Buhari backs amnestyfor Boko Haram:US commends FG's peace proposal

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61858

THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

N40BN PENSION SCAM:

BAYELSA KILLINGS:

EFCC re-arraigns seven suspects •P.8

Three suspects •P.7 nabbed

Buhari backs amnesty for Boko Haram

BY EMMA UJAH, VICTORIA OJEME, EMMA ELEBEKE, DAUD OLATUNJI & RUTH ODINIYA

•US commends FG's peace proposal •The sect doesn't deserve amnesty — Sen. Sawa

PENSION SCAM:

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B E O K U TA — FORMER Head of State and National leader of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd.) has thrown his weight behind the proposed amnesty for Islamic sect, Boko Haram, Continues on Page 5

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COLUMNISTS:

Is'haq Modibbo Kawu

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OCHEREOME NNANNA •P.19

Josef Omorotionmwan •P.19

Mr & Mrs

ONE BILLION NAIRA FRAUD SUSPECT —

FCT High Court in Abuja, yesterday. Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Police Pension Fund scam suspect, Veronica Onyegbula at

You're not above the law, Presidency tells Leadership journalists•P.8

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tection of the Delta." Besides, Lawless said his country “is also committed to partner with Nigeria to enhance regional maritime security and to reduce the inflow of small arms and light weapons”.

BUHARI IN OGUN—Former Head of State,Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, addressing party supporters at the Presidential Lodge during his courtesy visit to Abeokuta, Ogun State, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Buhari backs amnesty for Boko Haram Continues from page 1 commending the Federal Government for setting up a committee that will look into the feasi-

bility of granting amnesty to the sect's members.

This came as the United States described the step taken by the Federal Government as a positive development

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

You cannot make your candle brighter by blowing out the other guy’s own, each candl is capable of lighting several others.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

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HIS beautiful allegorical story best illustrates how to continue and never give in achieving your goals. “Today I decided to quit my job, my relationship, my Spirituality. To quit everything. I went into the woods to be alone.

To my amazement God said to me, “dear Child, look around. Do you see the fern and the bamboo?”

“Yes”, I replied. “When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor.

“Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second, third and fourth year, the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

“Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just six months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.”

God said to me. “Did you know that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? Your time will come.” God said to me.”You will rise high” ”How high should I rise”, I asked. “How high will the bamboo rise?” God asked in return. “As high as it can?” Keep Faith in your Heart. Never Give Up.

and promised to work with government on the issue.

General Buhari spoke with newsmen in Abeokuta, yesterday, after condoling with the Matriarch of the Awolowo family, Mrs. HID Awolowo in Ikenne over the death of her son, Chief Oluwole Awolowo. He said he was in support of any move to bring about peace in the country.

The former Head of State who was accompanied by former Speaker of House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Masari; National Chairman, CPC, Chief Tony Momoh and pastor of Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare said, “it is good that they have set up a committee on amnesty. I have not seen the terms of reference but, it is a right step in the right direction.

“This is not the first time amnesty would be given to a violent group, you remember it happened in the time of Yar 'Adua when he granted amnesty to militants in the Niger Delta. Whatever that would bring us peace as a society, we should do it”.

US commends FG's peace proposal

Meanwhile, Political Counsellor at the United States Embassy, Gregory Lawless, who spoke on the proposed amnesty for Boko Haram members during a teleconference in Abuja on US-Nigeria Binational Commission, said: “We are working with the Nigerian government as a group to embrace a more holistic approach to the issue of violent extremism, whether it is in the North or other areas. We think it is a positive development. We will work with the Nigerian government as it develops its own policy approach to counter violent extremism. We provided lessons learned from our post-September 11 experiences in an effort to strengthen Nigeria’s community engagement and strategic communication efforts.

“We offered to help Nigeria develop an intelligence fusion centre to improve their intelligence, analysis, and dissemination efforts, although Nigerian officials are still deciding their scope and mission requirements for such a centre.

“We agreed to collaborate further to build on Nigeria’s amnesty programme by advancing economic development and environmental pro-

Boko Haram does not deserve amnesty —Senator Sawa A retired army Colonel and Senator in the Second Republic, Sen. Andramus Sawa, has, however, disagreed with the proposed amnesty, saying unless the sect members show remorse for the calamity they have done to hundreds of families whose breadwinners, relations have been killed and apologize to the nation, amnesty should not be granted to them.

Speaking on the ‘Focus Nigeria” programme of the African Independent Television, AIT, in Abuja, yesterday, he insisted that the Federal Government should not grant amnesty to a sect that has not shown remorse for the thousands of innocent Nigerians it had killed nor shown any sign of repentance.

He said government has no reason granting amnesty to an unrepentant group which is out to Islamize Nigeria by killing thousands of innocent Nigerians.

His words: “I want to say it clearly that the process of Boko Haram being given amnesty is not right. Gradually we are knowing them the more and, we shall expose them and when we expose them; we want government to do something about it.

“The government can’t just fold its hands and be watching our brothers and sisters being killed.

When people talk about

amnesty, I know some who are my friends and some who are my nephews and also know some, who are my very close relations, who were killed in Maiduguri, killed in Potiskum, killed in various places here in Adamawa State, for no just cause.

“Nothing has been done to them in areas of orientation, so how can the Federal Republic of Nigeria be talking about setting up a committee.

Committee for what?

Committee to do what?

To give amnesty to who, to murderers? In fact, the issue of amnesty should not even be discussed”.

Continuing, Sawa said: “Let the sponsors of Boko Haram sit down and know what to do. I am a Christian and I will never be a Muslim. I will remain a Christian until I leave this earth, when the God Almighty has brought me to accomplish what he wants me to accomplish.

“No one can stop me because no one has power to do that. So, the sponsors know themselves. Now, let me ask a question, how can someone tell you that Boko Haram has no face, they are faceless? But what he will be telling you is that he wants you to give them amnesty.

Amnesty to whom? Let them unveil those boys and let us know who these boys are before we can start talking about anything. Amnesty is an impossibility."

Sen. Sawa further said that the ongoing onslaught of Boko Haram was a continuation of the campaign of forceful Islamization of Northern Nigeria, which began with the Usman Fodio Jihad. He, however, insisted that it was impossible to Islamize the North, describing the campaign as an effort in futility.

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

Gunmen kill 4 Borno school c'ttee members, 3 others

BY INUSA NDAHI

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AIDUGURI — FOUR members of the Borno Boarding Secondary Schools Feeding Committee were, yesterday, shot dead by some gunmen suspected to be members of the Jamatul Ahlis Sunnah lid Daawa wal Jihad popularly known as Boko Haram in Dikwa Local Government Area of the state.

The committee was set up by Governor Kashim Shettima to monitor feeding system of secondary schools in the state.

Those shot dead are the Chairman of the sub committee in charge of Borno central,; Alhaji Tijjani Mafi; former Maiduguri Government House accountant, Alhaji Modu Kura Gubio; Alhaji Buba Gubo Zannah and the driver.

Our correspondent gathered that the four were on their way to condole with families of one of their associates in Logumani town in Dikwa Local Government Area of the state.

At press time, families of the deceased and the Commissioner for Education, Musa Inuwa Kubo, were seen at the Government House, Maiduguri making arrangement to get police escort that would convey the corpses to Maiduguri for burial.

In a related development, some gunmen attacked Gwoza Local Government Area and shot dead three people who were playing cards under a tree, Tuesday evening.

The killings in Gwoza, according to its Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Alhaji Audu Boka, were perpetrated by three suspected gunmen on a motorcycle in Gadamayo ward of Gwoza town at 4.30pm, Tuesday.

Police nab dispenser for injecting woman to death

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS — POLICEMEN attached to Ipaja division in Lagos, have arrested a patent medicine retailer who allegedly injected a 24-year-old woman to death in Shagari Estate of Ipaja.

The suspect identified as Jonathan Ojelabi, was said to have injected the deceased, simply identified as Sophia, who was visiting her fiancé, simply called Obi, in preparation for their traditional marriage billed for May. The late Sophia, 24, according to reports, left her home town in Anambra State hale and hearty but reportedly took ill on arrival in Lagos.

The patent medicine retailer was said to have visited the wouldbe couple at their block DF 47, Shagari Estate, where he allegedly injected her as treatment for her ailment.

But apprehension reportedly set in after Sophia’s ill health got worse. Eye witnesses said she started vomiting.

Sophia was said to have been rushed to an undisclosed private hospital, where she eventually died.

The 46-year-old patent medicine retailer was subsequently arrested by policemen who were contacted, and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

Man docked for assault, unlawful possession

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS —A 25- year old man, Ochuga Gabriel, was yesterday, arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court, by the police for allegedly assaulting one Edache Solomon and also being in unlawful possession of £3720.

Gabriel, who was docked before Magistrate Dan Oni, is facing a two-count charge bordering on assault and unlawful possession.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Edet Okoi, told the court that the defendant committed the said offence on March 31, 2013 at about 11.30 p.m in Ajah area of Lagos.

Okoi said on the same day Gabriel assaulted one Edache Solomon he was unlawfully having £3720 in his possession, suspected to have been stolen.

He added that during investigation, the defendant said that he picked the said money from the ground.

The prosecutor added that the offence committed was punishable under sections 168 and 327, laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011.

KEROSENE SCARCITY:

yesterday. Photo: NAN.

A crowd waiting to purchase kerosene at Nigerian National Pe

7-year-old boy, 27 others killed by Fulani herdsmen 13-year-old girl raped As women, children barricade Makurdi-Lafia road

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BY PETER DURU

AKURDI — TWENTY EIGHT persons, including a seven-year-old boy, have been reportedly killed in a fresh bloody conflict that erupted between Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen at Mbalagh council ward, just three kilomotres from Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Seventeen other people were also said to be missing in the last two days following the wanton killings and destruction of property in the area by the invaders.

Vanguard gathered that the Fulani invasion of the community forced women and children who suffered the most in the violence to barricade the MakurdiLafia expressway, yesterday, in protest over the insensitivity of the state government to their plight.

The action led to hours of gridlock on the ever busy road until soldiers from the 72 Airborne Brigade, Markurdi, intervened and dispersed the crowd.

Speaking to newsmen on the development, 45-year-old Mayam Matthew, who was battered on his right eyes, alleged that the women trooped out to draw government’s attention to their plight.

Matthew, an indigene of the affected community, said: “The last straw which forced the women to the streets as early as 7:00am, yesterday, was the case of a 13-year-old girl that was raped by three Fulani invaders.”

Meantime, the member representing Makurdi North in the state House of Assembly, Mr. Avine Agbom, has questioned

the involvement of the military in a civil peaceful protest which had the blessing of the Benue Police Command.

He said: “I think the military are wrongly involved in this matter because the operation carried out was highly sophisticated. The operation was too professional.”

While condemning the attack on the protesting women, Agbom queried the authority of the suspected troops whom he

said dispersed the protesters using force which he claimed eventually led to the death of one boy and several injured persons now in the hospital.

In his reaction, Secretary of Maiyatty Allah, Cattle rearers, Alhaji Garus Galolo, denied the allegation that Fulanis killed Tiv farmers, adding that those making the allegation were yet to tell the world the truth.

Assassins after me, says Adamawa dep gov

BY UMAR YUSUF

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OLA —ADAMAWA State Deputy Governor, Mr Bala James Ngilari, a lawyer, has alerted that assassins are after his life.

“My life is in danger as well as my family’s. Assassins are bent on eliminating me. I don’t know what I have done to warrant people threatening to kill me," Ngilari said in Yola, yesterday.

His allegation followed recent attack on his private residence in Madagali Local Government Area of the state in which 14 people were killed and nine others critically injured.

The deputy governor said barely five days after his country home was attacked, one of his daughters, an unnamed 15-yearold, was Tuesday abducted in his private residence in Abuja by unknown gunmen.

According to him, at about 7:30pm on Tuesday, unknown people broke into his house in

Abuja, kidnapped his daughter, threw her over the fence and whisked her away.

He added that the kidnappers started interrogating the girl, demanding to know where her father was.

“At gun point, the kidnappers were demanding from the girl my whereabouts. She told them she was not aware of my whereabouts. They molested her. They tormented her and threatened to kill her,” the deputy governor alleged.

He said after holding the girl for about three hours, she was thrown out of the bus by the abductors.

He dismissed the insinuation that the attack on his country home and the abduction of his daughter had anything to do with Boko Haram.

Ngilari also declined that the attacks had any connection with religion, but carried out by assassins threatening to eliminate him.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013—7

4 policemen arraigned for allegedly killing 2 over N50

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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etroleum Corporation, NNPC's, mega station on Abiola Way in Abeokuta, Ogun State,

Bayelsa killings: 3 suspects nabbed My brother died unmarried —Victim’s sibling

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA— NO fewer than three suspects have been reportedly arrested in connection with last Friday’s killing of 12 policemen in the creek of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Though it could not be confirmed from the state police command, it was reliably learnt that the suspects who were apprehended around the Southern Ijaw axis of the state by the combined operatives of the Joint Task Force and the police are now assisting security operatives with vital information.

One of the suspects, a security source told our correspondent, is an indigene of Azuzuama community, one from Delta State but the state of origin of the third suspect could not be ascertained.

The suspects, according to the source, were being held in a facility he refused to disclose for security reason.

“Effort to unmask the killers of our colleagues is yielding result with the recent arrest of three suspects in the creeks of the Southern Ijaw council area in connection with the killing. The manhunt will continue until all those involved are brought to book,” the source said.

Decomposing corpses await autopsy Meantime, the recovered decomposing corpses of the slain policemen deposited at the Federal Medical Centre are awaiting autopsy, it was further learnt.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex

Akhigbe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, declined comment on the development.

He said: “I don’t have to speak on that yet. It will not be in the interest of police investigation as it could jeopardize ongoing effort to bring the culprits to book. At the appropriate time you will be availed all necessary information on the development.”

My brother died without a wife – Victim's sibling Brother to one of the 12 slain policemen, Mr. Victor Ebebi, yesterday, lamented the loss of his younger brother who never had

the opportunity to marry before he met his untimely death.

He said: “The only regret I have over the killing of my brother is that he did not get married before his demise.”

Victor Ebebi, who painted a pitiable sight, in an interview in Yenagoa said he still believed that his 31-year-old brother was alive and may be missing in the creek.

Victor, one of the family members of the victims, who besieged the FMC Waterside to check the corpses of the slain policemen, said his brother had put in seven years in the Police Force before the sad incident.

Minimum wage: Police teargas protesting teachers

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI — A PROTEST march by aggrieved primary school teachers drawn from the 23 local government areas of Benue State, Tuesday, went awry at the main entrance of the Benue State Government House where many, including women, were thoroughly beaten by security personnel who also fired teargas canisters at the protesters.

The action of the security operatives created a stampede which left many of the aggrieved teachers with varying degree of injuries.

The teachers had converged on their numbers as early as 9a.m at the state secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, from where they mobilised for the peaceful march which terminated at the Government House where they expected Governor Gabriel

Suswam to address them.

Some of them bore placards which had inscriptions like: “Suswam don’t kill primary school education in Benue; No minimum wage no work; No teacher no education and We are tired of this government’s fake promises.”

However, tempers rose among the protesters at the entrance of the Government House, when the state chairman of the NLC, Comrade Simon Anchaver, addressed them and pleaded that he and other representatives be delegated to discuss their grievances with Governor Suswam who was already waiting.

At this point, the angry teachers started raining abuses on the NLC Chairman, while some started charging at him, it was in the mist of that confusion that some overzealous security personnel started beating up the protesting teachers.

ORT HARCOURT — FOUR police officers were, yesterday, arraigned before a high court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for allegedly killing two persons and shooting another in the foot over a failed attempt to extort N50 from a bus driver.

The suspects, ASP Omorogbe, Inspector Emmason Udo, Hadiza Musa and Samirah Ileya of the Abacha Road Police Station, Obia/Akpor locality of Port Harcourt were alleged to have shot the victims sometimes in 2010 while the driver of the commercial bus in which the victims were riding attempted to escape from the policemen who demanded N50 from him at a check point.

They were said to have been arrested on the orders of then Police Commissioner who insisted on their being tried for alleged killings.

In the suit No PHC/858/2010 filed against the suspects, the applicant, Ifeanyi Echemazu, whose mother in-law was shot in the leg said he took the action to pursue justice for his motherin-law and the two passengers who died during the ordeal.

“The suspects thought nobody was alive to testify against them in this matter, but Mrs. Christiana Aliko who was hit on the leg is here to testify that those who boarded the vehicle were passengers and not robbers as the suspects claimed,” Mr Chidi Ekah, counsel to the applicant told the court.

He added that the driver of the commercial bus whose resistance to the alleged N50 extortion provoked the fatal shooting is also alive to tell the story.

Justice Georgewill of State High Court who presided over the hearing, however, adjourned the matter to April 23, 2013 to allow the applicant and defence counsel time to present more witnesses.

Boy maimed through electrocution petitions Rivers Assembly

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT — A BOY, Ukechukwu Ewurum, who had his right hand severed as a result of a Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, power line electrocution has petitioned the Rivers State House of Assembly, RVHA. The 12-year-old, resident of Mile 2, Diobu, Port Harcourt, in the petition brought before the House, yesterday, is holding PHCN responsible for the accident involving a carelessly sagging power line from the company’s facility which fell on a building handrail he held close to their home.

The petition through the parents of the victim and presented

by Hon. Austin Ngor of Abua/Odual Constituency also said the electrocution also affected the stomach of Master Ewurun and has hindered his schooling as he battles for his life.

The petitioner who is of the view that PHCN should take responsibility for the accident stated that all efforts to get the management of the company in Port Harcourt to take appropriate action over the damage has been resisted.

The petitioners, therefore, prayed the House to prevail on PHCN to take some form of responsibility in minimising the impact of the incident on the boy while also imploring the Rivers State Government to provide some assistance to the boy whose life, they say, would never be the same again.

Plateau govt blames violence on cattle rustling

BY TAYE OBATERU

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OS — THE Plateau State Government has blamed cattle rus tling for the ethnic violence which resulted in killings and displacement in Langtang North and Wase Local Government Areas of the state in the past one week.

Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Yiljap Abraham, said at the end of a security council meeting, yesterday, that stealing of cows and other criminal activities by some miscreants sowed the bad blood resulting in the hostilities.

He said the activities of those taking the law into their hands through various criminal activities were promoting the violence but said government had initiated steps to checkmate them.

He said security agencies in the state had been mandated to bring the criminals to book and prevent them from threatening the peace of the affected areas.

Yiljap described reports on the number of those killed in hostilities in the two local governments as exaggerated.

8—Vanguard , THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

INEC: Jega, directors on war path over restructuring

N40bn pension scam: EFCC re-arraigns 7 suspects Fracas as thugs attack journalists

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU BUJA—THE on-going restructuring exercise in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, may have set the senior staff of the Commission and the National Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega on a “war” path.

Most of the directors affected by the shake-up announced on Tuesday were still unsettled with many of them expressing anxiety on their fate following the reorganization effected by Jega.

Many of them left early for home, yesterday, while some stayed away from office apparently because they were still in the dark on the new portfolios they would be assigned to if any.

Chief Press Secretary to the chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, however, told Vanguard, yesterday, that many of the directors affected by the reorganization would get over it even as he assured that it was not unexpected as he said INEC was an ongoing project.

Professor Jega had on Tuesday stunned the Commission by carrying out restructuring where various directorates and departments were collapsed into others which pruned down the directorates from 26 to nine.

Already, tongues have started waging, signaling disaffection with the development even as some alleged that the chairman unilaterally took the decision without consultations or meetings with other stakeholders in the Commission.

