible loan to the firm. He also shed light on the company’s driving force, its magic wand and many more.

Excerpts

What is Aiico’s plan on the International Finance Corporation’s $20m convertible loan?

Aiico is on a transformation journey to becoming a world class financial services group, providing insurance solutions (life, non-life and health) as well as investment services (pension and assets management) to individuals, households, businesses, corporations and public institutions.

The $20million convertible debt raised from the IFC will be deployed to support the company’s strategic objectives that include growing profitable sources of income; establish a competitive advantage in service excellence; drive operational efficiency by automation and develop world class centers of excellence (training and development) in our

core areas of risk management such as actuarial science.

The company has an aggressive expansion strategy.

Our plan is to rapidly expand our retail presence and footprints in all major cities, urban centers and penetrate communities with population of at least one million.

We operate a hub and spoke model for our locations and the plan is to relocate/renovate our regional offices (Lagos, Abuja & PH) within a year with the aim of improving visibility, access and convenience to customers.

The $20 million convertible debt raised from the FC will be deployed to support the company’s strategic objectives

Similarly, our existing branches and retail centres will be refurbished and remodeled to ensure pleasant customer experience. There are plans to open up 11 additional retail centres in strategic locations over the next 18 months.

Our objective is to deliver insurance solutions at the doorstep of every Nigerian, while improving public awareness, access and convenience to customers. This is our approach to reaching the large under-served retail segments and improving service standards to our corporate clients across the country.

How does the company intend to judiciously make use of the $20m?

We plan to complement our brick & mortar strategy, with significant investments in ICT platforms to expand accessibility, convenience and security to customers.

We are investing in connectivity infrastructure across all our locations to ensure that transactions are securely done on a real-time basis regardless of the customer’s location.

New servers and data recovery apparatus are being acquired to ensure that transactions are seamlessly done while ensuring the highest levels of security to our customers.

These ICT investments will also ensure that we have the necessary

Lasaco returns to composite structure

L

asaco Assurance Plc has returned to a composite structure having merged the

Life operations with the General effective from 2015 financial year.

The company said the move is strategic and is aimed at running a seamless insurance

From left: Mr. Ademayowa Adeduro MD/CEO Anchor Insurance; Mr. Samuel Okeleye, URMAAS (Executive Director Operations); Mr. Bimbo Abioye MD/CEO FinTrak Software; Adekunle Fashola MD/CEO of URMAAS; Mr. Taiwo Akintunde Chairman Supreme Adequate Insurance brokers; and Femi Adegbami, Administrator of URFANS LoEIS Secretariat.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015,

forward. This target model will be replicated across all our locations, thereby providing a consistent customer experience at all Aiico locations.

Mr. Edwin Igbiti capacity and scalability to manage the anticipated growth in customer transactions and requirements over the coming years. Furthermore, sizeable investments is being made to provide multiple payment options to customers, such as the payment portal to customers, agents and brokers on the company website, PoS terminals, mobile platforms, and other 3rd party payment platforms.

Overall, our objective is to deliver superior value to the customer at every point during their interactions with us.

Another major area of investment

is branding. We are well aware of the public perception of insurance. Although Aiico is a foremost brand and has been a household name for several decades, we recognize the need to rejuvenate and reposition the brand, tailor our messages to target segments and employ appropriate media to reach the customer.

As part of our plans to rejuvenate the brand, our HQ will be renovated to deliver a new contemporary ‘look and feel’ that is consistent with our brand identity and positioning going

business, positioned to deliver world class service.

Managing Director of the company, Mr. Olusola LadipoAjayi, said that as a growing concern, adapting to market demand and business operating environment is imperative for the success of any business outfit.

He said “The decision to merge our Life outfit with the mother company was taken after a deep thought on a number of business variables and the need to chart a new course for the group.”

Ladipo-Ajayi stated that business requires pragmatism, adding, “We have always been bold in taking decisions not based on sentiment or following routine, but after systematic analysis of business trend with the future in view.

“Our reversal of a lot of negative business indexes last year did not happen by chance but through painstaking

strategic moves. We would therefore not shy away from taking tough decisions when need arises. It is all about the business”, he added.

In spite of the peculiar challenges in our operating environment, we have given ourselves a charge to deliver customer expectations and redefine service and ethical standards

What is the attraction?

There are internal and external reasons why IFC and other investors are interested in Aiico. The company has a solid business model, unparalleled strength in the retail business (largest agency network), a balanced business mix by gross premiums between life and non-life businesses (54% and 46% respectively), significant cashflows, seasoned underwriters in specialty and industrial risks, topclass business managers and a bold plan to lead the market and create value well into the future.

Furthermore, the Nigerian insurance market is largely untapped and has tremendous growth potential (with penetration at 0.4% of GDP).

Aiico is the second largest insurer (based on gross premium written) in Nigeria and has maintained a top 3 position over the last five years. Aiico is the market leader in life assurance and annuity services market and a top three player in the general, specialty risk, oil and gas underwriting. Aiico has maintained market leadership in life assurance in Nigeria since inception, being the only company in the sector established by an international insurer and global leader, AIG, which established, owned, operated and managed the company for over 30 years, implemented all its processes and systems and thereby created a strong foundation that has served

It will be recalled that the company had shown dexterity and tenacity of purpose in its performance as manifested in the reversal of loss in 2012 to profitability in 2013. The company, which made a loss of N180 million recorded in 2012, came out smoking as it bounced back with a net profit of N412 million in 2013.

Beyond profitability in 2013, its other key business indicators also came out in the positive.

It recorded a growth of 12% in gross premium income in the period under review as it raked in N4.96 billion compared to N4.43 billion generated in 2012.

Furthermore, the company witnessed a positive performance in net premium earned, which increased from N3.3 billion in 2012 to N3.6 billion in 2013, an 8% increase.

It equally recorded a 10% growth in underwriting profit, which stood at N1.40 billion as against N1.28 billion in 2012.

,

CE & YOU

— 23

We must ensure that we have underwriting capacity to compete favourably for new business to grow; able to keep our promises to our customers and indemnify them in the worst of times when the payment time arrives

Aiico well. We know that the opportunity to deepen insurance penetration lies in developing the consumer/retail and microinsurance segment and Aiico has, not only the commitment to serve this segments but also, the capabilities to successfully execute.

How does the company intend to endear Nigerians to insurance services?

In spite of the peculiar challenges in our operating environment, we have given ourselves a charge to deliver customer expectations and redefine service and ethical standards.

The Aiico brand is a household brand in Nigeria – and has for many years now been associated with financial strength, ability to pay claims and integrity. These are clear signals of assurance which give comfort to our customers and partners and to which we remain unwaveringly committed. We have redesigned our operations and marketing strategies in alignment with insights from the lifestyle changes and peculiarities of our customers across age and economic segments. For instance, we recently launched an integrated payment platform with multiple options to facilitate ease and convenience of transactions with customers at the touch of a button. We recognise that an increasing number of our customers are accustomed and would prefer using online/ electronic payment options and we have invested in the technology to provide that convenience.

Similarly, significant investments have been made in procuring security infrastructure and anti-

,

fraud systems to assure the public of security and confidentiality of transactions.

This self-service platforms will also enable customers pay premium, manage their policies, request for quotes, and report claims online from the comfort of any location with internet access.

The company’s newly revamped website provides directions and links to the various payment options available to customers including: direct debit, the company’s payment portal, our branch locations, GTB branches, travel agents and other partners.

What is Aiico’s assurance to investing public?

While it is easy to get fixated in short-term, we are focused on diligently executing the company’s strategies in the long-term interest of its shareholders and investing public.

Our overarching goals are to strengthen our balance sheet, develop our people and improve our business model. Hence, as we go into the next phase of the company’s lifecycle, and as we seek to benefit from the immense opportunities that the industry provides, we must ensure that we have underwriting capacity to compete favourably for new business to grow; able to keep our promises to our customers and indemnify them in the worst of times when the payment time arrives. We will ensure that the company’s performance is competitive in the near term.

Company performance will be measured against key objectives and performance indicators.

STI set to host golf competition

S

OVEREIGN Trust Insurance Plc, STI, is set to host the 3rd edition of the Open Golf Tournament in Ibadan, Oyo State from Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 15, 2015.

In a statement, the company said that golfers and golf enthusiasts from all the notable golf clubs in the country are expected to be part of the 3-day fiesta.

Competition secretary of Ibadan Golf Club, Mr. Bernard Nduka said that it promises to be very thrilling and entertaining.

STI in keeping faith with its commitment of developing and nurturing sporting talents in the country and beyond, instituted the Open Golf Tournament in perpetuity, in conjunction with Ibadan Golf Club in 2013, signaling a relationship that has become a reference point in the golfing community in Nigeria and beyond.

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

NEC signs MoU with Grand Cereals in Jos

T

he Nigeria Commodity Exchange, NCX, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with Grand Cereals Limited (GCL) in Jos, Plateau state for the procurement of various agricultural commodities.

According to a statement by the Head, Training and Membership, Mr. Chris Echikwu, in Abuja, the MoU was entered into by the Ag. Managing Director of NCX, Mrs Zaheera Baba-Ari on behalf of the exchange while Mr Layi Oyatoki, the Managing Director of GCL singed for his company.

The exercise, which was aimed at providing GCL efficient access to high quality, all year round supply of soya beans, maize, sorghum and ground nuts for its manufacturing operations through the NCX electronic Warehouse Receipt System (eWRS), shall enable the company reduce its overhead costs in the procurement of needed inputs by sourcing them from the NCX network of licensed warehouses around the country.

Following the signing of the

technical agreement, NCX Dealing Members have commenced processing the supply of five thousand metric tonnes of soya beans valued at 600 million Naira to Grand Cereals Limited.

Under the terms of the MoU, agricultural commodities of interest to food processing companies such as Grand cereals shall be deposited by farmers in NCX licensed warehouses around the country for procurement through the Exchange’s trading floors.

As part of the e-WRS operational modalities, the commodities would be subjected to rigorous quality testing by NCX upon

NCX Dealing Members have commenced processing the supply of five thousand metric tonnes

delivery to the licensed warehouses to ensure that they meet the specified quality parameters as detailed by the buyer before being traded.

It will be recalled that the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, recently launched the NCX’s e-WRS programme under which large-scale consumers could efficiently procure high quality and traceable volumes of agro-commodities such as soya beans, sorghum, maize, sesame seed and cocoa, among other commodities, through a network of licensed warehouses around the country.

The e-WRS is a pilot programme that was established by the NCX as part of the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) which is aimed at diversifying the national economy as well as boosting job creation and enhanced earnings for agribusiness entrepreneurs such as peasant and commercial farmers, merchants and food processing companies.

Coping in times of uncertainty

D

uring the early 1970s, I lived for about a year in northwestern Nigeria in what is now Kebbi State. I had to travel on the road between Kalgo and Kamba, a town on the border with Niger Republic. The road had a laterite soil surface which was evenly corrugated. The corrugations could be removed to give a smooth surface using a grader but the corrugations reappeared within a few weeks of their removal.

Anyone travelling on the road had to drive at a very slow speed rolling from one corrugation to the next corrugation.

The alternative was to go very quickly, literally flying over the corrugations, with the result that I had to change all the shock absorbers on my car when I returned to Lagos.

We have been preparing for the 2015 national elections in which Nigerians eligible to vote and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, are being conveyed in a vehicle called the Electoral Act and the security forces are the shock absorbers on our journey. I was in Osogbo, Osun State on a visit on the Thursday before the elections for the position of Governor held on 9 August 2014. During the visit, I observed that the different units of our security forces were driving around the town in a show of force.

However following the election, one of candidates approached the Election Tribunal with complaints indicating irregularities in the conduct of the election. The tribunal recently dismissed the petition and newspaper reports indicate that the tribunal was satisfied that the irregularities complained about could not have taken place given the substantial presence of the security forces in Osun State during the election.

We must understand how we have arrived at the position in which the security forces are the shock absorbers of our electoral processes. In the elections held in the 1950s and 1960s, each political party had a box with the party’s logo on the box. The voter placed his/her ballot paper in the box for the party of his/her choice. At the close of voting, the

Court decisions on election petitions have shown that manipulations of the results take place at the collation centres

From left: Group Managing Director, Union Bank, Mr. Emeka Emuwa; Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Digital Jewels, Mrs. Adedoyin Odunfa; Deputy Director, UK Trade and Investment, Mr Bukola Dosunmu; and Head of Information Technology, Union Bank, Lucky Jayaratne at the presentation of ISO 27001-2013 Certification to Union Bank in Lagos.

Union Bank wins MasterCard cashless POS champion award

U

NION Bank of Nigeria Plc has emerged the financial industry’s “Cashless POS Activation Champion”, in the MasterCard Cashless Champion Awards for 2014.

Union Bank received the award for recording the highest increase in the activation of its Point of Sale (POS) terminals as recorded by the Nigeria InterBank Settlement System’s (NIBSS) Payments Terminal Service Aggregator (PTSA) report.

The report indicated that by the end of 2014, Union Bank had attained an “active-todeploy” POS ratio of 98 per cent, against the 56 per cent C M Y K

industry rate. The bank had also deployed the highest number of POS terminals with over three thousand POS points, representing a 116% growth rate when compared to the third quarter of 2014.

Commenting on the award, the Head of E-Business, Mr. Fatai Baruwa said “As we focus on building a simpler, smarter bank, ensuring that our customers adopt alternative channels for payments and banking services is critical.

When a customer requests a debit card, we proactively ensure the customer follows through and activates that card on our POS terminals. As we

get set to rollout our instant card offering across the country, we expect our activation rates to go up”.

In 2014, Union Bank announced that it had begun implementing a transformation strategy that will make it a highly respected provider of quality financial services. The bank has commenced a restructuring of its physical and technology infrastructure as well as optimization of its branch network.

The MasterCard Cashless Awards was launched in October 2014 by global payments technology company, MasterCard, and aims to promote a culture of cashless transactions.

ballot boxes were conveyed to the counting centre. There were reports of attempts to intercept the ballot boxes used in the elections and replace them with other ballot boxes before the boxes arrived a the counting centre. The voting process was subsequently altered such that the voter would place his/her thumbprint on the ballot paper against the party of his/her choice and then drop the ballot paper into the one box provided at each polling unit. Ballot papers are counted at the polling unit and the number of votes for each party is recorded and announced at the polling unit. This procedure did not stop attempts at changing the ballot box before the box was brought to the collation centre. The collation centre is the place where the results from the different polling units are added in order to determine a winner from amongst the different parties. Court decisions on election petitions have shown that manipulations of the results take place at the collation centres.

We therefore need the security forces to watch over the electoral process and when the forces are not available we are completely helpless. INEC has announced the postponement of the 2015 elections to new dates. There are also economic difficulties with the drop in crude oil price, the devaluation of the naira against United States dollar and the attainment of stable political and economic conditions seem uncertain. What should we do? The electorate should continue to speak out on their expectations and in particular that the elections must take place at the rescheduled dates of 28 March and 11 April 2015.

TO BE CONTINUED

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 — 25

DIARY z Bluetooth World Silicon Valley, USA April 14-15, 2015 z Digital Regulation Forum London, UK April 28-19, 2015

Preview Hurricane proof homes? zTelecoms infrastructure

‘Nigeria may lose N400bn telecom contribution to GDP by 2018 if...’

By Prince Osuagwu

W T

HE newly invented flatpack homes are brilliant in the fact that they offer quick assembly, can be moved from one location to another and are relatively cheap. They are now equipped to withstand hurricane winds of up to 290 km/h, and can harvest rainwater and transform solar power into energy.

The least expensive full scale house measures 63 sq m, featuring two bedrooms, a bathroom, an office, kitchen, dining area, lounge and optional extras including decking, ramp and a covered outside porch.The homes can be modified, and added to at a later date, and can also be positioned on stilts if flooding proves to be a concern. The model previously mentioned costs $115,300, whilst the most basic unit costs a modest $58,500.

C M Y K

hen Dr. Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology, while delivering a policy paper at the recently concluded I n t e r n a t i o n a l Telecommunications Union Conference, said that Nigeria was quickly able to contain the dreaded Ebola disease as a result of the widely available telecoms infrastructure, it again brought to the fore, how pervasive the impact of telecommunications is.

She revealed that “Mobile phone applications were deployed to reduce reporting times of infections by 75 percent.

Test results were scanned to tablets and uploaded to emergency databases with field

I N S I D E

teams getting text message alerts on their phones informing them of the results. The combination of the internet and mobile phones has opened up huge opportunities for Nigeria”.

However, recent research results by Pyramid Research Strategic Consulting Group while supporting Johnson’s assertions, also warned that Nigeria may lose all telecom attracts if sustenance policies are not continually put in place. The research estimated that Nigeria may lose among other things up to N400 billion, that telecom was supposed to contribute to GDP between 2014 and 2018.

The benefits of the growth of the telecoms industry have transformed the way Nigerians live, work, and play. From a mere

$3.7bn subsidy needed to connect 40m Nigerians on net

Without the right policies in place to drive further growth in the telecoms sector, Nigeria could lose an estimated N400billion in contribution to GDP by 2018 500,000 connected lines 14 years ago, there are more than 100million active lines and the number is still growing.

We’ll walk our talk on digital dividends — NCC

Internet penetration was 0.1 percent of the population in 2001; it currently stands at 28 percent, which is about 50million users.

While many of the research findings are self-evident and known by informed Nigerians, the research report however gives them a stamp of authenticity.

For instance, the Pyramid report stated that Nigeria is the largest mobile market in Africa in terms of subscribers and the continent’s second largest in terms of revenue.

More than 100million subscribers were added to the telecoms networks in a little over a decade.

In terms of subscriber growth, it averaged 15 percent per annum, which is one of the world’s fastest growth rates over the last five years.

The exponential growth rate

Continues on page 28

Etisalat kicks off 2015 customer forum in PH

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

SOCIETY & SOCIAL MEDIA

By Agbolade Omowole @iamagbolade

Growing your business through social media is easy

T

he advent of social media has made more Nigerian youths internet literate to a reasonable extent.

They now access all necessary information via the internet using their mobile phone. The most visited websites by young people are social websites including LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In the 21st century, you shouldn’t be ignorant of anything for more than 5 minutes because any information you want can be got from Google.

Scientists in western world have proved that a kid in Africa in 2015, have access to almost all the intelligence of the world via his/her mobile phone. That’s a feat that even the president of the United States of America could not boast of 18 years ago.

We learn through social interactions.

That’s how we are wired, and social media has raised the bar and revolutionized information creation, update and retrieval.

Social media refers to technologies that are used to keep in touch with our family, associates and relationships and includes technologies such as Facebook, Twitter, L i n k e d I n , stumbleUpon and •facebook PinInterest among others. Social media is the interaction among people in which they create, share or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks.

If you doubt the latent power of social media and how it can take your business to the mountain top, you should consider the following facts and figures: In a study conducted by the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi, it was found that on average, any individual is just 12 hours of separation from another around the world, using social networking sites.

Consumers continue to spend more time on social networks than on any other category of sites—roughly 20 percent of their total time online via personal computer (PC), and 30 percent of total time online via mobile.

As of May 2012 Facebook has 901 million users. Today, Facebook has more than an estimated number of 1 billion users. In other words, 1 out of every 7 human being on planet earth has a Facebook account.

If Facebook is a country, it would be the third most populous country in the world.

One out of eight couples married in the U.S. last year met via social media according to statistics released June 2013 In November 2011, it was reported Indians spend more time on social media than on any other activity on the Internet.

In 2011, online shopping in Nigeria grew by 25% and was valued at 62.4 billion naira.

From left: Omobola Johnson, Nigeria's Minister of Communication Technology, Carla Belitardo, Head of Brand Management & Sustainability, Ericsson Latin America, Didier Nkurikiyimfura, Director General of ICT, Ministry of Youth and ICT, Rwanda, Allan Ruiz, Deputy Minister of Telecommunications, Costa Rica, Gonzalo Martin Ruiz Díaz, Chairman of the Board, OSIPTEL, Peru Ann Mei Chang, Executive Director, U.S. Global Development Lab, USAID, Dr. Alison Gillwald, Executive Director, Research ICT Africa during a panel discussion on report by the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A3AI) at the Ericson stand at the just concluded Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain.

Photo: Emeka Aginam

$3.7bn subsidy needed to connect 40m Nigerians on net

By Emeka Aginam, who was in Barcelona, Spain

G

oing by the prohibitive cost of broadband, over two billion people in the developing and emerging countries, are cut off from the benefits of internet ubiquity. A major percentage of these people, according to a new report by the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), are Nigerians. It becomes more worrisome considering the fact that women and rural dwellers are affected most in this unfortunate situation.

But from all indications, Nigeria does not seem to be folding arms and allowing the situation to degenerate.

According to the Minister of Communications Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson, Nigeria is putting some practical steps in place to ensure that the unconnected are connected.

However, she admitted that it would gulp about $3.7 billion dollars in subsidy to connect about 40 million Nigerians affected by the situation.

Meanwhile, Nigeria ranks among the top two positions among five countries in the overall Index Rankings by the A4A1 UN Internet affordability benchmark. However, Johnson noted on one of the discussion settings at the just concluded mobile world congress in Barcelona, Spain, that biggest challenges in building infrastructure to boost internet connection in Nigeria, will include double taxation by the state governments, right of way approval, and cost of access, among others.

Although she admitted that a number of state governments are currently partnering with the Federal government on reducing the cost of right of way, she assured that the Ministry of Communication Technology was working with other state governments in the country that are yet to key in.

She commended A4AI, adding that ”Whilst acknowledging our rise in the ranking, we continue in our unrelenting pursuit in removing impediments to infrastructure development and internet adoption in our country.

“We still have some way to go in meeting our national targets and

international benchmarks but Nigeria’s improved ranking on the Affordability Index validates our actions to date and shows that we are very much on the right track.

“The Federal Government welcomes the revised methodology applied in deriving the Affordability Index believing that it is aligned with the work we are doing to make the internet affordable and accessible to the citizenry”.

Elsewhere, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah told a gathering that “Broadband is going to restructure the Nigerian Information and Communications industry. It is going to move us from analogue lifestyle to a complete digital lifestyle. If we don’t do it now, we shall be left behind. This is why it is timely to the objective of the NCC and to me as the chief executive that we start it right away and implement it without delay with all the resources that government has given to us.”

The new report states that more than half the countries surveyed do not meet UN Internet affordability benchmark of entry level broadband priced at 5% or less of monthly.

Across the countries surveyed by A4AI, the report indicated that a fixed broadband connection costs the average citizen approximately 40% of their monthly income, eight times more than

The Federal Government welcomes the revised methodology applied in deriving the Affordability Index believing that it is aligned with the work we are doing to make the internet affordable and accessible to the citizenry

the affordability target set by the UN Broadband Commission in 2011.

The report added that mobile broadband is cheaper but still double the UN threshold, averaging 10% of monthly income about as much as developing country households spend on housing The report further revealed that bringing affordable broadband to all must be a priority in the post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals currently under negotiation at the UN. Key discoveries of survey: *Women and rural populations face the highest barriers to get online. *Social norms, income disparities, and infrastructure challenges all increase the real cost for these populations to get online, leading to their further marginalization and exclusion from the benefits associated with Internet access.

Strong political leadership critical However Executive Director A4AI, Sonia Jorge challenged that “In the 21st century, inability to pay should not deny anyone access to the Internet. Universal broadband can easily become a reality if leaders commit to ending anti competitive policies that keep Prices artificially high, prioritizing more well planned infrastructure investment, and expanding public access programmes to ensure the poorest are not left behind.

“While clear paths to progress do exist, strong leadership and commitment from the very top, is required for meaningful change.

Unnecessarily high prices, in tandem with a failure to expand public access, are still conspiring to bar billions from accessing the life changing potential of the Web. Those most in need of empowerment are women, rural populations and those living in poverty are hit the hardest. The good news is that a clear roadmap to progress has emerged. Global experience has delivered a set of policies and principles which when implemented in an integrated fashion and combined with strong leadership can deliver real change, fast. We urge policy makers in all countries to follow these recommendations. “

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 —27

We’ll walk our talk on digital dividends — NCC

By Prince Osuagwu

N

Dr Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, ICT sector. The book donation by the Commission to the school is worth millions of Naira and is one of the best the University has received so far.

Earlier, Dr. Henry Nkemadu;

Head Policy and Research at the NCC and a member of the delegation stated that the telecom revolution in the country which has resulted in the unparalleled surge of

growth from 400,000 connected lines to 139 million connected lines currently, needs to continue to grow.

Strategic partnerships have greatly revolutionized our business —LG Electronics

By Laju Iren

LG L60-dual phone n the fast growing world of consumer electronics services, cut throat competition and relentless marketing have been adopted by many brands to retain their share of the market.

Although these are important qualities, LG electronics says collaborating strategically with other brands has helped the company remain a household name.

By cooperating with other firms, LG has been able to combine the knowledge and experience of other companies with its own technological know-how. In Nigeria, beginning from 2011, LG Electronics has partnered with P&G on its washing machine.

This co-marketing initiative involves consumers who purchase LG washing machine also going home with a giant pack

I

of P&G’s Ariel washing detergent. Actively, both brands promote each other’s products; logos and messages belonging to both brands are deployed side-byside on promotional materials, branding collaterals, websites as well as social media platformsFacebook and Twitter. In 2013, LG Electronics was able to reach an agreement with MTN Business, the business-to-business entity of MTN Nigeria to have MTN broadband internet services bundled with LG smart TVs

This unique partnership is ultimately about meeting the needs of our customers in a bid to provide cutting edge technological products and services to them in comfort and style

By Prince Osuagwu

T

..donates ICT books to Bayero varsity I G E R I A N Communications Commission, NCC, has come out to claim stoutly that it would continue to walk its talk in all areas of telecom regulation, particularly in ensuring that digital dividends reach the doorstep of every Nigerian.

Executive Vice Chairman, EVC of the commission, Dr Eugene Juwah who has consistently reaffirmed this said his administration has deliberately made the distribution of digital dividends a cardinal point in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to ensure that every Nigerian benefits from the telecom revolution.

One of the strategic approaches the commission adopted was to distribute ICT equipment and books to secondary and tertiary schools across the six geo political zones of the country.

The latest to receive from this NCC largesse is the Bayero University, Kano which recently donated 87 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Books.

The donation which was received by the Vice Chancellor BUK, Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed was done by NCC Board Commissioner, Alhaji Mohammed Bintube on behalf of the Commission.

The books will adorn the university’s ICT Centre named T.Y Danjuma ICT Centre. The centre consists of a post graduate school, Departments of Information Technology (IT), Software Engineering and Computer Science. The gesture from the NCC is spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

According to Bintube, “the Commission is honored and privileged to be present at one of the Citadels of learning in Nigeria. We appreciate the efforts made in ICT within the University”.

He applauded the Vice Chancellor and the university management for keeping up with the trends in ICT with the rest of the world, explaining that “the ICT book donation is part of the project of the Commission to fill the dearth of educational materials within the ICT sector in the country”.

The Vice Chancellor expressed gratitude to the Commission for the donation and encouraged the NCC to further partner with the university in its efforts to expand ICT training programmes within the institution. He stated that the NCC is one of the institutions that show legitimacy and honor in the

ID Africa to increase Nigeria internet penetration

sold in Nigeria. The deal made it possible for customers who buy LG Smart TV to also access MTN HyNet, the 4G broadband internet service offered by MTN Business.

Commenting on the partnership, the General Manager, Home Entertainment, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Steve Ryu, said; “This unique partnership is ultimately about meeting the needs of our customers in a bid to provide cutting edge technological products and services to them in comfort and style.” Ryu further stated that with the LG Smart TV and MTN HyNet Internet service that comes with free 8GB data for 3 months, customers are bound to experience limitless online opportunities. “We are convinced that this partnership will go a long way to create the best of relaxation and fun time for our customers.”

Also in recent times, LG Mobile went into a comarketing arrangement with leading telecommunications services provider, Etisalat on its miFi routers in Nigeria.

he internet business community in Nigeria reported to be growing at 50 percent annually will be witnessing a new entrant; ID Africa, which has plans to increase Nigeria’s internet penetration.

ID Africa is a Digital/Marketing agency which according to the Founder, Mr. Adekunle Ayeni, aims to fill the gap left by digital marketing firms across Africa who currently offer only generic marketing and digital ad services.