Even though no one would comment on the issue for fear of being victimized, it was learnt that the exercise was not transparently done as it targeted perceived “enemies” of the chairman who were also considered as unwanted distractions.

Mr. Idowu, however, deferred saying that the exercise was done to effectively reposition the Commission for the task ahead in 2015 and beyond.

His words: “INEC is undergoing reorganization. It is a process that started a long time. We have spoken about it in public that it is ongoing. These are phases of that reorganization. Departments are going to take off in the new configuration headed by people and these people have just been assigned".

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI BUJA—IT was drama ga lore at the Federal Capital Territory High Court at Maitama yesterday, as the key suspect in the alleged illegal diversion of over N40billion from the Police Pension Fund, Mrs. Uzoma Cyril Attang, directed thugs to physically assault journalists that came to cover her arraignment.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had maintained that it successfully traced about N1.1billion to one of the bank accounts operated by Mrs. Attang, who is still in service as Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Communications.

She was, hitherto, the Chief Accountant of the PPF where she served between 2003 and 2008.

Meanwhile, irked by what she termed “unfavourable media reportage”, Attang who was docked by the EFCC, alongside six former police pension officials yesterday, monitored as a horde of thugs she brought to court, attacked photojournalists inside the high court premises.

In the ensuing fracas, two of the photojournalists were severely manhandled, even as it took the intervention of security men to recover their cameras.

It would be recalled that Attang was absent in court when the other alleged pension thieves were initially arraigned before Justice Albubakar Thalba on March 29, 2012 and were subsequently remanded in prison custody.

According to an 18-count amended criminal charge the EFCC entered before the high court, Attang was the accountant in charge of the police pension fund when N7.8billion was stolen through 10,863 cheques.

Aside tracing over 20 choice assets belonging to her, the EFCC, alleged that the accused person personally signed 1,042 cheques to the tune of N1, 141,309,080.25.

The anti-graft agency further alleged that she used several companies to defraud the police pension office, among which included Royal Diadem Business Logistic Limited, Amazing Grace Property Development Company, Enyiuzo Ventures Limited, Status Symbols Rentals Limited, Status Travels and Tours Limited, Quillponte and Anifon Nigeria Limited.

Meantime, she yesterday pleaded not guilty to the charge and was allowed to go home by trial Justice Husseini Baba on the same bail conditions that were previously given to her coaccused persons by Justice

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Thalba who handled the trial abinitio.

EFCC opted to transfer the case from Justice Thalba following the slap-on-the-wrist sen-

tence he handed to one of the accused persons, John Yakubu Yusufu, who was on January 28, sentenced to two years imprisonment with a fine option

of N750, 000, after he confessed that he conspired with the other accused persons and stole about N23 billion from the police pension fund.

MEETING—From right: Vice President Namadi Sambo; Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, SGF; Alhaji Goni Abba Aji, Head of Service and Chief Mike Oghiadomen, Chief of Staff to the President, during the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council, at the State House, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida

Presidency to Leadership Newspaper: You are not above the law

BY BEN AGANDE

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HE presidency, yesterday, said the invitation by the Nigeria Police Force to Leadership newspaper over its story which purported that a presidential directive had been issued to clamp down on opposition parties and its key figures should not be seen as an attempt to stifle the press but as part of police responsibilities to ensure that it acted in the public interest.

In a response to Leadership position that the invitation of its editors and reporters was part of government plan to abridge the freedom of the press, the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said rather than view the invitation from this context, it behoves on Leadership and the media to ‘to double check their claims, and where errors had been made, to quickly retract the story’.

The Leadership newspapers had in a banner headline alleged that government had issued a presidential directive to security agencies to truncate the propose merger of opposition parties to present a formidable challenge to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the coming elections.

Following the disavowal of the presidentcy to the existence of such directive, Leadership newspaper published a bro-

mide of what it said was the directive, prompting the police to invite and subsequently detained some of its editors for a day before they were released.

The newspaper restated that it stood by the authenticity of its story.

But in a reply titled “Leadership Newspaper, Media Responsibility and the Police” Dr Abati said freedom of speech which this government has not only guarded by promoting, comes with responsibility which Leadership newspapers owe to have imbibed.

According to him, rather than play the victim, Leadership newspapers ought to have done a soul searching and “see this as an opportunity to co-operate with the police as required by the laws of the land”.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement by the Leadership Newspaper titled “Statement on the Arrest and Detention of LEADERSHIP journalists” (April 10), the latest episode in the matters arising from the same newspaper’s publication of an alleged “Presidential Directive” which we have had cause to disavow because the basis of the story proved to have been a dubious ‘bromide’ containing nothing more than “a mishmash of carefully arranged and concocted lies, presented to the public as evidence of a doc-

ument emanating from the presidency.” Yet, the Leadership newspaper insisted that “it stood by its story.

“As a responsible government committed to providing good governance and protecting the rule of law, the rebuttal from the presidency was appropriate; yet its symbolism runs far deeper. It ordinarily ought to have motivated all concerned with or related to the process and issues contained therein, particularly the publishers and editors, to double check their claims, and where errors had been made, to quickly retract the story. This would have been in line with the ethics of professionalism, good conduct and unbiased reporting.

“This approach reflects the crucial role of a bridge which a bestpractice media performs, in the management of the civil engagement between elected officials and the citizenry. Underpinning this social contract is the principle that the freedom of expression goes hand in hand with great responsibility. Given the Leadership Newspaper’s insistence that it stood by its story, questions are automatically raised about professional ethics and the social responsibility of the media, which certainly, by the rules and codes of practice of the various media associations in the country do not accommodate the publication of falsehood, or inciting material, or the abuse of the media’s

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013—9

SURE-P invests N572bn on infrastructure in 2012

BY OMOH GABRIEL, BUSINESS EDITOR

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HE Federal Government Sub sidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SUREP, has intervened in the various sectors of the economy with about

N572billion in the one year of its operation.

The interventions Vanguard gathered were targeted towards improving the country’s infrastructure significantly as well as help to create millions of jobs for Nigerians.

The SURE-P budgeted N21.7 billion to cover the dualisation of the East-West roads.

According to documents sighted by Vanguard, SURE-P has intervened in the Benin-Ore -Sagamu road with N16.5 billion. The project is ongoing.

In the same vein, SURE-P has put a total of N14billion in the ongoing Abuja-Lokoja road. Also the sum of N5billion has been put on the Port Harcourt-Onitsha road from the savings made from the partial withdrawal of subsidy being warehoused by SUR-P .

The Kano-Maiduguri road to which the Federal Government had previously allocated N18.5 billion has also benefited from the savings from subsidy withdrawal to the tune of N1.5 billion. Work on the projects stakeholders say has a long way to go.

Another project that has benefited from the savings according to SURE-P records is the second Niger Bridge to which the sum of N5.5 billion has been allocated by SURE-P but the project is yet to take off.

Oweto bridge is yet another project that has benefited from the subsidy removal savings. It has so far been allocated the sum of N4 billion. ccording to SURE-P record, maintenance of roads and bridges across the country take N23.5billion from the savings gathered from subsidy withdrawal. Power projects from 2012 to

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Security has improved in the North — Gov Aliyu

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Alamieyeseigha's pardon: US remains adamant

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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BUJA—THE United States government has said that it has not changed its objection to the presidential pardon granted former Bayelsa governor, Deprieye Alamieyesegha.

The US government had recently condemned the pardon granted the former governor, insisting that the gesture was a set back on the war against corruption.

Speaking in Abuja, yesterday, during a teleconference on USNigeria Binational Commission, Political Counsellor, Embassy of

the United States of America, Gregory Lawless, said “the situation has not changed”.

He, however, stressed that the objection to the pardon and Federal Government rebuke not withstanding, the relationship between the two countries remains strong.

He said: “We have a very mature relationship. So we can recognize our differences and opinions on issues. We are moving on as we have a lot of things to do”.

On the achievement of the binational commission, Lawless said the commission had successfully integrated civil society into the electoral process prior to the 2011

elections.

He also noted that the commission, among other things, had been able to sustain and elevated dialogue with energy sector officials on energy policy reforms to increase investment.

US and Nigeria, Lawless further said had also agreed to explore a partnership with the Nigerian Army to build its civil affairs capacity to enhance trust between Nigeria’s citizens and the military.

He stated that the energy and investment working group has focused primarily on reform of Nigeria’s power and hydrocarbon sectors.

INNA—GOVERNOR Ba bangida Aliyu of Niger State, yesterday, said that the security situation in parts of the north had improved in recent t i m e s .

Aliyu, however, called on Nigerians to join hands to ensure that peace and tranquillity reigned supreme in the region.

He made the remark when he received members of West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacy and the Arewa Transformation Support Initiative that visited him in Minna.

He said: “Things are calm now in the region, but we are not out of the woods yet. Everyone should work toward a permanent solution to the security situation in the north and the country".

The governor suggested that governments should make it compulsory for Islamic and Christian religions to be taught in schools, to promote permanent peace in the north.

“If Boko Haram members are vast in the Islamic religion, they will not kill anybody because Islam says there is no compulsion in religion,” Aliyu said.

He added that ignorance and poverty were other causes of the crises in parts of the country, emphasising the need for parents to pay more attention to the education of their children.

2015 (Mambilla power plant, Coal Power Plant and Small Hydro power plants) will gulp a total of N155 billion. Other projects are Abuja-Kaduna rail line N11.6 billion; Lagos-Ibadan rail line though yet to start N9.3 billion.

The National Teachers Institute for the retraining of teachers and Vocational Training Centres has N24.6 billion allocation from the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme. Maternal and Child heath draws N78.3 billion from the fund. Rural water scheme, water supply scheme, irrigation scheme and other water related projects the programme which is yet to start has a budget of N205.5 billion.

According to SURE-P reports on railways, contracts have been awarded for Jebba- Kano railway rehabilitation project with a commitment of N8 billion from SUREP ; PH – Makurdi Railway Rehabilitation Project; Makurdi - Kanfanchan - Kuru - Jos & Kanfanchan -Kaduna Junction Railway Rehabilitation Project; Kuru – Maiduguri Railway Rehabilitation Project with a commitment of N15 billion from SURE-P; and Abuja (Idu) - Kaduna Railway Modernisation Project with a commitment of N10.29 billion from SURE-P.

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nder the roads and bridg es project, SURE-P report claims that she is committing the total sum of N21.7 billion for the Warri – Kaiama; Port Harcourt – Kaiama; Port Harcourt – Eket; Eket – Oron sections of the EastWest Road in 2012. Also commitment to the tune of N85.5 billion have been made to Abuja - Abaji – Lokoja Dual Carriageway (Four Sections); Benin - Ore – Sagamu Dual Carriageway (Three Sections); Onitsha - Enugu – Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway (Three Sections); Kano - Maiduguri Dual Carriageway (Five Sections); Construction of Oju/ Loko - Oweto Bridge; and Construction of 2nd Niger Bridge at Onitsha in 2102.

SURE-P report on infrastructural development projects (roads) also claimed the programme has developed a robust structure to ensure adequate oversight, accountability and implementation of its various programmes.

Sub-committees have been constituted to be in charge of the various work streams. Two subcommittees are responsible to ensure adequate oversight, accountability and implementation of the road projects under the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Works.

The subcommittees are supported by qualified professional staff based in the Performance and Results Unit at the SURE-P secretariat. The subcommittees are responsible for certifying work done for payment based on the recommendation of the performance and results unit.

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

Adeboye encourages expectant mothers

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

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AGOS—GENERAL Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has advised expectant mothers not to lose hope as God has not forgotten them, adding that they ought to thank God in all circumstances.

Speaking during a special prayer session for pregnant women and expectant mothers at the national headquarters of the church in Ebute Meta in Lagos, Adeboye said the delay in the women not having fruit of the womb di not mean God had forgotten them.

He said: “One of the major reasons for marriage is to have a God-fearing offspring to succeed us, but occasionally delay means that God is preparing you for something special."

Balogun traders petition Fashola over eviction

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS—TRADERS of Balogun market, under the umbrella of Ultra Modern Traders Association, have called on Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State to wade into the brewing crisis over their forceful ejection from their market on April 3.

Some of the traders, yesterday, stormed the State House, office of the Governor, in Alausa, to submit a letter requesting the governor to use his office to constitute a committee to resolve the crisis.

Solicitor to the traders, Mr. Onu Uche, who signed the letter, copied the Attorney-General and the Commissioner for Justice, told newsmen that the traders’ ordeal started after a court judgment in favour of Chief Ganiyu Balogun as original owner of the plaza led to the forceful closure of the plaza where the traders used to carry out their lawful business.

FG reassures on UTME, NECO As fears of job loss grip JAMB staff

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI & JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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AGOS—INDICATIONS emerged, yesterday, that the Federal Government may have soft-pedaled on the scrapping of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, examination, UTME; and the National Examinations Council, NECO, as recommended by the Mr. Steve Oransoye-led committee, which had generated mixed reactions.

This came as apprehension gripped over 2,000 workers of JAMB, who may lose their jobs if the recommendations by the committee on the restructuring of the Federal Government agencies and parastatals are implemented.

In Ado Ekiti, yesterday, Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youth and Student Matters, Jude Imagwe, said Federal Government was not considering scrapping UTME and NECO. The SSA, who spoke at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, during a workshop on teach-

ing/learning method, said the bodies were set up by laws for specific purposes.

Imagwe noted that the recommendations of the Oronsanye committee may not be unconnected with the fact that a lot of government agencies were performing similar roles and functions,

saying “at the end of the day, we will keep our own. NECO will be strengthened.”

Meanwhile, organised labour in JAMB, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, and Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, have vowed to challenge the report in court should the Federal Government implement it.

In an address by Mr.

Samuel Azaba and Mr. Isaiah Adeigbe, branch Chairmen of NASU and ASCSN, respectively, and Mr. Stephen Ignatius, NASU Secretary and his counterpart from ASCSN, Mr. Adederin Adegoke, the unions said instead of scrapping the institutions, government should establish more to accommodate the about 1.7 million students seeking admission in about 400 institutions in the country.

COMMISSIONING: From left— Mr. Jimoh Ajao, Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth; Mr. Bosun Jeje, Commissioner for Housing, and Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulure, during the commissioning of Chief Emeka Anyaoku Housing Estate in Lagos, Tuesday. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

Lagos Justice Odunowo advocates death penalty launches for corruption draconian laws can put a that a draconian law be intro- health

BY RINCEWILL EKWUJURU & BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS—A retired judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Tajudeen Odunowo, has called on lawmakers to make death penalty the punishment for any person who steals N1 billion and above, noting that only

stop to corruption in the country.

The retired judge, who was a discussant at the Nigerian Institute of Management 2013 lecture on Good Governance: Enforcement of Law and Order, in Lagos, pointed out that corruption existed in other parts of the world, but if caught the culprit would receive a punishment equal to the offence committed.

He said: “I recommend

duced, so that the minimum sentence one gets for stealing is the time it took the offender to steal the money, and property got with the wealth should be forfeited.

"Corruption exists in Europe and America but once caught, you face the music.

"I appeal that the punishment for corruption, if you stole more than a billion naira, be death."

Why UPN must be resuscitated— Fasehun

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & GBENGA OKE

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AGOS—FOUNDER of Oodua Peoples’ Congress, OPC, and Chairman of the committee for the resuscitation of Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, yesterday, said they took the initiative of bringing back the old party to restore sanity and to provide credible platform in Nigeria’s political space beginning with the South-West.

He also lambasted the Publicity Secretary of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Alhaji Lai

Mohammed, for misleading Nigerians that he had secured N2.4 billion contract to guard pipelines.

At briefing in Lagos, on the resuscitation of the UPN, Fasehun said the new party would bring about a credible political association, reliable, focused and people-oriented political vehicle.

He said: “For many of us gathered here today, we agree that we do not like the way our country has been administered at the local, state and national levels since 1999.

service charter

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & CHARLYNE IKPE

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AGOS State Government, yesterday, launched a Service Charter aimed at eliminating all forms of hindrances in accessing health services in any of the state owned-health institutions.

The Service Charter is designed to empower Lagosians in their demand for quality healthcare and promote patients' rights.

Speaking at the launch of the Service Charter in Lagos, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, explained that the Charter, part of the healthcare delivery reforms in the state, would end all forms of professional negligence associated with healthcare delivery.

He said: “The capacity of Lagosians to demand their health right is limited due to inadequate awareness of their privileges to do so."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013—11

Anenih woos PDP govs, aggrieved members against leaving

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor, HENRY UMORU & PETER DURU

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HE Chief Tony Anenih-led Board of Trustees of Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, continued its trouble-shooting offensive with a call on all aggrieved members and governors elected on the party’s platform not to leave the party.

Anenih’s assurance in Makurdi, Benue State at the residence of former senate president Iyorcha Ayu came as the party’s National Working Committee, NWC sought to push forward the picture of unity and calm in the leadership.

At the end of a scheduled working committee meeting, the party’s top heriarchy passed a vote of confidence on the embattled national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who has come under pressure on account of his handling of the affairs of the party.

The confidence vote nonetheless, Tukur came under further pressure yesterday when a

group, Mass Mobilisation for Transformation, MMT, sympathetic to President Goodluck Jonathan, urged Tukur to resign, saying his continued stewardship of the party had become a dangerous omen for the 2015 election hopes of the president.

The delegation of the PDP BoT, led by Chief Anenih, met with PDP chieftains, Governor Gabriel Suswam and some aggrieved chieftains at the Makurdi residence of Senator Ayu. Ayu had left the party for Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, a few years ago, but quietly returned to the party months back.

At the meeting, Anenih called on all those who left the party with Ayu to return, saying the party was determined to have a true reconciliation with all aggrieved chieftains.

One of the founding members of PDP, Abu Shuluwa, who had lately been expressing misgivings on the direc-

tion of the party, was one of those present.

Anenih called on aggrieved members to sheathe their swords and accept his genuine efforts, which he said were aimed at repositioning the party for the challenges ahead.

A source present at the closed meeting quoted Anenih as saying “this visit to Benue State is part of the reconciliation efforts of the board to usher in an era of peace and sustainable progress in our party.

“I urge all those who left the party to come back in the spirit of true reconciliation because we are determined to ensure that all our differences are truly resolved.”

Without directly referring to Suswam, Anenih was said to have stressed that the BoT was determined to ensure that the party ’s governors remain within the fold.

At the briefing were the National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur; Deputy National Chairman, Sam Sam Jaja; Acting National Secretary, Solomon Onwe; National Organising Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha; National Treasurer, Bala Kao’je; National Financial Secretary, Elder Bolaji Anani; National Auditor, Adewale Adeyanju; National Woman Leader, Kema Chikwe; National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; and national youth leaders of the party.

Ekiti announces Olayinka's burial arrangements

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, would DO EKITI—THE re be buried on Friday, April 26, mains of late Deputy the state government has announced. Mrs Olayinka, 52, died in Lagos last Saturday, after a long battle with cancer.

In a statement by Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, state Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, said activities for the state burial of the late deputy governor would be held in Ekiti and Lagos states.

The week-long activities for her state burial will commence on April 22.

Details of the burial arrangement would be announced later after due consultations with members of the family of the deceased.

Meanwhile, Forum of Deputy Governors in Nigeria, yesterday, said it was pained by the death of Mrs. Olayinka, saying however that it was impressed by the quality of medical treatment given to her during her battle against cancer, which eventually claimed her life.

The Forum, in a condolence message to Governor Kayode Fayemi, thanked the government of the state for providing the late deputy governor the best of medical treatments both in Nigeria and abroad, while the ailment lasted.

While delivering the message to Governor Fayemi in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, representatives of the Forum, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulure (Lagos Deputy Governor) and Chief Segun Adesogun, lauded the support late Mrs Olayinka got from Ekiti government.

Similarly, Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks, ACAMB, has expressed sadness over her death.

ACAMBA, in statement, said late Olayinka was a former 1st Vice-President of the Association, having wor-ked with First Bank, Access Bank, United Bank for Africa and Ecobank as Group Head, Corporate Communications, at different times before leaving banking for politics.

African Foundries invests N35bn in steel industry

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HAIRMAN, African Industries Group, owners of African Foundries Limited, Mr. Pardoman Gupta, has said the Group had invested about N35 billion in Nigeria’s steel industry.

He said the Group had invested N15 billion in the first phase of African Foundries to achieve production capacity of approximately 500,000 metric tonnes of steel billets per annum; and another N20 billion is being invested in the second stage to produce sections and profiles to make Nigeria self-sufficient, thereby substituting importation.

He said this at the unveiling of the first export initiative of Thermo Mechanically-Treated, TMT, steel bars by African Foundries Limited in Lagos, yesterday.

According to him, steel business of the Group started with the commissioning of its first steel plant, African Steel Mills Nigeria Limited, Ikorodu, Lagos, in 2004 with, with a production capacity of 200,000 metric tonnes per annum.

The second plant, he added, was African Foundries, Ogijo, Ogun State, which is now celebrating a major breakthrough in export.

With the completion of the second phase, he said over 10,000 jobs would be generated for Nigerians directly and indirectly; foreign exchange expended on importation will be conserved, and there would be promotion of direct export with the consequent inflow of foreign exchange from the sector.

Gupta said: “We are happy to announce that we have commenced production of TMT steel bars, which was hitherto confined to Europe, America and few giant Asian countries like China, India, Japan, South Korea, among others.

“The first lot of 5,000 tonnes of TMT steel bars is now nearly ready for shipment to Ghana, hopefully before the end of the month.”

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

Shell begins pull-out from Ogoniland

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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HELL Petroleum Development Company, said, yesterday, that it had begun the decommissioning of its facilities in Ogoniland, Rivers State, with the commencement of an audit of its assets in the area.

Shell said in a statement that the process began with bush clearing in the fourth quarter of last year, following series of engagements and consultations with the communities.

The decommissioning comes two years after the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, asking Shell to take urgent action with regards to the damning pollution of Ogoniland.

The August 2011 UNEP Report required Shell to conduct a comprehensive review of its assets in Ogoniland and develop a decommissioning plan.

Rivers PDP peaceful, Amaechi affirms G

OVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, has declared that Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state is peaceful.

Speaking when he played host to Chairman, Board of Trustees, BOT, of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, who led a delegation of other BOT members of the party to Government House, Port Harcourt, Amaechi recalled that PDP supporters in the state gave two million votes to President Goodluck Jonathan during the last presidential election and assured that his administration will encourage the people of the state to continue to vote for PDP during elections.

He said: “Chairman, we formally welcome you and your delegation. Now, it is the time to welcome you before my colleagues in government and my friends in the party. Like we did said to you, PDP in Rivers State is peaceful. We also have told you that we produced two million votes for the President in the 2011 presidential election. We thank you for coming. All we are saying to you is, tell the party to please treat us well so that

we can encourage our people to continue to vote for PDP. We are members of PDP and we will remain members of PDP. We wish you God’s blessings.”

Also speaking, the deputy chairman of PDP in Rivers State, Mr. Dagogo Eli Legg-Jack, who represented the party Chairman, Chief Godspower Ake, said that PDP in Rivers State was one and

not divided.

“Our dear chairman, this is PDP Rivers State. You are a grandfather to the state. Rivers people are known to be one.

We have not been divided, that is why, as far as PDP elections are concerned in Nigeria, we don’t disappoint the people.

We thank you for your visit and hope that any wrong done to

the state will be corrected by you as a grandfather.”

Among BOT members on the delegation were the PDP National Vice Chairman, Dr. Sam Jaja, Prof. Jerry Gana, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas and Chief Ebenezer Babatope.

Chief Anenih, had earlier described Amaechi as a force and one of the leaders of PDP.

MEDIA PARLEY: From left: Amos Sakaba, Director, Investment Facilitation & Incentive Administration, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission; Sanjay Kumar, CEO, African Foundries Limited; Joseph Odumodu, DG, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON; Uche Iwuamadi, Executive Director, Corporate Services, Africa Industries Group, and P K Gupta, Chairman of Parco Group, at the African Foundries media parley, in Lagos.

Loyalists dump Airhiavbere for ACN

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BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

ENIN—A MEMBER of the legal team of General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), Edo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in the July 14, 2012 election, Mr Kelvin Aigbe has dumped him for Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. Another top leader of PDP and proprietor of Paragon Demonstration Group of Schools, Mr. Martins Osakwe, has also joined ACN with hundreds of his supporters.

Osakwe who spoke on behalf of the defectors, said their action was necessitated by their desire

to join Governor Adams Oshiomhole in his developmental stride.

“When you take a child to school and the child keeps failing and fails 18 subjects, as a parent, won’t you think twice?

You may have to ask the child to go and learn a trade.

“For me, I come from the 5 Junction area and the old women keep saying, greet Oshiomhole for us.

We are leaving a group of shadow chasers, petty people. It is a party of deceivers.”

Osakwe insisted that the only credible leader in PDP, Gen. Godwin Abbe, said he had quit politics, asking rhetorically, “what are we still doing in PDP. It is never too late to develop Edo State. We are here to serve. We have come to be loyal members of ACN.”

Imoke tasks women on self discovery

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BIOMA Liyel-Imoke, wife of Cross River State governor, has urged women to embark on a self discovery exercise if they are to make a difference in their homes

and ultimately, in the world.

Mrs. Imoke, in Paris, France, during an eye opening presentation at the Second International Conference on African Women Development, said that embarking on a self discovery exercise was key to excelling in life.

She said: “Though I studied law at the University, I realised early in life that I was not cut out to be a lawyer but an entrepreneur.”

Her first project, Partnership Opportunities for Women Empowerment Realisation, POWER, today, has changed the lives of thousands of women farmers by providing them with microcredit facilities.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 13

14— Vanguard , THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

Igbo should ostracise Okwu for calling Ojukwu ‘extremist' — Umeh The party said should Okwu fail to tender apology to Ndigbo for daring ENUGU—FOR describing the late to call Ojukwu an “extremist”, he Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka would be ostracised for showing disOdumegwu Ojukwu, as an extremist, respect to the late leader of the party.

National Chairman of Peter Obi facOkwu had in his post-election speech tion of All Progressives Grand Alli- at the convention of APGA in Awka, ance, APGA, Chief Maxi Okwu, yes- Anambra State, last Monday, deterday came under criticism, with a call scribed Ojukwu as an extremist, sayon him to immediately tender an apol- ing his leadership of the party would ogy to Igbo for trying to rub mud on adopt non-extremist philosophy of the the image and character of the former late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Biafran leader.

He said the “political reality in Nigeria does not favour extremism.”

According to him, the reality of the time must be faced, even though he would not like to outAUDITIONS WILL X-Factor is a Reality TV rightly dump the late begin this weekend in singing competition C h u k w u e m e k a Port Harcourt in the designed to find new Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s world’s number one talents. It is contested by seemingly extremist music singing talent aspiring singers, drawn stance in matters conreality TV show, “The X from public auditions cerning Ndigbo.

Factor”, brought to Africa and is open to all ages, “Zik was known for not for the first time by sex, styles, solo acts or blowing too hot on politl e a d i n g groups. ical issues, he was not an telecommunications The other stages of the extremist, and that phicompany, Globacom. competition include the losophy will guide APGA Head of Reality Shows auditions, in front of an henceforth,” said Okwu. of Globacom, Sulyman audience; the evictions; But reacting to the Bello, said in a statement the judge’s day and the statement, yesterday, issued in Lagos that grand finale. It has been Chief Victor Umeh, who auditions to select those successfully launched in was restored to office as who would participate in major countries National Chairman of the show would be held including UK, the United the party by the Court of at the Presidential Hotel, States, Albania, Appeal in Enugu on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Argentina, Australia, Monday, said Okwu from April 13, to Sunday, Belgium, Denmark, should apologise to April 14, 2013.

France, Germany and Ndigbo for casting an The X-Factor crew will Spain. undeserved aspersion on move to the Federal Glo is making history as their revered leader, failCapital City the the first company to bring ing which he should be following week for the the show to Africa. The ostracised.

Abuja auditions which ultimate winner of the Umeh, who addressed will take place at Ladi show will cart home a a press conference in Kwali Hall of Sheraton princely sum of $150,000 Enugu, stated that it was Hotel, on Saturday and (N24million), the biggest the height of insult and Sunday, April 20 and 21. purse among current irresponsibility for Okwu Bello stated that the music reality TV shows. to dismiss Ojukwu and Lagos auditions would The winner will also get his struggle for emancicome up on the weekend a recording contract with pation of Ndigbo as an of May 25 and 26. It will the internationally extremist, noting that be held at Dream Studio, acclaimed Sony Music but for Ojukwu’s strugNo.1 Bamako Street, for the recording of an gle, Okwu and millions Omole Estate, Ojodu. All album and professional of Igbo would not have the auditions will be held management of the been alive today. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on winning individual or the stated days. group.

Service of Songs for late Chief Justus Esiri

BY TONY EDIKE

Battle for Glo’s N24m on as X-Factor auditions begin

From left: Mrs. Boyowa Efijemueh, Dr. Sidney Esiri (son), Mrs. Omame Esiri, Miss Michelle Esiri, grand daughter; Master Kenneth Esiri, grand son and Mr. Justus Esiri, Jr, son, during the Service of Songs for late Chief Justus Esiri, at Catholic Church of the Ascension, International Airport, Ikeja , Lagos. Photos: Diran Oshe

Mrs. Omiete Esiri, (widow, middle)

From left: Engr. & Mrs. Yinka Oluwole and Chief Akpapunam

Mandara’s death, a huge loss – Kalu

BY DAPO AKINREFON

FORMER governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has described the demise of the Zanna Dujima of Borno State, Alhaji Bukar Mandara, as a huge loss to Borno State and the entire country.

The former governor described Mandara as a detribalised Nigerian who gave his all to the society just as he noted that his capacity for helping others was legendary.

In a statement by his Special Adviser,

Oyekunle Oyewumi, Kalu said: “Alhaji Mandara lived a good life worthy of emulation.

He was a devoted Muslim who dedicated his life to the uplift of all and sundry in the society.

He was noted for selfless and patriotic efforts in ensuring a just society.

While he described him a successful b u s i n e s s m a n , philanthropist and politician, who provided opportunities for people at all levels, he said Mandara was a detribalised Nigerian, “ who built friendship

across the length and breadth of the country.”

Kalu stated that the vacuum left behind by Mandara’s death would be difficult to fill, but “ we should take solace in the fact that he contributed immensely to the growth and development of the nation in his lifetime.”

Commiserating with the Borno State Government, the Borno Emirate Council and the Mandara family, he prayed to God to grant the late elder statesman a blissful rest.

Mr. Victory Emuejekarohwo and Ms Rachael Oniga , actress.

From left: Mr. Andrew Esiri (son), Miss Tobor Esiri, Mrs. Omiete Esiri, (widow), Mrs. Boyowa Efijemueh (daughter)

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013—15

Permanent Voters' Cards to be used in future polls

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA — PLANS are under-way for a gradual phasing out of the voters' cards, which will be replaced by Permanent Voters' Cards in future elections.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who disclosed this after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting yesterday, revealed that the Council also approved N2.1billion for the printing of 33.5 million Permanent Voters' Cards by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The minister said the permanent voters' card, which will have a life span of ten years, will contain unique biometric features that will identify the voter. ”Following the successful conduct of the Nationwide Voters registration in 2011, the Commission proposed to print 73,500,000 Permanent Voters' Cards to replace the present temporary voters' cards," he said.

Over 90% of pilots in Nigeria oil companies ‘re foreigners — Kalu

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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BUJA—OVER 90 per cent of pilots flying helicopters in the fleet of multinational corporations in Nigeria’s oil industry are foreigners, Captain Chinyere Kalu, Rector/Chief Executive, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, has said.

Captain Kalu, who disclosed this in an interview shortly after the opening ceremony of African Aviation Training Organisation, AATO, Constituent Assembly in Abuja, yesterday, noted that it was as a result of shortage of facilities for the training of pilots in the country that had given foreigners edge to fly the nation’s helicopters and man the oil companies.

2015: Politician jailed for rape, lawyer flees, takes asylum in Germany

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

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BUJA — BARELY two weeks after he challenged the eligibility of President Goodluck Jonathan to stand election in 2015, the man, Mr. Cyriacus Njoku, has been arrested and sent to jail for alleged rape.

Similarly, his defence counsel, Mr. Ugochukwu Osuagwu, has fled the country with members of his family, alleging that he had been under constant threats of elimination by unknown persons.

Vanguard learnt that the man had been granted asylum

by the German government so as to escape from his assailants, believed to be paid by political agents in high places.

He fled Nigeria on April 3, 2013, after taking refuge at German Embassy in Abuja for sometime, trying to escape from those he claimed were after his life for daring to defend Njoku, a freelance journalist and politician.

Njoku, a Peoples Democratic Party member, who had just appealed the judgement of Justice Oniyangi of the Federal High Court that Jonathan was qualified to run in the next election, was arrested by the police on

Monday and taken to Suleja Prison, where he had been held under tight security.

The police claim he committed rape but did not give details of the offence, which was also hurriedly mentioned at the Suleja court, outside Abuja, where the offence was allegedly committed.

Sources told Vanguard that the man had been kept incommunicado since he was taken away by the security agents, raising fears he could be harmed.

As a result, many of his friends and acquaintances did not know of his predicament until he was able

From left: Mr. Femi Adesina, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Group of Companies, Ms Comfort Obi, Publisher of Source magazine and Mr. Tony Onyima, Managing Director of THE SUN Newspapers, toasting a drink, during the breakfast meeting with Ahaji Dangote, in Lagos, yesterday

to smuggle a note out of the prison where he is held.

Findings show that neither his lawyers nor family members have been allowed to see Njoku, with the prison authorities claiming that they were under instructions not to allow anybody to see Mr. Njoku.

The detainee had maintained that even if President Jonathan won the election of 2015, he would have been constitutionally barred from taking another oath of office.

However, when the judge dismissed the case, he went on an appeal, which was yet to be heard before his arrest and detention by the security agents.

A constitutional lawyer said yesterday that Mr. Njoku’s appeal was considered dicey because the Supreme Court had in a previous decision (General Marwa vs. Murtala Nyako) concerning the tenure of some state governors, held that a governor could not take oath of office more than twice by virtue of Sections 135 and 137 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Reacting to the development, the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, described it as a provocative action aimed at muzzling Nigerians.

CPC’s spokesman, Rotimi Fashakin, said Nigerians should rise against the renewed wave of onslaught by dictators against voices of dissent in the country.

$3m bribery scam: Farouk, Emenalo beg court to quash charge

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA — Embattled former Chairman and Secretary of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on fuel subsidy probe, Farouk Lawal and Mr. Boniface Emenalo, yesterday, approached Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of an Abuja High Court, begging him to quash the seven-count criminal charge that was preferred against them by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC. The duo who were accused of demanding and collecting bribe from the Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Femi Otedola, as an inducement to remove the name of his company from the report of the House of Reps Ad-hoc Committee on Monitoring of fuel subsidy regime, contended that the anti-graft agency has failed to

adduce any credible evidence to warrant their prosecution.

Arguing through their lead counsel, Mr. Ricky Tarfa, SAN, the lawmakers who had on February 1, pleaded not guilty to the charge and subsequently spent seven days at Kuje Prison, yesterday, insisted that the ICPC was unable to establish a prima-facie case against them.

Besides, they argued that going by the totality of the proof of evidence before the trial court, vis-à-vis the allegation, the court ought not to have granted the anti-graft agency the leave to prefer the charge against them, “since the prosecution failed to provide adequate material necessary for the judge to exercise discretion in favour of the application for leave.”

Arguing that the foundation of the case against them was not legally laid, Farouk and Emenalo, told the court that the

prosecutor failed to comply with the provisions of section 155 (1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code which they said required that statements of witnesses be attached to the application to prefer charge.

It will be recalled that the two lawmakers had queried why the prosecuting agency refused to tender the written statement of Otedola who it had listed as one of the star witnesses that will testify in the matter.

Even though trial was scheduled to commence on the matter yesterday, however, the embattled lawmakers urged the court to go ahead and determine their consolidated preliminary objection first.

They challenged the jurisdiction of the court to try them over a charge they described legally incompetent and baseless.

In his response, counsel to the ICPC, Chief Adegboyega

Awomolo, SAN, asked the court to dismiss the application, saying it was nothing but a delay tactics employed by the accused persons with a view to frustrating their trial.

According to him, the Supreme Court had held in many cases that the purpose of seeking for leave of court to prefer charges was to ensure frivolous criminal charges were not filed and not to allow the accused persons to see the details of the charge against them..

After listening to the arguments, Justice Oniyangi fixed May 2 for ruling.

Specifically, ICPC alleged that the accused persons, collected an aggregate sum of $3million, with a view to ensuring that Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd escaped prosecution even though the probe Committee had ab-initio found it culpable in fuel subsidy fraud.

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

TRIBUTE TO JUSTUS ESIRI

Justus was larger than life itself W

HEN without any preparation, I jumped out of regular employment around 1978, it was clear I was headed for deep waters. At 29, it didn’t really matter, as I foolishly believed I could conquer the world even with my bare hands!

But the reality was vastly different.

With less than five years experience in journalism, and an in-

choate portfolio of business ideas, I certainly did not look the part of a millionaire in the making. But some relief came in the s h a p e o f a n Av a n t Garde motor company based in Benin. It offered me a consultancy!

Atari Motors owned

by Theo Boyo was not merely interested in merchandising. It was also a fashion statement as it brought together a number of

,

BY DELE OLOWU

Justus was not just an actor. Or let us say he was an actor of many parts; he was deeply religious and his Catholic faith remained somewhere in his heart

men and women, all of them fashionistas, and many of them, fluent in

English and German.

Atari flew the flag of exotica and Justus Esiri

,

was one of its more expressive icons.

It was at Atari that I met Justus. But having attended Hussey College I was myself quite familiar with the legendary visibility of the Esiri family in the Warri urban spread. I had no direct links with Justus, but my late m o t h e r, M r s J u l i e Ikomi, taught Justus E s i r i a t To w n s h i p School, Warri. As my friendship grew with Justus, teacher and pupil would meet now and again, with my mum often chorusing his name in her special way Ejustusuuu! The meetings were often drenched in animation.

While serving at Atari where he was the Manager, Justus often gave the impression that he had his gaze on other things. He was a natural entertainer and regaled us with stories of his career in European theatres.

He sang songs in different languages and till date, I can’t recall anyone, living or dead, who can sing the song entitled ‘The End’ with the professional dexterity Justus Esiri would deploy. If I also recall rightly, he also told me, his wife had been a member of his theatre group in Lagos, before their sojourn in Benin.

After Atari, Justus relocated to Lagos and I believe he met Peter Igho through me. Peter it was who threw the opportunity at him, to reignite his expressive genius. He starred in Vi l l a g e H e a d m a s t e r and the rest is history.

He is a household name and has made a huge success of his career in Nollywood.

Nollywood is one of the most enduring Nigerian triumphs, owing nothing to government and it’s stultifying influence. It is surely one

of the truly unmixed blessings of the Nigerian condition. And Justus Esiri is arguably one of the great purveyors of this huge revolution.