According to the Founder, “the birth of this type of digital conversations, may signal the end of advertising. “If successful in its quest to disrupt the status quo, the company would have created a new global template for internet marketing and online Public Relations, PR.” The Founder pointed out that the company is a creative, social and digital marketing agency specializing in the customization of brand communication to specific target markets, and the use of stories and conversations to engage audiences. ID Africa, is part of Black House Media, BHM Group, a Media and Public Relations agency.

BHM is a major advocate of social PR – a practice that prioritizes the use of C2C conversations in driving advocacy and telling brand stories. The agency is a digital PR leader in Nigeria, in an industry that’s just slowly waking up to the opportunities technology and trends provider.

FG not considering scrapping of CPN —Registrar

By Emeka Aginam

F

ollowing recent media report that the Federal Government is considering scrapping of Computer Registration Computer Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria, CPN, the Registrar of the Council, S.A. Shehu has said that the story was not true.

The Registrar, in a statement said that, “We want to state categorically that the information given in that story is totally false, untrue and a misrepresentation of facts. It is not true that government is considering or ever considered the scrapping of CPN. “CPN is an agency under the Federal Ministry of Education duly established by law [Act No. 49 of 1993] with a very clear and unambiguous mandate to regulate, control and supervise the Information Technology profession in the country.

“CPN has been faithful to its mandate and so government is not considering scrapping it.

The issue of salary stoppage of its staff was a misunderstanding of a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in 2014 which has since been corrected; in fact CPN will be defending its budget at the National Assembly in the first week of March, 2015.

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

ATPN calls for creation of ICT agencies in states

By Emmanuel Elebeke

T

HE Association of Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n Professionals of Nigeria, ATPN, has urged State Governors in the country to establish agencies that will coordinate and manage the ICT activities in their respective States and local government level so as to enhance the growth of the sector at the grass roots.

The National President of the association, Adede Williams, in an interview with Hi-Tech in Abuja, said decentralizing ICT regulation to state and local government levels would pave way for the setting up of ICT agencies and units at both state and LGAs with good infrastructure, which will enhance the progress of developmental goals in the plan to drive ICT policy from the federal level to all levels of government.

With the implementation of National ICT Policy by NITDA across the country, he reasoned that ICT agencies in the states, if established will also assume regulatory functions in order to create a level playing field in the fast growing industry.

He said it was imperative for all the State Governments of the Federation to integrate ICT into their processes “if we, as a nation, must attain the vision 20:2020 in the remaining five years of MDGs.” He noted that ICT has huge potentials in providing quality of services in areas such as education, health, commerce and public administration, believing that the agency would be vital to the

protection of the interest of stakeholders such as consumers, providers and the government who are increasingly embracing services like e-learning, Telemedicine, Tele-health, e-services and ecommerce.

According to Williams, lack of state ICT coordinating agencies constitutes one of the biggest challenges in developing the sector in the country, even as the country is preparing to move broadcasting from analogue to digital, adding that, “we really need that agency in all states of the federation to cushion the effect of digital broadcasting transition.”

He further noted that the formation of ICT agencies in the state level was necessary to guide the government in the transitional stage of creating a database through which the proposed agency would perform its monitoring role.

Etisalat kicks off 2015 customer forum in PH

By Maximilian Anosike

“The establishment of ICT agencies in all 36 states of the federation and FCT as well as having ICT units in all the 774 Local Government Areas in the country is imperative if there must be meaningful development in the country.”

He urged all the state Governors in the country to introduce the study of ICT at the primary school level throughout the Nation with ICT facilities that will give the pupils technological knowledge.

This he said would is expected to bridge the digital divide across the country irrespective of the locality and vowed to step up the demand for government intervention until ICT for all is achieved as potent measure to accelerate the ICT drive in the nation’s development.

From left: Head, Customer Experience & Retention, Etisalat Nigeria, Biola Edun; Head, Regional Sales, South-South, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Enekwachi Aja; Etisalat customer, King of Bangha Kingdom, Rivers State, King Suanu Timothy Yormaadam and Territory Manager, South-South 1, Etisalat Nigeria, Nkechi Amadi, at the Etisalat 2015 Customer Forum held at Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt.

E

tisalat Nigeria has kicked-off its 2015 customer engagement initiative in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with a pledge for improved quality of services and customer satisfaction. The Etisalat Customer Forum is a direct interactive gathering that pitches the company with its customers for first-hand undiluted feedback on its operations, products and services.

Speaking at the launch, Director, Customer Care, Etisalat Nigeria, Plato Syrimis highlighted that customers are the core of the Etisalat’s business and catering for their needs remains paramount to the brand.

“One of the major reasons we organise this quarterly forum is because we are passionate about our customers and are always eager to hear what they have to say about our network. We are in business because of our customers and we are obliged to always get feedback from them in order to serve them better at all times, ,” Syrimis said.

According to him, “This forum is one of our ways of showing our customers that we will always listen, respond and care for them. It is never our intention to deprive our customers of the benefits and privileges they deserve for being loyal, which is why we try to use this forum to address and resolve critical issues and complains made by our customers.”

One of the customers who spoke at the session, King of Kula Kingdom, River State, King Kroma, described Etisalat as a company with “unrivalled customer care and quality network.” “Etisalat has shown us within these six years of their operation that in every way, customers’ satisfaction and quality service is their priority. This is clearly seen in the number of innovative products and services they roll out on a regular basis to meet their customer’s communication needs,” he added.

Subscribers who attended the forum smiled home with a variety of gifts including mobile phone, recharge cards, power banks, MiFi devices, USB drives and other branded items.

‘Nigeria may lose N400bn telecom contribution to GDP by 2018 if...’

Continues from page 25 experienced in the telecoms sector and the attendant benefits have been held up as models for other sectors, particularly power, transportation, and housing, among others.

Currently, the industry can boast of having attracted investment to the tune of over US25 billion. Such investment manifests in the more than 25,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable laid across the country, more than 25,000 base stations erected for voice and data services, more than 20 Terrabytes of international fibre capacity at Nigeria’s coasts. Overall, Nigeria is regarded as having one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world.

Broadband is key After connecting more than 100 million people, voice services have long ceased to be novel.

Subscribers are demanding for more and Pyramid Research said that broadband deployment is key to meeting subscribers’ expectations. Broadband is expected to deepen the delivery of a more robust internet

infrastructure that will usher in industries that gobble up data.

However, the Nigerian telecoms market is said to be operating below its real potential especially as mobile broadband penetration, at an estimated 10 percent of the population, is lower than in a number of African countries To tap fully into the net’s sweeping impact on growth, jobs and prosperity, Nigeria may need new investments and apparently grow broadband penetration to meet and surpass the target. To attract new businesses into the country, additional investments are also required to maintain the performance of existing networks.

Without exception, telecom operators are on daily basis, complaining of huge challenges they face optimising their networks to deliver seamless services to consumers. Some of the major hurdles standing in their way to providing high quality of service (QoS) are vandalism of fibre networks, cable cuts and multiple taxation.

The research put the average number of fibre cuts experienced

by the industry every month at a high 500. It reminds that vandalism and cable cuts add a huge cost burden on the telecom operators. But more importantly they lead to severe erosion of quality of service and create pain and frustration for millions of customers unable to communicate seamlessly on account of the inevitable service infractions.

On multiple taxation, Pyramid Research warned that it has become the most critical risk to industry growth, having taken

One of the major reasons why the telecoms sector deserves to be supported by the right policies and incentives is its central and very pivotal role in transforming the lives of Nigerians and their businesses

a more pernicious turn over the past few years.

Proper policies One of the major reasons why the telecoms sector deserves to be supported by the right policies and incentives is its central and very pivotal role in transforming the lives of Nigerians and their businesses.

Another factor is its contribution to the gross domestic product.

With the telecoms sector alone contributing about nine percent to the country ’s GDP, accounting for 30 percent of foreign direct investment over the past 10 years, $25billion in network investments and $4billion in spectrum fees, as well as 10 percent of federal taxes, forging the right policies to support the sector to continue to engender growth and development across various facets of life should occupy the time of policymakers.

Without the right policies in place to drive further growth in the telecoms sector, Nigeria could lose an estimated N400billion in contribution to GDP by 2018. Other forms of

losses include less aggressive technology deployments, shortfalls in tax and regulatory levies and impact on the overall productivity of the economy – and this from mobile broadband alone; operators would be less inclined to deploy new technology such as LTE; government’s broadband penetration target of 20 percent may not be achieved, which would lead to potential revenue loss from less than expected broadband uptake. Another potential pitfall is FDI to the sector, which will likely suffer a decline.

Pyramid suggested areas that policies should address to include resolution of multiple taxation by implementing the government’s National Tax Policy at all levels.

This is in addition to issuing Executive Orders to all Federal and State Agencies to ensure compliance with Section 2(2) of the Taxes and Levies Act; issue directives to the Inspector General of Police to deploy his men to ensure compliance with the Act; enact revenue codes at state level to govern collection of levies, fees and charges; conduct a thorough survey of current regulations and legal taxes and levies.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 — 29

Pastor Tony Onyemaka, Habila Adamu (Voice of Christian Matyrs), Atim Bassey (Centre for Missionary Development) and Pastor Ituah Ighodalo (Senior Pastor, Trinity House) when Trinity House hosted Habila Adamu, a survivor of a Boko Haram attack to share his experiences

Fifth from right, the Vice Chancellor, Western Delta University, WDU, Oghara, Prof. Austin Asagba, flanked by other academic staff, during the eighth matriculation ceremony of the University.

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 —31

• Experts recommend early screening and diagnosis for effective prevention and treatment of cancer.

Experts develop new cancer prevention guidelines

By Chioma Obinna

P

HYSICIANS and scientists have come up with prevention guidelines that could help reduce the increasing cases of cancer all over the world.

The delegates who attended a conference organised by Apollo Cancer Institute, an arm of Apollo Hospitals, have expressed their commitment towards providing long-term solutions that would stem the tide of cancer spread across the world.

At the three-day conference held in Hyderabad, India, participants agreed that there is an urgent need to galvanise massive inputs and resources on a global scale to arrest the scourge of cancer all over the word. In doing this, it was expressed unanimously that stakeholders within and outside medical professions must begin to attend to cancer issue with utmost and proactive attention.

To build a broad based cooperation among the stakeholders and strategise for workable solution, the conference admonished the participants to begin sensitisation and advocacy to eliminate

ignorance about the general belief that cancer is incurable. All the participants registered their willingness and readiness to embark on massive awareness campaign that will change people’s belief and attitude that cancer is curable.

The conference delegates made a joint declaration to offer a long-term solution to stem the tide of cancer spread in the world. The declaration places premium on public education and enlightenment which stresses act of prevention over treatment in managing cancer-related ailment.

According to the declaration, adhering to recommendations such as avoiding tobacco use, preventing viral

infections, preventing obesity, avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol, high consumption of vegetable and fruits will reduce cases of cancer drastically.

Also, it was stated that early diagnoses and effective treatment reduces cancer morbidity and mortality by 60 per cent. However, the roundtable session also made serious case for intensive cancer screening programme delivered on a larger scale in communities, states and nations. This kind of intervention to arrest cancer spread, according to the delegates, will require active participation and conscientious efforts of governments, Healthcare providers, NGOs and other solution providers in cancer management.

To achieve milestone feats in addressing cancer scourge, the corporate, institutional and national efforts should be geared towards garnering political supports and work towards realigning government focus on cancer prevention and control, facilitating research on the causes of human cancer, newer diagnostic tools and safer therapeutic options for cancer management and generating new knowledge and disseminating existing knowledge to facilitate the delivery of evidence-based approaches to cancer control, facilitating broad networks of cancer control partners and experts at global, regional and national levels and providing technical assistance for rapid, effective transfer of best practice interventions to developing countries.

The conference had representatives from various governments, international agencies, academia, non-for-profits and other key stakeholders in attendance. All the representatives and stakeholders expressed their support for and readiness to partner with Apollo Hospital to fight the scourge of cancer all over the world.

Back surgery for back pain P

ATIENTS often ask if they should consider surgery in the treatment of their back pain.

In fact a doctor colleague asked me the very same question this morning. He had just reviewed an MRI report and wanted me to see the patient who had suffered low back pain for many months. The MRI looked bad. Degenerative this, bulging that, compressed sac(k)s, arthritis, spondylosis, stenosis.......

"Ah," he said over the phone. "Will you be sending her to a surgeon?" "It depends, I said. Let me see her, but it is highly unlikely".

The decision to have back surgery can be difficult. In treating back pain, surgery is considered only after all other treatments have failed. The risks of back surgery are generally low, but when they occur, they can be serious in some people.

The primary reason for most back surgeries is to get relief from back pain. And for many people, the pain relief comes with many additional benefits, including: increased activity; better physical fitness and improved mood. Others are less need for pain medicines with fewer drug side effects, ability to go back to work and increased productivity at work.

But not everyone experiences a reduction in back pain after surgery. Studies show it's difficult for surgeons to accurately predict who will benefit and who won't.

For this reason, and because most back pain improves with time, experts recommend trying non-surgical treatments like physical therapy before considering back surgery.

Types of Back Surgery: C M Y K

Each type of back surgery comes with its own risks and benefits.

Spinal Fusion. Spinal fusion is the most common surgery for back pain. In a spinal fusion, a surgeon joins spinal bones, called vertebrae, together. This restricts motion between the bones of the spine. Fusion also limits the stretching of nerves.

Laminectomy. In a laminectomy, a surgeon removes parts of the bone, bone spurs, or ligaments in the back.

This relieves pressure on spinal nerves that may be causing pain or weakness.

A laminectomy, however, can cause the spine to be less stable. If the spinal bones become unstable, a spinal fusion is usually performed. Spinal fusion may also be performed at the same time as laminectomy.

Foraminotomy. During a foraminotomy, a surgeon cuts away bone at the sides of vertebrae to widen the space where nerve roots exit the spine. The enlarged space may relieve pressure on the nerves, thereby relieving pain.

A foraminotomy can sometimes result in reduced stability of the spine, similar to what happens in a laminectomy. A spinal fusion may be done at the same time. Doing so increases the amount of time needed for recovery but also prevents the spine from becoming unstable. If the spine becomes unstable after a foraminotomy, a spinal fusion can be done to correct the problem.

Diskectomy.

A bulging or "slipped" disc, the cushion that separates vertebrae, may press on a spinal nerve and cause back pain. In a diskectomy the surgeon removes all or part of the disc. A diskectomy can be done through a large

doctor@lagospainclinic.com incision or through a smaller incision using tools from outside the body. A diskectomy may be part of a larger surgery that includes laminectomy, foraminotomy, or spinal fusion.

Disc Replacement. In artificial disc replacement, a surgeon removes a damaged spinal disc and inserts an artificial disc between the vertebrae. Disc replacement permits continued motion of the spine. It is gaining popularity as an alternative to spinal fusion.

Interlaminar Implant. Another alternative to spinal fusion is the implant of a U-shaped device. The device is placed between two back bones in the lower back and helps maintain the space between.

Pain management involves treatment with many options before deciding on surgical intervention.

Conservative therapies, spinal injections, radiofrequency ablations, physiotherapy and complementary alternative therapies must have been exhausted first.

In addition, the presence (or absence) of certain clinical features may aid the decision on whether to have surgery. These include severe, incapacitating radiculopathy, arm/leg weakness and impending paralysis, pain with passing urine or incontinence, severe spinal stenosis or major spinal instability.

Theres always the possibility of return to the pain clinic with a condition known as Post Laminectomy syndrome.

Thats a separate condition on its own.

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Pinnick wants Flying 2014/ 15 Glo League:

Of shock draws, drama characterised opening day

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he opening day of the season was characterized by drawn games but Ifeanyi Ubah FC recorded a good win over Warri Wolves among the four home victories of the week Dolphins 0-0 Kwara United It was the first match of the season played at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.

Though the game ended goalless, it was a fitting opener to the 2014/15 league season.

Tunde Abdulrahman who led the Afonja Warriors to Port Harcourt would be more than happy to commence life in Ilorin with an important away point against the Pride of Rivers.

Sharks 0-0 Sunshine Stars The Blue Angels were also held to a goalless draw at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt by the battling Akure Gunners on Saturday. It was the second of the doubleheader fixed by the League Management Company (LMC) in place of the initial star match, Heartland versus Kano Pillars, which couldn’t see the light of day because of the armed robbery attack on the Sai Masugida(Pillars) players and officials.

Wikki Tourists 2-0 3SC After 183 minutes of action without any goal recorded, Wikki’s Victor Yakubu finally scored the first goal of the season in his side’s 2-0 home win over the Oluyole Warriors. He netted just after three minutes and he added the second goal in the second half of the encounter. It was poor start to life in the premier league by 3SC who had vowed to commence the season with a bang.

Giwa Fc 0-0 Abia Warriors The Jos Elephants failed to grab maximum points at home to the Ochendo Boys in the opening day of the season.

Although Abia Warriors missed the presence of their head coach, Isa Ladan Bosso who was away to London on a coaching course, battled hard against Giwa FC and they deservedly earned their point.

FC TARABA 3-2 ENUGU RANGERS The Jalingo Boys started the new season from where they ended it last season with a home win over Enugu Rangers. It was 1-1 at halftime but the home team were

awarded a penalty barely a minute into the second half.

Abdulmalik Mohammed stepped up to score from the spot kick before Nura Ahmed put the icing on the cake. The Flying Antelopes threatened a fight back but it was too little too late.

BAYELSA UNITED 1-1 LOBI STARS The Restoration Boys had to come back from a goal down to get the equalizer in the second half. It was Obioma Arinze’s first competitive goal for the Makurdi Boys but it couldn’t guarantee them an away win as they settled for a draw at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.

IFEANYI UBA FC 2-0 WARRI WOLVES Formerly Gabros United, Ifeanyi Uba FC created the first real upset of the new season after they defeated the Seasiders in Nnewi. They are credited with scoring the second goal of the season after Uche Onuoha fired them into a shock lead in the fourth minute before Onyekachi Nwaiwu struck in the dying minute. They are on top of the league with Wikki Tourists.

EL KANEMI WARRIORS 10 NASARAWA UNITED The Borno Army started life in their new home in Kaduna with a win after they pipped the Solid Miners 1-0 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium.

El Kanemi are trying to avoid the mistakes of last season where they were only fortunate to remain in the elite division.

ENYIMBA FC 0-0 AKWA UNITED The People’s Elephant couldn’t make home advantage count against the Promise Keepers on Sunday.

They were not allowed to play their game after they met a disciplined Akwa United side in Aba. It was the kind of preparation the Aba giants least expected ahead of next weekend’s Caf Champions League first round, first leg encounter with Smouha Sporting Club of Egypt. They must redouble their effort if they want to go beyond the Arab side.

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We’re not afraid of Flying Eagles – Congo coach

C

ONGO coach Paolo Berrettini has said his team do not fear Nigeria and will fight to win today’s decisive AYC Group A match against the six-time champions.

On Sunday, Congo forced Cote d’Ivoire to a 1-1 draw in the second Group A match at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar.

Their goal was netted by Raja Casablanca of Morocco ace Silvere Ganvoula Mboussy in the 75th minute after they fell behind after 37 minutes.

“I will focus on my team against a big team from Nigeria. We must play to win and qualify for the semifinals,” said Berrettini.

“Against Cote d’Ivoire, we did not have a good first half

as we did not play as well as our opponents. But in the second half we came back into the game.”

Congo, who eliminated defending champions Egypt

in the qualifiers, boast of five full internationals led by striker Georges Bidimbou who were at the recent AFCON in Equatorial Guinea

EKWUSIGO DECIDES:

VOL. 1 NO 24

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Stakeholders drill 2015 election candidates in Anambra

Page 6

Catholic Priests at the funeral

Most Rev. Ezeonyia, pioneer Catholic Bishop of Aba goes home Governor Theodore Orji and other dignitaries on the occasion

BY FELIX OGBONNA

A

BA—THE commercial city of Aba, Abia state literally stood still penultimate Friday as over 48 Catholic Bishops led by Cardinal John Onaiyekan and the Titular Archbishop of Aquaviva and Apostolic Nuncio in Nicaragua, His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Fortunatus Nwachukwu as well as 200 priests from across Nigeria and beyond, attended the funeral of the pioneer Catholic Bishop of Aba Diocese, late Most Rev. Vincent Valentine Ezeonyia at the Christ The King Cathedral, Aba. The ceremony led to heavy gridlock at Asa and adjoining streets.

President Goodluck Jonathan was represented on the occasion by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Viola Onwuliri.

Other dignitaries who were on hand to pay their last respect to the late cleric who passed away C M Y K

zAs 48 bishops, 200 priests, attend funeral

on February 8, 2015, were Abia State governor, Chief Theodore

Living one’s life towards the shadow of death will make us humbler and not go after earthly pleasures as has always been the case. We should prepare for ourselves, treasures in heaven as Ezeonyia did

Orji, his deputy, Emeka Ananaba, former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, former governor of old Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; the Abia State governorship candidates of the APC, PDP, APGA, PPA, Dr. Nyerere Anyim, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Dr. Alex Otti, and Chief Chikwe Udensi as well as a Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie among several others.

In his sermon at the funeral, the

Catholic Bishop of Umuahia, Dr. Lucius Ugorji who described the late Ezeonyia as his ‘twin’ brother said he was a caring shepherd who identified with the less privileged in the society.

He lamented that Ezeonyia’s death had thrown the Aba Diocese of the church into mourning at a time they were about to celebrate their dual 25th anniversary as a Diocese and late Bishop’s Episcopal installation respectively, having been ordained Bishop by Archbishop

Paul Fouad Naim Tablet, the Titular Archbishop of Sinna in 1990.

Ugorji disclosed that his late colleague was one who hardly went on vacation and commended his efforts in seeing to the growth of the diocese.

“Under Bishop Ezeonyia’s watch, the Catholic faithful in Aba Diocese grew from about 27,850 to over 1 million. Bishop Ezeonyia saw to the growth of

Continues on page 3

ALSO IN THIS EDITION

Page 3

Monarch wants govts to resolve boundary disputes in Ayamelum LG

Police move to end communal clashes in Enugu communities Page 6

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

16 YEARS AFTER: Construction of Presco-Ebiaji-Achiagu road commences

By PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI—IT is no longer news that the people of Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have suffered lots of marginalization in terms of provision of social amenities like portable water, electricity and good roads among others over the years.

This development is consequent upon the political affiliation of the area which had not gone down well with the present administration in the state.

A visit to most of the communities in this geographical setting showed that the people of the area had been neglected to the extent that there was little or nothing to show in terms of democratic dividends in the last 16 years.

The 23 kilometre road which leads to the area was usually muddy and made movements difficult for motorists, especially with the coming of the rainy season.

The area which is mostly inhabited by farmers face precarious situations during rainy seasons and this had negatively impacted on the lives of the people as they

The area which is mostly inhabited by farmers face precarious situations during rainy seasons and this had negatively impacted on the lives of the people as they cannot transport their farm products within and outside the community

Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State

cannot transport their farm products within and outside the community.

But last week’s flag off for the construction of the Presco-Ebiaji-Achiagu road leading to Ezza North Local Government Area, which had been abandoned for over 16 years, gave hope to the people just as it also emphasized the inherent benefits in every democratic environment.

Speaking with South East Voice immediately after the flag off, a stakeholder from the area and former Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,

Chief G.O Chukwu said he was excited that the road was now under construction after many years of abandonment and neglect.

According to him, the state Deputy Governor, Dave Umahi was behind the construction of the road as he was touched by its deplorable condition and pledged to upgrade the road personally.

In their separate remarks, the former Local Government Chairman of Imoha, Chief Ogodo Ali, former Independent National Electoral

Commission, INEC, Commissioner, Mr. Jacob Nwakpa and the retired Accountant-General of the state, Chief Linus Nwankwo thanked God for the ongoing construction of the road as it linked three council areas including Ezza North, Ezza South and Ishielu Local Government Areas of the state.

Also, a member of the community, Mike Ezzagu who expressed delight over the development, thanked Umahi for the initiative and asked God to bless all his endeavours.

Orji commissions new classroom blocks in Aba

By FELIX OGBONNA

A

BA—ABIA State governor, Chief Theodore Orji has said that he would build primary schools equipped with modern facilities in the 17 local government areas of the state to boost the confidence of pupils and enhance learning.

Orji made this known, while commissioning the newly built

classroom blocks at Tenant Road and Osusu Primary Schools, Aba, the commercial hub of the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Orji maintained that his administration will continue to pay attention to education, which he said, was the key to the development of the state in particular and the country in general.

He added that the new school

buildings, equipped with modern furniture and library with work stations were part of his administration’s legacies geared towards enhancing school and learning environment in public schools in the state.

He recalled the era of kidnapping in Aba, adding that the existing peace in the state has boosted government’s confidence in investing in infrastructure which would not

have been possible in a period of insecurity.

“When these little children were brought here, my mind ran back to the days of kidnapping, when little children like these, were kidnapped and kept in confinement for days, before they were rescued. And if we did not fight, to stop kidnapping, building this school would have been useless, because people will not bring their children and

Newly built classroom block at Tenant Road Primary School commissioned by Gov. Orji C M Y K

wards to school, knowing that they are not safe. Nobody would want to endanger the lives of his/her children. I am very happy with our achievements in the state. We are also replicating this kind of edifice in all the local government areas of the state, so that our people can get good education, which is key to our development.

“Our children in public schools make us proud; they excel in competitions,” he said and commended the teachers for their efforts at training the children to become responsible citizens.

Earlier in his speech, Chairman, SURE P, Abia State, Chief Joseph Ogwo, had affirmed that education was one of the special areas of development, which the present administration had given priority attention to and commended Orji for his efforts in ensuring conducive learning environment in the state.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11,, 2015 — 3

Nsukka residents worry over attacks on judiciary

By FRANCIS IGATA

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Igwe Peter Obalum Oforkansi, of Anaku Ogbe, his wife and cabinet members.

Monarch asks govts to resolve boundary disputes in Ayamelum LG goes on, more developments

By CHIMAOBI NWAIWU will come and there will be N E W I — T H E problems; because people will traditional ruler of need more land. We all see Anaku Kingdom in Ayamelum what happens in commercial Local Government Area of cities where people have their Anambra State, His Royal offices. Because we are all Highness, Igwe Peter Obalum brothers, we live in peace now Oforkansi, Igwe Udo 1, has but there will be a time when appealled to both the Federal people will not take such and Anambra State govern- relationships into consideraments to resolve the various tion. That is why I am pleading boundary dispu-tes in the that the earlier the demarlocal government for peace to cations are done the better. reign in the area.

“We may show understanding He said the appeal had as elders because we have lived become necessary following together over the years, but our the non-demarcation of the children may not have whole local government. understanding like us, because According to him, there of development and the type of were no boundaries between training they are getting coupled Anaku and Ayamelum; with the technological Igbakwu and Omoo; Omoo development in the world. We and Umueje; Anaku and Omoo were trained by our parents to as well as Umuolum and Ifite know our relations; but youths among other communities in of today are not taught all those the area. things and even if they were Oforkansi who spoke to taught they care less about South East Voice in an relations. So, it has become very interview, stressed that the imperative for the issue of issue of lack of boundaries boundaries to be settled. between the communities was “Anaku has some like a time bomb which could neighbouring communities e x p l o d e but the anytime soon, nearest is pointing out Omoo and we We may show that the do not have understanding as governments problem elders because we s h o u l d because we all intervene to know our have lived together nip crises in boundaries over the years, but the bud. and limits, “We are but will our our children may resolving growing not have boundary children understanding like i s s u e s understand ourselves like us? Their us, because of right now but orientation is development and it is necessary different, so the type of training to demarcate something them because needs to be they are getting of the future done about coupled with the generations. boundaries in technological There may not this council be serious area” he said. development in the problems now He said that world but as time the three

N

C M Y K

NUGU—RESIDENTS of the university town of Nsukka have expressed worry over the posting of an indigenous person of the area as judge, saying that the incident had led to a situation whereby the judge had had to disqualify himself from presiding over most of the cases brought before his court.

In the continuous attacks and molestation meted out to judicial officers presiding over various courts across the council area.

South East Voice investigation revealed that the residents were worried over the recent posting of Justice F.I Ngwu, who hails from Nsukka Local Government Area to the State High Court 3, in the area by the Enugu State Chief Judge, Justice Umezulike. They alleged that apart from disqualifying himself from presiding over the cases brought by close relations, age mates and in-laws, the judge’s courtroom was also burgled twice recently by hoodlums.

greatest problems facing the communities in Ayamelum Local Government Area include boundary issues, lack of electricity supply and good drinking water.