But Justus was not just an actor. Or let us say he was an actor of many parts. He was deeply religious and his Catholic faith remained somewhere in his heart. To hear him execute the gregorian chant, was always a uniquely uplifting experience. He was free with his time and freer still with his money.

A younger friend of mine from Etsako was put through university and law school by Justus Esiri. In fact, Justus adopted him as his son. Justus was a good mixer, an enthusiastic friend, a party animal and recognized the joys which came from entertainment.

He was also a great husband and a caring father. Justus was a well-known face at Olosha Market, to which I accompanied him on ocassional Saturdays. He would chop meat with butchers, haggle with fish vendors, banter with bread sellers, and eventually haul his unwieldy harvest into his vehicle amidst singing and dancing!

As a visiting guest, I enjoyed his hospitality frequently. Omiata, his left handed wife, was the artisan in the house. No power problem was beyond her ken. And her cooking, even though closely mimicked by Justus himself, was unrivaled.

The Esiris are a cohesive family. God has blessed this family.

The goodwill left by Justus whom I saw last when my mum was interred in February 2012, is huge. Justus is truly larger than life.

One of my private regrets is that again one is left feeling, it is death which often serves as the sympathetic artist, giving true dimension to the gifts of the deceased.

As we bask in the afterglow of this illustrious career, let us resolve to honour greatness more loquaciously, even when it is on its two legs! RIP Justus.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013— 17

W

,

HEN Margaret Thatcher died on Monday, we were guaranteed an outpouring of emotions as diverse and divided as she was in her political career.

For those that shared her ideological perspective, the “Iron Lady” was a truly formidable leader; an uncommon politician who stayed the course with her convictions and in her determination changed the course of British politics and the political economy as well as providing a template of capitalism without a human face that has become writ large in the world ever since she appeared on the scene. Reactionary people always hanker for the “strong man”, but in Margaret Thatcher they found a “strong woman”; the Iron Lady who rolled through society without pity and helped the entrenchment of one of the most vicious phases of capitalist development that the world has ever known.

This daughter of a grocer hankered for the inequalities and cruelty of the 1920s and 1930s and she delivered it to the delight of the propertied classes. She launched a determined offensive against the Welfare State which had been the greatest gain of post-War Britain, a society which gave a social net to the working people; granted the exemplary National Health service; social housing and had generally protected the working people and the poor. This utterly reactionary woman unleashed the full power of the British state against the National Union of Miners and in a one year battle broke the back of the trade union movement. It was her vicious approach that became the template for a reactionary offensive against the working people around the world.

Thatcher privatised the railways and telecommunication; she launched the neo-colonial war against Argentina in the Malvinas and the lady was against African interest through her defence of

MARGARET THATCHER:

Heroine of capitalism, enemy of the people the apartheid regime in South Africa.

We must not forget that she saw Nelson Mandela as a terrorist and the national liberation movement as a whole bunch of terror organisations. It was instructive that while those who endorsed her style as well as her ideological position have genuinely mourned her passing; many people in communities she ruined and in places as Northern Ireland and Scotland jubilated at her passing.

On Monday night, SKY NEWS interviewed one of the wives of the miners whom she ruined, and she described Margaret Thatcher as “scum”.

It is that “scum” that those who shared her perspectives have continued to mourn and describe with all kinds of superlatives. I think that she did a lot to save and breathe new life into the worldwide domination of capitalism at its imperialist, neo-liberal phase and together with Ronald Reagan, she won the ideological battle against the socialist

The late Margaret Thatcher world and in their triumph, instituted the unipolar world of neoliberal capitalism which Fukuyama enthusiastically described as the end of history. From Thatcher through to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and now David Cameron, the tradition of inequality has

I don’t share the grief of those who have described the “Iron Lady” in golden colours. I have never agreed that we should not speak ill of the dead. In my view, what we owe the dead is the truth, especially when they have impacted upon the social space as Margaret Thatcher did

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continued to deepen in Britain while the Welfare State continues to be attacked in a desperate effort to return society to that of absolute wealth for the rich and God for the rest! Margaret Thatcher was a heroine of money; of the use of power to consolidate the privileges of the rich.

She was an enemy of the poor people and the ability of the working people to organise to defend their rights. I don’t share the grief of those who have described the “Iron Lady” in golden colours. I have never agreed that we should not speak ill of the dead. In my view, what we owe the dead is the truth, especially when they have impacted upon the social space as Margaret Thatcher did. I think she was a vicious woman; a reactionary defender of capitalism whose leadership has deepened the unhappiness of the masses of the world. Her reactionary doctrines continue to haunt our world and would do so for a long time yet!

Kayode Fayemi's delightful Ekiti State

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CONFESSION is in order at the beginning of this piece. Kayode Fayemi, the Ekiti State governor is my friend. I rooted for him in the lead to his election openly, in a couple of columns I wrote for DAILY TRUST. I followed keenly the effort to claim his mandate and was very delighted with the eventual outcome. As I stated in one of my pieces, I won an invitation to visit Ekiti state as well as the right to eat Ekiti’s famous pounded yam, in Kayode’s company. We never got the opportunity until the last Easter break. I had travelled to Ilorin for the holiday, as I wrote here last week. And because of the terrible state of the roads leading to Ilorin (the Kaduna end is a nightmare; going through Niger state via Bida is a horrific experience and the route through Egbe and Kabba in Kogi will take a toll on car and man!), most people now travel through Ekiti state. On Easter Monday night, I received Fayemi’s text to visit and so I was off to Ado Ekiti on Wednesday.

The impression I got was of a state undergoing rapid transformation. New roads are springing up all over the state, including well-lit dual carriageways within metropolitan Ado Ekiti. A new civic centre is under construction; there is the 10, 000 capacity pavilion; new government house complex and a new governor ’s office. The Fayemi administration instituted a welfare programme for 20, 000 elderly people who receive N5,000 every month just as IGR has been taken from N109M to N700M per month. Given the fact that Ekiti receives one of the lowest along monthly allocations, it was refreshing to

see so much effort at development. Every school child is being provided a computer. It was refreshing to see what the administration has done to uplift the touristic potential of the Ikogosi Hot Spring, which I visited, with the wellappointed chalets; the swimming pool and the conference centre. No wonder, many people now organise retreats there, while the second phase is envisaged to include a golf course; a reserve area and hotel. I was worried about the maintenance of facilities as

well as the institution of a customer service culture. Kayode Fayemi told me that the administration will partner with firms with a tradition of success in the tourism sector.

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fter my trip around Ekiti, we sat together for about two hours to discuss what I saw and his perspectives about leadership and development.

Fayemi, who has an activist background, told me that the most exciting part of what he has done in the past few years,

The Boko Haram amnesty committe: I'm with President Jonathan on that

T

HERE have not been much to valorise in the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, as far as I am concerned; and I think the administration has disappointed many of those who voted for it in 2011. The Boko Haram crisis has gradually morphed into the greatest security tests facing the administration. I have consistently argued, since 2011, that there was no shooting through the crisis.

The Nigerian state will have to understand the anti-state essence of the insurgency; then find peaceful means to end it.

President Jonathan dithered for long while throwing billions of naira into the fight as elements within the security apparatus became stupendously rich. They therefore needed the insurgency and effort to curtail it to continue, so they can become even richer! Jonathan who once said there were Boko haram members inside his administration, engaged in multi-talk for so long; he would not offer amnesty to “ghosts’ even when the security forces tell us of dozens that are regularly killed or captured and arrested. In the meantime, the party of war, from CAN president to ‘enlightened’ commentators, especially in the Southern media, continued to advocate a gung-ho approach of more violence. They excused Niger Delta “militancy” as justified but refuse to see the underlining current of anti-state protest at the heart of Boko Haram. Something just had to give. The president has alienated the majority of Northern Nigeria with his hardline stance; but the politician has an eye towards 2015; thus the decision to explore the Amnesty option. Nothing is guaranteed; none is ruled in or out. But at least, President Jonathan has decided to explore an alternative route to end the crisis. Let us give critical support and hope he stays the course, because there is no defeating the insurgency with guns.

has been the value re-orientation process attendant upon the leadership he provides. There is a change of tone and content of the attitude of people; sustaining that is a major challenge. The administration is refurbishing schools and hospitals in almost every community and people wonder that such a feat could happen, almost 50 years after Awolowo. The three universities were merged despite initial skepticism while the bureaucracy is gradually reinvigorating the meritocratic culture of integrity. He does not romanticise these developments, because there is still a lot wrong in the working of things.

Bureaucracy, he argued has two sides; it can be a cog in the wheel and in the observe, can assist in transformation for good. Considering the level of achievements opening up in Ekiti, the central issue has been the proper utilisation of resources. And as for the ideological underpinning of things, Fayemi reminded me that as a social democrat, he believes that the state has a role to play in societal development and central to that is the effort to institute social justice and egalitarianism. We also discussed the All Progressive Congress (APC), and its imperatives. In all, it was an eye-opening visit for me. We later settled down for dinner and in fulfillment of my three-year hope, I tucked into the dish of pounded yam and vegetables! A few days after my trip, the tragic death of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, was announced. May the Almighty God give the family and the friendly people of Ekiti state, the fortitude to bear her tragic loss.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 NIGERIAN authorities applaud themselves about fight against corruption. What has kept matters at the noise level is the exclusion of the high and mighty from prosecution. In Zambia it is different.

Former President of Zambia, Mr Rupiah Banda is on trial over an oil deal that was not transparent. Banda held a number of important posts under former President Kenneth Kaunda. After Kaunda’s long reign, Banda was one of the top figures that brought the Movement for the Multiparty Democracy, MMD, to power. He was Vice President to Levy Mwanawasa, who was elected in 2006. Banda became president in August 2008 when Mwanawasa died of stroke. In the 2011 polls, Banda narrowly won the presidency.

When law enforcement agencies started investigating him for allegedly misappropriating over $11 million through oil he imported from Nigeria, with no record of its delivery to Zambia, the Zambian parliament stripped him of his immunity. He is on trial. He has pleaded not guilty, blaming his travails on his political opponents. It is now up to the courts to determine the case.

Banda: A Zambian Lesson The Zambian story, and many others, where former leaders are called to account, demonstrates the true spirit of democracy.

Governments are meant to serve the people and remain accountable to them in that service. It is an important point that Nigerian leaders often miss.

Nigeria is littered with many cases of alleged misappropriation of public funds, running in billions of dollars. Our leaders veil themselves with immunity and are never called to account for their conducts which promote corruption to a going enterprise.

Zambia’s grew over the years. It is one of few countries in Africa where the military has

not intervened since independence in 1964.

The only question mark was that Kaunda was able to perpetuate himself in power for 27 years before the first multiparty polls ousted him in 1991.

His successor Frederick Chiluba was tried for abuse of authority and corruption. In sharp contrast, corruption-riddled Nigeria has not been able to call a single expresident to account for his stewardship, even with convictions abroad on the Halliburton and Siemens cases that named former Nigerian leaders.

Our presidents believe they are untouchable hence the atrocities they commit in office. Some of them named in several corruption cases strut majestically and sanctimoniously, calling other serving political leaders “thieves”. The air of immunity around them has bred other thieves who know they too would be spared.

Nigeria must re-rail her democracy, making sure that once leaders shed their immunity they should be brought to account. Without accountability in and out of office, our democracy would remain a travesty of justice.

Permanent immunity is unconstitutional and it breeds corruption.

OPINION RIGHT OF REPLY

BY EDWIN ASEMOTA

T

HE article with the above title by Johnson Momodu in the Vanguard of March 15 is indeed an interesting piece.

Obviously, the author set out to glorify the person of Chief Anthony Anenih. However, in the writer’s effusive attempt to portray Anenih as a benevolent kingmaker, he betrays the nature of the Chief ’s politics which could be described as self-serving.

Indulging in sublime glorification of his subject matter, Johnson Momodu says: “….

With the feelers that Jonathan is interested in contesting the 2015 presidential election … Anenih is considered the President’s biggest asset. He is expected to deploy his experience in support of the re-election bid of Jonathan, consistent with his tradition of having assisted the elections of some office holders in the past, starting with Dr. Sam Ogbemudia as governor of Edo (sic) in 1983 on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN; Chief John Odigie Oyegun as Edo governor on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP, in 1993, Chief Lucky Igbinedion as Edo governor on the platform of the PDP in 1999 and 2003. It was the turn of Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor in 2007 as Edo governor, but the victory was understandably short-lived because of internal tension

Deconstructing the loyalty paradigm generated by Osunbor’s desperation to hijack the party structure from Anenih”.

With statements like this, one begins to believe the widespread rumour that Anenih, because of his desperation, connived with the AC, now ACN, with the instrumentality of a compromised judiciary to remove Osunbor, a PDP governor, from office. This declaration by the writer is rather antithetical to his celebration of Anenih as a champion of loyalty. In a partisan political system, the greatest demonstration of loyalty is to the party, over and above that of any individual.

What is the consequence of Anenih’s suggested complicity in the unfortunate removal of a PDP Governor, as suggested by the writer, because of his fear that Osunbor was going to hijack the party structure from him? Successive results of elections in Edo State, since the ACN took over the governorship, indicate that the PDP may yet be consigned to many years in political wilderness. Interestingly, almost all the original members of the PDP, including elected political office holders at the national and state assemblies have left the party for Anenih due to his overbearing influence. This is the trend of Anenih’s political association: Those who helped him while he was

Anenih

presumably the kingmaker end up falling apart with him. His steadfast associates are those that must forever be subservient.

The electoral fortune of the party has so dropped as the following analogy illustrates.

Whereas the result the Tribunal relied upon to have awarded Oshiomhole the 2007 Governorship Election, after subtracting from Osunbor’s alleged rigged votes, has Oshiomhole scoring 166,527 votes against Osunbor’s 129,017 votes with a difference of 37,510 votes, in the July 14, 2012 election.

Against an Anenih structure that produced General Charles Airhiavbere, Oshiomhole scored 477,488 votes while Airhiavbere (PDP) scored 144,234 votes showing a difference of 333,254 votes. There is no gainsaying the fact that the mass movement from the PDP to the ACN in protest against Anenih contributed to this landslide win by Oshiomhole and the ACN in an election in which the PDP lost all the local government areas and almost all the wards, including Anenih’s home base Uromi.

Grace Group within the PDP, led by the then Secretary to the State Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. It had the slogan: “No Man is God” for obvious reasons. Today, deriving from the whittling down of the membership strength of the PDP which started in 2005, and Anenih’s desperation to pursue a personal ambition at all times, Anenih has been demystified in Edo State.

The PDP Congress of February 2008 which was witnessed and certified by INEC, the Police, SSS and officials of the PDP national secretariat at which the majority of the party members in Edo State, including then Governor Oserheimen Osunbor, went to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to elect the Sadoh-led state executive in spite of Anenih, was an attestation to the fact that the people were tired of Anenih’s clannish politics. Alas, Osunbor who was a marked man right from when he got the PDP governorship ticket instead of Anenih’s in-law, Magnus Odion Ugbesia, who Anenih preferred, had to be sacrificed to massage Anenih’s ego.

Talking of presidents who Anenih assisted, it was convenient for John Momodu to say that Chief MKO Abiola’s presidential mandate of 1993 was negotiated away by Anenih as a sacrifice to keep the country united.

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he progressive decimation of the PDP began with Anenih’s de-registration of Governor Lucky Igbinedion and his associates in 2005. This led to the formation of the liberation movement by the name of

*Mr. Asemota, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 19

, M

R Shem Obafaiye’s my oga at the top outing on Channels Television is of interest to people for various reasons.

Some view it as a welcome comic relief. Others see it as a grievous blunder for which Obafaiye should be sacked for crass incompetence.

Just look at it: He is a Commandant of the National Security and Defence Corps, NSCDC, one of the contenders for the topmost post of Commandant General; posted to the nation’s economic capital and the most populous metropolis, the nation’s foremost gateway to the world.

Such an official cannot communicate effectively in the official language on worldwide television?

It says a lot for the man, the organisation in which he has grown to such enviable height and the nation at large. The comedy makes me laugh to bursting point but the sad story it tells about the Nigeria of our times gives cause for serious sobre reflection.

In the first part of this serial I promised to show you a letter. It

was sent to me by a fellow whose identity I must withhold, on January 23, 2013 via text message.

Here goes (as he exactly wrote it): “Sir, help me out to the Minister of Employment. Sir my name is ….. I a graduate of Accountant I have been a bike rider for the past 10 year. I now have five children. What do ido. I am using these text to reached out with the F.G.N. to help one job.

Idont have any godfather that we help me. I we work in any given place. Sir help for me not to died live my family thank you sir”.

If this man had a “godfather” and was enrolled in the Navy (where he attempted to fix himself according to further text messages he plied me with) he would carry the above quality of education into his career and rise one day to appear on television to talk to you and me! Even if I had the capacity to find him a job, would I do it?

Certainly not, even if he is my relation. Mind you, I am not ridiculing him. I am only pointing out the fact that our system now produces people often described as “unemployable”.

Go to the human resources

department of any organisation and you will be shocked at the pains they go through trying to get suitably qualified graduates to employ. Even some young people touting “First Class” degree certificates are often unable to justify that laurel when put to practical test. What do you do with a graduate who cannot write in English? What manner of job do you give him?

Poor human resource development has become a big syndrome in Nigeria. The collapse of the public educational system is chiefly responsible for that.

Anyone who wants his children to escape the scourge must cough out enormous amounts of money to look for a private school. Even the private schools are no longer sure bets because many of them exist primarily as money making ventures. We are left with very few elite private schools and only the very rich and treasury looters in the public services can foot their

Endangering the separation of powers

S

HAKESPEARE is being reversed from his: “What the great ones do, the less we prattle of”, to the current reality in Edo State of: “What the great ones do, the more we prattle of ”. The Adams Aliyu Oshiomholeled administration cast a stone on the house with a view to locating the position of the house owner. It was a simple demand of the Primary Six Certificate from the teachers of the State.

From the smallest things, the greatest often grow. And suddenly, the Primary Six Certificate is gaining new prominence, particularly as it answers some tough questions, which even the PhD cannot answer.

The Primary School Certificate could also be a thief-catcher or a lie detector. Once upon a time, there was this feeble old man who worked as a gateman. He was already a spent force and a man of declining productivity. He still claimed he had four years to serve government. The truth about him was difficult to find because with an insider help, he kept renewing his age and changing his record of service.

It took a lot of planning, cajoling and a bit of tricks to get people of that department to produce their Primary School Certificates.

In the case of the old man, it was when his certificate was juxtaposed against his age at the time that it was found that he finished primary school at the age of three years, which means he started school some three years before he was born.

The simple demand from Edo State has set people running from pillar to post and tongues are wagging, including insinuations and innuendoes that the Oshiomhole administration has suddenly become a hater of teachers and that the demand is a punishment for their failure to support his second-term bid for the governorship. And the truth, which Oshiomhole knows about,

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is that if there were people who supported him during the July 2012 election, they were the teachers.

Some teachers have returned to say that their alma mater was destroyed by fire and flood. Worse still, they are unable to remember when they finished primary school. The truth, though, is that while one might easily forget when one obtained the Bachelor’s and Masters degrees, one hardly forgets the year of primary school graduation.

In sum, the deadwoods will gradually filter themselves out. All those who have the circumstances of “Unborn tomorrow, dead yesterday” around their certificates will soon start running on their own. Essentially, the Edo State Government may be asking for the Primary School Certificate for its cleansing value.

Will somebody please point the House of Representatives to order for endangering the doctrine of separation of powers, which the 1999 Constitution laboured so hard to give a prime of place?