Recounting how he ascended his throne, he said “I became the traditional ruler of Anaku Okwe, Mud houses as courts precisely on March 23, 2013, Mr. Sunday Ani, a resident, when the community elected me said: “Look at the court. In this to occupy the royal seat and in 21st century, judges in this part August the same year I was of Enugu State still operate from given my staff of office and all courts built with mud. The the other paraphernalia of office due to traditional rulers in the state.

“I became the traditional ruler of Anaku by the will of God, it was not by my power or might, rather, all the communities, the youth, the elderly and even small children approved my choice, because when they see me they start jubilating and rush to embrace me and I welcome Court houses built with mud them with open hands.

Judge’s court in question is a mud house. They coated it with cement. That is why the hoodlums that burgled his office were able to gain entry easily.

“As it is, the security of these judicial officers has not been given priority. The hoodlums burnt scores of sensitive files in his office during their invasion.

“We are at a loss if we can get justice in this town with the prevailing situation. I have not heard of a judicial officer that was posted to his own town since I was born. The government should quickly address these problems. We used to hear of court houses being burgled at Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. We are wondering if these incessant attacks on judicial officers will snowball into a Rivers situation.

Police

Spokesman of Enugu State Police Command, Ebere Amaraizu confirmed the incident of burglary and arson to South East Voice.

His words: “One of the offices in the court room was burgled.

The burgled office is not Justice Ngwu’s office. The court building is an old building. That is why the hoodlums invaded the building easily.

“The hoodlums burgled one of the offices where files are kept and burnt the files in the open court room. We are on the trail of the hoodlums.”

Burnt files at the Nsukka High Court 3

Most Rev. Vincent Ezeonyia, pioneer Catholic Bishop of Aba goes home Continues from page 1 parishes in Aba Diocese from 24 to 63 while the number of priests grew from mere 33 to over 170 with some of them well trained in local and foreign institutions.”

The Bishop further lamented that with the death of Ezeonyia, a chapter had ended in the history of the Catholic Church in Aba as a new one was about to open.

He said that the Bishop’s sudden death left a message on human frailty adding that people should always prepare for death and life after here on earth.

“Living one’s life towards the shadow of death will make us humbler and not go after earthly pleasures as has always been the case. We should prepare for ourselves, treasures in heaven as Ezeonyia did,” he admonished.

He added that Ezeonyia lived a quiet and peaceful life and died the same way he lived after 42 years as a priest and 25 years as a Bishop and regretted that he was the second Catholic bishop to have died this year in the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province after Bishop Chikwe of Ahiara Diocese.

Bishops conference In his speech, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, and Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama said the CBCN would miss Ezeonyia dearly and urged all to be consoled by the legacies he left behind.

Also, the Secretary General, Catholic secretariat, Rev. Fr.

Ralph Madu said the Pope was saddened to learn about the death of Bishop Ezeonyia and commended his soul to the merciful God. The Holy Mass which started by 9.15am with a procession by the Bishops and Priests, ended at about 1.15pm after which Ezeonyia’s body was interred at the Bishop’s vault at the Cathedral Church, Aba. Thousands of Catholic faithful and sympathizers watched the funeral from giant TV screens mounted around the expansive church’s compound.

A knight of the Catholic Church, Sir Chidozie Ogunji, said the church had lost a rare gem in Ezeonyia, describing him as a perfect gentleman who would be remembered for his great contributions to the growth of the Catholic Church in Aba.

4 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

FG flags off rehabilitation of Aba-Port Harcourt section of Enugu-PH Highway

By ANAYO OKOLI MUAHIA—REPRIEVE may come to vehicle owners plying the long neglected Aba- Port Harcourt section of the Enugu-Port Harcourt federal highway as President Goodluck Jonathan flagged off a major rehabilitation of the road last Tuesday.

The road which was first built 32 years ago and had been witnessing serious wears and tears due to neglect.

The flag off ceremony was done at Ugwunagbo, the host community of the multi-billion Naira Alaoji Power Station now under construction by the Federal Government.

Prior to the flag off, the Aba section of the road, had witnessed several shoddy palliative measures by FERMA. The road which could be described as a death trap could remain so if the flag-off turns out to be a political propaganda to capture the votes of the South East and South South people by the ruling PDP. “We hope this section being flagged-off almost on the eve of the elections is not a bait to get our votes. Let us hope that work on the stretch would be serious like what is going from Lokpanta to Okigwe and Okigwe to Umuahia axis, which we recently witnessed some improvements after months of very slow pace of work.

“The progress of work would determine where we cast our votes especially now that our votes may count. In 2011, shortly before the election, they brought some construction companies, including the giant Julius Berger to do palliative measures on the OkigweUmuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt road, and it took another four years to revisit the road though this time we have seen some seriousness in the project, at least from Lokpanta to Okigwe and down to Umuahia axis and hope it will continue after the elections,” a community leader in the state, Chief Eze Adindu said.

Even President Goodluck Jonathan and his Works Minister, Mike Onolememen

U

The newly commissioned road

TRANS-AFRICAN HIGHWAY:

Communities laud FG over Enugu Abakaliki - Ogoja - Ikom - Mfum Road

By FRANCIS IGATA

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NUGU—COMMUNITIES living along the newly commissioned EnuguAbakaliki-Ogoja-Ikom-Mfum Trans-African Highway have heaved a sigh of relief following the opening up of their areas as they can transport their agricultural products to urban towns in Enugu and Abakaliki states among other areas where they could make higher sales.

Many rural communities, especially Abakaliki which is the food basket of the old Eastern Region had been finding it difficult to transport their wares to the urban centres.

However, most residents of the areas, are now celebrating the new road which they told South East Voice, would stem rural –urban migration.

As part of the project, the government provided some social amenities for some communities along the road.

The social infrastructure built as part of the main road work contract included 36 boreholes/ hand pumps, three agricultural produce drying platforms, four cassava processing mills, one rice processing mill, five palm oil processing mills were built for communities along the main road corridors.

Others are eight new classroom blocks and renovation of existing primary schools, two town halls, eight access roads and culverts linking communities and one dispensary.

Commissioning the 240kilometre highway which gulped about N31 billion by the Federal Government in its bid to open C M Y K

up the geopolitical zones as a veritable economic corridor, at kilometre 6, Enugu-Abakiliki Expressway, President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen revealed that the road project was consistent with his transformation agenda towards free flow of persons and goods in the country.

His words, “This all important project that links Nigeria to Cameroon starting from EnuguAbakiliki-Ojoja-Ikom-Mfum is part of the Trans-Africa Highway project. As part of the confidence building mechanism between

Nigeria and Cameroon, after the Bakassi Peninsula saga, the World Bank and Africa Development Bank collabo-rated with the governments of Nigeria and Cameroon to ensure that part of the Trans-Africa Highway between the two countries was rehabilitated.

“The road had been in a very bad shape, so we got a soft IDA facility for its funding from the banks I mentioned. The road was executed at a total cost of N31 billion. It was flagged-off in 2012.

“We are determined to revitalize and transform the nation’s critical road infrastructure, thereby bringing about economic growth and improved social well-being of our people.

Social well-being

We had to explore funding options with the World Bank and the Africa Development Bank, ADB, in financing this project

“We had to explore funding options with the World Bank and the Africa Development Bank, ADB, in financing this project under the framework of Nigeria-Cameroon Multinational Highway and Transport Facilitation Programme.

“The road is a 7.30m wide asphaltic concrete carriage made up of a layer of binder course and a layer of wearing course. A standard 2.75m wide road shoulders with surface dressing.

A new bridge built at the cost of N600 million at Kilometre 7 from Enugu to replace the old collapsing bridge and seven bridges rehabilitated along Abakiliki-Mfum corridor to carter for the anticipated heavy trucks that will use the corridor.”

admitted that the 218 kilometre road from Enugu to Port Harcourt had suffered years of neglect, leading to its deplorable condition, hence the decision of the present government to embark on its total rehabilitation.

However, speaking on the occasion, Jonathan lamented the hardship the bad state of the road had caused the people of South East and South South among other users of the road.

Represented by the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, Jonathan said he had listened to the cries of the people from the South East and South South and other Nigerians over the deplorable state of the 41.4 kilometre Aba to Port Harcourt stretch of the road, adding that the rehabilitation would give the people a new lease of life.

New lease of life “It is in response to the cries and yearnings of the good people of South South and South East zones and indeed all Nigerians that this administration decided to rehabilitate this road from Enugu-Port Harcourt in order to assuage the sufferings of our people.

“It is common knowledge to all of us here today and indeed to all Nigerians that the road has deteriorated over time due to lack of adequate attention in terms of routine and periodic maintenance by successive administrations. This has led to increase in transportation cost with the attendant negative impact on commercial activities.

“But this rehabilitation will go a long way in reducing the time of travel on this route, road crashes and cost of maintaining vehicles plying the road. The overall effect is reduction in cost of transport of goods and services,” Jonathan added.

According to him, the project was also “consistent with the efforts of my administration to deliver good quality roads in all the geopolitical zones in the country in order to boost socioeconomic activities nationwide.”

Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen (middle), and other ministry officials at the ceremony

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 — 5

Confusion in Imo communities over autonomous status

By CHINONSO ALOZIE

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W E R R I — CONTROVERSY has continued to trail the process for the creation of new autonomous communities in Imo State, due to what community leaders described as misrepresentation and manipulation of the exercise by stakeholders.

In one of such controversies, the leaders of Ihiagwa Autonomous Community, Rev. Stanley Anyanwu who is the traditional Prime Minister and Mr. Ben Ukachukwu, the president general of the Community Government Council, CGC, through their counsel told South East Voice that the Imo State House of Assembly Committee on the creation of new autonomous community led

by Hon. Simeon Iwunze should be held responsible for any break down of law and order if it “goes ahead in the creation of Umuobalu Ihiagwa Autonomous Community”.

They also faulted the population figure projected by those behind the creation of the said community adding that the

villages mentioned in the proposed new autonomous community were unknown and had denied any agitation for the autonomous community.

“The purported application for the autonomous community did not receive the consent of the members of the constituent villages that make up the proposed autonomous community such as the Umuokocha, Mboke-Umuobalu and Aku villages” they said.

The community leaders condemned what it described as false criteria through which the facilitators of the proposed Umuobalu Autonomous Community obtained a population figure of the community in question from the National Population Commission, NPC. “The proposed autonomous community is said to be composed of Umuokwu, Umuokocha, Umuemezie, Aku, Mboke and Iriamogu” but “in the application sent for autonomous status, they misled the officials of the National Population Commission, NPC, into giving them false census figure of 5,538 by the inclusion of Iriamogu, the village of the incumbent traditional ruler His Royal Highness, Eze Kingsley

Governor Rochas Okorocha Odu,” they said.

In what could be described as putting the record straight, the

The purported application for the autonomous community did not receive the consent of the members of the constituent villages that make up the proposed autonomous community

EKWUSIGO DECIDES: Stakeholders drill 2015 election candidates in Anambra LG

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—CANDIDATES of the various political parties preparing for the March 28 and April 11 elections in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State last week sweated out at the Oraifite Town Hall in the council area, when they were subjected to rigorous interactive and question session with stakeholders and the electorate in the area.

The exercise was at the instance of presidents’ general of the four communities that make up the local government namely, Ichi, Oraifite, Ozubulu and Ihembosi.

It was part of the voters’ education programme aimed at bringing the candidates closer to the prospective voters.

In attendance were traditional rulers, women leaders in all the communities in the local government, teachers, local government employees, students, market women and artisans.

Candidates who attended the programme code named, “Ekwusigo decides” include C M Y K

Chief Ernest Ndukwe, the senatorial candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for Anambra South senatorial zone, Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (jnr) who is the APGA candidate for Nnewi North/ Nnewi South/Ekwusigo federal constituency, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who is the House of Representatives standard bearer for the United Democratic Party, UDP, Mr. Obiora Onyeabo Obi, the Labour Party candidate for the same federal constituency, Paulinus Onyeka who wants to return to the House of Assembly on the platform of APGA, and Onyebuchi Ofor, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the state House of Assembly.

Many stakeholders did not mince words in telling the candidates they would want a situation whereby they (candidates) would sign agreement with them on the promises they were making to the people in view of what they

described as the ugly experience of the politicians forgetting the electorate once they were voted into office. To them, these politicians only to return at the end of four years to solicit for their votes again, which, they said, is no longer acceptable. There was however no opportunity for any agreement to be signed.

President General of Oraifite, Dr. Jude Okolo said categorically that the gathering was not aimed at endorsing

Federal Commissioner in the National Population Commission, NPC, Imo State, Mr. Chidi Anyanwu told South East Voice that the population figure of Umuobalu was erroneous.

He said,”Umuobalu Ihiagwa Proposed Autonomous Community which comprises Umuokwu, Umuokochi, Umuemeze, Aku, Mboke, Iriamogu has been cancelled due to an erroneous figure of 5,538 instead of 3,286 in the sense that Iriamogu village ought not be included. Iriamogu is the bonafide village of the current Eze Kingsley Odu of Dindi Ihiagwa Autonomous Community.” anybody, adding that the idea was to extract things from the candidates so that in the event of their derailing when they get to their various positions, stakeholders would take it upon themselves to circulate promises made during the campaigns.

Essentially, issues that dominated the interaction include youth and women empowerment, employment for the teeming unemployed youths, bursary and scholarship schemes, infrastructural development, periodic interaction with the people to brief them on the goings on in government, among others.

Party candidates on the occasion

Speaking to South East Voice, some people from the proposed Umuobalu Autonomous Community led by some of the leaders Nze Canice Ukaegbu and Chief J.A Osuji said that the creation of the said community would foster peace and understanding in Ihiagwa Autonomous Community adding that the process for the new community was unanimously agreed upon by the people and that only the non-progressives were against it.

Uneasy calm In the Umurim Community, the leaders are also divided on the issue of seniority just as some leaders of the Agwoche dynasty in Umudiabia Autonomous Community, Nekede, OwerriWest Local Government Area, Nze Shedrack Ajoku and Mr Obinna Akujobi have described as a farce, the publication which placed “Akporoha” kindred ahead of Agwoche in the proposed Umuerim Autonomy Community.

“In Umuerim Community to say the fact “Alporoha” is the last son of Erim (Umuerim) and should not take precedence over Agwuoche, customarily, traditionally and legally,” they said.

Furthermore, there is uneasy calm that may soon lead to avoidable crisis between Amaocha-Afara Community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State over the proposed Obi Amaocha Autonomous Community over boundary demarcation.

Speaking to South East Voice, the President of Amaocha-Afara Peoples Assembly, AAPA, Evangelist Bony Onyema called on the House Committee on the creation of new autonomous communities not to forcefully cede the people’s farm land to Obi Amaocha.

6 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Police move to end communal clashes in Enugu communities

By FRANCIS IGATA

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NUGU—CRISIS-ridden communities in Enugu State have been asked to present themselves before the Committee on Communal Clashes set up by the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, for amicable settlement of the contentious issues.

Some of the communities where there are unending strife include, Ikem and Neke in Isi Uzo Local Government, Ette in Igboeze North Local Government as well as Umuode,Oruku,Ugwuaji communities in Enugu East Local Government among others.

Abba who set up the committee to mitigate incidences of inter and intra communal crisis said he was worried by incessant clashes leading to killings and wanton destruction of property nationwide.

Declaring the committee’s

committee following frequent communal clashes which had claimed lives and properties nationwide.

According to Dega, “the committee is an intervention measure to mitigate issues of communal clashes nationwide. We will tour the 36 states of the federation to dialogue with all stakeholders in the communities on lasting ways of entrenching peace in our communities.

“As we have resumed sitting

in Enugu, we are calling on all warring communities in the state to come and make their submissions, or submit written memorandum to us to enable us produce a report that will be implemented for the peaceful coexistence of communities in the state.

“The essence of the committee is to advocate peace and dialogue during inter and intra community differences.

We are independent and not aligned

two-day sitting open in Enugu, the Chairman, who is an Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Christopher Dega noted that his boss had to set up the

As a result of these crises, many of us have lost all we laboured to achieve in life.

Unquantifiable property and lives have been lost. Most of us have been displaced from our communities

IGP Suleiman Abba

DPO bags South East Crime Fighter of the year award

By NWABUEZE OKONKWO

O

NITSHA—NDIGBO Unity Forum, NUF, an Igbo socio-political organization has bestowed the Best SouthEast Crime Fighter of the Year 2014 award on the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in-charge of Divisional Police Headquarters, Fegge, Onitsha, Anambra State, Mr. Rabiu Garba, for his exemplary conduct.

The ceremony which took place Tuesday at NUF’s Secretariat, Onitsha, attracted dignitaries from all walks of life.

Bestowing the award on Garba, the Chairman of NUF, Mr. Augustine Chukwudum, said that his eight-month stay in office as Fegge DPO had put to a stop, indiscriminate kidnapping, armed robbery and other vices associated with Fegge community and Onitsha South Local Government Area in

From right: Mr Augustine Chukwudum, Chairman of NUF; Mr Rabiu Garba, Divisional Police Officer, Fegge Police Station, Onitsha and Mr Chinedu Onyebuchi, Secretary-General of NUF during the presentation of the award C M Y K

general.

Chukwudum revealed that Garba did not only fight societal crime but also, crimes in the police force, adding that he had remained one of the few trustworthy and contented police officers still serving in South-East geopolitical zone at the moment.

According to the human rights leader, “giving him Best SouthEast Crime Fighter of the Year 2014 is to encourage other policemen. Let them emulate and know that whatever you do in this world that there is something waiting for you. When you do the good thing, you reap the good things and when you do the bad things, you also reap bad things.

“So, in essence, what I am saying is this, we are doing this to strengthen him to continue the good work he is doing. He should never relent because he is an incorruptible police officer.

Even if you come here with millions of Naira for him to upturn judgement in your favour, he will send you back with your millions with serious warning.

“Once you commit a crime, he

must make sure that you dance to the tune of the music and that is the essence of giving this award to encourage him to do more. Other policemen should emulate him”.

According to Chukwudum, ‘’if we can have the likes of Garba in the 774 local government areas of the country, the Nigeria Police Force, NPF will be the best in the world.’’

Fighting extortion He praised Garba for remaining resolute in fighting extortion and intimidation of members of the public by officers and men of the force, as well as maintaining the Inspector-General of Police order by ensuring that ‘’bails are free.’’

He recalled that Garba had stopped his officers and men from arresting innocent persons for pecuniary interests, adding that he equally stopped mounting road blocks and all forms of extortion by the rank and file under him as well as used his knowledge of the law to teach and direct them aright.

to any political party.

“Our terms of references include, conduct mediation among aggrieved parties in a communal clash to restore peace and order; carry out awareness campaigns on the need to eschew violence in resolving communal differences; adopt Alternative Dispute Resolution, IDR and mechanism in settlement of communal issues among others.”

Mr. Sunday Nwaude, from Oruku Community told South East Voice that the idea behind the establishment of the committee is laudable.

His words, “If we all that are experiencing crisis in our various communities can come together to talk and find a way to resolve the crisis, we will all be better for it. There can be no meaningful development in our communities in an atmosphere of crisis.

“As a result of these crises, many of us have lost all we laboured to achieve in life.

Unquantifiable property and lives have been lost. Most of us have been displaced from our communities. The government should quickly come to our aid to resettle most of our Internally Displaced Person, IDPs. “Above all, boundar y dispute which has most of the times caused these crises should be properly addressed by the relevant government agencies. If we have a virile boundary resolution mechanism, the friction that will result to crisis will not arise.”

“We have seen a difference.

We now know that the police force still have officers who are incorruptible and who uphold integrity even in the midst of temptation to be corrupt”, Chukwudum added.

He however, urged the Police Service Commission, PSC to promote and elevate Garba above his present rank of a Superintendent of Police and at the same time give him more sensitive assignments within the South East zone to enable him put things right.

In the same vein, the Chairman of Board of Trustees, BoT of Bridge-Head Market Traders Association, Onitsha, Chief Robert Ozigbo also, described Garba as a refined police officer with a difference.

Ozigbo said he had gone to the police station any time the need arose and discovered that the DPO was not only a peace maker but had always given proper attention to both complainants and the accused persons to the satisfaction of both parties.

Responding, Garba said he was surprised that some people were somewhere monitoring his activities to the extent of seeing him as the best among equals.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 —7

Man sends SOS to IGP over alleged invasion of property by gunmen

By NWABUEZE OKONKWO

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NITSHA—AN Onitshabased automobile spare parts dealer, Chief Polycarp Dike has asked the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Suleiman Abba to order a full scale investigation into the alleged invasion of his landed property by gunmen who maliciously damaged his fence.

In a Save-Our-Soul, SOS, letter entitled: “Re: Case of threat to use explosives/bomb to damage property, kill/maim, malicious damage to/knocking down of wall fence as an example, burglary and stealing of the property of Poly Parts International Limited at Ogidi, Anambra State,” signed on his behalf, by his Counsel, Chief Maurice Efobi, Dike said the gunmen numbering up to 17 had at about 2 am on January 27, invaded his landed property, a twin threestorey building at No. 4 Central School Road, Ogbe Otu Ikenga Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State and pulled down a fortified concrete fence around the

property and dared anybody to stop them.

According to Dike in the 14paragraph petition copied to Anambra State Director of State Services, DSS, the gunmen on invading the property, allegedly chanted songs indicating that they were just showing an example of what they planned to do in future, as they wielded their arms, including fire-arms, machetes, diggers, hammers and also, shooting sporadically before embarking on the malicious damage of the fence.

He also alleged that the gunmen warned the tenants of the building to park out of the compound in their own interest or face serious consequences should they continue to reside there.

The petitioner alleged that the gunmen also broke into a shop attached to the entrance gate and looted the goods and valuables before they concluded their mission at about 3.30 pm.

He contended that ever since then, the tenants had been vacating the property as a result of the reality of the threat and

Poly Parts International Ltd building at Ogidi, Anambra State non-safety of their lives and property, more so, as the perpetrators claimed that Ogidi was their home town and that

The gunmen on invading the property allegedly chanted songs of what they planned to do in future

there was nothing the police could do about it.

He said he rooted this petition straight to the IGP due to the seriousness of the threat to his life.

He said the property was previously owned by a man from Uru Village, Ogidi before it was sold through auction by a bank for the recovery of debt, adding that the previous owner purchased the empty land from one Toochukwu now a member of Ikenga Ogid Vigilante outfit and developed it.

He said after purchasing the building through bank auction sale, he compensated its former owner adequately and he (former owner) left in good faith.

Furthermore, he said that after buying the house in the year 2000, one John Agubueze from whom the land was purchased

by the former landlord, organized a cabal from the officers of Ikenga Ogidi family union and they continued to threaten to pull down the property by the use of explosives and then reclaim the empty land since according to him, they sold the land to the former owner who is an Ogidi man and not to a stranger.

He further complained that apart from the threat, the Ikenga Ogidi family union approached him some time ago and demanded for development levy for the property, claiming that the previous owner being an Ogidi man was not charged any levy and he obliged and paid them N60,000 as development levy and they issued him with a receipt to that effect.

ABS’ 30TH ANNIVERSARY: Utomi counsels on corrupt-free media

By VINCENT UJUMADU WKA—IT was a gathering of who is who in the media industry last week in Awka, Anambra State as the state-owned Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS, marked its 30th anniversary.

Apart from the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano and members of his cabinet, notable actors, led by Mr. Pete Edochie, who worked in the station for many years before going into active acting, as well as all the former chief executives of the establishment since its inception, were there to grace the occasion.

Indeed, the ABS radio/ television has improved tremendously in its programming and reach since the incumbent managing director and chief executive officer, Mr. Uche Nworah assumed office.

With Nworah’s efforts to take the station to a higher level, the results he achieved in less than

its good and bad sides.

He said: “Since so much happens in the world and only a few of these occurrences enter our consciousness and fewer still dominate our consideration, the gate keeping function of the media allows it to set the agenda.

In the sense, therefore, that the media helps us or decide for us what is important, media has

A

C M Y K

Participants at the ABS 30th anniversary lecture one year in office were glaring.

Apparently due to his rich background in events management, Nworah has diversified activities of ABS. In addition to its statutory functions, it has gone into sponsoring book launch, organizing trade fairs, and most importantly, giving every prospective patron equal

opportunity to showcase himself. So, in its 30 years of existence, the outfit had so much to celebrate.

Guest speaker at the event, Professor Pat Utomi of the Lagos Business School kept the audience spell bound as he dissected the Nigerian media and in the process, highlighted

As many have found out, the economics of media survival, the nature of ownership of media and the organizational challenge of the media enterprise, including the human capital investment element, are critical for media influence

great influence.

“As many have found out, the economics of media survival, the nature of ownership of media and the organizational challenge of the media enterprise, including the human capital investment element, are critical for media influence.

He was, however, of the opinion that with the influential nature of the media, there is the concern of people abusing it.

“Because of its influence, the media serves as a tool for development and this is why the practitioners should avoid corrupting it as doing so could lead to its destruction”, he said.

Utomi commended Governor Willie Obiano for injecting new life into the ABS, noting that it would enable the outfit carry out its statutory functions.

He said further: “I had been to the ABS studio in Onitsha and I was not happy with what I saw.

Anambra is the original heart of the old Eastern Region and should therefore lead in everything. I am therefore happy that government has stepped in to improve the situation.”

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Abakpa Nike residents groan as street traders takeover their homes •We are using mobile courts to ensure sanity, says govt

By AUSTIN OGWUDA

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N U G U — INDISCRIMINATE trading activities in Enugu State capital has now become a major headache as many residents affected recount their ordeal.

Investigation showed that residents of Abakpa Nike, a suburb of Enugu metropolis, especially those living along Oraukwu Street are worst hit.

A visit to the area showed that some of the residents cannot access their homes during the day time except at night when the traders must have closed for the day, as they can either drive in or out of the homes due to the blockade created by the indiscriminate trading. Meandering through the Oraukwu Street is a nightmare.

Ironically, the traders who took possession of the streets do it with impunity because of the alleged cover or protection given to them by those who are supposed to be enforcers of the law.

South East Voice reliably gathered that some officials of Enugu East Local Government usually chase them out from the streets but soon allowed them to continue with their businesses after alleged ‘settlement’.

However, this was even as the Ugwogo Motor Park Market, adjacent to Oraukwu Street, was almost empty because traders who are supposed to occupy it preferred to trade along the streets.

Residents cry out One of the residents who identified himself as Martins said: “It is a harrowing experience. We go there (Oraukwu Street) and nobody seems to care about our plight.

We cannot enter our house and we go through a lot pains coming and going out from morning to night.’’

Decrying the menace constituted by street traders who operate along the streets in the area, another resident in the area, Ikenna Ugwu attributed the traffic gridlock in the area to street trading and called for urgent action against the menace.

Ugwu said most of the street traders ought to vacate and move into the Ugwogo Motor Park Market instead of making C M Y K

life tough for both residents and passers- by, especially, motorists.

He maintained that the traffic gridlock along Nike Road and Abakpa Market road would have been eliminated if not for the activities of the street traders whose number was growing daily.

According to him, “street like Oraukwu Street would have served as an access road for somebody connecting Abakpa Market to Liberty. But now, you do not even know that such a road exists.

“As early as 7.am, street traders takeover the whole of Oraukwu Street. They continue trading along the street from morning till night.

The same thing happens along adjoining streets like Isieke Street among others.”

Also, a journalist who is a resident of the area, Mr. Emmanuel Nzomiwu decried the activities of the street traders, saying that they constituted a lot of nuisance to the vicinity.

“You can see how they blocked entrances to peoples’ homes. The waste they

generate litter the streets.

They have used waste to block all drainages in this area. In the afternoon, you cannot even stay at home because of the noise coming from these street traders.”

He called on the relevant authorities, especially the state and local governments “to urgently look into the activities of these street traders which are detrimental to healthy living in the area.”

We are addressing the

As early as 7.am, street traders takeover the whole of Oraukwu Street. They continue trading along the street from morning till night.

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State situation —Govt The Enugu State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Nnaemeka Chukwuone told South East Voice on the telephone that it was “not only in Abakpa area that we have street traders, adding that, we are addressing the problem generally in

Enugu. Presently we have set up mobile courts to prosecute erring traders. As I speak, four persons have been convicted and are in prison.

“The problem is that when we pursue them, they return soon after, so we are using mobile courts to deal with the situation,” he added.

Save us from this agony, POWA shopping complex fire victims beg

By ANAYO OKOLI UMUAHIA—FOR the families of the 24 shop owners at the Police Officers’ Wives Association, POWA, Shopping Complex, Umuahia, the Abia State capital, where goods and properties worth millions of Naira were completely razed during an early morning inferno some time ago, life can never be the same again, at least for now.

Their woes became more painful because the Abia State Fire Service which had opportunity to save them from the agony failed woefully to do that.

Eyewitness accounts said that fire fighters from the state Fire Service arrived quite in time at the scene of the fire but operated for barely five minutes and left with the excuse that ‘’their vehicle was cutting gas,’’ promising to go back but never did.

It now fell on the police men who came from both the neighbouring Area Command and Central Police Stations and some sympathizers to fight the fire which was fast spreading.

One of the burnt POWA shops in Umuahia

Fire fighters from the state Fire Service arrived quite in time at the scene of the fire but operated for barely five minutes and left, promising to come back but never did

The security barricade erected by the police had to be destroyed to enable them fight the raging fire. But their effort could only achieve little as 24 of the shops in the complex were completely razed with goods of various types worth millions of Naira destroyed.

However, luckily enough, no life was lost in the fire incident which started from one of the shops upstairs in the one storey shopping complex.

According to a shop owner at the complex, the fire began at about 3am, when he was alerted by another shop owner prompting him to rush to the scene with his wife.

He said that on getting there, he noticed that the fire fighters were already on ground but regretted that they did not last up to two minutes because they complained that their vehicle was faulty. They left with a promise to return but they did not.

“If we had serious fire fighters, some of these shops would have been salvaged,”he said and lamented the poor work attitude of the fire fighters.

“Fire incidents don’t give sign before they occur, therefore a responsible fire service will always be ready for emergencies. How do you even explain a situation where they arrived the scene in time and left with a flimsy excuse of vehicle cutting gas; they left and refused to return? It is a serious issue, my brother”, lamented a sympathizer who gave his name simply as Onyeukwu.

The shopping complex owned by the Zone 9 Police provides business abode to scores of businessmen and women in the area.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 — 33

g Eagles focus N

FF President Amaju Pinnick has called on players of the U-20 National Team, Flying Eagles, to go all out and grab a World Cup ticket when they file out against their counterparts from Congo-Brazzaville at the 19th African Youth Championship in Senegal on Wednesday. ?It is great to start with three points, with the win over the host nation on Sunday. We are happy with that. But it is important that we go all out against CongoBrazzaville on Wednesday and wrap up a ticket to the World Cup. ?We cannot under-rate the Congolese. Yes, we have a capable team, but when you get too confident, you can get a sucker punch. It is important that we play it like the championship final and earn the ticket to the World Cup early.?

The NFF President has spoken to Head Coach, Manu Garba (OON) and his assistants and will also pump up the players? spirit before Wednesday?s tango.

A win against the Congolese, who defeated Nigeria in the final to lift the trophy on their home soil in 2007, will guarantee the Flying Eagles a place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals coming up in New Zealand, May 30 ?

June 20 this year.

Nwaiwu plots Sunshine Stars fall After producing what turned out to be the surp rise resu lt of the opening round of the 2014/15 Nigeria Premier League season, Ifeanyi Ubah Football Club will be travelling to Akure to keep a date with Sunshine Stars of Akure this weekend.

One player who is confident of another shock outcome in Akure is Onyekachi Nwaiwu who sealed victory for the youthful Nnewi side with a late strike agai nst Warr i Wolves. He is of the belief that he and his team mates will be handful for the Akure Gunners.

“We are going there for a win because we know what is at stake,”

Sunday, March 15, 20 Nasarawa United Abia Warriors Akwa United Enugu Rangers Kano Pillars Kwara United Lobi Stars Shooting Stars Sunshine Stars Warri Wolves

v v v v v v v v v v

he said, adding, “if we can subdue a star studded Warri Wolves, I see no reason why we should be scared of Sunshine Stars,” he concluded. The victory over Warri Wolv es coul d trigg er a leng thy run in the Nige ria Prem ier Leag ue.

Uche Onu oha got the curta in raiser at the Nnewi Stadium inspire d a famo us victo ry for the hosts, who sit atop the Nigeria Premier League.

And Nwa iwu, who seale d the win for his side while expressing his excitement following his strike believes his youthful outfit are a match for any team.

Guardiola warns of Shakhtar threat

B

•Guardiola

Silva fears Chelsea trio ahead Champions League clash

P

ARIS SAINT- GER MAIN captain Thia go Silva has pinpointed Chelsea’s biggest threats ahead of tonight’s clash.

The Ligue 1 giants travel to Stamford Bridge for the Champions League last-16 second leg with the tie level at 1-1.

And Silva believes his side must pay close attention to Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Willian if they are to have any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.

Wikki Do lph in s FC Taraba Sharks FC Ba ye lsa El Kanemi Enyimba Heartland Ifeanyi Uba Giwa FC

2 pm 4 pm 4pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm

The Brazilian centre-half is also wary of the Blues’ aerial prowess from set pieces.

Silva said: “They have quality players who can make the difference at any mo ment, like Costa, Hazard, Willian.

“That is why they are at the top of the Premier League table.

“We have to remain focused.

“They are also very good from set pieces, very dangerous, but so are we!”

•Silva

Shakhtar plot Munich upset •Lucescu

S

15

ayern Munich cannot underestimate a “super aggressive” Shakhtar Donetsk side in the UEFA Champions League, warns Pep Guardiola.

The Ukrainian champions held Bayern to a 0-0 draw in Lviv last month but Guardiola’s side will be expected to ensure progression to the last eight at the Allianz Arena this week.

While Guardiola is confident, the Bayern boss warned of the quality Shakhtar will pose through the likes of Douglas Costa and Luiz Adriano.

“I’m optimistic. I have complete faith in my team,” explained Guardiola, who will be without Philipp Lahm despite the full-back’s recent return to training following an ankle problem.

“They have the same quality as the big teams in Germany. Their gameplay is super aggressive, as in Germany, and they are quick on the counter-attack, again like here.

hakhtar Donetsk are plotting one of the big gest Champions League upsets in Munich tonight, aware at the same time that the odds are stacked against them succeeding.

Having ground out a 0-0 draw in the home leg three weeks ago, the Ukrainians arrive at the Allianz Arena knowing a win or even a scoring draw against Bayern would see them progress at the expense of one of the favourites for the title this season.

The example of Basel from

three years ago, when the Swiss side took a 1-0 lead to Munich only to lose 7-1 on aggregate, shows how dangerous the German club can

be on their own patch even after struggling to impress away.

That does not mean Shakhtar will go the same way to-

Chelsea continue trophy hunt

W

ith a first trophy of the season already in the bag and a second one looking ever more likely to be on the way, José Mourinho will today aim to keep on track for the silverware he surely wants most of all, a Champions League crown with Chelsea.

The London club beat Tottenham in the Capital One Cup final at the start of the month before further strengthening their hold on the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at West Ham last week. They now enter the second leg of their Champions League Round-of-16 series against Paris Saint-Germain at Stamford Bridge with the score delicately poised at 1-1.

“We are very proud of winning our first trophy as a group together, and getting that win at West Ham, but they’re gone,” defender Gary Cahill told Chelsea’s official website. “All that is on our minds now is the PSG game and that’s all we are thinking about in the days leading up to it.”

34 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Patience Jonathan

A

BLOGOSPHERE megastar from beginning to end, Nigeria’s First Lady Patience Jonathan is always trending, with skits from her on the cyberspace often hitting the million view mark.

This week, it is an open letter written by Ovation publisher Dele Momodu that has hit the cyberspace that is making

waves. In the letter, Momodu writes: Never in the history of Nigeria have I read of a First Lady responding to criticisms in the frontal manner you attacked Professor Wole Soyinka over an issue that you could easily have ignored.

That singular act of unrestrained combativeness

was one of your worst public relations gaffes. Wole Soyinka is one of those global icons that you can’t take on and win. If for nothing, here was a man who at about 76 years of age trekked under the scorching sun of Abuja to defend the rights of your husband when many of the acolytes around you today were nowhere to be found.

T

Karrueche Tran

he American Missionary worker, Rev. Phyllis Sortor, who was kidnapped in the Hope Academy Compound in Kogi state on Monday February 23rd has regained her freedom.

According to the Kogi state Police Commissioner, no ransom

A

lso dominating the Nigerian cyberspace is the reaction of the African girlfriend of American singer Chris Brown, to news he had a secret child.

The revelations not only shocked Chris’ fans, his girlfriend Karrueche Tran claimed she knew nothing of Royalty’s (baby) existence until just before the story broke last week.

Tran also appeared to confirm Chris has become a father via her Twitter account, while also implying they are no longer together.

Listen. One can only take so much. The best of luck to Chris and his family. No baby drama for me,” Tran tweeted, alongside an emoticon of a baby.

Simone Gbagbo

B

y far the trendiest item on blogosphere is of Ivory Coast’s former first lady, Simone Gbagbo, who has been sentenced to 20 years in jail for her role in the violence that followed the 2010 elections.

Gbagbo, 69, had been charged with undermining state security.

More than 3,000 people died in the violence that followed the presidential poll after the ex-leader refused to accept defeat to Alassane Ouattara.

She and her husband were arrested in 2011 after troops stormed a bunker where the pair had taken refuge in the main city,

Saheela Ibraheem

C M Y K

Abidjan.

And it was in the same city where Gbagbo - once called the “Iron Lady” - faced trial. She was also accused of disturbing public order

Phyllis Sortor was paid for her freedom.

Phyllis Sortor was working as a Christian missionary when she was taken from the Hope Academy compound in Kogi state on 23 February.

Kogi state police said she had been rescued and returned safely to US authorities.

and organising armed gangs.

The court unanimously sentenced her to 20 years, twice as long as the prosecutors had asked for.

Omobola Johnson

S

queaky clean Nigerian female minister, Omobola Johnson, trends, if ever, always for the right reasons. This time, her Ministry of Communication and Technology is empowering women and girls through the Growing Girls and Women

N

igerian genius, Saheela Ibraheem, 19, made history On Thursday, February, 26, when she was honoured with an official reception in the White House by the US President, Barack Obama and the First Lady, Michelle.

Saheela Ibraheem got into the Ivy League Harvard at the age of 15, where she is currently studying neurobiology- a branch of science that studies the brain — and has been listed among the “World’s 50 Smartest Teenagers.” She was also accepted for admission by 13 other top colleges in the United States, including the

MIT, Princeton, Columbia, and six Ivy League institutions, choosing Harvard, she became one of the youngest students to ever attend the university. She will be graduating in May this year.

Speaking after an introductory speech by Ibraheem at the White House, President Obama stated that “there are a lot of teenagers in the world.

Saheela is like one of the 50 smartest ones. That’s pretty smart. And she’s a wonderful young lady. She’s like the State Department and the National Institute of Health all rolled into one.

in Nigeria (GWIN).

This is a gender based budgeting initiative launched by the federal government to plug the gap of under representation of women in viable careers and other sectors.

Beatrice Yardolo

A

frica is winning the battle against Ebola, it appears, and blogosphere is thrilled about it.

According to BBC Africa, the last known Ebola patient in Liberia has been discharged from hospital. Her name is Beatrice Yardolo, 58. Good news.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 — 35

C M Y K

36—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

•Jonathan Addressing troops in Baga, Borno State after the liberation of the town from Boko Haram insurgents.

Political cries about changing wartime president RECENT successful strides by the military in the Northeast have raised the hitherto unconsidered question about changing leadership in wartime. Not surprisingly, associates and critics of President Goodluck Jonathan are sharply divided on the issue.

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

N

OT even the most passionate supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan would disagree with the general claim that the president took the Boko Haram insurgency with kid gloves at the beginning.

The most profound evidence of the seeming lack of seriousness with which the president and his handlers took the insurgency was in their approach to the kidnap of the Chibok girls in April last year.

Boko Haram, it was suggested in the corridors of power, was a political tool devised by the enemies of the president to project opposition to him.

Such suggestions were not helped by the internal crisis within the president’s Peoples Democratic Party, PDP when a leading chieftain of the party from the north was quoted as saying that they would make the nation ungovernable for the president if he won the PDP presidential ticket of 2011.

•Wogu: You don't change war time leader

•Okechukwu: Jonathan cannot get any credit

No doubt, the nation or at least a significant proportion of the country with a size more than that of Belgium has been practically ungovernable leading to the mounting of the flag of the Boko Haram Islamic sect in that part of the country covering most parts of Borno State, Yobe State and Adamawa State.

Until recently, the suzerainty of the group covered even the local government area of the nation’s number one soldier, Air Vice Marshall Alex Badeh.

However, the tide began to change in the middle of last month just about the time the presidential election had originally been scheduled. The change in tide came with the arrival of new weapon platforms.

Since then, Boko Haram has suffered significant losses leading to the liberation of a number of towns and strongholds of the group.

However, till date, the group continues to hold on to a number of the booties of war

including the prized Chibok girls and a significant proportion of territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The reversal of fortunes has inevitably led to new questions about the president’s doggedness. Some have claimed that the offensive against Boko Haram was directly aimed to win votes for the president alleging that he

Even more remarkable is the new debate thrown up by some strong associates of the president that nations do not change wartime leaders

sat down all the while allowing the group to humiliate the country and only responding at a time he could gain political plaudits.

Even more remarkable is the new debate thrown up by some strong associates of the president that nations do not change wartime leaders.

That argument was first put together by Chief Emeka Wogu, the former minister of labour and productivity. That argument was later taken up by the PDP governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and has now become a talking point for some partisan advocates of a second term for the president.

It is also an argument readily pooh-poohed by political opponents of the president.

In pushing the case, Wogu had said: “The ongoing war in the Northeast is undoubtedly a sore point in the nation’s history.

Just as Nigeria is making progress in its economy and has been certified as Africa’s biggest economy, Boko Haram surfaced to test the capacity and content of the Nigerian leadership. The challenge of the insurgency is one that no Nigerian leader has ever had to confront.”

“This is, however, no opportunity for Nigerians to waver in the resolute determination that we have shown towards uprooting this ugly evil from our land.”

Faith in the leadership “Despite scepticism in some entrenched quarters, President Goodluck Jonathan has ably marshalled our forces in this critical effort to uproot the evil in our land and I enjoin Nigerians all over not to lose faith in the leadership.”

“This is no time for us to pander to political, religious or ethnic sentiments that will distract us from the compelling objective of bringing liberty to every inch of the land.

“Other nations faced with similar circumstances as we are now facing refused to be distracted and kept faith with their leaders.”

“Britain held on to Winston Churchill, America held on to Franklin Roosevelt, Nigeria even during a military regime held on to Yakubu Gowon.”

His point was also subsequently adopted by Ribadu who during a visit to a refugee camp in Mubi, Adamawa State that Jonathan should not be changed on account of his recent successes.

“You don’t change a commander-in-Chief in time of war ”, said Ribadu in Mubi during his visit.

Continues on page 37

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015—37

DELTA CENTRAL: Why I jumped out of PDP’s sinking ship — Omo-Agege OBARISI Ovie Omo-Agege is a frontline candidate in the March 28 Delta Central Senatorial election. Omo-Agege, former Secretary to the Delta State Government, SSG, in this interview, speaks on his candidacy, his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the breathe of fresh air he says the Delta Governorship candidate of Labour Party, Great Ogboru would bring to the state. Excerpts:

BY Festus Ahon

W

HAT informed your decision to join forces with Chief Great Ogboru after the PDP governorship primary election?

For all of our state’s wealth, there should be no suffering in the land. But what do we have everywhere after 16 years of democratic rule in our state?

Rising extreme poverty, declining living standards, rising unemployment and inequalities in opportunities. What is more, a huge number of our people who should live are dying of curable diseases every day, failing schools and crumbling infrastructure. Even our freedom and democracy are being threatened by unmitigated corruption. It doesn’t have to be so. The vast majority of our people desperately need change because we can’t continue on this path of mismanagement. I subscribe to this because I believe Delta State can do better.

Having been out of government for over seven years, I ran for governor as an outsider to bring change to Asaba from within PDP. But those who want the status quo to remain conspired

against me to deny me the ticket.

And they thought that would be the end of our struggle for change. They expected me to support them to continue the plunder. What they did not realise is that the progress we seek is unyielding. Our dream of a better society must not die just because a few in PDP want to maintain their grip on power. So I refuse to be part of this business as usual mentality.

The good people of Delta are frustrated with continued tolerance of corruption in government. And they want more than a simple changing of the guard. They are crying out for real change. They need a government that is transparent, accountable and free from corruption.

Of all those contesting, Chief Great Ogboru is the agent of change. He is the best man at this moment to bring about the change we desire. That is why I have decided to join forces with him to free Delta State and launch it on the trajectory of inclusive growth path and equal opportunity for all.

Our youths need hope. Let us build Delta State of equal opportunity and no

discrimination. A Delta State where, where you come from and the languages you speak do not matter is what we deserve. I trust that Ogboru can give Deltans the change they desire and deserve.

That is why I am supporting him.

Given that the Urhobo don’t want to abide in opposition don’t you think that your Senate ambition on the platform of Labour Party would be rejected?

Chief Ogboru won the two elections of 2011, and he will win again on April 11. But unlike in the previous elections he will not be denied victory this time. So the issue of Urhobo being in opposition will not arise.

More importantly, however, Ogboru will be governor of all Deltans. There will be no discrimination of any sort. So whether any section of the state

Of all those contesting, Chief Great Ogboru is the agent of change. He is the best man at this moment to bring about the change we desire

War cries about changing a wartime president Continues from page 36 “Now, it is about consolidation of this success, on how to restore life in these affected communities and bring about stability. The President has already established the Victims Support Fund, and he has a marshal plan on how to consolidate on this military successes”, Ribadu further submitted.

Dismissing the assertions of Wogu, Ribadu and other partisans, Osita Okechukwu, spokesman of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the Southeast said the president should rather be sanctioned for his actions.

“The Jonathan effort in the Northeast vindicates some of us who are saying that the Federal Government of Nigeria led by Jonathan was rather vicariously promoting the insurgency.

“We are saying that this vindicates us that there was sabotage before. If it were not so, the boys who are now being held for mutiny had said that helicopters used to come and drop supplies to Boko Haram, and nothing would happen to them.

Noting the points raised by former President Olusegun Obasanjo during an abortive reconciliatory meeting with Jonathan in Abeokuta last January, Okechukwu said the president’s alleged unwillingness to frontally confront the issue vexed Obasanjo.

Recent successes According to him recent successes is “a further vindication of our position that the Federal Government of

Nigeria was treating the Boko Haram with kid gloves with an idea to profit from it or harvest it for the election. But when it suddenly dawned on them that the world was looking down on them, that was when they changed gear. It is not about a war general, in a sane country the president should be queried. This was a government that didn’t even believe that the Chibok girls were kidnapped, they doubted it until the international reacted.

“It was when they were being looked on as weak, clueless and corrupt that they reacted.

“So, any recovery should not be a credit, but rather it shows that we should further condemn the administration for treating such a serious issue with kid gloves. President Jonathan and his managers escalated the war.”

•Omo-Agege: The Urhobo people know better voted for him or not will not be an issue in the allocation of resources and appointments. No section of the state will be marginalised. Even opposition political parties will not be victimised.

Some persons accuse you of selling out the Urhobo; Why? I think you should direct this question to those who have made those allegations.

Personal costs and risks All I can tell you is that the allegations are unfounded. In my four years in government from 2003 to 2007, I worked to project and protect the interest of the Urhobo whenever I am opportune to do so. Sometimes, I did so at huge personal costs and risks. I have made so many sacrifices to ensure that Urhobos occupied the rightful place in the politics of our state and country, and no amount of blackmail will deter me from standing on the side of our people.

Those who are involved in this campaign of calumny against me are afraid of me politically. Their aim is to mislead the people. But the Urhobo people know better.

This senatorial election will give them the opportunity to decide whether they want a Senator who has a record of fighting for the interest of the people or one who supports a political party agenda that humiliates the Urhobo people by keeping them out of government house for 24 years or more to the benefit of himself, the powerful and wellconnected.

But don’t you think that was the reason the UPU leadership chose Mr David Edevbie above you despite the support you

gave during and after their election?

So far, I have refrained from making any comment on what happened during the primaries of the PDP with regard to the actions of UPU, and I am not going to do otherwise now. Our concern now must be about the future. What is important now is that the UPU has endorsed the candidate of my party, the Labour Party, Chief Great Ogboru. We are happy about this endorsement, and we thank the leadership of UPU and the Urhobo people.

You stated during your campaign in the PDP governorship primaries that you would not leave the party even if you were not given the ticket. Today you are in LP; why?

The PDP primary process was flawed from the very beginning.

Contrary to the party guidelines which provided for the election of delegates, the three delegates to the primaries were selected.

This enabled few individuals to manipulate the process in favour of some aspirants.

The level playing field promised by the party was absent.

Under these circumstances, it became difficult to remain in the party.

I refuse to continue to be part of a party where few people decide who gets the nomination on the basis of a non-existing zoning and power rotation arrangement that is promoting ethnic tensions and mediocrity when the greater majority of the people want the best to emerge governor. I won’t allow a few to impose their will on the people of Delta State yet again. I will not sit back and allow the dictatorship of a minority to thwart the collective will of the people for change.

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

By Garba Shehu

T

HE weekend press was, as usual very generous with its pages dealing with the Special Adviser to the President on Media, “my friend before, before” as we say in everyday parlance, Dr. Reuben Abati. Reuben was joined in the attack against General Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal, this time to attend presidential political debates, by his “cousin in office” Reno Omokri.

Having seen the beating he received in the digital media, his own reputable turf, Reno deserves my sympathy. I won’t flog a dead horse.

In responding to The Punch, which did us the courtesy of seeking our reaction to the Abati diatribe, our argument has been that three times in the past, (2003, 2007, 2011) Buhari appeared and took part in debates while all his opponents, including Dr. Jonathan in 2011, refused to take part.

Where were all the critics, including Abati, then? Specifically, why did Dr. Jonathan refuse to debate in 2011?

These are questions to be expected of every journalist handed the Abati script.

For us in the Buhari/ Osinbajo Campaign, the decision to stay away from the debate was not one that was taken lightly.

It was indeed a difficult one, considering that the promoters of the debates, themselves important arms of the media as they, were in all probability not going to accept this for any excuse.

•Shehu: Buhari's spokesman

Debating Omokri and Abati by Garba Shehu debate? Dr. Jonathan doesn’t have an understanding of public interest. Neither does he have respect for age and the high office he occupies. If he and his team did, they

Abuse and mudslinging It is for this reason that we wrote very politely to them, to request that we be excused.

Our view of their Principal, Dr. Jonathan is that he is a man who does not know what is debate or discourse. What he knows is insults, abuse and mudslinging.

He doesn’t have the frame of mind to warrant a debate.

That’s the man who called President Obasanjo a motorpark tout for merely criticizing him.

Dr. Jonathan doesn’t “give a damn” about public issues, is that not what he said when he was asked whether he would declare his assets publicly?

When you are in public office, you are a public property.

The President they are presenting for a TV debate doesn’t know the difference between stealing and corruption and he goes on defending their ridiculous position at every given opportunity.

How can you dignify a fellow who lacks the comportment of public interest with a

•Abati: Jonathan's spokesman

The President and his handlers have shown a rare lack of dignity and comportment dealing with people who differ with them

would not have addressed every critic in the way they did, nor would have Reuben described General Buhari as having ran with his tail in between his legs.

The President and his handlers have shown a rare lack of dignity and comportment dealing with people who differ with them.

All through his tenure, whenever he is criticized on issues and policy by anyone, the tradition they put in place is to attack the critic with insults. Among these critics are men and women who want to exercise their right to choose as guaranteed by the constitution.

The amazing thing about Dr. Jonathan is that he lacks the cultural diligence to call his handlers to order whenever they aggressively go after the honest critic.

His handlers seem to know just one thing – the personal interest of Dr. Jonathan, and they too, in line with their boss’s thinking don’t give a damn about public good and public interest.

Our position is that we can’t debate personal interest above public interest. We have chosen to stay away from debating Dr. Jonathan because we are not given to insults and abuse.

We await their defeat in the coming election on March 28th.

•Card reader

CARD READERS: A hole INEC must plug

By Clifford Ndujihe

A

S 37 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) meet today to critically examine the complaints generated at last weekend’s trial run on the card readers in 12 selected states, there are a number of questions and issues the INEC has to address.

The polity is still divided on whether or not the card readers should be used for the March 28 and April 11 general polls.

The 12 national commissioners of INEC, All Progressives Congress (APC) and a coalition of 60 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) among others want the card readers to be used. However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some stakeholders including PDP governors are raising objections.

Since the electoral umpire is insisting on using the card readers, which it claims would stop multiple voting, it is important to address the flaws observed during the trials, which if unattended could hurt the polls.

•What measures are in place to ensure that the card readers are not pre-programmed to reject PVCs or pre-loaded without using the right PVCs? •What effort is the commission making to ensure that all eligible voters with permanent voters’ cards (PVCs), whose names are on the voters register, are enfranchised on election day?

•Since accreditation of a voter using the device takes between one to three minutes, it means that it will take between 8 to 25 hours to accredit 500 voters. In essence, accreditation alone may last for a whole day. Is INEC ready for this in terms of logistics, etc? According to INEC, accreditation of voters will start at 9am and end at 12 noon, meaning that between 36 and 180 voters would be accredited within the stipulated time at best. What about the remaining 320 or more voters?

•If accreditation takes about 8 to 25 hours, when will actual voting, sorting and counting of ballots take place especially in the case of the March 28 presidential and National Assembly polls – a three-in-one exercise?

• Is it possible to have more than one card reader per voting point?

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 — 39

40 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

*Internally displaced women being encouraged just before the commencement of food distribution recently in Yola. Courtesy AUN

Emergency: IDPs in Lagos cry out for help... seek urgent govt intervention Tucked away in a corner of the sprawling Kirikiri Industrial area, is a large expanse of land fast turning into a shanty town, home to hundreds of people displaced as a result of Boko Haram, BH, activities in Nigeria’s NorthEast. Many people are unaware of the existence of this settlement akin to a refugee camp in Lagos. Vanguard Features, VF, visited the camp recently and saw first-hand the squalor and pain under which fellow Nigerians live due to no fault of theirs. The Sarki (Chief) of the camp, Mr. Bamaiyi Papka, popularly called Barrister, spoke to VF. Excerpts:

By Ebele Orakpo &Charles Kumolu

S

AID Bamaiyi: “I was living in Madagali before the Boko Haram attack. We were only hearing of their activities in Borno and Yobe states. Later, we heard they had advanced to Gwoza Local Government in Borno State. Gwoza is at the boundary between Borno and Adamawa states. At this point, we were afraid they may cross into Madagali. A month or two later, we heard that some terrorists who ran away from Gwoza, were moving towards Madagali through the bush. The first victims were three fishermen that went to the river to fish but were murdered by terrorists who came in a white Hilux. Two died instantly while the third died the next day. A group of farmers discovered the fishermen and raised alarm. A week later, the insurgents slaughtered a farmer harvesting beans in his farm just as they slaughter rams.

“Parents were apprehensive; those who could afford it gave money to their children to leave town because they were killing the youths. The terrorists were increasing by the day. They came on motorcycles and tricycles. There were no soldiers around, only a police station.

“As the soldiers were dislodging them from Gwoza and other parts of Borno, they had

no escape route to Cameroun except through Madagali. But when Camerounian soldiers noticed the influx of Boko Haram members into their country, they blocked the entry points so there was no way of escape for them, so many of them entered Madagali.

“Initially, they interacted with the natives and later, they began to show their true colour. They started killing our people.

Report to authorities: “Our village head reported to the soldiers but they did not show up. The present governor, Mr. Bala Ngilari, was the deputy governor then and he is from my village; so our people informed him that BH had entered our

We have three Boko Haram groups: Religious Boko Haram, political Boko Haram and opportunistic Boko Haram

camps and abuse them sexually and after sometime, they either release them or take them away just as they did in Chibok where they took over 200 girls.

Secondly, they force people to convert to Islam or get killed.