Evidently, people who live or work together must occasionally disagree. Remember the belief that as close as they are, the tongue and the teeth still quarrel? Yes, in March 2012, there was a hot exchange between Ms. Arunma Oteh, Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC and Herman Hembe, then Chairman of the House Committee on Capital Markets and other Financial Institutions, at the Committee Room.

That was not the first of its kind. Compared to the Second Republic clash between Ambassador LSM Oshobase and Senator Shitta-Bey on the floor of the Senate, the Oteh/Hembe exchange could pass for a storm in a tea cup. The Senate still went ahead to confirm Oshobase’s nomination as an Ambassador. That was then.

The exchange between Oteh and Hembe only led to the fall of Hembe and the dissolution of his Committee.

O t e h ’ s accusations on Hembe were weighty enough that in our piece of April 5, 2012, this Column thought that we would hear more

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My oga at the top syndrome (2)

Nigeria has created conditions for a violent revolution; the misguided Boko Haram insurgency is a tip-off of things to come in the no distant future

shylock charges. The rest of them simply send their children abroad (“abroad” sometimes including Ghana, Benin Republic, Togo and others!).

Our educational system came to this sorry pass despite a bright beginning. As the march to independence intensified in the 1950s the three former regions of the country were determined to dominate the others or at least escape the spectre of playing the second fiddle. The Western Region sought to extend its educational advantage by offering free education as part of its welfare package. It was the wealthiest region, with its booming cocoa exports and could afford to do so.

The East was the poorest but its leaders opted for “qualitative education” which parents paid for.

While the West “mass produced”, the East’s products had cutting edge advantages which showed immediately after independence.

The North sought to overcome its educational disadvantage by sponsoring its bright youth wholesale, providing generous bursaries and pampering them with luxuries that were the envy of students from the South.

As the North gained political ascendancy after independence, it started pursuing its policy of “catching up” with the South educationally. With the Igbos out of the equation due to the secession attempt, the North through its military rulers snatched control of education from (mainly Christian) missionaries, voluntary private agencies and communities.

Government took over schools, and very soon the enactment of obnoxious policies such as “quota system”, “federal character ”,

The President must not cave in and sacrifice Oteh; while the House sorts out itself, (he) should have no difficulty funding the operations of SEC from his security vote and all the slush funds floating around

,

from the EFCC but true to type, the EFCC has perhaps not lifted a finger since then.

O

ver the years, Oteh had built a firm foundation around her life. With a first class degree in Computer Science from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, further fortified with a solid MBA from Harvard; and a distinguished career as VicePresident, African Development Bank, she couldn’t stand watching her reputation go down the toilet in a single flush. She even reckons that when she attained her educational levels, some of the current legislators were still pinning their ABC together.

After the grubby show at the House, Oteh

“catchment area” (all instruments of forcing educational parity between North and South) triggered the beginning of the end of Nigeria as a provider of sound education for its citizens.

After about 40 years of this foolery, it became clear that government is unable to run schools effectively. That forced governments in the former Eastern and Western Regions to gradually return mission schools to their original owners, but from the look of things, the damage seems irreparable. Ethnic, religious and regional hatred and evil rivalry led to the situation we find ourselves in.

The future is even bleaker unless something drastic is done.

Children educated in expensive private schools with stolen public funds are coming out in flying colours and being given preferential employment in top corporate institutions, ministries, departments and agencies. Those educated abroad mostly refuse to come back to their country because the system is not working.

Those who do come back also get preferential employment because they are well educated.

The danger is that the masses of poorly educated children of the poor, who suffer from “my oga at the top syndrome” because they are unemployable, will in future see the few children of the rich ruling them as their class enemy.

This is what makes violent social revolutions.

Nigeria has created conditions for a violent revolution. The misguided Boko Haram insurgency is a tip-off of things to come in the no distant future.

was sent on suspension and the SEC Board ordered a probe by Pricewater House Coopers and she got a clean bill, which paved the way for her return to office.

All the same, the House of Representatives has taken the fight to integrity. They insist that Oteh is not qualified to be DG of SEC and that she must go. This is a serious abuse of legislative powers. It is an affront on the Senate, which confirmed Oteh’s nomination in 2010. It endangers the doctrine of the separation of powers because the President who appointed her has not found her wanting.

SEC has been deleted from the 2013 Appropriations. Again, this is not the first of its kind. In the Second Republic, against the will of the National Assembly, President Shehu Shagari appointed Presidential Liaison Officers, PLOs, in each of the then 19 states.

The National Assembly removed the PLOs from the budget with effect from the 1980 Fiscal Year. But President Shagari kept them and effectively maintained their offices until the demise of that Republic. How he got the money to maintain them has remained everybody’s conjecture. The best we could guess was that he paid the PLOs from his security vote.

The President must not cave in and sacrifice Oteh. Government was much saner in the Shagari days. While the House sorts out itself, Jonathan should have no difficulty funding the operations of SEC from his security vote and all the slush funds floating around. After all, there can be no greater security threat than that posed to the Capital Market by the House of Representatives.

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11 , 2013

Erosion: Awka community cries out, says we’re at brink of extinction

BY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka

U

MIKE is village in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State. The community is at the brink of becoming extinct, no thanks to the gully erosion that is ravaging the area. Several houses in the area have been swallowed by the erosion and the fear of the people is that if nothing is urgently done, the entire community might soon be washed away.

Against this backdrop, indigenes of the community have sent a Save Our Soul, SOS, appeal to both the state and Federal governments, as well as international donor agencies to come to their aid to stem the ravaging effects of the erosion.

This plea for urgent intervention is coming at a time that a former President of Awka Development Union Nigeria, AUDN, Mr. Pat Nzekwe, an engineer, embarked on palliative measures to ensure that the menace did not spread further.

Vanguard Metro, VM, learnt that the gully erosion, which

*One of the erosion-ravaged sites in Awka

,

The gully erosion, which measures about 60 metres deep and 60 metres wide, has consumed many houses and property worth millions of naira

measures about 60 metres deep and 60 metres wide, has consumed many houses and property worth millions of naira.

The erosion which constitutes a threat to the lives of the inhabitants of the community, has washed away large quantities of arable farm land.

It is believed to have developed as a result of massive flood channels coming directly from other parts of the state capital and worsened by the construction of the Awka inner roads.

Residents of Obuofu Umuike have in the last 10 years, been living in fear as the gully erosion kept coming and eating deep into their homes, making most of them to sleep with one eye open. Though the community leaders said they had previously appealed to the various tiers of government to close the gully nut with a view to stopping the menace permanently, nothing in the form of assistance has come their way.

The result is that the gully has continued to advance at a ter-

,

rific speed.

Secretary General of ADUN, Mr. Charles Ekwunife, in a letter addressed to Governor Peter Obi, said that only quick intervention by government would save the community from an imminent disaster. The letter read in parts: “We humbly write on behalf of the Central Executive Council of Awka Development Union Nigeria, ADUN, the traditional ruler of Awka, HRM Obi Gibson N. Nwosu, Eze Uzu II and the entire Awka community, especially the people of Umuike Village Awka to bring to your attention, the devastating hazards the residents of Obuofu Umuike Village Awka have been exposed to by flood and gully erosion.

It might interest your Excellency to know that a philanthropist and an illustrious son of Awka Engr. Pat Nzekwe Ibe single-handedly commenced work on the site to check the advancement of the gully to other parts of the area and had made considerable progress until the heavy downpour of

Friday 15th an Saturday 16th March, 2013 which destroyed and collapsed the entire construction done in the site, including washing away of over 500 trips of latrine sand heaped in the site.

‘With the recent collapse of the already constructed culverts, flood retaining chambers

and drainage system, the situation in the area has worsened and has therefore gone beyond the people’s control and that of Engr. Pet Nzekwe Ibe who committed several millions of naira in his control and reclamation bid in the site.

Now that the situation has got to a crisis point, something con-

crete has to be done by the local and state governments to assist the people of the area. The present situation has left the people of the area devastated and hapless in the face of such colossal damage and losses.

They are becoming refugees in their own homes”.

Residents call for completion of Jakande/Isheri-Oshun road

By BOSE ADELAJA

R

ESIDENTS of Jakande Estate and IsheriOshun in Alimosho Local Government of Lagos State would want Governor Babatunde Fashola to come to the aid by expediting action on the delayed road project in their area. One of them, a traditional ruler and chief executive officer of Becan Garden and Suites Limited Chief Donatus Nwafor, said apart from bad road, insecurity and inadequate power supply were other problems the Governor should address to make life meaningful for the people.

Speaking during the official commissioning of his ultra modern hotel, situated in Bucknor area of the road, Chief Nwafor said residents would certainly have cause to cheer if the community could boast of accessible roads.

While commending Governor Fashola for his development strides in the state, Nwafor urged him to extend same gesture in IsheriOshun. ‘’I commend Governor Fashola for his good governance and extension of democratic dividend to the good people of Lagos State.

This administration has proven that good lead-

ership is achievable within a set period of time. I would, therefore, call on his administration to come to our aid by accelerating the road construction which is very expedient for a hotel-tourisim venture to thrive,’’ he added.

He noted that the business was in pursuance of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government on job creation, youth training and development. ‘’Becan Garden and Suites limited seeks to improve upon transforming the society to provide a safe place for the weak and strong; where both can seek fulfillment within acceptable rules and laws, a place where people would have faith in their neighbours and a society where good and lawful endeavor will be rewarded,’’ he said.

Among other things, he called for security and stable power supply so that tourism can thrive in the area.

In her address, hotel supervisor, Miss Obidike Onyinye, said the business offers excellent services for clients at an affordable rate.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2012 — 21

Nigeria can become a player in steel manufacturing globally — Industrialist C

HIEF EXECUTIVE Officer of African Foundries Limited, a Nigerian-based steel manufacturing company, Mr Sanjay Kumar, has said that Nigeria has the potential to become a global player in the manufacture and exportation of iron rods.

Kumar made the statement while taking newsmen on a tour of the company’s steel mill at Ogijo in Ogun State.

“Nigeria has abundant iron ore deposit and if the full potential of government is ploughed into its exploration and exploitation, this country can begin to produce steel for export. The potential is there for Nigeria because of her drive toward economic diversification; her manpower base; her intellectual base in metallurgy science; and because she possesses abundant natural resources for steel production. It is without doubt that Nigeria has the capacity to become Africa’s voice in the international market place for the manufacture, marketing and exportation of rods,” Kumar said.

He said that indigenous steel producing companies were doing enough to bridge the local demand-supply chain, adding that domestic rod production could reach 1.25 million tonnes by 2013.

Kumar urged the Federal Government to improve on the nation’s infrastructure to encourage more investors to go into the production of steel and iron rods locally.

M

r Uche Iwuamadi, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, African Foundries Limited, said that local rod manufacture would reduce the nation’s unemployment ratio.

According to him, the steel making industry attracts skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour, which Nigeria has in abundance.

“Recycling of scrap metal entails getting scavengers to go get waste metal objects and supply mills that use them to produce rods. About 5,000 people alone have been known to be gainfully employed and supplying us with the scrap metals we recycle for our production,” he said.

The Technical Director of African Foundries Limited,

Mr Ravi Sharma, said that building collapse in Nigeria should not be blamed on use of substandard iron rods. He said that rods alone have not been known to be the cause of building collapsing. “There is the need, however, for more government intervention in checking the

importation and production of substandard building materials,” he said.

Sharma said that Nigeria ought, by now, to have been exporting steel and rod to other countries, especially to other African countries.

African Industries Group started Steel manufacturing

Procurement bureaucracy affecting smooth operations at NIMASA

project in 1999, immediately after the country returned to full democracy. On a call for direct foreign investment by the Federal Government of Nigeria, African Industries group started construction of its first steel plant at Ikorodu, Lagos State, which was commissioned in 2004 named African Steel mill.

From left: Mr. Tony Okonmah, Principal, Tony Okonmah & Co; Mrs. Olajumoke Bakare, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, First City Monument Bank Plc, FCMB and Mr. Adeyinka Hassan, Chairman, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria ICSAN, Lagos State Chapter at the business meeting of the chapter, in Lagos.

South-South states set to establish Investment Fund

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

T

HE South-South states, also known as the BRACED states, may establish a regional Investment Fund as a vehicle to drive the vision of the BRACED Commission which is to foster economic cooperation and regional integration through collaboration and shared values.

This was one of the conclusions of stakeholders at a retreat organised by the commission in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

BRACED is an acronym for Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta states and the commission functions as the coordinating office for the actualisation of the BRACED states mission.

Director-General of the Commission, Ambassador Joe Keshi, said the primary objective of the retreat was to sensitise appropriate appreciation of the nature, process and inputs into the production of regional public goods and mobilise stakeholder support and ownership of the South-South development process.

In calling for the establishment of the BRACED Commission Investment Fund, participants noted that the existence of such Fund would act as a catalyst for birthing

economic revival of the zone through the empowerment of small and medium scale enterprises, adding that the nonrenewable nature of crude oil and the global clamour for alternative and environment-friendly sources of energy have made it imperative for the zone to diversify its economy.

The BRACED states produce much of the crude oil that fuels the nation’s economy, but the people have had to bear the consequences of oil exploration and exploitation. A grossly devastated aquaculture has left the people with limited opportunities and worse yet, the zone has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. It is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. This trend, stakeholders believe, could be reversed when ordinary people within the zone are equipped with both the skills and capital to actualise their individual financial independence.

Participants underscored the need for individual states to pass an enabling legislation for the institutionalisation of the BRACED Commission agreement which was signed in 2011.

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

D

IRECTORGENERAL of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, has said that procurement bureaucracy is affecting speedy execution of its programme.

Akpobolokemi, who disclosed this in Lagos while addressing newsmen in his office, explained that NIMASA’s projects are time bound being the security agency of the maritime industry.

In his words, “If you are supposed to police the nation’s territorial waters with the intent of securing peace and stability; and because of p r o c u r e m e n t bureaucracy, and the rest of them you cannot meet up, it is your own personal problem.

Nobody takes that as an excuse or as an explanation.”

A

kpobolokemi stated that due to its position as the security agency of the maritime industry, NIMASA is expected to expedite action on issues confronting it for the good of the agency and Nigeria.

135.95

0.05

2,218.00

+33.00

17.64

-0.06

105.30 +0.64 94.06 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR 154.74 POUNDS 236.876 EURO 201.8119 FRANC 165.4619 YEN 1.564 CFA 0.2882 WAUA 231.8939 RENMINBI 24.9463 RIYA 41.2618 KRONA 27.0666 SDR 232.6516

155.24 237.6414 202.464 165.9966 1.569 0.2982 232.6432 25.0274 41.3951 27.1541 233.4033

+0.70 SELLING 155.74 238.4068 203.1161 166.5312 1.5741 0.3082 233.3925 25.1084 41.5285 27.2416 234.1551

CBN Exchange rate as at 10/04/2013

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

Diamond Bank grows profit by 261%, eyes N85.7bn capital expansion

By CHINEDU IBEABUCHI, with agency report

D

IAMOND Bank Plc has reported a profit of N22.12 billion in its audited account for the financial year ended 31st December 2012.

This represents a significant growth of 261.1 percent in its profit margin when compared to a loss of N13.72 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2011.

Meanwhile, the bank said it plans to raise N85.7 billion in debt or equity to expand its lending operations this year.

Abdulrahman Yinusa, Chief Financial Officer of the bank said that the bank will use the funds to increase lending to the oil and gas, power and infrastructure sectors.

In its 2012 report filed at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the bank’s total operating income rose significantly by 149.4 per cent recording N96.03 billion in 2012, compared to N38.51 billion in 2011.

The bank’s profitability was eroded by operating expenses of N42.58 billion, rising by 7.2 per cent from N39.74 billion in same period of 2011.

Its profit before tax also recorded appreciable improvement with N27.48 billion representing a 253 per cent increase in contrast to N17.96 billion in 2011.

The bank’s balance sheet showed that its total assets stood at N1.18 trillion, appreciating by 48 per cent, as against N796.2 trillion recoded in 2011.

Its total liabilities rose by 50.5 per cent to N1.07 trillion in 2012 compared to N710.25 billion in 2011. While its net assets stood at N108.86 billion from N85.98 billion in 2011.

The Bank reported a pretax profit of N27.5 billion for 2012, against a loss of N17.9 billion a year earlier, but its shares fell the maximum 10 percent allowed because it said there would be no dividend.

Speaking on the capital expansion, Mr. Abdulrahman said that the bank expects a 20 percent increase in its loan book this year, from its current N500 billion after 40 percent increase in 2012 largely

From left: Justice Tajudeen Odunowo, retired Justice of the Federal High Court and discussant; Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM, (Chartered) and Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN, Guest Speaker, at the 2013 Management Lecture of NIM, in Lagos.

H

e added that part of it could be a Eurobond.

The bank last year appointed HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank and Renaissance Capital to manage a $300 million Eurobond, but Yinusa said whether that goes ahead would depend on how attractive the pricing is relative to other options.

Nigerian banks are increasingly seeking dollar financing for infrastructure projects, especially from power companies buying state assets under a privatization program launched this year.

Diamond Bank completed acquisition of a London-based niche operation owned by Nigeria’s Access Bank last week, which Access had earlier bought off rescued lender Intercontinental Bank, Yinusa said. The move would help Diamond profit from growing trade flows between Europe and Nigeria, he said.

Standard Bank clinches multiple awards for landmark deals

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

S

TANDARD Bank Group has been named the best merger and acquisition (M&A) firm, best securitization, as well as best syndicated loan house in Africa at the 2013 EMEA Finance Achievement

Awards. The bank also won eight other awards to bring its total laurels to 11.

This is the sixth consecutive year that Standard Bank has received multiple awards from EMEA Finance, which continue to recognise the group’s leading position in the African capital markets.

Stanbic IBTC launches mobile money app for smartphones

S

reflecting a recovery from write downs of bad loans.

The debt was part of $750 million needed for operations, of which $200 million had already been raised last year, he said. “The balance of $550

million is what we will raise this year,” Yinusa said, adding that it would seek to close the gap while pricing was favorable. The bank had not yet decided whether to issue debt or equity, but Diamond will seek shareholders’ vote on the plans this month. We need to be able to do either equity or debt,” he said.

TANBIC IBTC Bank, a member of Stan bic IBTC Holdings Plc, has announced the launch of Stanbic IBTC MobileMoney App for smartphones running on BlackBerry, iOS and Android operating systems.

The move, according to a statement by the bank, underlines the bank’s commitment to providing Nigerians with value-added products and services that suit their lifestyles, whilst giving them access to basic financial options via a secure mobile application wherever and whenever they want.

The bank said the mobile money app operates on a user-friendly platform that offers its users a convenient means of carrying out mobile money transactions from the comfort of their mobile devices, wherever

they are.

With the smartphone app, the bank said customers can enjoy mobile money services such as airtime purchase, funds transfer to all bank accounts, bills payment, money transfer to mobile phone subscribers, and much more. The bank added that the application is free and available for download to both customers and non-customers of the bank, including individuals who do not own a bank account.

According to Obinnia Abajue, Stanbic IBTC’s Executive Director for Personal and Business Banking, the launch of the mobile application is another step towards leveraging evolving technologies to bring affordable financial services closer to Nigerians, in line with the bank’s financial inclusion initiative.

EMEA Finance is a bimonthly global industry publication that reports on the major financial events and happenings initiated and influenced by the international financial industry active in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (the EMEA region).

According to a statement from the bank made available to Vanguard, some of the notable transactions for which EMEA Finance recognised Standard Bank in 2013 were the group’s work on Tiger Brands’ acquisition of 63.35 percent stake in Dangote Flour Mills and China’s Jinchuan Group’s US$1.3billion acquisition of JSE listed copper miner Metorex in 2012.