T h r e e groups of BH •Mr. Bamjaiyi Papka... We have children here who don’t know where their parents are. village. He spoke to the governor and within one week, they deployed soldiers to Madagali, Michika, up to Mubi. Most of the IDPs here are from Adamawa (Michika, Gombi, Song, Madagali local government areas) and some from Borno State.

Why they kill men: “When they come into a town and see strong men, they catch them and force them to join the group. If you refuse or try to escape, they kill you. They take the ladies to their

“There are three groups of Boko Haram.

The religious group started in Borno State during late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s regime. They force people to convert to Islam. They want only Sharia law and they say if you are not a Moslem, you cannot live in the village. They were burning churches and people’s homes. They also kill moderate Muslims who don’t agree with their brand of Islam.

The second group is the political BH. Every politician has his own group of terrorists that go after his opponents. They send these boys after opponents to kill

and burn their houses. So there is BH Islamic sect and BH militants. The third group comprises robbers who capitalise on the insurgency to make money. We know them. Many of our young men have joined them.

If they see you have a car or a shop, they send you a letter, informing you they will come on a particular date and time.

“The recipient of such letter runs and leaves his property.

They break into the house or shop and steal. These ones don’t usually kill. They warn their parents not to expose their identities to the community. That is why people have not been able to understand Boko Haram.”

Life in the camp He said there are about 450 IDPs within the compound and many more live outside in the open. Each room (very small, made of wood, plastic and cardboard) has five to six people.

Some sleep on motorcycles outside. When it rains, they hide under umbrellas and some cover themselves in polythene bags.

Some, who could afford it, put up wooden structures. He added that they record 650 - 700 adults in the church on Sundays minus the children.

Some of the IDPs do petty trading, thanks to Naval Officers’ Wives Association and some churches that have offered assistance.

“Half of the men are commercial motorcyclists. Some of our people who were originally living in Lagos are the ones that buy motorcycles. I was

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 —41

IDPs in Lagos cry for help living in Lagos before I relocated to my village to stay until the insurgency started. It has been very tough. We have some children who don’t know where their parents are and parents who don’t know where their children are.”

Desire to go back to school Some of the children expressed the desire to continue their education if they could get help.

Willing to go back home “Recently when we heard that soldiers had recaptured Madagali, we were very happy.

We celebrated. Before or after the elections, many are hoping to go back home. Many people from Michika went home when Michika was recaptured last month,” said Bamaiyi.

They’re a nuisance—— LASEMA Told about the development, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management

Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu, said: ‘’We are not aware of their existence. You are just informing us. Even the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, that is saddled with the responsibility of doing that is not aware. If they were aware they would have communicated us’’.

Besides, he doubted if they were truly IDPs, noting that they are constituting a nuisance to the environment where they reside. ‘’ How are you sure that they are internally displaced people?

Some people can’t be constituting nuisance to the society and claim to be IDPs. No one has written us about them,’’ Oke- Osayintolu said.

Asked if there would be plans to act on the information, OkeOsayintolu insisted that since the state had no knowledge of them, LASEMA is constrained about doing anything. ‘’ We can’t carry out any action because there are laid down

•Food distribution exercise in progress at St. Theresa Cathedral, Yola. Courtesy, AUN procedure on the evacuation of IDPs,’’ he added.

Nonetheless, he maintained that the state has the capacity of handling this kind of situation. ‘’This administration under the leadership of Governor Raji Fashola is committed to providing a better society for all

residents of Lagos State in respective of where they come from. But what you are telling me is news to me. The state government has a relief camp at Agbowa in Ikorodu where we house displaced people. Those who had problems in Orile, Agege and other places were kept there.’’

Continuing, he said: ‘’ It is not that the state is not prepared for any kind of emergency. We have a number of places in place for any kind of situation. The problem with this case is that information chain has been broken.’’

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN YOLA

AUNAPI ffeeds eeds almost 300,000 IDPs, calls ffor or help UN-API FOLLOWING the sacking of many local government areas in Adamawa and Borno states, many of the displaced persons ran to Yola for refuge. As the days went by, the number increased. Although there are government-designated camps, but majority of the IDPs live outside the camps with relatives. As many as 30 to 50 IDPs could be found staying with a relative. So who takes care of these ones? Professor Margee Ensign, President of American University of Nigeria, AUN, answers this question and calls on government to fulfill its responsibility to its citizens. She spoke to journalists in Lagos.

By Ebele Orakpo

Y

OLA bursting at the seams: According to Prof. Ensign, Yola’s 300,000 population has increased by 400,000 internally displaced persons, IDPs and being a development university, AUN could not look the other way while people suffer untold hardship and trauma.

“It is kind of ironic that we find ourselves in the middle of a humanitarian crisis and we are fulfilling our mission and vision the best way we can,” said Ensign.

Feeding the IDPs: “The last year has been a challenging one in the North-East. It started last March when the Emir of Mubi invited us (AUN and Adamawa Peace Initiative, API). He asked us to come with food and clothing.

“The team got there and met about 500 displaced women and girls, most of whose husbands and sons had either been murdered or abducted. The situation exploded in October when Mubi fell and most people moved to Yola.

“We’ve kind of carved out the piece we can handle which is pretty huge, feeding about 279,000 people. All of our

students and faculty are involved. We do about four food distributions a week now,” she said.

Government involvement: Sadly, many do not appreciate the enormity of the problem because government and its agencies concentrate on providing for the IDPs in the camps, leaving the almost 300,000 IDPs outside the camps to their fate.

Said Ensign: “Government takes care of about 15,000 IDPs in the camps, but does nothing about the almost 300,000 outside the camps. Granted the military is gaining some grounds against the terrorists but in the mean time, whose duty is it to take care of millions of IDPs in the country?

These are Nigerians; they

We’ve kind of carved out the piece we can handle which is pretty huge; feeding about 279,000 people

*Threeyear-old gathering grains of rice and maize from the floor at a food distribution centre recently.

deserve peace, food, security and shelter.”

Saddest day: E n s i g n narrated an incident that happened two Sundays ago that saddened her as it brought to the fore the •Prof. Margee Ensign ...Whose duty is it seriousness of to take care of millions of IDPs in the country? the crisis. She said: “We did food distribution in one of the our founder, Atiku Abubakar, has churches. The IDPs were all with been a pillar of support; he is us in the church which was keeping the feeding programme beautiful but usually, we get it alive. The American Peace Corps organised ahead of time. At the Teachers and others are end of the church service, we supporting our IDP efforts. So we explained the way we do it: try to bring in outside money.” women and children first, The question now is for how pregnant women, men with long will they be able to feed children and men. So we did all these people?” that and we looked up and there Seeking for solution: She were 200 children alone, the feels the best solution for now is oldest kids jumped over, to get some of the IDPs to go back knocking some people down and to their first love - farming. took what food was remaining. I “One of our bishops went to his remember a three-year-old girl village and said the insurgents on the floor picking up grains of had turned it to a waste land so rice. It was one of the saddest the IDPs may not be going home days of my life.” any time soon. API is trying to Getting help: Ensign noted figure out what to do because we that help has been coming from cannot feed over a quarter of a outside the country. “The US million people for much longer.

Ambassador gave us $100,000; “We are looking at getting land

*Survival instinct

and seeds for them before the rains begin. We cannot fold our arms and stay on our cosy campus while these people suffer.

“I have seen children walk into Yola, hungry, dehydrated and weak. We take them to hospital and before they are given ORT therapy, it’s too late. So AUN is not only fulfilling its function of giving world class education, the students are also exposed to the problems around them. It is not enough to graduate students who can read, write and use the computer, we are graduating students in natural and environmental sciences that will solve Nigeria’s problem in a postpetroleum economy. Our student union government never leaves the line for an eight hour feeding programme, that’s how long it takes us to feed these people.

“We are all out there in the hot sun, hour after hour, giving out food. In October last year, we had about 4,000 women at the St. Theresa Cathedral in Yola. In January, we were feeding 237,941 people.

It’s unfortunately up to 270,000 now.”

42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

By Femi Falana, SAN

B

EFORE the simulated postponement of the general election scheduled to hold on February 14 & 28, 2015, Chief Edwin Clark and some ethnic champions had called for the removal of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega. On account of the closeness of the group to the Presidency not a few Nigerians believed that the Federal Government had decided to fire the INEC helmsman.

In his last media chat, President Goodluck Jonathan dismissed the rumoured plan to sack Professor Jega. He, however, said that since he appointed the chairman and members of the INEC he could fire any of them at will.

Since last week it has been widely reported that Jega may be asked to proceed on terminal leave any moment from.

Terminal leave Having regard to the national embarrassment which greeted the removal of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (as he then was) last year, the attention of the President ought to be drawn to the limit of his powers with respect to the removal of the INEC Chairman.

Pursuant to section 155 of the Constitution, Professor Jega

FEMI FALANA, SAN was appointed the INEC chairman by the President on June 24, 2010 following the confirmation by the Senate.

Section 155 of the Constitution provides that the INEC Chairman shall occupy the office “for a period of five years from the date of his appointment”.

Since the appointment is for five years certain the term of office cannot be abridged by a pre-retirement leave of three months. As the appointment enjoys constitutional flavour Jega is not occupying the

are not made under any enabling Act or Law. T h e s e limitations are emphasized by Rule 01001 of the rules which provides in respect of some categories of public office holders that: ‘… these Rules apply only to the INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega extent that they are not office at the pleasure of the inconsistent with the President. In other words, the provisions of the Constitution President lacks the power to of the Federal Republic of hire and fire the INEC Nigeria in so far as their chairman. Under section 157 conditions of service and any of the Constitution Jega can other law applicable to these only be removed from office offices are concerned.' during his term of office by the In view of the above President on an address categorical pronouncement of supported by two thirds the Supreme Court it is majority of the members of the indubitably clear that the Senate. provision of the Civil Service And the reason for the Rules on three-month preremoval has to be based on retirement leave is evidence of his inability to inconsistent with Section 155 perform or discharge the of the Constitution which functions of the office due to provides that the INEC infirmity of mind or body or chairmen shall remain in office misconduct. Since the Senate for “a period of not less than is not likely to endorse Jega’s five years”. sack it has been reported that In the hierarchy of the the Presidency is toying with superiority of laws the the idea of sending him on provisions of the Constitution terminal leave. take precedence over other laws or circulars. Indeed, Treatment of section 1(3) thereof states that civil servants any law which is inconsistent with the Constitution is null Jega who is a professor of and void to the extent of its political science at the Bayero inconsistency.

University, Kano was granted leave of absence by his Tenured employer, the council of the appointment institution following his appointment as INEC To that extent, the provision chairman in June 2010. of the Civil Service Rules on Since Jega is on terminal leave is inapplicable secondment to the to the tenured appointment of INEC he cannot be Jega. Even in the case of Mr. treated like a civil Sanusi the Presidency claimed servant. Those who that he was not removed from have cited the provision of the civil service rules which requires public officers to proceed on a three-month preretirement leave have failed to realize that the circular has to be read subject to section 154 of the Constitution which stipulates that the INEC chairman shall hold office for “a period of five years from the date of his appointment”. In the circumstance, Jega’s If the President appointment cannot be validly determined until June 23, goes ahead to 2015. sack Jega he In Independent National Electoral Commission v. Musa would have (2003) 10 WRN 1 at 125 the confirmed that Supreme Court held that “The Civil Service Rules are not a the government legislation per se as provided has contempt for by the Constitution nor subsidiary legislation, as they the rule of law

Map of Nigeria

Illegality of Jega’s terminal leave

President Jonathan office but placed on suspension to facilitate investigation.

That was the explanation adduced for removing the governor via suspension without going through the Senate. But with respect to Jega the President lacks the power to investigate, suspend or send him on terminal leave.

To confirm the autonomy of the INEC Section 158 of the Constitution stipulates that in exercising its power to make appointments or to exercise disciplinary control over persons the INEC “shall not be subject to the direction or control of any authority or person.”

Some have cited the case of Professor Iwu who was sent on leave prior to his removal by President Jonathan. Unlike Professor Iwu who had retired from the university when he was the INEC chairman Jega is still in the service of Bayero University.

By the provisions of the Universities Miscellaneous Act the retirement age of university professors is 70 years. Since Jega is 58 he would not retire from the public service until he attains the age of 70 in 2027. In the conditions of service of university staff there is no provision for pre-retirement leave but sabbatical leave, leave of absence, annual leave, casual leave, vacation leave and maternity leave (for female lecturers).

As a public officer cannot go on pre-retirement leave twice.

It will be absurd to ask Jega go on terminal leave as INEC chairman in 2015 and then as

a retiring professor in 2027. As Jega is not a civil servant the Head of Service of t h e Federation lacks the power to direct him to proceed on terminal l e a v e .

Indeed, the p r e retirement l e a v e applicable in the civil service does not apply to a tenured appointment.

In a circular dated August 11, 2010, titled “Clarification on Pre-retirement Leave” the Head of Service was reported to have said that “I am to further inform you that paragraph 1 of the circular clarified that the content of the circular is only applicable to core officers who run their civil service to thirty-five (35) years of service or sixty (60) years of age and not a definite tenure as is the case under reference.”

Authoritative pronouncement In the light of the authoritative pronouncement of the Head of Service on the matter it will be preposterous and illegal to direct Jega to proceed on terminal leave in any manner whatsoever.

In the light of the foregoing, if the President goes ahead to sack Jega he would have confirmed that the government has contempt for the rule of law.

The President owes himself a duty to resist the pressures to remove Jega from office on March 24. Changing the leadership of the INEC barely four days to the presidential election is likely to truncate the fragile democratic process.

Having commended the INEC for conducting the 2015 General Election and the governorship elections in Edo, Anambra, Ekiti, Ondo and Osun States the President cannot find any justification for the planned removal of Jega.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015—43

Pondi: Icon of generational shift

By Michael Tidi

Before NLC goes to the polls March 12: Pending issues

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

T

HE March 12 rescheduled Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, election holds tomorrow amid plethora of unresolved issues that if swept under the carpet, the Congress and indeed, Labour movement, could not only lose its pan-Nigerianism or Africanism, but also die a natural death.

To start with, until today, NLC was a movement, a body of workers bound together as one family where issues of tribalism, ethnicity and religion were alien and did not matter to members. It was an organization where injury to one was an injury to all, where the maxim was to fight, protect and defend the welfare and rights of members.

Ahead of the election, some gladiators have become tribal, ethnic and sectional champions and are bent on destroying the very fabric of the movement. A case in point is the alleged lopsidedness of the delegates by the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, and its Nigeria Civil Service Union, NCSU, counterpart.

North south dichotomy The allegation should be thoroughly investigated and if found to be true, both unions must be compelled to rectify this dangerous trend. If not addressed and the candidates of both unions win, are they going to preside over workers from the northern part of the country only?

From available records, workers from the south-west, south-east and south-south that these unions are allegedly disenfranchising, contribute the bulk of the unions’ dues that leaders of the MHWUN and NCSU are spending to cater for delegates from the north among other things. If the alleged sectionally dominated delegates is not addressed and candidates of these unions win, they would create a northsouth dichotomy that could destroy the unions’ cohesiveness the movement is known for.

Another issue that must be addressed before the rescheduled election is the report that two of the gladiators for NLC election are currently enmeshed in legal battles at the National Industrial Court, NIC. One is accused of illegally extending his tenure as

T

Aborted NLC election

same applies to the one that has transmuted into General Secretary after eight years presidency.

And if the NIC rules against them after they might have won the positions being sought after, will they relinquish the NLC’s positions? If they relinquish the NLC Outgoing NLC president, Omar positions, who would president of his union after then step into their positions? serving the two terms of four If they refuse to relinquish years each recognized by the their positions, how will NLC constitution. In other words, the cope with law breakers as its contestant ought to have leaders?

NLC has about 42 affiliates ceased to be president of his union in 2013, but allegedly made up of intellectuals induced members of the including lawyers, but their National Executive Council, criminal silence is suspect. It NEC, of his union to is surprising that these affiliates unconstitutionally extend his are watching NLC degenerate to where tribal and ethnic tenure with over two years.

The other candidate is being sentiments have taken centre accused of transmuting into stage and law breakers become the union’s General after fashionable.

What will be the benefit of the equally completing his eight years tenure as president. rescheduled election if after the Whichever way the NIC rules, election Congress remains it portends grave danger for factionalised, where ethnic and Congress and the movement. tribal champions hold sway, First, in the worst scenario, if where sectional interests NIC decides to set aside the override national interests, union’s constitution and rules where persons lacking in favour of the candidate that credibility, morality, integrity breached the union’s among other values are constitution and elongated his leaders? tenure, supposing he wins the position being contested for, Vital will the Congress has the moral information standing to speak on tenure elongation and other At the time of this piece, a constitutional matters? The tribal or ethnic meeting of delegates from a section of the country to advance the cause of a candidate has been fixed as follows: “arrival ; Tuesday March 10. Meeting day; Wednesday 11 -03-15. Venue; FCT wing . Time: 2 :00pm.

Attendance is very important please, because vital information would be discussed.

Please, be punctual.” What an insult to the ideology and belief of Congress' founding fathers.

The good news is that, it is not too late to recover Congress from the claws of tribal, ethnic and sectional champions. All well meaning industrial unions, labour leaders and It is not too late veterans should rise up and uphold the values Congress to recover was founded on and had been Congress from known for.

It is better to be brave and the claws of stand for the truth and be tribal, ethnic countered, than be silence like and sectional a coward who dies many times before the eventual death. champions Nigerians, workers and even international community are watching.

HE waning hopes of proponents of generational shift recently received a new surge of life with the emergence of the youthful Julius Gbabojor Pondi, who clinched the House of Representative ticket of the ruling party, the People’s Democratic Party to vie for the seat of Burutu federal constituency.

It was a historic day of victory well-deserved, though belated for a man, who having given his best; lost narrowly in the 2011 state assembly election.

Indeed, his emergence as the party flag-bearer, practically manifested Robert Kennedy ’s assertion that “only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly”.

A defender of the destitute and needy, the Sokebolou born crusader, who is popularly known as “Osiki na gba” has constantly called for improved living condition of his people, as well as accelerated development of the constituency. He advocated youth inclusion in the commanding height of governance, with a view to injecting fresh ideas to the way government is being run. Poised to build on the subsisting work of the incumbent member representing the zone, the people of Burutu, unanimously agreed that, come March 28, they will turn up en masse to vote overwhelming for President Goodluck Jonathan, Senator James Manager, as well as their beloved son, Hon. Julius Pondi.

Introspective writer The choice of Pondi by the people appears not only logical, but destined as well. To begin with, Pondi is an independent-minded leader with an even-keel temperament, a talented and introspective writer.

Pondi mingles easily with others, but is most comfortable addressing large crowds. He is known for being unafraid to speak and hear hard truths when necessary. He is armed with shrewd political sensibilities.

While several such stakeholders point to his academic background, others are projecting him on account of his grassroots reach and popular appeal amongst both Ijaw youths, elders, and leaders alike.

As to his academic credentials, they note that Pondi bagged his bachelor ’s degree in

Project Management, as well as a master’s degree in Maritime Management, both from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

Those pointing to his grassroots credentials point to the fact that he was once a councilor representing the good people of Ward 19 in Burutu LGA, and was later elected by his colleagues as Leader of the Legislature in recognition of his sterling leadership qualities. Indeed, his records while he was at the top echelon of the legislative arm, shouts decibels for themselves, as he demonstrated passion for service, the capacity to shoulder legislative responsibilities and ability to deliver on them.

Ability to deliver He is presently the Executive Secretary of the Niger Delta Patriotic Initiative, NDPI, a body of stakeholders committed to partnering with state governments and federal ministries, departments, and agencies for the purpose of concise development of the Niger Delta region. Furthermore, he has in the past espoused the view that Burutu must remain properly managed as it gradually grows into its deserved destiny as one of the preeminent metropolitan hubs on the West African coast. At any rate, Julius has been described as a prolific and persuasive speaker as well as a politically savvy inspirational leader from a crop of a new generation of leaders with an inclination towards leadership by example.

In Burutu and environs for instance, the general consensus is that his entry into politics was motivated by a desire to inspire a new generation of Burutu constituents imbued with the orientation and equipped with the necessary skills required to take the Ijaw ethnic nationality to the long hoped high income status.

Instructively for such a young man, others cite the fact that his respect for elders and his readiness to consult them on a plethora of issues pertaining to the progress of Ijaw land is well known in Burutu and environs. Pondi on his part is full of praises for President Goodluck J o n a t h a n ’ s transformational agenda as well as for the wisdom and regal disposition of the royal fathers across Burutu LGA.

44— VANGU ARD, ANGUARD,

WEDNESD AY, MARCH 11, 2015 WEDNESDA

I can’t get over her leaving me

My step-father sneaked into my room Dear Bunmi, I AM an undergraduate in one of the universities and I’ve recently done something really terrible. My mum was a single mother of two for years until she got married to a nice widower last year. The man has just completed his house, so we all moved in with him along with the three children from his first marriage. We had

the house-warming party around Christmas and we all had too much to drink. In the night my step dad came over and we made love.

My head cleared in the morning and I’ve felt horribly guilty ever since. My step dad now carries on as if nothing happened but I feel really guilty and don’t know what to do. I don’t want mum to know

Who did he buy the gift for?

Dear Bunmi, AFTER all the expenses of Christmas and the payment of school fees that followed, my husband and I made a pact not to spend too much on our impending birthdays which are weeks apart. I recently found a receipt for an expensive set of earrings as I was emptying his trouser pocket a few days ago.

If my husband had stuck to our promise, what he paid for this earrings was far too much for what he’s supposed to get for me. But what if the earrings were for someone else? Should I confront him or just hope this gift is a surprise?

Ndidi,

By e-mail.

Dear Ndidi, I wouldn’t be too quick to jump into conclusion if I were you. You never know - your husband may have bought the earrings as a surprise gift for you.

If you don’t get them on your birthday, however, you’ll understandably start to feel crossed and betrayed. As a result, the only option you have is to confront him about finding the receipt. If your worst fears are confirmed, then at least the truth will be out and you’ll know where to go from there!

what happened, yet she needs to be aware of the type of maniac she is married to.

Please help.

Augusta, By e-mail.

Dear Augusta, This is definitely a tricky situation. Your mum will definitely be hurt if you tell her what has happened. In fact, she may be so bent on defending her new found happiness she might choose to trust her new husband and not you. Your best bet is to have a heart to heart chat with your step dad. Tell him how much you love your mum and how you’ve both betrayed her trust by sleeping together. Then let him realize you’re willing to put the ugly incident behind you if he promises it won’t happen again.

Sadly, what you’ve just experienced is not new though that doesn’t make it right. If this man breaks his promise and tries again, then you’ll have no option than to tell your mum or confide in a trusted member of the family who can effectively intervene.

I moved out, he moved his lover in Dear Bunmi, I was married for close to 10 years but my husband was never around and money was tight. We had three children and when I tried to make him see why he had to spend less on himself so we could make ends meet, he didn’t want to know. To teach him a lesson, I moved out for a few days to let him cope without me. It turned out to be the biggest mistake of my life. The day I left, my husband moved another woman into our matrimonial home.

As soon as I realized this, I tried to go back home but he wouldn’t take me back. That was years ago and I’ve never forgiven myself for not fighting for my children. I now have some contact with my two daughters, but their brother wants nothing to do with me because he believes I deliberately abandoned them.

I can’t put back the hands of the clock but I want to make things right with all my children. Can you help?

Modesty, By e-mail.

Dear Modesty, You made a bad decision

years ago and you need to forgive yourself for it. Don’t beat yourself up for not having the strength to fight especially with a husband that was bent on revenge. The speed with which he moved in another woman is indecent, to say the least.

Why not write to your children, even the daughters you have contact with? It’s quite possible they’re not aware of the whole story. Tell them why you had to leave

and let them know you’re proud of who they are and what they have accomplished.

Say you’ve thought about them every day and that if they would be willing to get to know you now, you will take things at their pace.

Their dad’s bitterness about your leaving must have given them the impression that you deliberately abandoned them. And this has to be corrected.

You made a bad decision years ago and you need to forgive yourself for it; don’t beat yourself up for not having the strength to fight; the speed with which he moved in another woman is indecent, to say the least

Dear Bunmi, I had lived with my partner for almost two years when she suddenly left me. I never left her in any doubt that we would get married any time she was ready, but she told me she was leaving because her feelings for me had died. It’s been two months since she left me and I just don’t understand why I could not confide in any of our friends.

From the look of things, there’s no one else involved, it’s a really weird and confusing experience for me.

I need your help in getting my head round this. What can I do?

Clifford, By e-mail.

Dear Clifford, You need to gather as much

information as you can about your relationship with your partner. There must have been clues. No one just leaves without any warning. Ask yourself what your relationship has been like recently. Less talking? Less love making? More arguing?

Ask friends or family, even if your partner didn’t talk to them, they may have noticed something wrong.

Most importantly, ask your partner about it. Meet face to faee and beg her to tell you what she’s feeling and thinking.

This will help you come to terms with the situation and it might give you a chance to get your partner back if you can show you want to understand her point of view.

All I want right now is the love making Dear Bunmi, I’m in my late twenties and definitely not in a hurry to settle down. I’ve had a series of one-night-stands that have ended with me being verbally abused by the women I’ve made love to even though they wanted it as much as I did. This makes me feel I might not be handling the whole fling thing very well and I must be giving out mixed messages to the girls I’ve met.

What I need to know is how to continue with this nostrings flings without any one getting hurt - or angry afterwards. For instance, if I meet a girl and all I want from her is to make love, should I say so up front? Won’t she run away if I do? I know I don’t sound like a nice chap, but I really am!

Yomi, By e-mail.

Dear Yomi, Of course you’re a nice chap!

A real cad wouldn’t care less about hurting women’s feelings. At this stage in your life, I don’t think there’s

anything wrong with wanting casual relationships. It’s fine to want to make love as long as the person you’re having it with agrees. In other words, you need to send out strong signals that you want to be foot-loose. So, don’t whisper sweet nothings unless they’re sensual. No saying how fabulous the girl is, unless you’re talking about physical attributes. And no hinting at future plans. In other words, make all your chat-up sexual rather than romantic.

Something like: “Look, you turn me on but I can’t really promise anything else. Do you want to, can I stay the night or would that be out of order?” You could spell out your intentions but in a lighthearted way. If your line works and they agree, your conscience is clear. However, you need to choose your partners with sensitivity. If you’re guessing the girl you’re chatting up is naive and has marriage on her mind, don’t go there. Believe me, there are loads of girls out there who also want nostrings relationships.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015—45

EPZ: Itsekiri community urges Uduaghan to reconvene stakeholders meeting ...to avert riotous groundbreaking

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI—AJA-EDEDE, an Itsekiri farming community in Warri SouthWest Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday, urged Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to quickly reconvene a summit of all stakeholders to avoid crisis during the ground-breaking ceremony of the $16 billion Delta Gas City by President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a letter dated March 10, to President Jonathan, signed

by Ola-Raja of Aja-Edede, Pa. Prince Johan Edede Younwuren, the community which claims to own a larger percentage of land acquired by the federal and state governments for the project, said: “We call on Delta State government to reconvene the peace committee meeting and invite the stakeholders to an urgent meeting before the ground-breaking in order to prevent multiplicity of suits capable of scuttling the project and to prevent youth restiveness from the neglected communities.”

Maintaining that the land where the project is located belongs to Aja-Edede and not

A-Ibom group explains support for Umana

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KWA Ibom C h a n g e Ambassadors, ACA, said, yesterday, that its support for the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the April 11 elections, was premised on the need to change the socio-political and socioeconomic landscape of Akwa Ibom State.

The group said in a statement by its National Coordinator, Ofon Udoh, that Umana remained the best option among all contestants.

ACA said: “We see the APC as a greater platform and Umana as an experienced, dedicated and committed change advocate to change the circumstances of our people. Endorsing him, for us, does not stop at just saying we endorse him. He does not even believe in this kind of endorsement. We will go out for a door-todoor campaign to get endorsements of the people of Akwa Ibom State."

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Ogidigben, as erroneously portrayed, the community asserted: “We, therefore, call on the Delta State and Federal Governments to respect the property rights of Aja-Edede over the EPZ land acquired by the government.

“We do not see how a peace committee meeting of the EPZ by stakeholders was abandoned halfway after the stakeholders have spent money producing documents

and evidence of land ownership in the EPZ site.

“Any further attempt to sidetrack Aja-Edede in the discussion will be stoutly resisted as justice, fairness and equity must be seen to prevail.

“The Aja-Edede indigenes, principally of the Itsekiri stock, are descendants of Prince Edede Youwuren. We want it on record that AjaEdede community is not

Ogidigben community, it is also not Ugborodo community but an autonomous community with a large land mass.

“The position of Aja-Edede community whose land is being acquired is to be consulted in any discussion relating to the EPZ project.

The Ugborodo and Gbaramtu people are not the only stakeholders; they represent their various communities and not any other."

RALLY: Members of TAN in Diaspora in Canada rallying support for President Goodluck Jonathan.

Delta community threatens oil firm’s operations

By Emma Amaize

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ARRI—ANGRY villagers of Yayorogbene in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State have threatened to disrupt the operations of Tenoil Petroleum and Energy Limited in the area for allegedly encroaching on the community’s lands and refusing to recognize it as host.

In a statement, leader of the community, Mr. Austin Ozobo, said Tenoil Petroleum had no reason to exclude Yayorogbene from its ongoing negotiations in respect of OPL 281 oil well, being an ancestral community in the area.

He maintained that the delay by the company in entering negotiations with the community would definitely truncate its business in the area, as the villagers would not relent until their demands were met.

Ozobo said: “Over time, absolute rights over lands in the Ekoro area were being exercised

by Yayorogbene community till 2013 when Ekoro abruptly instituted a case in Burutu Customary court in a suit No Bacc/ 02/2013, challenging the authority of Yayorogbene community over lands in the area, demanding for recovery of N500,000 collected from a tenant for lease of lands in the area by Yayorogbene in 2010.

“The case dragged on for about three years but on February 27, 2015, the case was dismissed against Ekoro with a

fine of N20,000 to be paid to Yayorogbene,” he said.

He asserted that the community had written to the authorities of Tenoil Petroleum and Energy Limited and other relevant authorities in the state to accentuate the demands of Yayorogbene as host community in its oil operations in the area but regretted that the company

had remained adamant and impervious to reason.

The community, however, appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Steve Oru, National Assembly, Delta State House of Assembly, and other stakeholders to urgently prevail on the company to do the needful to assuage the rage of the people.

My plans for next five years as UNIBEN VC, by Prof Orumwense

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—THE ViceChancellor of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, Prof. Osasere Orumwense, yesterday reeled out his five years strategic plans for the university, announcing that his administration would ensure the payment of staff salaries on the 19th of every month.

Declaring this at the UNIBEN Strategic Plan Forum, which coincided with his one hundred days in office, the vice chancellor, who commended the immediate past VC, Prof.Osayuki Oshodin, for laying a solid foundation which would be improved upon, also said his administration would focus on the development of Information Communication Technology in the university and increased funding to complete existing structures and embark on new ones.

Also, chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee, Prof. L.

Ojogwu and the Deputy VC Administration, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, expressed the determination of the new administration to improve the IGR of the university and ensure that lecture halls and hostels were improved to the same standard as other universities in Europe and America.

Declaring the Forum open, Prof.Orumwense said the strategic Plan Forum would provide all relevant stakeholders the opportunity to know the actions that will shape and guide his team’s developmental plans for the university in the next five years.

He said: “As you are aware, several administrations in the past have done great things to ensure steady growth of the university. ‘’ My administration is ready to build on the achievements of my predecessors to ensure that this university maintains its position in global ranking."

Delta LG Service Commission promotes 1,405 staff in 4 months

By Perez Brisibe

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GHELLI—DELTA State Local Government Service Commission has promoted no fewer than 1,405 staff in the past four months.

Chairman of the commission, Comrade Olumami Oyibo, disclosed this while debunking reports that members of his commission were involved in financial extortions of local council staff as a prerequisite for promotion.

He stated that following his appointment as chairman of the commission, he met a backlog of staff yet to be promoted, adding that the commission under his leadership took it upon itself to facilitate the promotion of staff in the 25 local government councils in the state who were due for promotion.

Delta community faults inauguration of parallel excos

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI— EXEC UTIVES of Ubeji Community Trust, Warri South council area of Delta State, led by Godwin KomaOritserenojo, have described the recent inauguration of a parallel leadership as illegal and a slight on the Olu of Warri.

In statement by Tuoyor Nikanghanri, his Secretary, KomaOritserenojo, said the parallel executive chaired by Clement Erewa "violated the tradition and custom of the land in all ramifications."

He said: "The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, as tradition demands, blessed Pa TVA Nikagharanri as OlareAja of Ubeji. The OlareAja in turn presided over our inauguration and the Olu also blessed us. This is the tradition."

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Imo economy comatose —TRADITIONAL RULER

Media professionals blame low revenue on govt policies

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—THE chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, has accused Governor Rochas Okorocha of building a palatial estate for himself, while the state economy was in shambles.

Eze Ilomuanya also said the governor was now running the affairs of Imo State government from his estate, instead of Government House.

He said: “The pensioners are paid with dud cheques. Our local governments have been paralyzed and their allocations diverted.

“The judiciary, civil service and Imo economy is comatose, while people are dying daily of hunger. In fact, I weep for Imo State. We are finished.”

Eze Ilomuanya, who doubles as the Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers, recalled that he had earlier advised Governor Okorocha against abuse of power since it could back fire, adding that he had forgiven the governor for the unjustifiable war he waged against him as God will always vindicate the just.

On the readiness of the

By Ediri Ejoh

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E D I A professionals in the country have blamed low revenue in the media and entertainment industry to inconsistent government policies.

Speaking during the KPMG Alumni cocktail ceremony in Lagos, Managing Director/ CEO, Ebony Life Television, Mo Abudu, noted that in 2013, Nigeria’s media and entertainment industry generated $4 billion, while South Africa's generated over $12 billion.

According to her, in 2018, Nigeria’s projected revenue went down to $1 billion, while South Africa’s went up to $19.7 billion.

She, however, noted that in 2018, the revenue projection for TV advertising in Nigeria rounded up to 16.1 percent, while that of South Africa was 10.2 percent.

Abudu added that infrastructure challenges and understanding of the sector by major players in the economy had continued to bite harder on the development of media in the country.

According to her, there is need for government to address these issues, which had been lingering in the industry.

Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the 2015 general election, Eze Ilomuanya applauded the shift in the time table, pointing out that it will afford the

electoral umpire enough room to consolidate on its preparedness for the election.

He argued that: “If the elections had not been

postponed, there would have been crisis across Nigeria due to non-collection of PVCs, improper training of personnel for the election, insecurity and absence of free and fair electoral process.”

... as stakeholders raise issues with card reader S

TAKEHOLDERS in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State have expressed reservations over the effectiveness of the Smart Card Reader, SCR, introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to check fraud in the forthcoming elections.

They spoke when INEC carried out tests on the use of the card reader in the area, weekend.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, for Imo State, Dr Gabriel Ada, had led some INEC personnel to test the card reader in Oguta, saying the local government was chosen because of the irregularities that had marred previous elections there.

He said Oguta was the only

area that had no representative in the state House of Assembly due to the crises that had always characterised their elections.

During the demonstration, which lasted three hours with four card readers, Ada said that there would be three presiding officers in each polling centre, adding that while one would be in charge of the overall conduct of the election, the other two assistants would be ensure maintenance of the queue and registration of voters, respectively.

During one of the demonstrations, it took the card reader exactly nine minutes to accredit one of the residents of the area whose name was simply given as

Dandy from Awa, Oguta, while the second voter and former transition Chairman of the local government, Nonye Obodo was accredited after seven minutes.

A traditional ruler of the area, His Royal Highness, Eze I. O. Aso Obudi Agwa, complained that many of his subjects had not collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs. Others, who raised the issue of the duration it took to accredit the two voters, were assured that the cards used for the demonstration were not configured for the area.

Transition

Why SCR test was successful in Anambra— INEC

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Anambra State, yesterday, appraised the public demonstration of the Smart Card Readers, SCR, at Igboukwu Ward 1, weekend, saying the success recorded was a result of painstaking

efforts by the stakeholders before and during the exercise.

A statement by Anambra State INEC Deputy Director, Public Relations, Mr. Frank Egbo, said Igbo-Ukwu Ward 1, with total registered voters of 8,033 and 22 polling units, was selected because of its combined rural and urban nature.

A

LHAJA Modinat Obisesan, aged 86, is dead. She has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

Fidau prayer held yesterday at her resident in Itire, Mushin council, Lagos.

She is survived by children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers and sisters.

He said 95 INEC staff members, comprising 22 presiding officers, 71 assistant presiding officers and two supervisory presiding officers, were trained for two days on the technicalities and operation of the SCRs, including the process of polling unit set up, accreditation and authentication of the voter.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On use of card readers for elections?

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HIS is the way for ward to avoid any avoidable mistake that can make or mar the credibility of this general election that Nigerians have invested so much resources and manpower in. We cannot afford to fail in this project.—Mr. Ogwu Benjamin, Marine Superintendente.

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IGERIA’s future will depend on the outcome of the forthcoming general elections.

The issue of whether or not INEC can use the smart card readers must be addressed immediately for all to appreciate the value on the day of the elections proper.— Mr. Babatunde Owolabi, Worker.

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ELL, my view on INEC’s intention to use smart card readers for the forthcoming elections is that it is a good start, even if success will not be maximal.

The future will justify INEC boss (Jega) for introducing something good.— Apostle Femi Olu-Esho, Clergy.

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HE so-called smart card readers have failed. Therefore, you cannot deploy failed readers in such an important presidential election, whereby every vote cast must and should count. INEC should withdraw the card readers now before harm is done.—Mr. Ezekiel Olatade, Chorister.

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HE fault lies with the inept leadership of the country and INEC’s incompetency for trying to implement a system without making adequate room for trial runs to be conducted. So here we are battling the Nigerian factor at such an important moment.— Pastor Nelson Azubuike, Clergy.

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NEC would not have carried out the testrunning of these card readers, if not for the widely expressed fears about the reliability of the device. Now, therefore, we have seen that there is still work to be done and there is limited time.— Mrs Ifeoma Anyambuba, Businesswoman.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 — 47

Troops recover vehicles, weapons from Boko Haram in Gombi B

OKO HARAM terrorists fleeing from the onslaught of troops, yesterday, met their Waterloo in their attempt to entre Gombi town, Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State in the evening.

According to the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, the

terrorists were engaged by troops of 23 Brigade, Nigerian Army in a gun battle that led to killing of quite a number of them, destruction and recovery of vehicles, motorcycles as well as various weapons and ammunition.

The vehicles recovered included four Toyota Hilux,

three anti-aircraft guns and one .50-inch Browning Machine Gun. Others included 5,000 rounds of 12.7 millimetre ammunition, two boxes of .50-inch ammunition, 1,000 rounds of Light Machine Gun, LMG, ammunition and one Rocket Propelled Grenade, RPG, as

well as one General Purpose Machine Gun, GPMG. Usman, however, said that ‘’one soldier was wounded in the encounter and he is responding to treatment.’’

He also said that ‘’troops are mopping up the area to prevent further incursions by the terrorists.’’

Bauchi stakeholders pledge to ensure violence-free polls

By Suzan Edeh

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AUCHI — CRITICAL stakeholders in Bauchi State have pledged to ensure a violence-free elections and called for the revitalisation of value system in the country.

Those who made the pledge include security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; Non Governmental Organisations, NGOs; the National Orientation Agency, NOA; political parties and religious leaders, among others.

They made their position known, yesterday, during a one-day sensitisation and awareness meeting on the dangers of election violence, organised by the the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Gombe Operations Office, at the state Secretariat in Bauchi, the state capital.

The meeting was to enlighten stakeholders on the dangers violence creates during and after election as well as to develop a Nigerian Election Risk Preparedness and Contingency plan.

Presenting a paper entitled, 'Value Re-orientation as a tool for

curbing Electoral Violence in Nigeria,' the state Director of the NOA, Sakace Amance lamented that some Nigerians had lost their value systems which had degenerated to the level whereby there was no respect for human lives.

“When we talk about election

violence, there are factors that breed it and one of such is that some Nigerians have abandoned their cultural values, thereby leading to bad attitudes. Core values such as respect for elders, respect for human life and patriotism for one’ s nation have been eroded.

“Secondly, when things are not working as they should, there is a tendency that violence can erupt. Issues like insecurity, injustice and electoral manipulation can breed violence during and after elections,” he said.

COMMENCEMENT: Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (left) exchanging pleasantries with the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo (2nd right), while the Jegun of Idepe in Okitipupa, Oba Michael Adetoye (right) watches, at the formal commencement of the MTN Foundation eyesight restoration intervention scheme, at the Ondo Trauma and Surgical Centre, Medical Village in Ondo town, on Monday.

APC condemns Maiduguri bombing

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HE ALL Progressives Congress, APC, has condemned the bombings that left many dead and injured in

Maiduguri, Borno State, weekend, warning that those behind the continued killing and maiming of innocent people will

not go unpunished.

In a statement in Lagos, yesterday, by the party ’s National Publicity Secretary,

ABIA GOVERNORSHIP: lkpeazu has no rival — Ex-Orji’s aide

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MUAHIA—FORMER special adviser to Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, Mr. Ben Onyechere, has described Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the givernorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State, as one without rival in the coming election.

According to Onyechere, the plot to dislodge PDP in Abia State by erstwhile members of the party who lost out in the primaries is an effort in futility and all bark without C M Y K

bite.

He said: "The so called candidates of opposition whose only motive is to use the state as an instrument of collateral to borrow money have not told us how the option of taking Abia to opposition will attract development. It is not enough to wipe sentiments on Aba while blaming the governor, forgetting that it was because of Aba that Mbakwe shed tears. “ It is very important to note that

Aba deserves a special attention by the Federal Government because it is the business hob of the South East region and the only reason it has not been attended to is as a result of the war.

"Igbo have learnt their lessons the hard way which is the reason we can never belong to opposition in the nearest future because doing so will mean adding impetus to our marginalisation."

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, it condoled with the families of those killed as well as the government and people of Borno State and prayed God to grant repose to the souls of the innocent citizens, while wishing those who were injured speedy recovery. ‘’As we have said many times, nothing in the world justifies the killing of innocent men, women and children, and the cowards who have continued to kill and maim must realise that they will not escape justice, no matter how long it takes,’’ APC stated.

The party called for vigilance among the people of the state and indeed the entire North-east, against the background of the stepped-up fight against the terrorists.

PDP, APC, 15 others sign peace accord in Kogi

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA — THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressive Congress, APC, along with 15 other political parties, yesterday, in Lokoja signed a peace accord to ensure free, fair, and violence-free general elections in the state.

The peace pact which was organised by the state chapter of the Inter Party Accord Committee, IPAC, also saw candidates for various political parties signing the document at the state police headquarters in Lokoja.

Speaking on the occasion, the state Police Commissioner, Adeyemi Ogunjemulusi said the peace accord would further cement peace in the state before, during and after the elections.

Ogunjemulisi, who urged the parties and their candidates to imbibe spirit of free, fair, credible and non-violent elections cautioned them against engaging masquerades in their campaign trains.

“The police shall provide a level playing ground for all parties and their candidates. We also admonish all parties not to use masquerades during the election period. Any masquerade which perpetuates violence will be arrested and prosecuted."

BSU ASUU on strike

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI — THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Benue State University, BSU, chapter, yesterday, declared an indefinite strike to demand the payment of their salaries.

Vanguard gathered that the action followed the failure of the state government to pay the aggrieved lecturers their February salaries despite repeated demands.

Confirming the development, branch chairman of the union, Dr. David Ikoni said the state government failed to meet its obligation to the lecturers hence their their decision to embark on strike. ‘’We have gone on indefinite strike until the state government pays us our February salaries which are over due."

48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

MEETING: From left: Mrs. Emily Olalere, Director, Special Duties, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Mrs. Anthonia Aruya, Head, Inspection and Monitoring, Mr. Bruno Nwankwo, Chairman, Mr. Elijah Mohammed, Registrar and Mr. Augustine Ezeugwu, Director, Zonal Office, Lagos, during the PC N's meeting with the media in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

CELEBRATION: From left: Juliet Anammah, MD, Products, Accenture, Mrs Yemisi Ayeni, MD, Shell Nigeria Closed Pension Fund Ltd, Abayomi Olarinmoye, MD, Energy & Utilities Accenture, Linda Quaynor, Senior Manager, Accenture, during the 2015 Accenture International Women's Day celebration in Lagos.

PRESENTATION: From left: Social Media Manager, Recare Ltd, Lilian Ajike, winner of Natures Gentle Touch Valentine’s Giveaway competition, Oluchi Nwakozo, and Public Relations Manager, Recare Limited, Toyin Adepegba, during the prize presentation to the winner at Natures Gentle Touch Hair Institute, Victoria Island, Lagos.

VISIT: Mr Charles Gerard of Corporate Communication, Vanguard Newspapers, (right), addressing students of ABI Computer Institute, Olodi Apapa, Lagos, during their visit to Vanguard Media Ltd, Apapa, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau.

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MOU: Republic of Rwanda on smart city initiative: Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Minister, Youth and ICT, Rwanda (left) and Fredrik Ledling, President, Ericsson, Sub-Sharan Africa at the signing of Memoranda of Understanding between Ericsson and Government of Republic of Rwanda on smart city initiative at the just concluded Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

Photo: Emeka Aginam.

BRIEFING: From left: Mr Ayo Olumoke, CEO, Infogem Ltd, Otunba Gani Adams, National Coordinator, Oodua Peoples's Congress, Chief Awodiran Agboola, member, Oodua Peoples's Congress, and Mr. Lasun Ogunfowokan, Assistant General Secretary, OPC, during a briefing on the Annual Eledumare Festival in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

WORLD BOOK DAY: From left: Mrs. Olufunke Amba, Director, Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Lagos, Mrs. Ijeoma Onyeator of Chanels TV and Mrs. Funke Ogunshola, when management, staff and students of of the college, celebrated Nigerian authurs to mark this year's World Book Day at the college hall in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

BRIEFING: From left: Chairperson, CORA/Arterial Network Nigeria, Mr. Jahman Anikulapo, Manager, Brand Activation, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mrs. Ebele Oluwalana, Mr. Tola Wewe, CEO, Nike Art Gallery, Mrs. Nike Okundaye, and ED, Marketing, Honeywell Plc, Mr. Benson Evbuomwan, during a briefing on Vision of the Child 2015 final competition co-sponsored

by Honeywell in Lagos.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 —49

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50 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

IMF not dictating economic policies —FG, World Bank

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

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HE Federal Government said, yesterday, that there was no truth in allegations that the nation’s economic policy measures were being dictated by the International Monetary Fund, IMF and the World Bank.

President Goodluck Jonathan's administration had been accused of doing the bidding of the two institutions by devaluing the Naira twice in less than six months. However, the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Amb. Bashir Yuguda said in a lecture at the National Defence College, Abuja, that the government took the steps based on its convictions that the Naira devaluation was inevitable.

His words, “Nobody is dictating to us as a government. Our donor friends can advise us but we are not bound to take such advice.”

According to him, the measure was necessary to avoid depleting the nation’s foreign reserves to an unsustainable level. The IMF had severally urged the Nigerian monetary authorities to devalue the naira, as far back as 2011 but the then Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido and now Emir of Kano rejected the advice, choosing rather to defend the naira with reserves.

The minister defended the performance of the economy under the current administration, in spite of the challenges posed by low oil revenue, as testified to by global rating agencies such as Fitch, as well as Standard & Poors.

He said, “if you look at the outcome of rating agencies such as Standard and Poors, while all the 11 OPEC members economy forecast were downgraded including Saudi Arabia, Nigeria was never placed under negative watch. For the last three years, the issue of devaluation never happened until the recent fall in oil prices which made the CBN to devalue for us to take advantage and shore up revenue from nonoil sector through diversification to non-oil exports. So we are watching keenly and CBN will take the appropriate steps”.

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From left: Mrs. Idiat Amusu, past president, Association of Professional Women Engineers, APWEN, Mrs. Nnoli Akpedeye, president, Association of Professional Women Engineers, APWEN, Mrs. Olu Maduka, founding president, Association of Professional Women Engineers, APWEN, and Mrs. Nkechi Isigwe, past president, Association of Professional L-R: Minister of Aviation Chief Osita Chidoka and CEO of Arik Women Engineers, APWEN, during the International Women's Day and Air, Dr. Michael Arumemi-Ikhide during aviation executives BusiAssembly Meeting of Association of Professional Women Engineers, ness forum held in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele APWEN, in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Works minister laments non release of N230bn allocation

By Emman Ovuakporie & Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—MINISTER of Works, Mike Onolememen, yesterday, said the non-release of N230 billion budgetary allocation for critical projects has truncated the completion of various road projects across the country.

Of the sum, N219.5 billion is for highway projects, N10 billion is for engineering design and supervision of consultants while N1.2 billion is for weigh bridges, materials and geotechnical contracts.

The minister who spoke at the 2014/2015 budget defence held at the instance of the House Committee on works chaired by Rep Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, PDP, Enugu, said the ministry and various parastatals including Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) were incapacitated by the abysmal release of annual budgetary allocation.

According to Onolememen, the sum of N45.682 billion (46.2 percent) was released out of N98.814 billion appropriated for the capital expenditure for the main ministry and parastatals, leaving the balance of N53,131,524,309 as at December 30, 2014.

He said “it is important to emphasise that the performance of the ministry would have been considerably enhanced if the outstanding budgeted funds of N53,131,524,309 had been released to the ministry. More importantly, if the cumulative outstanding budgeted funds of N203,392,075,947.25 for the period spanning 2011 to 2014 had been released, the total indebtedness would have been brought down from N230bn to N27 bn.”

He revealed that the ministry accessed N93 billion out of the N98 billion appropriated through SURE-P in 2014 fiscal year.

Major road priority projects awarded in 2014 include rehabilitation of LagosShagamu-Ibadan dual carriageway section I & II; rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageway sections I & II; dualisation of Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja sections I, III & IV; dualisation of KanoMaiduguri sections I-V; dualisation of Suleja-Minna phase I in Niger State; rehabilitation of Apapa-Oshodi expressway in Lagos, phase II; rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageway sections III & IV; dualisation of Suleja-Minna phase II in Niger state; dualisation of Sapele-Ewu road section I & II and construction of Ikom bridge, Cross River state.

Worried by the approved lean envelope for capital projects for year 2015 as contained in the circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance, the minister noted that emphasis is on

FG scraps fiscal responsibility commission

By Emman Ovuakporie

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BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, concluded the scrapping of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission in line with recommendations of Steve Oronsanye’s Committee on the restructuring of federal agencies and parastatals.

Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Responsibility Commission, RMAFC, Elias Mbam, gave the hint during the 2014/2015 budget defence held at the instance of the House Committee on Finance.

Mbam revealed that the chief executives of both commissions had earlier signed relevant documents on the winding down of the Commission. “I want to say that the white paper of the restructuring of parastatals of MDAs generally gives additional assignments to the commission because from that white paper, the fiscal responsibility commission will be scrapped. The process of winding up of that commission

has reached advance stage. In fact today, yesterday, we met in my office for a technical session on how to absorb their buildings and personnel was concluded in my office this morning,” He, however, noted that the process would be concluded when the White Paper is approved by the National Assembly. On his part, Victor Muruako, acting chairman of Fiscal Responsibility Commission expressed regret over Federal Government’s resolve to submerge the commission under RMAFC. He disclosed that the Commission recovered about N360 billion operating surplus from some revenue generating agencies over the past six years.

While calling for the House intervention, Muruako said “before this time we thought it was over for us, but being here again today I think there’s yet a little hope for us. It is a big privilege to address you on the budget implementation for 2014.

“In the horizon by the implementation of the Federal

Government’s committee on the implementation of the Oronsaye’s committee report, which approved the scrapping of the commission, we’ve been attending various meetings in respect of implementation of the white paper. As public servants we owe it as a duty to government to ensure that we follow up with the decision of the government. However, we wish to intimate you that on our own, we tried to see how we can continue to thresh on and discharge our mandate until the repeal of the Act because we are conscious of the fact that the fiscal responsibility commission was a creation of the fiscal responsibility Act 2007.

“We have managed and will continue to see how we can manage until we hear the final hammer by the repeal of the Act. You are also aware that the last time we were invited, you informed us of that circular that we will not be in the budget but the good news is that now that we are here I think there may be silver lining out there."

minimum level of activity on the project sites where provisions have been made in the proposed budget. “In view of the lean allocation for the ministry in the 2015 budget, only road and bridge projects have been considered. Out of the ministry’s portfolio of about 210 ongoing road and bridge projects, only 33Nos have been provided for and the provisions are insufficient to encourage the contractors to sustain appreciable progress of works on site,” Onolememen stated.

The Works minister lamented that from the N39.579 billion proposed for year 2015 out of which N11.232 billion is for capital projects no provision was made for all the parastatals and agencies including road maintenance.

According to him, the sum of N1,398,449,075.51 counterpart funding required by the Road Sector Development Team (RSDT) which manages the fund from multilateral agencies such as World Bank and African Development Bank, only N425 million was proposed in the 2015 budget, hence may stalled most of the RSDT projects scheduled for completion this year.

He disclosed that N25 billion has been paid through SURE-P to contractors handling LagosIbadan expressway. For the 2nd Niger bridge, he disclosed that Federal Government paid N10 billion counterpart funding, additional N15 billion through SURE-P and attracted N50 billion private funding from Julius Berger.

He explained that the ministry is at the final stage of negotiation for the $500 million concessionary loans from China for Lafia expressway project adding that the ministry is about to finalize the 8-lane dual carriageway from Muritala Muhammed International Airport through public private partnership (PPP).

On his part, Surveyor Ayeni, Registrar of SURCON who expressed regrets over the nonrelease of the appropriated funds, argued that it will be very hard for the presidential land committee to achieve its set objectives.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 —51

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52 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 — 53

Impeachment plot against Elechi hits the rocks ...as 7 lawmakers withdraw

By Austin Ogwuda Seven out of the fifteen members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly known as the Integrity Group have withdrawn their involvement in the impeachment moves against Gov. Martin Elechi.

Minority Leader of the House, Enyi C. Enyi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), announced the withdrawal when he briefed newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday.

“We decided to withdraw from the impeachment plot after far reaching consultations within and outside our constituencies. We were also touched by the deep political counseling from our leaders and elders. Most importantly, we were alarmed at the discovery that the impeachment, if consummated would spew deep political bad blood and dichotomy between the two political blocs, Abakaliki and Afikpo.

“Moreover, if the impeachment is pursued to its logical end, each member of the fourth plenary of the state assembly would wear the stigma and badge of dishonour as the first set of lawmakers to impeach a governor in the SouthEast zone”.

The Minority Leader expressed regrets that the assembly which used to be an epitome of a peaceful and focused legislature had descended on a dangerous lane.

“The attempt to impeach the governor barely two months to the end of his tenure stood out as evidence of this loss of bearing.

“Some of us in the assembly, especially the integrity group, have been reflecting on what kind

of legacy we intend to leave behind as our contributions to the growth of the state and democracy,” he said.

He confirmed that there were many acts of impunity in the implementation of laws and administration of funds in the state during the present dispensation, stressing the need for genuine reconciliation among the political class in the state.

He urged the governor to gather all aggrieved parties irrespective of party affiliation, religion or zone for dialogue and reconciliation.

“This is a time for him to renew the state on the path of peace and genuine reconciliation,” he said.

The minority leader further urged the governor to release the 83 citizens of Ezza clan being detained over seven years ago for communal crisis in the state and appealed to other members of the house to sheathe their sword and allow the governor to complete

his tenure.

Enyi, who addressed the press alone, said he had the mandate of the integrity group to declare their position on the impeachment plot.

It would be recalled that over the weekend, President Goodluck Jonathan, following up on the impeachment notice passed on the governor of Ebonyi state, Chief Martin Elechi by the state House of Assembly among other crises rocking the state ordered the governor to collapse Labour Party, LP, structure which he was alleged to have been funding into Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The aim, it was reported was to end the lingering crisis as well as to quash impeachment move against the governor.

The state House of Assembly had on Friday last week served Governor Elechi an impeachment notice following an eight-point allegation against him which revolved around corruption,

fraud, gross misconduct, executive rascality, among others.