It stated that it was also recognised for being the best syndicated loan house in Africa largely because of its effort in facilitating the raising of a US$600-million two-year term loan on behalf of the Kenyan government.

The group was also recognised in the following categories: Best sovereign syndicated loan for taking part in Kenya’s US$600-million

capital raising; Best supranational syndicated loan for its part in Afreximbank’s US$500-millon, five-year Eurobond issuance; Best M&A deal in Africa for Tiger Brands’ acquisition of Dangote Flour Mills; Best corporate bond in Africa for facilitating JD Group’s issue; Best IPO in Africa for the listing of Ugandan power distributor Umeme Limited’s shares on the Nairobi Securities Exchange; Best follow-on funding in Africa for Dangote Flour Mills of Nigeria, and Best securitisation deal in the EMEA region for SA Home Loans’ recapitalization.

Mr David Munro, Chief Executive of Standard Bank’s Corporate and Investment Banking said “Standard Bank has a clear, strategic focus on Africa and these awards demonstrate our desire to provide excellent service to our clients as we work towards the development of the continent we call home”.

“Our bank’s deal-making teams across the continent have helped to structure and deliver these transactions for African companies and sovereigns.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 23

SABMiller plans N80bn investment in Nigeria, 3 others

BY CYNTHIA MGBEOKWERE with agency report

U

NITED Kingdombased brewer and second largest brewer in the world, SABMiller has announced plans to invest about N79.5 billion ($500 million) in Nigeria and three other African countries in the next three years.

Speaking at the Reuters African Investment Summit in Nigeria, Jonathan Kirby, Finance Director, SABMiller Africa, said the decision to invest in Africa is borne out of plans to expand further into Africa and

Obama administration foresees $943m bailout for FHA

T

HE cash-strapped Federal Housing Administration will likely require a $943 million taxpayer bailout to cover expected losses from loans it insured as the U.S. housing bubble was deflating, the Obama administration said on Wednesday.

It would be the first bailout of the government’s mortgage insurer in its nearly 80year history.

The FHA, which has struggled to manage a glut of delinquent mortgages, will likely need the funds given a shortfall in its reserves, the administration said in President Barack Obama’s fiscal 2014 budget proposal.

FHA Commissioner Carol Galante said the agency might still be able to avoid taking aid from the U.S. Treasury despite the projected budget hole. The agency has until September 30 to decide whether it needs a cash infusion.

“FHA, while still under stress from legacy loans, has made significant progress and is on a sound fiscal path forward,” Galante told reporters on a conference call. “We are continuing to act and do everything possible to ensure that the impact of these legacy loans ... are corrected as soon as possible.”

bring about a reduction in the prices of beer.

The other African countries which are likely target for the expansion are Ghana, Mozambique and Zambia.

Kirby said the company plans to invest $400 million to $500 million a year outside South Africa and open one to two new breweries in Africa in each of the next three years, with countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique and Zambia the likely targets

for expansion.

He noted that despite the fact that Africa is regarded as the poorest continent, consumers in the continent pay more for beer brands more than the global average.

“I think price is a key area. The African consumer will pay on average about $1 a serve and if you benchmark that against the rest of the globe that is at the top end.

“If we could make beer say 80-85 cents a serve I

think the volume opportunity would just jump at you.” he maintained.

Kirby said the company is looking at using cheaper local crops to make its beer and providing more draft beer to cut the cost of packaging.

According to him, this has the double effect of reducing its import bill and stimulating local economies, which gives the company more opportunity to negotiate

with governments on taxes.

He said SABMiller currently gets around 30 per cent of its supplies locally but plans to increase this to 50 per cent within the next two to three years.

He said, “One of the things we want to try and do is develop a long term local supply structure to reduce our reliance on expensive imported and highly tariffed crops.”

He noted that SABMiller currently gets

around 30 per cent of its supplies locally but plans to increase this to 50 per cent within the next two to three years.

SABMiller began selling a beer using the starchy root cassava in Ghana last month. It mirrors a similar product launched in Mozambique in 2011, where SABMiller was able to negotiate a reduced excise tax on the cassava and produce a brew 75 per cent cheaper than other mainstream beers.

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY , APRIL 11, 2013

LCCI calls for trade documentation process audit

ROCTER & Gamble, the global home and personal care products brand has its eyes on South Africa with a new $170 million investment plan.

D i m i t r i Paanayotopoulous P&G’s VP of its global business units said: “We are in Africa because of the size...it’s about a billion people, that’s the size of China and India for ex-

T

T

HE Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, has vowed to stop trading on its platforms saying it will henceforth arrest and seize the goods of anyone who trade on its platforms.

The Assistant Director, Public Relations, NRC, Mr. David Ndanusa who disclosed this to Vanguard said trading on its platforms is illegal.

“It’s just like the Lagos State Government is doing, chasing hawkers off the streets, we are saying, if you are doing business on our platforms, get a shop in a designated location and do your business,” he said.

When Vanguard visited one of its platforms at the Iddo railway terminus in Lagos, some of the traders said they resorted to trading on the platform

ample, just under, and the population is growing, the economies are getting more and more stable, so huge opportunities here.”

P&G’s new South Africa investment will see the creation of 500 new jobs and a new plant for local and export production of P&G’s flagship products that will likely be operational in 2016.

Coca-Cola launches bottled green tea

C

From left: Prince Emmanuel Ajayi, CEO, Swiss Biostadt Limited receiving award as the 2nd fastest growing company in Nigeria from Mr. Tony Elumelu, Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade & Investment and Professor Michael Porter; Chairman, All World Network & Professor of Harvard Business School at the 2013 Nigeria 50 Fast Growth awards & summit, in Lagos.

ITF engages global bodies to boost skills acquisition in Nigeria

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

T

HE Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has engaged the services of international and local bodies to help the fund in capacity development, standardisation and certification.

Director General of ITF, Professor Longman Sambo Wapmuk, who disclosed this, explained

that while the global partners will be helping the Fund in the areas of equipping training centres across the country, building staff capacity,curriculum development and certification of training, the Fund is working with, local partners for the purposes of standardisation and certification (NVQF), entrepreneurship develop-

Nigeria Railway to ban platform trading

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

Procter & Gamble to invest $170m in South Africa

P

BY NAOMI UZOR HE Competitive ness Council and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) have been urged to audit international trade documentation processes with a view to reducing the bottlenecks and the volume of documentation required at the ports.

The President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Goodie Ibru, made the call during the Chamber’s first quarter press conference on the economy, Tuesday.

Ibru said that the audit should cover the processes relating to Form M application, banking processes, inspection agents, customs, the Port Concessionaires, SON, NAFDAC, and NEPC among others.

He noted that documentation and processes for imports and exports are becoming increasingly cumbersome, leading to undue delays and cost escalation.

“All these agencies require loads of documentations which are generally slowing down momentum of business activities and imposing avoidable cost burdens.

Huge costs are incurred on borrowed funds and demurrage charges as a result of these delays,” he stated.

BRIEFS

after Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, task force of the Lagos State Government, destroyed their make-shift shops.

“I started business here since February after KAI official destroyed my shop and it has been good. When there is business, I make up to two thousand naira in a day,” said Emmanuel who sells foot wears on the terminus’ platform.

Samuel started selling books at the Iddo terminus since January after the KAI officials destroyed his shop at Ikeja.

According to him, “I started selling books since 2008 but I only came to this terminus by January this year after KAI officials destroyed my shop. It has been manageable here but the railway officials are even saying they won’t allow us to continue, but I keep wondering what those they allow to sell have

done.”

However when Vanguard asked some hawkers why they are not disturbed by the railway authorities, they said that they pay two hundred Naira (N200) weekly.

“We pay two hundred Naira every week to be allowed to sell here and it is better than getting arrested by the KAI officials,” Monday who hawks plantain chips at the platform said.

When confronted on the allegation, Mr. Ndanusa refuted it, saying it is false.

“That is not true. That is a false accusation. No one collects money from anyone. There are people that have been approved to do business there and they are in the shops. Even those hawkers, we have been raiding and arresting them and we will continue to do that,” he said.

ment and technical vocational skills training.

The international bodies engaged are National Institute for Apprenticeship Training (SENAI), Brazil, Institute of Technical Education and Extension Services (ITEES), Singapore and International Labour O r g a n i s a t i o n (ILO);World Bank, Galilee International Management Institute (GIMI), Israel, Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise; including International Institute for Welders (IIW) and International Finance Corporation (IFC).

He disclosed that the local bodies are : National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB,National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) ,Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dangote Group, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC); Niger Dock Shipyard, PAN, Nigerian Breweries as well as OCO Port Harcourt.

While disclosing that the agency would establish 37 Industrial Skills Training Centres across the country, Wapmuk, said that the implementation of this initiative will go a long way in reducing unemployment, creating wealth and enhancing national security.

OCA-COLA has rolled out its first bottled green tea in Taiwan as it seeks to grab a bigger slice of the nation’s profitable tea market.

Coca-Cola has a 5 percent market share of the Taiwanese tea market and aims to expand its share by 5 percentage points with the launch of the new product, CocaCola Taiwan general manager Kao Wen-hung, said.

The new product, branded Yuan Tsui , is advertised as the first bottled green tea in the domestic market that con-

tains Japanese matcha, is sugar-free and has zero artificial flavoring.

Tea products account for about 40 percent of the NT$50 billion local beverage market. Green tea has the largest share at 45 percent, or about NT$20 billion, bigger than that of black tea, oolong tea or milk tea, Kao said.

He expressed the hope that the company would become a giant in the bottled tea market, along with market leader UniPresident Enterprises. A budget of NT$100 million has been allocated to promote the tea product this year, he said.

Sweet Sensation, Ribena fete customers

S

WEET Sensation Confectionery, a Quick Service Restaurant brand in Nigeria has made good its promise to continue to reward customers through its several customer loyalty programs.

In commemoration of Easter celebration Sweet Sensation in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline, makers of Ribena packaged a special discounted combo meal of Spaghetti Shrimps with Ribena Can at an affordable price. This commenced a week before the Easter celebrations and ran through the Easter period.

According to the Ex-

ecutive Director, Mr. Tunji Kamson, the Sweet Sensation Easter Golden Egg Treasure Hunt brought excitement to the teeming customers and rewarded them for their unwavering loyalty. “It was just to give back to our customers in an atmosphere of fun and excitement,” he reiterated.

Management of Sweet Sensation and Glaxo Smithkline (GSK) also paid courtesy visits to The Little Saints Orphanage, Ogudu, The Old Peoples Home, Sabo, Yaba and The Lagos Children Centre as part of their corporate Social Responsibility.

Group M wins Nestle US media account

N

ESTLE US division has awarded media-planning and -buying duties including digital work to WPP’s Group M. The incumbent was Publicis Groupe’s Zenith.

Nestle launched the review four months ago as it put a new emphasis on cost savings. The

workload includes Nestle Nutrition, Nestle Health Sciences, Nespresso USA, Nestle Waters North America, Nestle Purina PetCare and Nestle USA. Group M will service the account from its New York and Los Angeles offices.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 25

learning@vanguardngr.com

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI, IKENNA ASOMBA & LAJU ARENYEKA

T

HE relevance of education in any given society cannot be overemphasized, thus, the reasons behind the popular aphorisms of the world’s great men like Nelson Mandela who once said that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Any nation that must free herself from backwardness, must get its citizenry lettered to a considerable extent. It is against this backdrop that Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State, on assumption of office in 2007, embarked on a holistic facelift.

Upon this landmark achievement, especially as recorded in the Rivers State education sector, Vanguard Media Limited, publisher of Vanguard Newspapers and other titles, last weekend, honoured Rotimi Amaechi as the 2012 Vanguard Personality of the Year.

Lauding Amaechi’s success, especially in the education sector, chairman of the occasion and former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, said Governor Amaechi is not just a Governor in whom he is well pleased, but one that has been able to make a bold impression about promise and performance in a Ni-

Vanguard 2012 Personality of the Year Awards:

Babangida extols Gov. Amaechi’s educational strides

• Governor Amaechi

gerian political space that is grappling with challenges of development and good governance.

“One aspect of Amaechi’s achievement is his intervention in the education sector in his home state as he has done so much to uplift the face of education there. He has also been involved in scholarship programmes for Rivers State students, some of whom he sent to schools up North for foundational studies in the spirit of nation-

al integration. This is one way to plan for the future.”

Governor Amaechi, who recently received Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University for his service to humanity, promotion of educational advancement and good governance, argued that one should not have to receive awards for doing his job. “There are two titles I don’t like very much; “Chief ” and “Doctor.” I

have always believed that if one is to receive a Doctorate, he should actually go to classes and do research work to earn it. But it was such an honour to accept such from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, even for its rich heritage alone."

A

maechi’s giant strides in education The Amaechi-led government, on assumption of office, declared a state of emergency on the education sector and completely took over the payment of salaries of pri-

NUC: Nigerian varsities go paperless

BY DAYO ADESULU & MUSBAUDEEN SEKONI

P

ROPELLED by the global educational challenge in the 21st Century, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Julius Okojie, has stated that the Nigerian university system will now go paperless as it launched a portal at the weekend called Nigerian University System Management Portal, NUSMAP. Speaking at the two-day workshop held at the University of Lagos, Okojie who spoke through the Quality Assurance Officer, NUC, Mrs Dorcas Agbara said; “NUSMAP is an online programme designed to enable our universities process, share and communicate data with the

NUC, the public and other government agencies for proper planning and management.”

According to him, the workshop targeted at directors of Academic Planning of Nigerian universities, Directors of ICT of Nigerian universities and other officers, was designed for training and retraining of personnel involved in the administration and data

management of universities at all levels to promote efficiency and quality planning with verifiable data. “It’s actually a challenge to the Nigerian university in terms of the basic minimum academic standards they have to meet in the area of ICT,” he said.

“This system has the capacity to capture the activities of all directorates of the commission, which include Universities Pro-

gramme Accreditation, Universities Academic Standards, University System Annual Review Meeting (USARM), Universities Research and Innovation, Finance and Budget, among others.”

Okojie who maintained that NUSMAP is designed to vouchsafe NUC’s committment to bringing the Nigeri-

Continues on pg 26

mary and junior school teachers, thereby ensuring that education takes its rightful place in the administration. This intervention costs the state government N800 million monthly to pay the salaries of school teachers.

Amaechi, who is the Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), targeted building 700 model primary schools with 500 completed each with 20 classrooms costing N3.1bn each and equipped with ICT facilities, modern libraries, sci-

Continues on pg 26

Education and technology meet at ARTE show Page 27

On a tomboyish note...

Page 29

Research key to agric production, food security Page 31

26 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

Gov. Amaechi’s educational strides...

Continues from pg 25 ence laboratories, football fields, basketball and volleyball pitches and nursery playgrounds. These model primary schools are built to the standard of the United Nations as obtainable in developed parts of the world.

It also embarked on building 24 model secondary schools across the 23 local government councils in the state; well structured and fully equipped with modern-day educational, recreation and boarding facilities with standard housing for teachers. These secondary schools have been referred to by observers as universities.

The Governor knew what his mission was as he once said: “We

knew that the problem of the state was basically education, the state of our quality of education was abysmal and we knew that the quality can only improve if we take over primary education.”

The government is also currently running free primary education with free books and uniforms, provision of library and internet facilities for primary schools. The government has acquired 150 hectres of land to relocate the premier university of technology in Nigeria, the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), to a bigger and better permanent site, which is expected to have facilities that will accommodate no fewer than 50,000 students.

Rivers State has been adjudged

the best performing state in the education sector within the SouthSouth zone. In recognition of this, the Federal Ministry of Education sometime ago rewarded the state with the sum of N70 million for its performance.

Amaechi has been particularly determined in the re-training of its teachers and the employment of over 13,000 extra teachers to teach in the new model schools. Also, the state has offered scholarships to over 2,000 students in Nigerian higher institutions and has spent about N5bn for her students in foreign intuitions. The state is building a world class university which, when completed, will turn out well equipped graduates that will hold their own in any field and compete with the best in the world.

*From left: Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Bamitale Omole; Member, OAU Advancement Board, Mr. Isaac Orolugbagbe; Member, OAU Advancement Board, Mr. Kola Awodein (SAN); and Chairman of the Board, Mr. Victor Osibodu, during the inauguration of OAU Advancement Board members in Lagos.

Nigerian varsities go paperless Continues from pg 25 an university system to standard in line with 21st Century realities, added that it will also improve on the NUC and Nigerian university operations and serve as an authoritative platform for exploring information about universities nationwide.

At the workshop, representatives from 21 South-West universities some of which were, University of Ibadan. Lagos State University, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Osun State University etc., were trained on the processes of using the NUSMAP. Commenting on the relevance of the application, Executive Consultant, GucciChis Nigeria Limited and facilitator, Honourable Paul Adingwupu said; “The

universities have for years been doing accreditation, they have been submitting documents and so on to NUC, these papers if analysed, are things that will lead to measurement of academic standard which is the bone of every university, adding, “if the standard is not kept, then the university cannot make it high.”

According to him, NUC has taken a bold step and decided that every accreditation, every academic standard tour is going to be online so that the outside world and those rating the universities will see that we have the actual carrying capacity and what it takes to be in the first 1000 in ranking when this process is fully implemented.

Adingwupu who noted that the NUSMAP has a Geographic Information System (GIS) which

enables the NUC to verify all data, added that some would be sent in pictorial form and the Information Help Desk will help the prospective students, their parents and those outside Nigeria to have a feedbackoriented interaction with the appropriate resource centre of NUC. His words; “All universities in Nigeria are participating in different zones because five zones were created: Federal University of Technology, Minna, NUC Abuja as a zone, University of Lagos, University of Benin and University of Calabar, so all the universities were shared to each of the zones and they would go to these zones and participate and all they need to know about university accreditation, university management and so on, will be accessible to them.”

IITA Int'l School tops Spelling Bee competition

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

P

UPILS of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture’s (IITA) International School emerged first and fifth in the Spelling Bee competition held at Grace School, Gbagada, Lagos.

The competition, which had two representatives each from 24 schools, saw Oluwatomisin Akeredolu, Grade 5, come first and Foluke Babatunde-Lawal, Grade 4, in the 5th position.

IITA School Head, Ms Carole InnissPalmer, commended the pupils for their brilliant performance and dedicated the victory to Mrs. Vivian Okwuosa, Grade 2 class teacher, who trained the students for the competition.

Congratulating the pupils and the school management for making IITA proud, Deputy Director for Partnerships and Capacity Development, Dr Kenton Dashiell, said “their performance is a clear testimony that our efforts towards developing capacities are yielding results.”

On her experience at the competition, Oluwatomisin said; “Initially, I was afraid but immediately I answered the first question, the boldness came.” She encouraged her colleagues to be serious with their studies and confident in themselves.

Mrs. Okwuosa who trained the students said; “I believe so much in these children despite the fact that it was their first experience. It isn’t very easy training the children to spell big words and we sometimes had to consult the dictionary for the meaning and the pronunciation of some words.

“There are some words that their pronunciations differ from the way they are written and mastering those words was another challenge. I had to expose the children to Word Play Club. In Word Play Club, you play and you sing to make the spellings sink and be part of the children.”

ZODML opens knowledge centre for prisoners

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

E

XECUTIVE Co-chair, Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries (ZODML), Mrs Ifeoma Esiri has said that since the greatest percentage of prisoners are men who are likely breadwinners of their families, it becomes necessary for her organisation to do something practical that will enhance their future.