But the Governor in exchange for the deal had negotiated that his son, Elechi Elechi, who is LP senatorial candidate for Ebonyi Central, be given the senatorial position in the 2015 general election under PDP. This was part of the ongoing reconciliatory move by the Presidency towards ensuring peace and stability of the state and to ensure that Ebonyi remain a PDP state against all odds.

President Goodluck Jonathan had last Wednesday summoned the state Governor, Martin Elechi; Secretary to Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim and the PDP governorship candidate for Ebonyi State, Engr.David Umahi, as well as some PDP leaders, to a meeting at the presidential villa, Abuja, with a view to addressing the political situation in the state

ANTI-PIRACY: From left, Mr. Kurt Otto, Chief Operating Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria; Mr. Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing MultiChoice Nigeria, and Mr. Chris Nkwocha, Director/Zonal Manager, Nigeria Copyright Commission, during the MultiChoice anti-piracy non-secure decoder crushing, at MultiChoice Office, Ikeja, GRA, Lagos, yesterday.

Abia govt set to hand over 102 primary schools to missionaries

By Anayo Okoli

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MUAHIA — ABIA State government said it would hand over 102 primary schools to their original missionary owners to manage them.

According to the government, the schools were the first involved in the first phase of its plan to hand over primary schools to their original owners.

A break-down of the schools showed that eight would be returned to the Adventist Church; 24 to the Catholic Church; 13 to the Qua Ibom Church and 24 to the Anglican Church.

The Apostolic Church would get back two of its primary schools, 16 would be returned to Methodist Church, six to

Assemblies of God Church, while the Presbyterian Church would get back six schools.

Governor Theodore Orji announced this cheering news Monday when he met with the Interdenominational Committee on return of

schools in Abia State at Government House, Umuahia.

The governor also announced that schools owned originally by individuals would be returned to them in the handover programme.

Orji said the 102 schools would be handed over to their original owners as soon as the committee was through with the necessary formalities.

Governor Orji explained that the government was very careful in the handover programme to avoid crisis that

Stop assaults on Aba, Ngwa club urges youths

By Clifford Ndujihe

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LEADING pressure group in Abia State, the Ngwa Social Club, has condemned assaults on politicians campaigning in Aba, saying the development was giving the commercial city and its indigenes a bad image.

The group, in a joint statement signed by the president, Sam Onukwue, and secretary, Onyendi Nwaguru, warned that the insults on Aba must stop.

It stated: ‘’People should stop giving Aba a bad name for their selfish interests. They have been doing this over the years to create the impression that Aba is not receptive to the government of Abia State, especially since the administration of Governor Theodore Orji. ‘’It is absurd that opposition candidates would organise miscreants to disrupt visits of individuals and organisations that could develop Aba. ‘’Their gimmick is to create the impression that Aba was unruly and deny it the investment opportunities it deserves. ‘’We know that some people are angry that the Peoples Democratic Party kept its words that the next governor of Abia State would come from Abia South senatorial district. ‘’The aim of those who have resorted to attacking PDP stalwarts in Aba is to give the impression that they are against the decision that has been hailed as a great political move that would restore equity to the state since its creation in 1991.

Burial

Ngwa group disowns Otti, endorses Ikpeazu

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GWA PEOPLE resident in the United States of America and Canada, under the auspices of Ngwa United Alliance, NUA, USA, has rejected the political advertisements have published in some national dailies by one Dr. Elelenta Nwambuisi Elele, over the endorsement of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, candidate, Dr. Alex Otti

by Ngwa people in USA and Canada.

The group in a statement said NUA was the only organ empowered by Ngwa people in diaspora to speak for and on behalf in Nigeria.

Stressin that the views expressed in the said advertisements represented Dr. Elele’s personal opinion and not the position of Ngwa people.

NUA said: “Therefore, we completely and unequivocally

reject any past, present and future claims by Dr. Elele as he has no authority or standing to speak on behalf of Ndi Ngwa in USA and Canada.”

NUA, however, reiterated that it has not at anytime or in any gathering endorsed the candidature of Dr. Otti, but had adopted and endorsed the candidature of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the next governor of Abia State.”

Late Snr. Apostle Titus

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NR. APOSTLE Titus Bello of Biagbini via Igbekebo in Arogbo EseOdo LGA of Ondo State, who died on February 4, 2015, will be buried in his hometown on March 20, 2015.

Aged 67 years, he is survived by children and grand children.

54—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

DPP pledges to support INEC for credible polls

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LABOUR: From left— Mr. John Adaji, National Treasurer, National Union of Textile Garment & Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN; Mr. Issa Aremu, General Secretary, NUTGTWN, and Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC; and Mr. Oladele Hunsu, National President, NUTGTWN, at a briefing on International Women's Day and NLC rescheduled elections in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO: Olu Ajayi.

Nasarawa workers allege non-payment of salaries

By Abel Daniel

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AFIA—CIVIL servants in Nasarawa State are grumbling over alleged nonpayment of their February salaries and other entitlements, even as Governor Tanko Almakura announced austerity measures, asking public servants in the state to tighten their belts as the government was experiencing serious economic crunch.

However, Governor AlMakura has approved the recommendation of the state Joint Accounts Committee to obtain an overdraft to augment the shortfall in the federal allocation.

He said government would obtain an overdraft to ensure that all categories of local government and state workers were fully paid on or before Friday.

He stated that the decision became necessary due to the short fall in federal allocations to the tune of N60 billion since January.

The commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Supervising Commissioner for Finance, Mohammed Dan’Azumi, said: “The ministry would strive to fulfil the conditions for obtaining the overdraft to ensure all categories of workers in the local government are fully paid before the end of the week.”

He appealed to the people of the state to persevere in the face of the present economic hardship in the state, even as he reiterated that government

would live up to its responsibility and would not yield to mischief and distraction of rumour mongers and political jobbers.

He said: “To this end, government would continue to ensure the welfare of workers as it is on record that this administration is one of the

pioneers in the implementation of the national minimum wage.

This care to our loyal workers will be sustained.”

Immigration repatriates 43 illegal immigrants in Bauchi

By Suzan Edeh

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AUCHI—THE Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Bauchi State Command, has repatriated 43 foreigners residing in the state without valid documents as part of its effort to improve security of lives and property ahead of the general elections.

Speaking to newsmen while parading the affected persons, the state Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. Odeji Usman, said out of those repatriated, 37 came from Niger Republic; three from Cameroon, while three others are from Mali. He said they were arrested in different locations in the State.

He said: “Many of them had no valid documents as some of them came to Nigeria through illegal means.

“Their women have no valid documents too and they are conducting unlawful businesses in the state.

“They have been advised by the immigration

authorities to obtain legal documents from their countries and come back to Nigeria and obtain valid documents of living in Nigeria if they want to reside here.

“In view of the security situation in the country, particularly the North-East region, it has become imperative for the Immigration service to take measures that will ensure the protection of lives and property.”

The Comptroller said the exercise embarked upon by the service was also to sanitise the state of criminal activities and pave way for the smooth conduct of the general elections.

He reaffirmed the readiness of the command to ensure a crime-free environment in the state, called on foreigners desiring to reside in Nigeria to ensure that they process and obtain genuine documents before coming into the country.

Some of the foreigners interviewed explained their regret over the incident and

pledged to get valid document from their country in order to live in Nigeria peacefully.

BUJA—THE Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, has promised to support Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega to actualise his commitment to conduct free, fair and transparent polls.

Former presidential candidate of DPP, Otunba Owolabi Odebudo, who stepped down and endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for reelection, expressed optimism that Jonathan will emerge victorious.

He dissociated himself from parties calling for the sack of the INEC Chairman and endorsed the use of card reader for accreditation of voters, but advised INEC to make public the outcome of the Saturday ’s test-run exercise.

He said: “We urge INEC to be realistic in dealing with the outcome of its test run of the card readers for the PVC and not press ahead with its use if glitches are likely to result from their use.”

He said though it was not easy for him to accept his party ’s stance to withdraw from the presidential race, the recent achievement of President Jonathan in managing the fallouts from the combined impact of unstable crude price and falling naira on the economy was impressive.

FG sued for N1.4bn over alleged sales of DSC land

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HE people of Orhuwhorun community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State have dragged the Federal Government and the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, to court over the sale of 469 parcels of unused land at the Delta Steel Company, DSC, demanding N1.4 billion, “being the total value of the plots at the current market rate of N3 million per plot.

In a suit filed at the Federal High Court of Justice, Warri,

by Mr V. V. Erhinyoja, counsel to the plaintiffs, they are seeking a declaration of the court to the effect that “the decision to sell and the sales of 469 plots of land to third parties, private individuals and/or corporate bodies in the defunct DSC Township 1

Housing Estate, Orhuwhorun, upon failure of the public purpose for which the land was acquired is unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.”

The plaintiffs are the three Akoto families of Oghele, Eteme and Oku, represented by Lawrence Oputu, Felix Obioru, Thompson Kulube and Newworld Gbeton, all of Orhuwhorun.

Defendants in the case are the Federal Government, BPE, Dan Odiete and Co, Estate Surveyors and Valuers, and Attorney General of the Federation.

The plaintiffs’ contention is that the undeveloped land had reverted to them as owners, the public interest under which the land was released having failed by virtue of the privatisation of DSC Plc and the Housing Estate 1 by the Federal Government.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 — 55

FG spends over N34bn on tertiary institutions in Kano — SAMBO K

BRIEFING: Chairman, peoples Democratic Party, PDP Presidential Campaign Organization, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode addressing a press conference on ''Questions Gen Muhamadu Buhari Must Answer'' in Umuahia. He is flanked on the left by Prince Tim Ogwuru and on the right by George Tiga.

ANO—THE Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, has said that the Federal Government, has so far expended over N34 billion on the provision of various developmental programmes and projects on higher institutions in Kano State.

According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Umar Sani, Sambo spoke during an interactive session with members of the Bayero University Kano, BUK, community, when he visited to commission and laid the

NICA boss chides Nwokobia for condemning Igbo’s endorsement of PDP

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AGOS—THE National Chairman, Non-Indigenes Cultural Association, NICA, Comrade Peter Anigbogu, has called on its members nationwide to disregard statements attributed to the Coordinator, Association for Defence of Igbo Interest in Lagos, Prof. Chris Nwokobia, urging Igbos in Lagos not to vote for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the coming elections.

Anigbogu, who berated Prof.

Nwokobia, for the statement published in one of the national dailies (not Vanguard) on March 5, 2015, said Igbos and nonindigenes in Lagos should disregard him, adding that he (Nwokobia) was neither speaking for the Igbos or non-indigenes resident in Lagos.

He said: “I, the National

Chairman of Non Indigenes Cultural Association, read with dismay that some people whom we think are educated or intelligent would belittle themselves and not maintain their integrity. Who is this Prof.

F

for PDP. We don’t know where they are coming from and we don’t know if they do have the mandate of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Lagos, which we know rightly that it has not mandated him to speak on behalf of the Igbos in Lagos.”

Nigerian ports have attained int'l standard — WISTA

By Ifeyinwa Obi

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HE Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria yesterday said Nigerian seaports have attained international standard in terms of infrastructure.

The President of the association, Mrs Jean Chiazor-Anishere, told

Fast food outlet partners S’African cuisine firm OOD Concepts Plc, a market leader in the West African food industry with a basket of top brands including Chicken Republic, Butterfield Bakery and Free range Farms, has entered into partnership in its Baked Goods Division, with Pioneer Foods; a leading South African FMCG company.

Speaking on the partnership, Phil Roux, CEO Pioneer Foods said, “Butterfield provides an ideal opportunity to leverage our expertise to grow the bread category. Pioneer aims to be a leading cuisine company in Africa and Nigeria is a key market for any food company in search of growth,” On his part, Chairman of Food Concepts Plc, Mr. Deji Akinyanju said the partnership would benefit from the combination of the respective strengths, which will be used to tap into the vast opportunities in the Nigerian FMCG sector to deliver extraordinary value to customers

Nwokobia and whose interest is he representing? We, the nonindigenes in Lagos disassociate ourselves from Prof. Nwokobia and his cohorts over his comment suggesting that the Igbos and non- indigenes should not vote

Founded by Akinyanju, an entrepreneur, in 2001, Food Concepts, whose shareholders include International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank member, and Development Partners International (DPI), a UK-based private equity firm focused on African investments, continues to evolve in a remarkable story of a revolution in the Nigerian food sector.

The company recently demerged its Baked Goods Division into Food Concepts Pioneer Limited (FCPL). Pioneer Foods acquired 50.01% of FCPL while Food Concepts Plc. retains 49.9%. FCPL will house Butterfield Bakeries, a baked goods business specializing in bread and sausage roll production.

Pioneer Foods PTY Ltd is a leading South African FMCG company with a market cap of $3 billion. It has globally trusted brands like Ceres Juice, ProNutro, Weet-Bix breakfast cereal etc.

journalists this in Lagos.

She described port operations in 2014 as ‘a huge success’, adding that the port concession programme had facilitated installation of new equipment.

“The port concessioning have introduced new equipment; never mind the incessant charges that shippers are complaining about but in terms of infrastructure, our seaports are now of international standard.

“In terms of wharf rats that were so many in the years past, there is a reduction now.

“When the Minister of Finance took a drastic step and reduced them to five, after a few moments, the agencies went back to the ports.

“If you consider that with what it used to be in the past, the numbers have actually reduced.

“The Nigeria Customs in their wisdom have introduced PAAR

system (Pre-Arrival Assessment Report), although we know it was what COTECNA started with.

“The fact that the Nigeria Customs has adopted that and modified it to suit our own situation is commendable and should be encouraged because they are making it indigenised; make it localised to our own system as opposed to the foreign company COTECNA. There has been a lot of improvement, not even some, “ Anishere said.

She urged the Federal Government to extend rail tracks to decongest the ports’ access roads.

Anishere said though it would be expensive to construct rail tracks in the 36 states, the maritime lawyer who said this was the best solution to reduce port congestion, commended the government’s efforts in further developing ferry services.

Lagos monarch, govt bicker over land

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HE traditional ruler of Oworoshoki in Kosofe local government area of Lagos State, Oba Bashir Oloruntoyin Saliu has denied allegations of illegal sale of land in his domain by the Lagos State government, saying the land being sold belongs to his family.

At a press briefing, weekend in his palace, Oba Saliu said: “The traditional institution under my watch is law abiding. We are not illegal land sellers and there is no one involved in the sale of government landed properties in my domain as alleged. The land

my family is selling is the 5171 hectares allotted to me on behalf of the Saliu Salami Rufai family covered with C of O issued and signed by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) on July 3, 2009.”

Oba Saliu said, “The 5171 hectares of land were allotted to us following an Ikeja High court judgment of October 12, 1994 in suit number ID/390/93, in favor of my family against the State, and as a matter of facts, the family do not sell our land but lease it to people.”

foundation for various projects.

He however, said that the money was spent through intervention programmes under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND, adding that this was because, the government was conscious of the fact that education was the bedrock for any meaningful development in the society.

According to him, President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration’s Transformation Agenda, had impacted positively on the education sector in the country, and Kano State in particular.

The Vice President said that within a ‘’ period 2010 to 2014 the total amount expended by TETFUND for both infrastructural and academic training in Kano State tertiary institutions is N34.109 billion,’’ out of the “total of N644 billion invested by TETFUND across the country within the period.”

Sambo, further said that the intervention affected both federal and state government-owned institutions in the state, including BUK, Federal College of Education Kano, Police Academy, Wudil, Federal College of Education Technology, Bichi, Kano State University of Technology, North West University and Kano State Polytechnic, as well as Sa’adatu Rimi College of Eduction.

He said the giant strides achieved by the administration were not limited to the education sector but also in the power, transport, security, anti-corruption drive, agriculture as well as other socio-economic programmes.

Obsequies for Evang Okotete

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OUNDER of Christian Revival Evangelical Ministry, CREM, Evangelist Christiana Okotete is dead, aged 58.

Interment is on Friday, March 13, at Victoria Courts Gardens, Lagos. Time is 12 noon.

She is survived by Pastor Ovie Okotete, Dr Ufuoma Okotete, Mr Joseph Okotete, Mr Patrick Okotete, Mr Christopher and Hon. (Mrs) Stella Osadjere, Mr Oghenetega Okotete, Mr Oghenekevwe Okotete and Miss Christabel Osadjere.

.Late Evangelist Okotete

56— VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 , 2015

Pakistan ends death penalty suspension after seven years

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Ukraine conflict: US tanks in Baltics as Nato drills start H

UNDREDS of US military vehicles have arrived in the Baltic states and are to stay in Europe, in a mission to reassure Nato allies unsettled by Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

The shipment coincides with the deployment of a US infantry division and Nato navy drills in the Black Sea. Although a ceasefire is in place in Ukraine, the conflict has heightened distrust between Russia and the West.

Russia’s foreign minister has accused the EU of stirring up confrontation.Sergei Lavrov, speaking in Moscow on Tuesday after a meeting with his Spanish counterpart, singled out European Council President Donald Tusk for criticism.

He accused the former Polish prime minister of apologising to President Barack Obama that the EU had not acted as swiftly against Russia as the US. “EU bureaucrats in Brussels are intentionally escalating confrontation between Russia and the EU,” he said, complaining that they were trying to postpone the political terms of the ceasefire and thereby hinder improvements in relations.

VER 200 students and supporters have been protesting against an education bill they say stifles academic independence. They had planned to walk from the central city of Mandalay to the commercial hub of Yangon, but were blocked by police in Letpadan, about 140 km (90 miles) to the north of Yangon, earlier this month.

Police had said they would allow the students to continue their march on Tuesday, but that agreement fell apart. Riot police charged at the students and their supporters, chasing some into a monastery.

Yangon is the site of numerous student-led demonstrations, including those in 1988 that sparked a pro-democracy movement that spread throughout the country before being brutally suppressed by the military government.

A semi-civilian reformist government took power in 2011 after 49 years

until some resumed after the Peshawar school massacre in December.

More than 8,000 people are on death row in Pakistan, human rights groups say. About 1,000 have lost their appeals and had clemency petitions rejected, a senior official quoted by AFP news agency said.

The BBC’s M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says it is not clear why the moratorium has been lifted at this time.

Wikimedia Foundation sues NSA over surveillance

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•US tanks and fighting vehicles started arriving in Riga on Monday.

Mr Tusk said in Washington that if the EU and US were united they would be able to “put a stop to the aggressive policy of Russia against

her neighbours”.

Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko said on Monday night that Ukrainian government forces had withdrawn the

lion’s share of their rocket and heavy artillery systems, while pro-Russian rebels had also “withdrawn a significant amount”.

Iraqi troops, militia retake strategic town north of Tikrit

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RAQI troops and mi litias drove Islamic State insurgents out of the town of al-Alam yesterday , clearing a final hurdle before a planned assault on Saddam Hussein’s home city of Tikrit in their biggest offensive yet against the ultra-radical group.

The power base of executed former president Saddam’s clan, Tikrit is the focus of a counter-offensive against Islamic State by more than 20,000 troops and Shi’ite Muslim militias known as Hashid Shaabi, backed by local Sunni Muslim tribes.

Myanmar police beat students, journalists, monks, detain 100

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AKISTAN is to resume executions for all death penalty offences, months after a moratorium was partially lifted to allow executions of terror convicts.

All condemned prisoners who have exhausted the appeals process and whose pleas for clemency are rejected now face execution, officials say.

Executions were suspended for seven years

of military rule and its response to the current protests has been more muted.

The witness saw about 100 protesters locked in two police trucks after the police action, while others fled the town.

The Delegation of the

European Union, which has been training the police in crowd management, condemned the crackdown and called for a formal investigation.

The British embassy in Myanmar also condemned the incident on its official Twitter feed.

If Iraq’s Shi’ite-led government is able to retake Tikrit it would be the first city clawed back from the Sunni insurgents and would give it momentum in the next, pivotal stage of the campaign - to recapture Mosul, the largest city in the north.

A Reuters photographer saw dozens of families, who earlier fled al-Alam to escape Islamic State rule, return to the town, celebrating and slaughtering sheep for the victorious forces.

“I announce officially that the town is under the total control of security forces, the Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilization) units and local tribal fighters,” said local mayor Laith al-Jubouri.

HE NSA’s mass surveillance programme violates US laws on freedom of speech, alleges a lawsuit begun by the Wikimedia Foundation.

The legal action has been filed against the spy agency and the US Department of Justice.

The legal action, cosigned by eight other organisations, seeks to end the NSA’s largescale surveillance efforts.

The Foundation is the non-profit group that oversees the running of

the Wikipedia online encyclopedia.

The Wikmedia Foundation said it was taking action against the NSA’s socalled “upstream” surveillance work which targets communication with people not in the US. Such spying violates US laws on free speech and those that govern against unreasonable search and seizure, it said.

The scale of the monitoring carried out by the NSA has been revealed in documents made public by whistleblower Edward Snowden over the last two years.

US envoy denounces ‘reign of terror’ in Crimea

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HE top US diplo mat for Europe yesterday declared that Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine are living under a “reign of terror”, blaming Russia for a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives.

“Even as Ukraine is building a peaceful, democratic, independent nation across 93 percent of its territory, Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine are suffering a reign of terror,”

Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“Today Crimea remains under illegal occupation and human rights abuses are the norm, not the exception, for many at risk groups there,” she said.

She said several groups Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians who refuse to surrender their passports, gays and lesbians, journalists and others — are at risk of persecution.

Chad shutdown over deadly helmet protests

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HADIAN author ities have closed all schools and universities after deadly protests over new regulations requiring motorbike riders to wear a helmet.

At least three people were killed over several days of student-led protests.

Motorbikes are a pop-

ular form of transport in Chad, and are frequently used as taxis.

Many people oppose the new safety regulation, arguing that helmets are too expensive, as well as too hot for the climate.

Helmet prices have tripled since the new regulation was introduced earlier this month.

Russia halts activity in EU security treaty group

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•Police hit a student protester during violence in Letpadan yesterday.

USSIA yesterday said it was halting its participation in a consulting group on the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, ending one of its last modes of participation on the 1990 security treaty.

“The Russian Federation has taken the de-

cision to halt its participation in meetings of the (consulting group) from March 11, 2015. Therefore, Russia is ending its actions in the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, announced in 2007, completely,” a statement from the Foreign Ministry said.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 , 2015— 57

E/Africa leads as child and maternal deaths fall

Ivory Coast’s former first lady Simone Gbagbo jailed for 20 years I

VORY Coast’s former first lady, Simone Gbagbo, has been sentenced to 20 years in jail for her role in the violence that followed the 2010 elections.

Gbagbo. 65, had been charged with undermining state security.

Meanwhile, her husband, former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, is awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

More than 3,000 people died in the violence that followed the presidential poll after the ex-leader refused to accept defeat to Alassane Ouattara.

She and her husband were arrested in 2011 after troops stormed a bunker where the pair had taken refuge in the main city, Abidjan.

And it was in the same city where Gbagbo - once called the “Iron Lady” and known for her fiery speeches - faced trial.

•Ivory Coast’s former first lady, Simone Gbagbo She was also accused of disturbing public order and organising armed gangs.

‘Ashamed of Ivorian justice’ She denied witness accounts that accused

her of personally distributing arms to the death squads that operated in Abidjan during the five-month conflict.

The court unanimously sentenced her to 20

years, which is the sentence for undermining state security. The prosecution had only asked for 10 years - but this had only been for the charge of disturbing public order.

Pistorius' case: Victim’s mum not interested in appeal

•Steenkamp

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HE mother of the South African woman killed by athlete Oscar Pistorius yesterday said that she does not care about an upcoming appeal, even if it leads to a harsher sentence for the

Paralympic medalist.

“How is it going to help me?”

June Steenkamp, the mother of Pistorius’ slain girlfriend asked.

Pistorius’ lawyers will later this week challenge a judge’s decision to allow prosecutors to appeal the runner’s negligent killing conviction for shooting Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. Prosecutors want Pistorius convicted of the more serious crime of murder and were granted permission to take the case to South

Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal. Steenkamp instead is focusing on the planned Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation to combat domestic violence and the book she wrote about her daughter.

Steenkamp would not be drawn into questions

Zimbabwe lawyers allege activist was abducted

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UMAN rights lawyers in Zimbabwe yesterday filed a court application seeking the release of an activist they suspect was abducted by state agents.

Itai Dzamara, leader of a movement called Occupy Africa Unity Square, has been missing

Zambian president heads to S/Africa for treatment

Z

A M B I A ’ S president, Edgar Lungu yesterday left for South Africa for medical treatment after collapsing during a ceremony over the weekend.

Earlier in the day, Lungu told journalists that he was feeling much better and that doctors

in South Africa would decide how to treat him.

Lungu joked that he wanted to return alive to Zambia, saying: “Who wants to die?”

He was delivering a speech on Sunday to c o m m e m o r a t e International Women’s Day when he collapsed.

Officials first said 58-

about whether she believed her daughter was a victim of domestic violence. Instead, she urged women to speak out about abuse, when she discussed her book and the foundation at a public event at the University of Johannesburg.

year-old Lungu had malaria and exhaustion.

But then they said the president fell because his blood sugar levels had dropped significa-ntly.

Lungu’s predecessor, Michael Sata, died last year after an illness.

Lungu was elected in January to serve out Sata’s term until 2016

since Monday morning and that his family and associates have no idea of the activist’s whereabouts, the lawyers said. Dzamara and associates have been staging sit-ins in a popular city square calling for democratic reforms and President Robert Mugabe’s resignation.

A mumber of his organization, Charles Nyoni, said Dzamara was abducted by five men while having a haircut at a barbershop in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital.

Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba said she has not yet received a full briefing on the case.

Amnesty International urged the Zimbabwean government to investigate Dzamara’s disappearance and ensure his safety.

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ATERNAL and child death rates fell in every one of the poorest 49 countries in the world between 2010 and 2013, largely as a result of a U.N. initiative launched in 2010, the world body said yesterday.

“The world is currently reducing under-five and maternal deaths faster than at any time in history,” U.N. Secretary General Ban Kimoon said in a statement. “Since 1990, maternal deaths have been cut by almost half; some 17,000 fewer children die each day.”

East African countries saw particularly strong progress, with child death rates falling by 14.9 percent or more in Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

There was also good news from Haiti, which had an under five mortality rate of 17.4 percent in 2010 when the island was devastated by an earthquake. This plummeted to 7.3 percent in 2013.

Falls in maternal mortality were most pronounced in Afghanistan, where the rate fell 20 percent between 2010 and 2013, and in Zimbabwe, which saw a fall of 22.9 percent.

Overall, the deaths of 2.4 million women and

children have been averted since 2010, the report said.

The U.N. credits its ‘Every Woman Every Child’ (EWEC) initiative, part of the broader Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health, with the reduction in deaths.

The strategy was launched by Ban in 2010.

EWEC takes the form of a global public health partnership between governments, NGOs and the private sector.

There have been “substantial increases” in oral rehydration therapy, exclusive breastfeeding and preventing mother-child HIV transmission, the report said, with “important gains” in family planning, antenatal care, skilled birth attendance and postnatal care.

But two other goals, care for pneumonia and expanding childhood vaccines, have seen “limited progress”. “There is still too much needless suffering,” Ban said.

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said in a statement that “education empowers women and girls to live healthier lives and as a result, fewer children are dying.”

The initiative has now set its sights on ending all preventable deaths of women and children.

“We need to look for new partnerships and new funding mechanisms,” Solberg said.

Bomb attacks hit Egypt’s Sinai peninsula

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OMB attacks tar geting the police and army in Egypt’s restive Sinai peninsula have killed two people and wounded more than 30, officials say.

A suicide bomber targeted a police compound in the city of ElArish, leaving a civilian driver dead.

A roadside bomb later exploded beside an armoured vehicle, killing a soldier.

Sinai Province, a jihadist group affiliated to Islamic State, claimed it was behind the first at-

tack, the al-Yawm alSabaa newspaper reported.

Militants based in the Sinai have killed hundreds of soldiers and police since the military overthrew Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.

‘Shattered glass’ In the first attack, the suicide bomber drove a water tanker filled with explosives into the gate at the rear entrance to the police compound in ElArish shortly after 06:00 (04:00 GMT), security officials said.

Chad closes schools over deadly helmet protests

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H A D I A N authorities have closed all schools and universities after deadly protests over new regulations requiring motorbike riders to wear a helmet.

At least three people were killed over several days of student-led protests.

Motorbikes are a popular form of

transport in Chad, and are frequently used as taxis.

Many people oppose the new safety regulation, arguing that helmets are too expensive, as well as too hot for the climate.

Helmet prices have tripled since the new regulation was introduced earlier this month.

58 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

By Emma Nnadozie, Crime Editor

A

SEEMINGLY innocuous but ugly development in Ugheli, Delta State, late last year, has made Police authorities beam their searchlights on desperate politicians bent on soiling the image of the Force by forging Police election reports.

Already, a House of Assembly candidate and a Police Inspector have been interrogated over the development while the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has directed that efforts should be made to avoid a repeat occurrence.

The sordid drama started November 29, 2014, during the House of Assembly primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Governmetn Area of the state.

Six candidates contested the primary election, after which the police report indicated that the Returning Officer, Okorodudu Emmanuel openly counted the votes and declared what each contestant scored as follows: Ejimofor Anazia – 0, Osuozah Ifeanyi – 4, Prince Uzoma Idabor – 24, Emeka Nwaobi – 17, Nzekwe Henry – 0 and Osy Okocha – 20.

Prince Uzoma Idabor who polled 24 out of the total number of 65 votes cast was declared winner by the retur ning officer.

He subsequently applied for and was issued with the Police report on the said primaries.

How fake election report rattled the Police •Inspector, politician quizzed The unsigned report dated November 30, was addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, State Headquarters, Asaba and copied to the Commissioner of Police, Department of F&AQ, Asaba; the Police Area Commander, Asaba and Police Public Relations Officer, state headquarters, Asaba read: "On the day of the election, all the 65 accredited delegates assembled at Martin Primary School, Issele-Uku and policemen were deployed to forestall any act of violence.

The returning officer for the local government, Hon. Roy Oke and his team later arrived the venue and immediately commenced the full conduct of the election.

Authentic winner The story, however, took a different dimension when as events unfolded, the winner noticed that his name had been substituted with that of Emeka Nwaobi who scored 17 votes at the primary election.

While the authentic winner set out to claim his victory in court, another shocker came.

This time, one of the respondents, Emeka Nwaobi, filed a counter- affidavit and attached an unsigned Police report in which he was declared winner.

The purported unsigned Police report had inadvertently altered the results of the primaries certified by the erstwhile Divisional Police Officer in the area, Usman Yusuf.

The said report was allegedly said to have been contrived as it contained fabrications and contradicted the report earlier issued to the winner by the police.

Police findings indicated that the DPO reported the outcome of the election to the Commissioner of Police through a signal in which he emphatically disclosed that the election in the area was peaceful throughout

Suddenly, one Uzoma Idabor came with numerous thugs and alleged that Hon. Roy Oke was not the returning officer and did not come with the result sheet meant for •IGP, Suileman Abba-----We cannot condone this the exercise.

These allegations did not go down with other contestants which resulted in a walkout perpetrated. Police sources granted. by them. The thugs later said a high powered team Other irregularities stirred up crisis but the police was constituted and they detected in the controversial was able to restore normalcy came out with reports report was the absence of the which made it possible for the indicating that the report DPO’s telephone number exercise to be conducted in a presented by Emeka Nwaobi which was boldly printed on was forged. free and fair atmosphere. The the real letter headed paper. exercise ended with the Further more, it was noted following results; Engr. Fake that November 30, the day Emeka Nwaobi - 24 votes, report the police purportedly issued Idabor Uzoma – 20, Okocha the report to the principal Osy – 4, Osuoza Micheal – While the DPO denied suspect, was Sunday, and 17, Anazia Ejimofor – 0 and knowledge of the report, the therefore, not possible for the Nzekwe Henry – 0."

Police team discovered that police to administratively Based on this ugly there was no policy file with open and issue such a development, the presumed the reference number quoted document knowing fully well winner of the primaries, in the fake report. However, that it was against the Uzoma Idabor forwarded a the Inspector in-charge of established norm of the strongly-worded petition to Administration who was command. the Commissioner of Police in arrested and made the state through his solicitor, cautionary statement denied Police Juri Chambers. the purported report. investigations The principal suspect, Unfortunate Emeka Nwaobi equally made Police investigations also situation a cautionary statement to the showed that the signal police on the controversial number used on the report In the petition, he report. was also fake. expressed shock that two Crime Alert gathered also Piqued by this ugly different Police reports which that police findings indicated development, it was reliably are at variance and which that the DPO reported the learnt that Police high intend to describe the same outcome of the election to the command in Abuja had event can emanate from the Commissioner of Police directed all the commands to highly reputed office of the through a signal in which he live up to their Police Commissioner. emphatically disclosed that responsibilities by nipping According to him, this the election in the area was such fraudulent acts in the unfortunate situation has the peaceful throughout. bud especially, as the effect of dragging the name Strangely, the suspect elections were at hand. of the Nigeria Police Force alleged that he made a However, it was not possible into disrepute and should be verbal request for election to ascertain whether the immediately nipped in the report to the DPO before he suspect would be prosecuted bud. was issued the one dated by the Police but sources said Based on this, the state November 30, 2014 contrary much depended on the Commissioner of Police to the established procedure outcome of a fundamental reportedly swung into action where a candidate must put rights suit instituted by the with a view to unravelling up his/her request in writing rightful winner of the how the forgery was before such request could be election, Prince Idabor.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 — 59

Police from Area K command who arrested me, before I was transferred to Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS).

Youths should wait for God’s time

Indian hemp connection ‘’Before the operation, Biodun took me to an Indian hemp joint at Ilogbo in OkoAfo where we held the meeting to plan modalities for the robbery. He bought several wraps of Indian hemp and shots of local dry gin for me. I started smoking Indian hemp several years back because of peer pressure and bad influence. Biodun told me that the gun is not functioning and that was why he didn’t put any bullet. All we used the gun for was to scare the victim into submission. I don’t know where Biodun got the gun from.

— Robbery suspect

By Esther Onyegbula

A

25- YEAR-old robbery suspect recently stunned detectives in Lagos when he repeatedly requested for a special audience with their team leader. The bewildered policemen attached to the Special Antirobbery Squad, SARS, in Ikeja, Lagos, reluctantly brought him before their boss and waited patiently for his message. When he spoke, it was like a sermon from a pulpit.

The suspect, Tunde Olanrewaju Animasaun, initially went philosophical before getting religious. "Í am here to call on Nigerian government to provide jobs for jobless youths wasting away in the society. If jobless youths like me are engaged lawfully, they won’t have time to commit crime. But because there are no jobs, our idle minds become the devil’s workshops,’’ he lamented.

Crime Alert gathered that Tunde is a member of a threeman armed robbery gang that specialised in terrorising traders and business owners.

They use motorcycles to rob owners of supermarkets and pharmacies along LagosBadagry Expressway.

Suspect's confession According to reports, on February 14, Tunde and two members of his gang simply identified as Sadiq and Biodun, ran out of luck while attempting to rob a pharmacy located in Oko-Afo along Badagry Expressway. While the others escaped, Tunde was almost lynched at the scene before policemen rescued him.

Narrating his criminal exploits later, the suspect told Crime Alert: "I knew Biodun three years ago while he worked in a Sawmill. He is the gang leader.

I joined the gang early January after my friend Sadiq, introduced me to the gang.

This is my first outing with the gang. I knew Biodun through my friend Sadiq.

"Sadiq assured me that the operation would be successful, that I should not be afraid, that we will make a lot of money.

They both promised to share the loot equally after we succeeded in carrying out the operation. Unfortunately, the reverse turned out to be the case. When we got to the location of the operation, Biodun and I went into the pharmacy while Sadiq was stationed outside waiting for us with his bike to enable easy escape after the operation.

Celebration of freedom ‘’He took advantage of the fact that I needed money to celebrate my freedom since I completed my apprenticeship and also to further my education.

I dropped out of secondary school in 2002 while I was in JSS3, after I lost my father. The name of my school was Jubilee Grammar School in Orile. We moved to Oko-Afo when my mother completed her building. I am from Lagos State. I don’t live with her. I reside at Teniola Street in Oko-afo. I am the second of seven children.

Raid on a pharmacy ‘’ When we got into the pharmacy where we planned to operate, Biodun brought out the gun and pointed it at the victim. Immediately the victim saw the gun, he raised alarm, shouting, Ole! Ole!! (Thief! thief!!) This unexpected action of his caught us unawares because we never envisaged

Time for remorse

•The suspect, Tunde

I started smoking India hemp several years back because of peer pressure and bad influence.

Biodun told me that the gun is not functioning and that was why he didn’t put any bullet

that he would have the guts to raise alarm while a gun was pointed at him. As soon as he raised alarm, Biodun jumped onto the waiting bike and Sadiq sped off, abandoning me at the scene at the mercy of angry residents, commuters, and the victim.

Mob descends on him ‘’While Biodun was

escaping, the gun he was holding fell off. I bent down, picked the gun with the sole intent of throwing it away when the angry crowd pounced on me. They almost beat me to death. They kept hitting me with wood and other objects before the Police came and whisked me away.

Some of the people invited the

"Now that I have been arrested, I feel so bad. I am full of regrets. If I ever come out of prison alive, I will never go into robbery again. My advice to young people is that they should shun crime and not be influenced by bad friends.

They should be hard working and wait for God’s time.’’

Crime Alert gathered that the victim, like many others, has been robbed several times before the foiled operation.

The case is currently undergoing further investigation at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) after which the suspect would be tried in court.

60 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Again, Reps send NFF out of Chambers •Want explanation over FIFA, CAF grants

By Jude Opara, Abuja

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HE Federal House of Representatives Committee on Sports again refused to entertain the members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) management team yesterday when they went to defend the 2015 budget proposal because the federation failed to explain how much they collected from the World Football governing body, (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The lawmakers therefore gave the team which was led by the first vice president of the federation, Barr. Seyi Akinwumi 7- days to present to them details of various funds it received from all other sources in the past year or forget the 2015 appropriation.

Recall that last week, the committee refused to attend to the team led by the general secretary, Musa Amadu because of the absence of the NFF president Amaju Pinnick as well as the Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Tammy Danagogo as well as the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye from the hearing.

Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Hon. Godfrey Ali Gaiya while rejecting the 2014 budget appraisal as presented by the football federation insisted that the NFF only recorded

the budgetary allocations it received from the federal government.

He also reminded his guests that it is within the scope of operation of the Parliament to look into any funds accruing to any government agency, including gifts from affiliate international bodies and other sponsors before they could be spent.

“I am happy that the general secretary, Musa Amadu is here and he is in a position to know that all the funds from FIFA and CAF ought to be part of what is submitted to Parliament.

Going by what you have presented in this document, one can see that you have just presented expenditure profile of funds you received from the federal government, but it goes beyond that.

We are giving you 7 days to come with details of such grants and funds including dollar components which you received from your affiliates and sponsors “, he insisted.

In his response, Akinwumi, who stood in for the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, assured the lawmakers that the federation will comply with the directive. He further explained that he was drafted in at short notice to make the presentation in the absence of the NFF President adding that things will be different when they return next week.

THE CHAMPIONS ... Kano Pillars players celebrate with league trophy after they won it last season.

Gabros Sign Brazilian,Malian, Ivorian players HE new proprietor veteran football Emmanuel and Koko tomorrow while the third T of Gabros Int’l of personality Soccer Armando Christy. They and a Brazilian is Nnewi, Chief Patrick Ambassador, Friday will join the squad expected to touch down Ifeanyi Ubah has given the management of the Anaedo Boys a fat sack of petrol-money to rebuild a winning club that’s expected to rank amongst the top three on the log.

And to take the first step, the club cast its fishing net very wide and caught some quality players from Africa and across the Atlantic ocean with the signing of players from Ivory Coast and Mali as well as a player from Brazil.

Club Coordinator and

Nwankwo-Kuja disclosed this yesterday in Lagos and gave the names of the first foreign arrivals as Boueti Michel

before the next league match at the weekend.

He also revealed that the Malian top player will arrive in Nigeria

at the Murtala M o h a m m e d International Airport, Lagos before the close of work on Friday.

ACL: CAF shifts Pillars, Tetouane match

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ANO Pillars have been given a lifeline by CAF as their Champions League game against Moghreb Tetouane has been postponed by a week following the armed robbery attack that left five players injured last Thursday.

In a series of tweets via the club’s official account on Monday night, Sai Masu Gida confiirmed that the game against the Moroccan side has been shifted by a week.

“CAF Champions League Committee has postponed our Ist leg match against MA Tetouane of Morocco for one week,” the club tweeted.

2015 Afrobasket qualifiers: Ugboaja, Oyedeji join D’Tigers camp

HE duo of Ejike Ali looks in knockout form as he praises daughter’s success TUgboaja and Olumide Oyedeji have

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•Muhammad Ali posted this photo on Twitter to show his support of his daughter’s television success

•Former three-time World title holder Laila Ali is the new corner analyst on NBC ’s Premier Boxing Champions

UHAMMAD Ali showed he was looking healthy when ‘The People’s Champion’ took to Twitter to praise his daughter Laila Ali’s new role as an NBC boxing analyst.

The Parkinson’s sufferer will have pleased his fans by showing his fans he’s recovered from his recent stint in hospital for a urinary tract infection.

The boxing legend was delighted with the news that his offspring is to be the first female pundit to join the

Premier Boxing Champions team.

He tweeted: ‘So proud of my baby girl. 1st female boxing analyst with NBC Premier Boxing Champions. #AliTweet.

Laila, an undefeated women’s boxing champion,made her debut as a corner analyst when Keith Thurman faced Robert Guerrero and Adrian Broner took on John Molina Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

With Ali’s latest snap, it’s pleasing to know that the former champion of the world is in good condition and high spirits.

joined the national male basketball team, D’ Tigers, ahead of the first leg match of their 2015 Afrobasket qualifying fixture.

The two players joined the team’s camp as the rest players regrouped on Monday after a three-day break.

The arrival of Ugboaja and Oyedeji brings the number of players in the team’s camp to 16, after 14 players started training in February ahead of the qualifiers.

D’ Tigers are billed to face their Burkina Faso counterparts in the Afrobasket qualifier on March 15.

•Oyedeji

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015— 61

Mancini: Toure yearns to join Inter R

OBERTO Mancini reveals “Yaya Toure wants to play in Italy and Inter would be his first choice.”

The midfielder was brought in to Manchester City by Mancini and there have been numerous reports they could reunite at San Siro.

“Yaya has played in every top League, apart from Germany and Italy,” Mancio told Gazzetta TV this evening.

“If, as it does indeed seem, he wants to have an experience in Italy, then there is this possibility he could come here.

“It won’t be easy, but he’s a player with incredible technique and character. Would Inter be his first choice?

That’s certain.”

Toure isn’t the only exManchester City figure Mancini was interested in, as he confirmed rumours Inter tried to

Real line up Zidane as coach

sign Micah Richards from Fiorentina in January.

“We did try to get him, as he was my player at City. Fiorentina seemed open to it, but the move didn’t go through.

“We laid the foundations at City. The club had been challenging for between 15th and 10th place, so they needed a lot of quality players brought in. If they’re still fighting for the title now, it means we constructed a quality side.

“England was good for me, because compared to us Italians they take football much less seriously. It was a great experience and really helped me. It’s always cold there, so it’s easy to stay young...”

Inter brought in Xherdan Shaqiri, Davide Santon, Marcelo Brozovic and Lukas Podolski, but UEFA could put a spanner in the works.

“Now we’ll see what happens with the Financial Fair Play situation. I am convinced, and so is the club, that we will sign good players who can lift the quality level of the team.”

The tactician joked when asked if the club had given him ‘carte blanche’ for transfers.

“Yes, but they forget the pen!”

•Zidane

R

EAL Madrid are lining up Zinedine Zidane to replace Carlo Ancelotti as boss at the Santiago Bernabeu.

According to respected sports journalist Graham Hunter, the Real Madrid Castilla Coach is the natural choice to take over from the Italian if Los Blancos decide to dispense with his services, although not immediately as he lacks experience.

Ancelotti has been criticised by fans and the Spanish Press in recent weeks after a poor start to 2015, with the leadership of La Liga having been relinquished to

Messi flies to London L

•Messi C M Y K

IONEL Messi has taken advantage of two days off to fly to London to catch up w i t h former Barcelona players Cesc Fabregas and Deco.

As the Catalans have no midweek fixture, boss Luis Enrique has given his squad some time off, with training due to resume on Wednesday.

According to Sport, Messi and his partner Antonella Rocuzzo dined out in the English capital on Sunday night along with Fabregas and his girlfriend, while the two players were also photographed eating pizza at Harrods without their partners but with former P o r t u g u e s e international Deco.

It is a the second time in a short while that Messi has got together with Fabregas and his partner, the Chelsea player having spent some time in Barcelona in February.

Barcelona last weekend following defeat to Athletic Bilbao.

“It’s not about candidates, it’s a candidate,” Hunter told Sky Sports’ Revista de La Liga programme.

“Zinedine Zidane is the succession plan.

He’s in charge of the B team and it’s a formal plan. Everyone knows that’s the case. They want him to gain more experience and I think Zidane himself wants to gain more.

“Therefore, if there is a small chance Ancelotti leaves in the summer then they’ll say “ we’ll wait a year for him and Zizou will come through”.

BBC ‘non-negotiable’ for Ancelotti

•Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema

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ARLO Ancelotti says he still has faith in his forward line of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema despite recent criticism.

The Real Madrid boss has come in for some flak both from fans and the Spanish Press after seeing his attacking trio misfire since the turn of the year.

However, the Italian insists that when they there all fit then their selection in his starting line-up is ‘non-negotiable’.

“The BBC, if they are all okay, is not up for negotiation,” Ancelotti told a Press conference.

“They have given us a lot and

are now going through a rough spell, but so is the whole team, not just the three up front.

“The team is not playing to the right standard and that doesn’t help the forwards much.”

Ancelotti attempted to analyse what the problems are that Madrid have faced in the last few weeks.

“We are very clear where the problems lie and each game helps us to solve them. We play with too much passing going on and the game is not fast enough.''

62—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

PSG players to pocket £180,000 each if they beat Chelsea D

AVID Luiz might insist Jose Mourinho isn’t all that, but his club think differently after offering Paris Saint-Germain’s stars a staggering £180,000 per man if they beat Chelsea.

The French champions travel to Stamford Bridge needing to score in the second leg of their Champions League last16 tie against the Blues.

Edinson Cavani equalised at the Parc de Princes after Branislav Ivanovic had given Chelsea a lead three weeks ago.

And, if they manage to progress on leaving the capital, PSG will pay out 250,000 euros to each of the squad.

The Qatari owners are using their mammoth wealth to offer incentives to a team that has reached the quarter-

finals in both of the last two seasons.

With that in mind, Laurent Blanc’s side will scoop 1m euros (£716,000) each should they win Europe’s premier competition.

That though hinges on whether they are capable of negotiating a tricky away leg. West London was the scene in April last year when PSG blew a two-goal first leg lead and crashed out of the competition – Demba Ba scoring a late winner to put Chelsea through on away goals.

PSG’s players have already pocketed 100,000 euros (£71,600) a man for getting out of their group, with that to rise to 450,000 euros for a semi-final berth and 700,000 if they compete in the Berlin final on June 6.

L

•Luiz

Oduah calls for interim administrator for elections organised by Anambra FA “Umeh has been there the Umeh-led faction of

O

C M Y K

for 15 years and has nothing to show for it.

Why does he want to return?” Oduah asked.

Continuing, the state FA chief thanked the NFF for not recognising the

G

R E AT E R Manchester police are investigating after a vile racist tweet was posted attacking ex United star Danny Welbeck.

The player has also received death threats after scoring the winning goal for Arsenal in last night’s FA Cup quarter final at Old Trafford.

The tweet GMP are investigating was made by @AngelsLeftFoot and contains several outrageously racist words.

It was made after the Reds reject had knocked his old team out of the

FA Cup. A spokeswoman for GMP said: “We are aware of it and are investigating.”

The England star struck in the 61st minute rounding David De Gea after intercepting a shocking back pass from Antonio Valencia.

The FA Cup was United’s last chance of winning any silverware this season.

Other fans responding to the tweet slammed it as ‘hideous’ and ‘horrible’.

Welbeck, who was sold to the London side in the summer for £16m has also received a string of terrifying death threats.

Law makers offer to chase out Keshi

•Ivanovic

NE time Vice Chairman of the Anambra State Football Association, Prince Isidore Oduah has called on the Nigeria Football Federation to institute an interim administration for the Anambra State FA as a stop-gap measure to allow for a credible election that will usher in a new board.

In a chat with Sports Vanguard, the veteran football administrator frowned at the decision by the outgoing chairman of the state FA Chief Mike Umeh to return as chairman, urging him to forget the ambition and give way for new faces to come on board.

Welbeck gets Man United fans racists slur

the Anambra FA and the Akwa Ibom State FA . “I congratulate the NFF for the bold step they have taken in respect of the two state FA elections.''

EGISLATORS from the House of Representatives have offered to help chase Stephen Keshi out of the country as there is still no clear resolution over a new contract for the coach.

Chairman of the house committee on sports Godfrey Ali Gaiya made the sweeping remark during the sports ministry ’s budget defence.

“I have heard sweeping comments from your President and the man you say you intend to employ, Keshi, and both men have men on each other ’s neck. I have

tapes of their comments and this is very shameful,” said Gaiya.

“I have it on good authority what you the NFF want, but it seems you don’t have the guts to tell Keshi.

“We have seen the pains that Nigerians have gone through in the last days of Keshi on the job. Is it that you want us to continue in prayers when the Super Eagles file out for any game?

“Recently we have resorted to praying for Keshi to get another job so that you the NFF can be bold to take a decision.

“If you people don’t have the boldness to tell Keshi to go, we are ready to help you. We will call a meeting both

you the NFF and Keshi and tell Keshi that he should go.”

The Nigeria Football Federation will today meet with the out-ofcontract coach over the new contract offered him.

•Gaya

Flying Eagles tackle giant killers Congo T

•Manu

HE junior national team, the Flying Eagles will book their ticket to the FIFA U20 World Cup with a win over giant killers Congo in a second group game today in Dakar, Senegal.

The Junior Eagles got off to a flying start when they defeated hosts Senegal 3-1 in their opening game on Sunday, while Congo forced Cote d’Ivoire to

a 1-1 draw in the second game in Group A after a strong performance in the second-half.

Congo, who won the 2007 African Youth Championship by beating Nigeria 1-0 on home soil, sent defending champions Egypt packing from this year ’s tournament 3-2 on aggregate after they won the home leg 2-0.

They also accounted

for Niger and Benin Republic, both after penalty shootouts.

They are in Senegal with five full internationals led by striker Kader Georges Bidimbou and Hardy Binguila.

Two of their top stars – Raphael Ebera and Constantin Bakaki – who did not feature in the game against Cote d’Ivoire, but will be available on Wednesday after they

served out suspensions from the qualifying matches.

They are therefore a very dangerous preposition.

“They have a very organized defence and they are a very physical side,” remarked Flying Eagles assistant coach Nduka Ugbade, who watched the Junior Red Devils play against Cote d’Ivoire alongside the rest of the squad on Sunday.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015— 63

Keshi can’t succeed outside Nigeria —Babayaro E

MMANUEL Babayaro says the reason why out of contract Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi is holding on to continue in his role is because he won’t succeed outside Nigeria. The outspoken Atalanta 96 gold medallist insists if Keshi is not afraid of failure outside his comfort zone he would have moved on as it is clear from the body

•Babayaro

language of the NFF they are not keen on him.

“It’s clear to see why Keshi is willing to hold on to the Eagles job against all odds,he is afraid of failure,he knows too well what brought about the success he early achieved with the Eagles,” he told SL10.ng.

“The Super Eagles job is a comfort zone for him cashing on the players talent and abilities to make a name for himself furthermore it’s only here in Nigeria that he can get away with inviting bench warmers,injured and clubless players.”

When reminded that Keshi was a hit in Togo and Mali, Babayaro floored his achievements as short term. “Did he succeed in Togo? Yes but Emmanuel Adebayor did most of the jobs by scoring vital goals that propelled the team to the World Cup in 2006, easy to see why the team flopped when Keshi had a misunderstanding with him.

AFN targets All Africa Games ttop op spo spott

By Ben Efe

A

•Keshi

THLETICS Federation of Nigeria officials are targeting a clean sweep of the All African Games billed for September in Congo Brazzaville after the Nigerian team made a triumphant return from the African Junior championships in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last weekend.

Nigeria won 12 gold, eight silver, and seven bronze medals. South Africa was second with nine gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals, while the host country Ethiopia was third with six gold, 12 silver and ten bronze medals.

Nigeria’s cause was helped by Divine Oduduru and Ese Brume who won three gold medals each in their respective events in the sprints and the jumps.

“We are very excited

winning the African junior back to back.

Even more interesting is the fact that we won in areas like men’s decathlon and pole vault, which are not our specialties,” said AFN technical director, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama.

He added that the next assignment will be the African youth championships for under-17 athletes. The event is billed for Mauritius in April.

Nigeria won the maiden edition hosted by Delta State in Warri 2013.

•Ogba

Laloko knocks Danagogo over Mourinho, Guardiola

By Solomon Nwoke

S

PORTS minister, T a m m y Danagogo yesterday recommended for the hiring of Chelsea handler, Jose Mourinho or Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola if their efforts to get Stephen Keshi for the Super Eagles failed.

The minister’s recommendation has received knocks from the former Technical Director of NFA, Chief Kashimawo Laloko who described it as ‘unserious’ Danagogo had warned NFF should Keshi not be given the job, a coach with a lesser pedigree than Keshi should not be employed adding that, “we should be looking at coaches in the class of the Jose Mourinho’s of this world, Pep Guardiola...

Those are the kind of coaches we should be looking at”.

But Speaking to Sports Vanguard yesterday, Chief Laloko was bemused at the minister’s recommendation as he said that whoever gave such advice did not know what he was doing.

He said, “ they are not serious! Can they pay Jose Mourinho? Can they pay Pep Guardiola? The

person saying this does not know what he’s doing.

They don’t know what they are doing. Where will they get the money to pay any of these coaches should they hire them?" . These coaches are not hungry coaches and what

kind of contract terms are they going to discuss with them. The minister should leave the NFF alone to do their job” He however declined to speak on the controversy mounting on whether Keshi should be given another contract or not.

•Danagogo C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Kick-off: 5.30pm

F/Eagles tackle giant killers Congo

Page 62

Lawmakers offer to chase out Keshi Page 62

PSG players to pocket £180,000 each if they beat Chelsea Page 62

Today's, Matches Bayern v Shakhtar 8.45 pm Chelsea v Paris SG 8.45 pm

Keshi can’t succeed outside Nigeria — Babayaro

Page 63

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

TUESD AY'S TUESDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Mistake (4) 4 Barrier (3) 6 Compassion (4) 8 Rivulet (6) 9 Character (6) 10 Snoop (3) 12 Sorrow (5) 14 Seat (5) 15 Old-fashioned (5) 18 Calm (6) 20 Sarcastic (6) 24 Called (5) 26 Observe (5) 28 Might (5) 30 Spout (3) 32 Delight (6) 33 Worshipped (6) 34 Whirlpool (4) 35 Child (3) 36 Location (4)

DOWN 2 Subsequently (5) 3 Lead (7) 4 Heap (4) 5 Numerous (4) 6 Throw (5) 7 Bus-stations (7) 11 Fish-eggs (3) 12 Fuel (3) 13 Enthusiast (3) 16 Number (3) 17 Obscure (3) 19 Empowered (7) 21 Material (3) 22 Smelly (7) 23 Dog (3) 25 Hatchet (3) 27 Ridiculous (5) 29 Upright (5) 30 Joke (4) 31 Sour (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Crisp 7, Lithe 8, Crate Anger 12, Owe 13, Start 15, Meddled Mortal 19, Sod 20, Limited 23, Seed Drip 26, Severed 30, Car 31, Donate Arsenal 37, Demur 38, Din 39, Large Bench 41, Edged 42, Seedy.

10, 17, 25, 34, 40,

DOWN: 1, Ditto 2, Chart 3, Rental 4, Seem 5, Prodded 6, Steep 9, Awl 11, Resided 13, Smash 14, Aries 16, Dot 18, Literal 21, Dream 22, Upper 24, Decency 27, Van 28, Dodged 29, Order 32, Needy 33, Tuned 35, Sin 36, Late.

How to Play Sudoku

P

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

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

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

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C M Y K