Quoting Professor Nnamdi Aduba of the University of Jos, she said; “Less than 4% of prisoners are females, 80% of those convicted serve short-term sentences of less than two years, 33% of convicted prisoners are sentenced for stealing without violence and 60% of all prisoners are awaiting trial. If these statistics are correct, it means the vast majority of prisoners are men and very likely in a good number of cases to be the family breadwinners.”

Explaining reason for the establishment of the Prison Knowledge Centre (PKC) at Ikoyi Prison, Lagos, Esiri noted that the loss to the family of the income of that breadwinner is aggravated by the additional expenses that arise from legal fees and having to provide food and medicines for the prisoner.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 27

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

I

T was indeed a meeting of town, gown and technology at the Africa Resources and Technology for Education (ARTE), show in Lagos recently.

From interactive boards to digital campus companions, laptops to CDs containing Past Questions and answers for various examinations, multilingual books to remote controls used to assess students’ performance, to equipment for technical, vocational studies, to all forms of engineering, it was the crème de la crème of education resources and technology.

The organisers of the show, Worldview International, said that the rationale behind the initiative was to bring international and local education suppliers together to showcase the latest technology, resources, software, and aids in teaching and education.

Charlotte Mayanja, marketing manager, Worldview International, said; “Here, in one place we have education suppliers, alongside people from the industry. So it is about bringing to-

Education and technology meet at ARTE show

*From left: Dr. Godswill Lekwa (MOUAU); Prof. Uche Amalu (University of Calabar); Dr. Napoleon Alsueni (NIFOR); Minister of State for Agriculture, Bukar Tijani; Prof. Abubakar Kundiri (BUK) and Prof. Charles Asadu (UNN) all 2013 fellows of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria at the 37th annual conference of the society in Nasarawa State. gether things that would help develop our education system, whether it's technology, software or any other

kind of resource.”

One of the stakeholders who exhibited products at the show is O’Hara Nigeria Limited.

O’Hara, in partnership with LABTECH International, provides technology for technical and vocational education for

ICAN to review syllabus in line with global trend

BY MICHAEL EBOH

T

HE Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, has disclosed that it is in the process of reviewing its syllabus to conform to global trend in the accounting profession.

Speaking at the presentation of accreditation/ recognition certificates to tertiary institutions/tuition

houses in L agos, Mr. Adedoyin Owolabi, President, ICAN, said the new syllabus will allow it cope with the challenges posed by development in Information and Communication Technology, ICT, and also empower its graduates, making them vast in knowledge, skills and professionalism.

He further stated that the curriculum review will

position its graduates to deliver seamless and excellent services to their employers and clients.

According to him, a profession which expects to be continuously relevant in the scheme of things must be prepared to equip its members with the capacity to adapt to ever changing circumstances both locally and internationally.

“The review of the syllabus

will take into consideration knowledge and skills required to meet the current changes in accounting practices as well as meet the essential core competencies of the profession,” he said.

The Institute also accredited 25 tertiary institutions including 10 training centres for meeting up with its standards.

two equal parts.’ Thus, while ‘bi-‘ in ‘bicycle’ implies ‘doubling’, ‘bi-‘ in ‘bisect’ means ‘halving’.

Biweekly, an adjective, has two meanings: ‘twice a week’ and ‘once every two weeks.’ Biweekly is a confusing word.

To make your intended meaning clear, you may say ‘The magazine is published once every two weeks’. Biweeklies (noun) refers to ‘a periodical published every two weeks’.

You may also say ‘The newspaper is published twice weekly’.

Frequently Confused Words BIWEEKLY - BIANNUAL - BIENNIAL

B

iweekly, biannual and biennial have the prefix bi(two or double) at the beginning. Confusion may arise because the prefix can refer to doubling (happening twice in a period) and halving (happening once in every two periods). For example, a ‘bicycle’ is ‘a road vehicle with two wheels’; to bisect is ‘to divide something into

Biannual means ‘happening/occurring twice a year ’ while biennial is used to mean ‘happening/occurring once every two years’. Biannual and biennial are not interchangeable.

Don’t confuse them!

GUERRILLA, GORILLA Guerrilla and Gorilla mean different things. Guerrilla refers to ‘a member of a small group of soldiers who are not part of an official army and who fight against official soldiers, usually to try to change the government’. (Oxford Advanced Learner ’s Dictionary, 7th Edition). A gorilla is ‘a very large

developing countries such as Nigeria.

Mr. Dominic Uvieghara, Managing Director, O’Hara Nigeria, said; “We are all gathered here because we seek ways to improve the Nigerian educational system through the provision of technology.

"Everyone here is involved in the education sector one way or the other; we have teachers, principals, administrators etc.”

Apart from the exhibition of various products, Mr. Andrew Thompson, General Manager for International Sales and Marketing, LABTECH International spoke at the ARTE lecture titled; Twenty-first Century Learning Platforms.

Thompson said; “The problem now is that 20th Century staff are teaching 21st Century students in 19th Century classrooms. So this is a real disconnect.

"We need to integrate technology in the classrooms, engage the students in their own education, and support the teachers in that process.

"There are three necessary things when using technology to teach, we have infrastructure, infostructure and infoculture.Infrastructure is not so difficult to do because that is just putting technology in the classroom, like computers, projectors, cameras etc.”

When it comes to infoculture,we try to figure out how to put the teaching content into a digital structure. The missing item, not just in Nigeria, but in many countries around the world is the infoculture.

African ape (an animal like a large monkey without a tail), with a black or brown hairy coat.’ Freedom fighters is a name used to describe guerrilla movement. Guerrilla and Gorilla differ in meaning and spelling. Don’t confuse the two words.

Examples •The guerrilla soldiers eventually forced the colonial rulers to grant independence to their country.

•Gorillas live in the jungle.

CONTINUES NEXT WEEK. Send requests/problems to Gabriel Osoba, Ph.D, Department of English, Lagos State University, Ojo, through Editor, Teach Yourself English, Vanguard Newspapers, PMB. 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or email: editor@vanguardngr.com & gabosoba002@yahoo.co

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

Chime tasks corps members on nation-building

BY TOSIN ADESILE, Enugu

T

HE Enugu State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime has tasked Batch ‘A’ 2013 corps members on the need to be actively engaged in nation-building. He made this remark at the end of the threeweek orientation course for batch ‘A’ corps members held at National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) permanent orientation camp, in Awgu, Enugu State.

The governor who was represented by the Deputy State Governor, Mr. Sunday Oyebuchi expressed satisfaction after inspecting the parade and proudly commended the corps members that with them, the future of this great country is bright.

While delivering his remark, he emphasized that government will view with seriousness any case of rejection at corps members' primary place of assignment and assured corps members of government’s continuous support for the scheme by promptly releasing the allowances and other necessary assistance to NYSC.

Mr. Oyebuchi advised corps members to regard their posting as their own service and contribution to their fatherland. The chairman of Awgu Local Government, Hon. Mathanus Nnanna, also admonished corps members who are fortunate to be posted to rural areas to regard their posting in good faith as it would give them a different view of life.

He advised corps members to bear in mind that people are suffering out there and their major role is to impact their host communities positively.

The state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Chijioke Agu advised the corps members to shun corruption, tribalism, nepotism and other vices that could draw Nigeria back as a nation. He also ad-

vised corps members to be law abiding and obey the customs of their host communities. The State coordinator, NYSC, Mr. Hillary Nasamu also charged corps members to be humble and loyal. He announced that 80 per cent of corps members have been posted to rural areas particularly schools.

He appreciated the support received so far by the NYSC from Awgu Local Government.

•Mrs. Anuri Obijiaku, Proprietress, Cuddly Kids School, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos (3rd right) with parents and some of the pupils during their vacation/Mother’s Day celebration, at the school premises.

Students’ association orientates freshers

BY KEMI BUSARI (OAU)

I

T was a dream come true for the fresh students of Ondo State origin that were admitted into Obafemi Awolowo University as they held the fresher ’s orientation programme. The orientation which was organised by the OAU branch of the National Association of Ondo State Students took place at the Faculty of Arts lecture theatre of the institution.

In a lecture entitled; A Progressive students association: An imperative for youth and environmental development, Mr. Ayo Igbasanmi, the Information Officer of Ondo State OilProducing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) took the students through what he called a motivational journey of life.

Defining a progressive as one who favours and promotes reforms in every area of life, he noted that one way to bring progress and development to the nation is through youth development.

Graduate releases book on journalism

BY EVELYN USMAN

Turning around the fortunes of Obuozu Primary School A

BY EMMANUEL SHEBBS, Abia State

T

HEY sat on the floor during classes. Whenever it rained, they would be sent home by their teachers because of the leaking roofs and cracked walls. The pupils and teachers of Community Primary School, Obuozu (CPSO) have more stories to tell about the infrastructural decay bedeviling most primary schools across the country.

They usually sat under the tree whenever the classrooms were flooded. Those were hard times.

But the recent intervention of the Universal Basic Education and the Abia State Government, through the local government area has given rise to a new hope for not just the pupils and the teachers of the school but also the parents whose wards attend the school.

According to an elder in the

The new block of classrooms constructed by UBE in Obuozo community. village, Chief Chidi Ogbonna who earlier spoke to Quadlife, “the CPSO is the only government presence in Obuozu community. Our children as well as other children in nearby communities come to the school because of its

closeness to the people. The parents may not afford the wherewithal to send their children to other schools in townships so they send them down here.”

According to another source who craved anonimity, “the government pays

more attention to schools located on major roads and places and less attention on those schools located in the interior. A good example is CPSO, located in the interior part of Obuozu community, which is in Ukwa East Local Government Area, of Abia State. The primary school had earlier been left without maintenance for about 10 years. The concern shown by the Parents-Teachers Association coupled with a report which revealed the poor facilities in the school, drew the attention of the state government to the school and subsequent action was taken to that effect.”

While reacting to the new development, the Education Secretary of Ukwa East Local Government Area, Mr. Rowland Ajere thanked God for the laudable project noting that teaching and learning in the school have been highly facilitated.

GRADUATE of the Abia State University, Kingsley C. Ndimele, recently launched a book on journalism, titled “The Practice of Journalism in a Democracy” and launched at a ceremony chaired by the Vice Chancellor, ABSU, Professor Chibuzo Ogbuagu, who was represented by the Head of Department, Mass Communication, Dr. Uwaoma Uche, .

Uche said the essence of their being in school is for them to face their academics. “The VC has instructed me to tell you to read very hard and ensure that you pay your school fees before exam.

He told me to tell the publisher to see this first step in publishing and journalism as a step in the right direction.

"The practice of Journalism in a Democracy is an intellectual espionage into the sacred chambers of the experiential and effective profession of the 4th estate of the realms. The author, Kingsley Ndimele, is a bright furustic journalist of the new order, who cut the edge through careful tutelage from the Abia State University, Uturu."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013—29

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

I

T so happens that the most stylish female shoes on campus today are Boyish Brogues. Ironic right? Well, you might have a change of heart if you’ve got the perfect pair and can match them perfectly with your clothing.

Or better still, if you’ve oohed and aahed at someone else’s amazing combination.

Enough said. Girls! Here’s how you can walk the thin line between looking like a tomboy and ordering your steps into fashion heaven.

•The colour trick: From experience, I can tell you that black shoes of this kind are very likely to make you look like a police woman…not the CSI kind, but the traffic controller on Lagos streets. If you’re modest, go for carton brown. If you don’t mind living on the wild side, throw away the box and pick a bright colour like red.

•Cropped pants: Boyish brogues look much better with ankle length pants than

On

full length palazzo or pencil pants. Cropped pants give the shoes the opportunity to express themselves and have a personality of their own.

… e t o n h s i y o b m o t a

•Clean cuts: It could be quite difficult pulling off a boyish pair of shoes with a skirt or gown, but it is possible.

Avoid the flowing, frilling stuff and match your shoes with clothes that have a hint of masculinity.

•What you see is what you get: It’s quite difficult to make up your mind about how well your brogues go with your clothing until you look yourself in the mirror. So do yourself a favour, and do just that.

UNICAL inducts 42 radiographers

BY STANLEY UCHEGBU

T

HE Department of Radi ography and Radiological Science,Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, University of Calabar has inducted no fewer than 42 radiographers into the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN) at an event marking the 7th Induction and Oathtaking ceremony held at the International Conference Centre of the university.

Mr. Michael Okpalaeke, Acting Registrar of RRBN presented the new radiographers for induction.

Declaring the induction ceremony open, the ViceChancellor, Prof. James Epoke congratulated the graduating students whom he described as tear rubber, (brand new).

He praised the staff of the department for producing a new set of intellectual radiographers for the economy and urged them to practice their profession with ethics and standards as required by the board and always charge their patients what they can afford.

The Provost of the College of Medical Science, Prof. Saturday Etuk admonished them to put their trust in God and be focused, saying that what they have achieved today has brought joy to their families,

friends and indeed the College of Medical Sciences.

Prof. Etuk tasked them to be hard working for them to be able to meet the challenges in technological development in the world and achieve the desired goals.

Prof. Etuk charged them to

work hard and never forget their God who made everything possible and their parents who saw them through the hurdles.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Dean, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Prof. Anne Asuquo, described the induct-

ees as great men and women endowed with sound academic and professional wisdom, who will transform Nigeria's landscape of medical diagnostic imaging science.

Speaking on behalf of the graduating students, Udo Christian Joseph, who

bagged four awards as the best graduating student of the department, thanked the staff of the department for their effort and encouragement in seeing them through the struggles and hurdles which he described as strict.

Quality education delivery: RSG to partner DAAR Communications

BY DAYO ADESULU

I

N its bid to boost education in Rivers State, the Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi has stated that Rivers State Government will partner Daar Communications Plc to provide quality education to its citizenry.

The Commissioner stated this when the Chairman of Daar Communications Plc, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi introduced the DAAR Education Service (DES) Solutions in her office in Port Harcourt.

Lawrence-Nemi who said that education is the number one priority of the Rivers State Government, added that the

state is ready to partner with any organisation that shares the same vision with Rivers State in education. “The innovation will be an alternative way of learning,” she said.

According to her, the state has all the facilities (security, ICT, power) for a smooth installation of the DES across the model schools in the state, adding that the state will continue to bring innovations into the sector so long as it will improve the standard of education in the country.

On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Richard Ofuru who commended Daar Communications Plc said; “DES Solutions is coming at the right time as we have

moved to the digital era,' adding; “the DES Solution will be a very good teaching aid.”

Ofuru who explained that such teaching aid will make the pupils and students to assimilate and understand subjects easily noted that installing the DES Solutions in rural areas will attract teachers to teach in such areas.

Raymond Dokpesi who was elated with the partnership disclosed that the reason for venturing into education services was because of the poor performance of students in public examinations.

He said:; “Students' poor performance was attributed

to teachers’ method of teaching, students’ attitudes and unavailability of basic educational materials like textbooks etc.”

The chairman also pointed out that DES Solution was aimed at transforming the classroom, empowering teachers and captivating students by leading the way in providing high quality, dynamic, educational video content to school districts large and small, rural and suburban and everything in between.

“Daar Communications believe that every child regardless of religion, tribe, gender or class should have equal access to the very best of education,” he said.

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

NERDC saves N50m from curriculum printing through PPP

BY DAYO ADESULU

O

VER N50 million public fund is expected to be saved by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) through the adoption of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for the printing of the newly revised 9-Year Basic Education Curriculum for primaries 4 – 6.

This revelation came from Mr. Patrick Ozeigbe, Director of Procurement and Corporate Services of

NERDC, at the bid opening session which held in Lagos, with representatives of the nation’s major publishing outfits in attendance.

The benefits accruable to the nation from the partnership with the publishers, according to Ozeigbe, is not only limited to the conservation of public funds but also include the delivery of qualitative curriculum to the nation as the selected publishing companies have their reputation and

integrity to protect.

Those who bidded for the printing of the curriculum are West African Book Publishers, University Press Plc, HEBN Publishers Plc, Africana Press Publishers, Macmillan Nigeria Publishers and NERDC Printing Press.

Ozeigbe further said; “The project of printing the curriculum for primaries 4 – 6 is captured in the 2013 budget. We first did the printing for primaries 1 – 3 and the publishers have been

doing well.

"It is expected that they should complete the printing of the curriculum for primaries 4 – 6 within 60 days. The process of bidding and issuance of award letters by NERDC is a transparent one. Due process and Procurement Act are our guiding principles. So you don’t need to know anybody before you can win a contract these days. This prevents corruption. In accordance with the Procurement Act, everybody is treated

equally and the most competent and responsible people are given the jobs.

“Curriculum is a sacred document and that is why we go for highly responsible publishing houses because the Federal Government is after a highly qualitative curriculum that will engender the delivery of quality education in all the nation’s schools. That is why NERDC painstakingly developed a curriculum that will make our children self-

reliant instead of seeking white-collar jobs that are non-existent.”

Ozeigbe added that NERDC has put everything in place to ensure quality assurance in the printing and delivery of the curriculum by the publishers to all the states of the federation.

To this effect, a monitoring team has been constituted by NERDC, which will from 23rd of next month travel to all the states of the federation to carry out onthe-spot verification exercise of quality and quantity of copies of the curriculum supplied for all the school subjects.

Exper t decries state of school spor ts

T

HE chairman of Pacific School, Shasha, Mr. Remigious Omosowon, has decried the state of school sports, saying maladministration is a major problem in sports development in the country.

At the 5 th biennial inter-house sports of the school, Omosowon appealed to parents to encourage their children to develop their full potentials in sports, as it is one of the best ways to launch them to stardom.

“Sport is a lucrative business and it is imperative to develop the potential of every child.

Nigeria has not been able to tap the enormous economic potentials in sports because the sector, like every other sector in the country, is being mismanaged.

“Sports stars make fortunes and are known worldwide while engineers, doctors and professors are little known beyond their territories.”

At the end of over 30 events, Red House clinched the overall title with 95 points, followed

by Green House with 94 points. The third position went to Yellow House with 88 points.

In the primary section, Green House came first with 35 points, followed

by Yellow House with 31 points, and Red House with 28 points.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 31

Research & Development

BY EBELE ORAKPO

P

rofessor Abayomi George Ojanuga is a professor of soil science at the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. In this chat with Vanguard Learning in Abuja recently, Ojanuga speaks on the role of soil scientists/ researchers in food security and the need for more extension workers in the field if Nigeria’s march towards self-sufficiency in food production must be realised. Excerpts:

Research is key to agric production, food security – Abayomi Ojanuga

R

• Nigeria's land resources grossly underutilised for agriculture

• Prof. Ojanuga... in optimizing production, information on soil is very important Soils are specific: Asked whether a farmer can grow any crop he wishes on a soil once it is corrected with the right fertilizer, Ojanuga replied in the negative.

“No, soils are specific in the kind of crops they can grow.

Once you have information on a soil, then you could recommend to the farmer the kind of crop he can grow. Not only that, you also recommend the kind of fertilizer he needs to add to be suitable for that soil.”

L

and resources grossly underutilised: “When you go across the country, you see so vast a land unutilised. In fact, every year, we normally put just about 36 per cent of total cultivable land into use so the land resources are grossly underutilised for agriculture. We should not be having food problem in this country; our farmers are very energetic and ready to work but they do not have the necessary information about their soil to optimize production. There is a huge gap between what the farmers are getting and the potentials of the land. I think we need to close that gap.

Teach the farmers how to manage their soils appropriately and then fertilizer will be meaningful.

The farmer can use fertilizer and not really get the best from it because there are certain things they need to know about the soil in managing it appropriately. Soil information and fertilizers go together; that means you must have the information about the soil.

,

ole of research in food security: According to Professor Ojanuga, the role of research in food production cannot be overemphasized. “Research generates information on soils and crops and the information is passed to extension workers for onward transmission to farmers. So, there is linkage - from the field to the laboratory and laboratory to field. Farmers bring their problems through the extension officers to the researchers. The researchers investigate and find solutions to the problems and then send back this information through the extension officers to the farmers. Research is the key to agricultural production so in optimizing production, information on the soil and water are very important and research generates all these information that will eventually go to farmers.

“What soil scientists do is to look at the soil on the farm, analyse it appropriately, characterize it and classify it and then tell the farmer its limitations. The limitations will then guide the farmer in terms of the fertilizers to use to correct the soil. So soil information is very important.

You have to know the soil, get the information about it and pass it to the farmer and advise him appropriately. The soil information is given in interpreted form and not in the big sounding words. We give it to the farmer in a simple language such as ‘ your soil is suitable’ or ‘your soil is not suitable.’ The farmer then asks why and we give him the reason such as low organic matter content or low nitrogen content or low phosphorus content, and then we tell him how to manage it, the kind of fertilizer to use. The fertilizer you use has to be appropriate; it must be the kind of fertilizer that the soil will be able to retain and later release to plants. It is what the soil releases to plants that they eat. Of the total elements of nature, 17 are very good for plant nutrition and it is the soil that will release them to the plants,” he said.

Our farmers are very energetic and ready to work but they do not have the necessary information about their soil to optimize production

,

Extension workers: “There is need for us to have enough extension workers to reach out to farmers. Unfortunately, the number of extension workers is very small and that is because in the past 15 to 20 years, the production of middle level manpower has gone down tremendously, reason being that government did not pay attention strictly to agriculture.

Then you find out that those who are in the middle level schools like the polytechnics, want to go to the university to get higher degrees instead of staying in the middle level cadre. The problem is that there is no proper attention given to

extension training,” said Ojanuga.

Advice to govt: "I think the new drive, tagged Agricultural Transformation Agenda, is a good programme but first, there is need for a detailed soil survey of the country. That detailed soil survey will determine the kind of information the farmer needs. You will tell him the limitations of his land and then he begins to work on those limitations. It could be limitations in terms of water availability, nutrient availability to plants and then he can plan appropriately to apply either water or nutrients as the case may be depending on the capability of the soil to release the nutrients to the plants."

Ex-minister condemns corruption in secondary schools

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

F

ORMER Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, has berated the high level of corruption in various secondary schools across the country, which has contributed to the low standard of education.

Akunyili, who was a guest speaker at the Bells University of Technology's College Lecture Series VII themed National Transformation: The Challenges of our Time, said; “corruption is at the heart of our problems as a people and nation.”

Accusing principals of some schools of bribing invigilators of external examinations on behalf of their students, Akunyili said; “it is a known fact that some school administrators ask their students to contribute money for invigilators who would be encouraged to look the other way

while unscrupulous teachers help the students to cheat.

“Some parents and guardians register their children in special centres for WAEC, JAMB, GCE and similar examinations where they cheat without hindrance. It is alleged that invigilators not only give the candidates answers to questions, but also allow them to use whatever textbooks or notes they wish to use for examination.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Isaac Adeyemi, in his welcome address said transformation essentially means a total departure from the old order to a new one.

“National transformation is an uphill task which tackles corruption, ensures security of lives and property and creates the enabling environment for business to thrive. Progressive national transformation can only occur in the society when individuals get involved in the task for positive change and strive for excellence.”

32— Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL11, 2013

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 33

Education security retreat: Ghana's IG to deliver keynote

BY DAYO ADESULU

A

LL over the world, from America to Europe to Asia, Governments and Education stakeholders are racing to come up with ideas to enhance security in educational institutions against the backdrop that principal officers and facilities of educational institutions have become targets of choice for terrorists, kidnappers and criminals across the globe. Leaders and principal officers of educational ministries, agencies and institutions are meeting for the same reason in Ac-

cra Ghana from 14th to 19th April, 2013 at the International Executive Management Retreat on Security Awareness and E m e r g e n c y Preparedness for educational institutions in Africa.

Ghana's InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan will deliver the keynote address. Other world renowned security experts billed to speak at the retreat include Professor I. S. Williams, faculty member, National Institute for Strategic Studies (NIPPS); Professor E.O. Aliemeka, faculty member, (NIPPS); Dr. U.K

Brown of Liberia; P.K Krampar of Ghana; Professor A. Ekoko, former vice-chancellor, Delta State University and former faculty member, Nigeria Defence College etc.

According to the coordinator, Major-General Mathias Efeovbokhan (Rtd), MJ One Security Consultants; POTOMAC Consulting International and Exam Ethics Marshals International in a release said, the retreat will be attended by heads of education ministries and agencies; governing councils of tertiary institutions; education committees of legislative houses; state

education management boards; state Universal Basic Education Boards; vice-chancellors; provosts; rectors; bursars; chief security officers and other principal officers of educational institutions from across Africa. Educational institutions in Nigeria including IBB University, Minna and Imo State University, Owerri have already registered to attend the retreat.

The objective of the retreat is to empower principal officers of educational institutions in Africa with comprehensive up-to-date body of knowledge and strategies for protection of human, physical, material and financial resources.

*Mr Terrance Sheffy of Community Alternatives Inc. Pittsburgh, PA, United States, addressing participants during a workshop on Child Autism sponsored by GTBank,at Muson Centre, Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Laureates College holds inter-house competition I

T was jubilation galore for House when they won the interhouse sports competition of Laureates College, situated in Aviation Estate off Murtala M o h a m m e d International Airport Road, Lagos.

Led by Uche Nzeruem, who also doubles as the Assistant Sports prefect of the school, House won 10 gold medals, beating Elegance House to the 2nd place with six gold medals. Fidelity House came 3rd with three gold medals. The event held at the Union Bank Sports Club, Surulere, Lagos.

The dexterity shown by Uche Nzeruem was acknowledged by the Chairman of the Board of Governors of Laureates College, Engr. Foluseke Somolu who described the athlete as “ very promising and a materi-

al that can be groomed for national, continental, and global honours for the country.”

In his goodwill message, Mr. Uwem Ankak, a member of the Board of Governors, implored

parents to help their children/wards discover their talents, especially in sports.

Educationist charges govt to invest in youths

BY MUSBAUDEEN SHEKONI

F

AILURE of government and parents to impart necessary knowledge to our children at the early stage in life is responsible for the inadequacies we find in some of our children, said the Principal of EarlyLife Secondary School, Festac Town, Mr. Onyema Onyenakeya.

“Government is not catching them young and that is a fundamental problem we are having. In those days, we had sporting activities in schools at local, state and national levels where we developed a well groomed people, adding that this is lacking today.

He said government needs to do more in promoting sports in second-

ary and primary schools in the country, noting that sports and education play different roles.

Speaking at the school's 17th interhouse sports competition, Onyenakeya pointed out that Nigerian sports could be raised to a high pedestal as the young talents in these levels are recruited and groomed into private schools.

He lamented a situation where attempts are made to revamp our sports and the private schools are not carried stressing that there are many private schools that should be forced to reckon with but when they are excluded their impact will not be felt.

According to him, for Nigeria to actually make it in sports whether at the national or international level, we need to go back to the grassroots, we need to go back to school level.

Is failure a blessing or a curse?

I

s there a single life that knows no defeat?

Is there a single success that has never been tempered with failure? Are there gains without a loss? Could there be lessons in failure on this side of eternity? Is anyone immune from failure? Does failure exist to mar us or make us; to crush us or to grow us? Do we grouch under failure or are we groomed by it? Is failure a label or a feedback? Is failure a person or a process? Is failure temporal or permanent? How we perceive; interpret and respond to failure determines the answers to these questions.

Life could be likened to a Great University in which it is compulsory for every living soul to attend. Everyone must pass the test or the courses in the Great University of life. When one passes the test, he or she is promoted to a higher class which also has its own test and this goes on until one draws the final breath.

Failure to pass any of the tests in the Great University of life is to continually repeat the same class until you have mastered the course and pass the test even if it takes your life time.

The faster you grow and mature into passing life's test, the more successful you become. Life is a learning domain. Failure is the lesson life presents to us in order to: mould us; refine us; skill us; drill us; wake us; shake us; tame us and make us. Therefore, you are either a learner or non-learner through life. Learners master the courses in the Great University of Life and pass the test that life brings and they become successful in the process. Non-learners are those people who keep on doing the same unwise things repeatedly without ever stopping to examine their thoughts; words and actions or behaviour in order to act wisely.

Failure could be a blessing if you learn from it and grow through it. Failure could also be a curse if you are crushed by it because you did not learn from it and grow through it.

Remember, what you don’t grow through, you will go through again and again.

Failure teaches us to be dependent on God. It is characteristic of human nature to be full of ego and independence. However, when we encounter failure, we realise that our wisdom and ability is limited. Therefore, we need help from our Creator to guide us and we can draw from His infinite wisdom to make the right choices and dissolve the puzzle that life brings our way.

When we consistently succeed, we may develop a swelled head rather than a swelled heart. Therefore, failure teaches us humility so that we can be grateful for our blessings and also be compassionate to share our blessings with others.

Most of the failures people experience in life are traceable to character flaws that have grown into habits and in the process of time, have wrecked havoc in their lives. Hence, failure is an indicator that your character needs to be transformed or worked upon from the insideout.

Someone defined insanity as doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result. Failure is a pointer that our actions are incorrect and this teaches us to make a correction in our course of action.

The human spirit is indomitable and there is a reserve of power within us that manifests itself during an emergency. Therefore, failure shows that we can go through adversity and survive through it and even thrive because of it.

Genuine success is not a quick-fix but rather it is a process that is achievable over time and failure teaches us perseverance; never to give up on your dreams.

Therefore, treat failure as a friend and not as an enemy.

34 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 gave up.

Why be holier than the Pope? If Talle who suffered greatly and hovered between life and death believes that what the doctor said was talking rubbish, then why should I worry myself? Subsequently, I did not raise the issue again.

Thereafter, it did not come to me as a rude shock when I was woken up by the loud banging on my door where I met Mallam Abba who told me to quickly come as Talle had been bleeding for two days as a result of her pregnancy.

What? Talle pregnant again? I rushed with him back to the village where we took the unconscious Talle to the hospital in Kaduna,.

The Indian doctor tried his best but could not save Talle or the baby.

Later the Allarama and other extended relations arrived the hospital.

Challenging the decree of God (3) ARCH 8 was celebrated as the International Women’s Day all around the world. It was another opportunity to appraise the female gender, her journey so far, her challenges and successes, as well as how she can be assisted to take her rightful place in society. Several activities including seminars, symposiums, lectures, walks, demonstrations and protests took place across the globe to reiterate their beliefs and positions on what the place of the woman ought to be while also condemning practices and laws that prevent the woman from achieving her full potentials as human specie. Incidentally, Vanguard was not left behind in the celebration. In collaboration with the Centre for Black African Arts and Civilisation, a Round-Table discussion were women from different walks of life were brought together to discuss the Nigerian woman.

In Nigeria as with many developing parts of the world, culture, tradition and religious beliefs have been identified as the main challenge to female emancipation and equality.

And more than a decade into the Millennium, very little or nothing seem to have changed especially for the woman in remote settings outside the few cities in the country.

The discussion reminded me of a contribution by one of my readers many years back which I titled “the decree of God” The writer narrated a true life story about the ordeal of two young girls who were given out in marriage barely in their teens.

It was not only alarming but depressing to see the level of ignorance and bigotry displayed by the individuals concerned.

I have decided to reproduce the said contribution for two reasons; to reawaken our conscience of the fact that those who have access to education and information are a minute number compared to the overwhelming vast majority in the villages and remote settings.

The second reason is for us to appraise our situation and evaluate how far we have been able to break off from these shackles.

Please bear in mind that a few years back, a former governor and current Senator of this country, married a teenage girl from Egypt under the guise of religious practice.

Though the issue raised so much dust across the country and beyond, it has since been swept under the carpet.

Dear reader, have you or anyone you know of had a similar

Allaramma was the first to speak,“Imagine that infidel doctor, he was talking rubbish! That Talle is alive today is because God decreed that she will not die from the pregnancy or operation,that he performed the operation successfully does not give him the right to talk the way he did, he was just a tool to actualise God’s decree, who is he anyway to prescribe when the next baby should come?

,

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experience? Please do write in and share with us. Also, we would love to read your contributions on the Nigerian woman and her quest for equality.

As you write, please bear in mind the following questions; Is culture really the main challenge of the Nigerian woman? Is the Nigerian woman properly equipped to turn things around in favour of herself? Our mailing addresses are: Vanguard Media Limited, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos and .

HI

thehumanangle93@yahoo.com “Talle here is a very young woman. Her pelvic right now is narrow but it is still growing. It is possible that in a few years time, it will develop to its full opening and she can deliver naturally. For the next three years, I am advising you that Talle should not get pregnant. Let the scar of the operation heal well.

Otherwise if she is pregnant before that time, the womb will tear and possibly tear in mid pregnancy, then she may die.

Having stayed in this part of the country for a long time, I am fully conversant with your religious beliefs about family planning and all that.

However, if you want Talle to survive, you must embrace family planning. You must let her recover properly before another pregnancy. That is all I have to say to you.”

We stumbled out of the doctor’s office to my car. Immediately we entered the car, the Allaramma was the first to speak. “Imagine that infidel doctor, he was talking rubbish! That Talle is alive today is because God decreed that she will not die from the pregnancy or operation.

That he performed the operation successfully does not give him the right to talk the way he did. He was just a tool to actualise God’s decree. Who is he anyway to prescribe when the next baby should come? To my utter surprise and amazement, they all joined in condemning the doctor.

All of them, including Talle!

They all concurred with the Allaramma that all that the doctor told us was rubbish from an infidel. I tried to reason with them to the contrary to no avail, then, I

,

Talle’s body as well as that of the baby were conveyed back to the village for burial.

Throughout the mourning period, there was no open wailing in compliance with the strict Islamic tradition against such practices.

Only shedding of silent tears and even the Allarama shed tears. All the mourners agreed that Talle’s death was in fulfilment of the decree of God. And there is nothing anyone can do to plan against or alter the decree of God. Talle’s chapter was closed by the decree of God. Three months after the death of Talle, I received an invitation from Mallam Abba to attend the wedding ceremony of Sheik Allaramma and Talle’s younger sister, Hindatu.

I said oh! Not again. I rushed to the village and confronted Mallam Abba on the issue. Malla Abba said “listen, my friend. That Talle died is not by design and it could not have been prevented.

The Allaramma could not have wished his wife to die. I am not happy that my daughter has died but we have to accept it as the will of God. And the best way of demonstrating that acceptance is by giving Hindatu to Sheik Allaramma.

Hindatu gave the Allaramma his 30th child at a great cost to her health. Hindatu is a beautiful girl, more beautiful that her late older sister, Talle. When she became pregnant, she was given all the ineffective concoctions that did not help her sister.

When delivery time came, she suffered and suffered. The only difference between her case and her late sister’ is that the local midwives succeeded in delivering her of the child at home without

The kept secrets about men

BY ONOZURE DANIA

H

AVE you ever felt furious with a man because he just doesn’t “get” why he’s making you unhappy? Some men are actually on purpose, trying to hurt you, because that’s the only way they know how to relate to a woman.

But most men are just clueless about how they really want to be with you.

Most men are lonely, yes, they really are.

Most men feel awkward and less confident than you would ever imagine.

In fact, most of the good men out there lack confidence and feel awkward around women. But they just cover it up with either an “I don’t care” attitude, a determination to keep an emotional “distance” between you, or outright hostility. It’s amazing sometimes how far a man will go to protect his own heart and nearly the worst thing we can do is to take what he does and says and close up our own hearts in response.

The secret of all these, you have to know, is that you need to keep your heart and your energy field open, so that no matter what he is doing or saying, you wont be hurt. If you trust yourself with a man, he will trust you. This is very different from insisting that you trust him and I know that trust is hard to get because trust has to be given in a good relationship.

But it doesn’t begin with you trusting him, it begins with you trusting you. It begins with a sense that no matter what he does or says, you will be okay. It begins with him getting that you will not tolerate bad behavior, mistreatment, neglect, or any

form of abuse or disconnection.

And the reason you can trust yourself not to tolerate bad behavior is just that you trust yourself. Then it makes it possible for you to be yourself around him.

You can be warm, open, loving and easy going with him, if you so completely respect and accept yourself, you will automatically respect and accept him, exactly the way he is.

And he instantly gets that you respect and accept him. Your intention to be exactly who you are in his presence, no matter what does not only completely turn him on, it makes him feel manly and accepted and trusted all at the same time.

That is when you begin to trust him.

And that’s how a great, deep and connected relationship gets created. So much of this depends on the words you use, they have to be not only respectful and communicate simply, they have to be true.

Men are so used to hearing demands from women, from their mothers, their teachers, and even the women around them at work.

They are so used to this that they almost automatically shutdown and tune out whenever the sound of your voice or the content of your words triggers them in a way that feels like a demand. You can be ahead of nearly every other woman around by learning how to put words together that are respectful, non demanding and yet truly express what it is you want, what it is you need and what it is you feel, in a way that makes his heart want to get closer to your heart.

recourse to the hospital.

Alas! There was a problem. It manifested itself a few days after as Hindatu discovered to her chagrin that urine was constantly leaking from her private part. She has been afflicted with VVF. Again, Hindatu’s VVF was ascribed to the decree of God that cannot be altered or prevented. She got afflicted with the ailment middle of 1996, since then she has been taking various concoctions and has visited many clinics on her own. She is still with the problem largely due to funds and religious beliefs.

Early this year, the Allaramma got tired of the situation and sacked her.

He has since married another damsel. Mallam Abba and his wife feel bitter about the situation but still ascribe what has befallen their daughters to the decree of God. I now realise that it may take a decree from God to change the fatalistic belief of some people about the decree of God.

Concluded

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 35 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 LIBRA: Whatever anybody says or does, you will have both your say and way. Venus and Jupiter may tempt some of you to embrace illicit (or secret) romance within your base of operation.

SCORPIO: Venus and Jupiter at positive angles may tempt you to join some of your friends who are already onboard of merry making train. Watch your health.

SAGITTARIUS: Minor financial success you record today can lead to something bigger and good in the near future; as good luck will smile at many and induce love of luxury, merry, making and romantic association. Genuine lovers will need to be on guard against deceit from new admirers.

CAPRICORN: Both financial success and emotional satisfaction are closed to you than before. Those of you travelling because of maters-of-the-heart are in for an exciting romantic day Those ambitious career-wise will succeed after few struggles.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

F

OR those that know me intimately well, they can identify me with my principles of “anything is possible”. Yes! there is nothing impossible. Even

Do it any way when everybody around me believes otherwise, I do not allow it to weigh me down. Look around you and tell me which notable human achievement has ever

seemed possible in the eyes of cynics? Did the whole Nigerians not say Super Eagles of Nigeria can’t win the 29th edition of the African Cup of Nations.

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

All you need is to believe in yourself.

Have faith in God. Get started. Get along.

Anyway, anyhow keep on going and the Almighty God will perfect your effort.

Do it anyway, today!

By Lanre Kehinde

AQUARIUS: Many members of your opposite sex will go out of their ways to attract your romantic interest.

This is the wrong time to engage on unnecessary argument. Been your lucky day you are expected to take good advantage today.

PISCES: If you priority is love, much of it would come your way as desired. But here is a better day for more ambitious in the business world. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you over money.

ARIES: Those of you with secret admirers within your working area will have the needed opportunities to make the needed moves. Resist the temptation to deceive others.

TAURUS: Although matters-of-the-heart may give you cause to smile broadly, if care is not taken, you would cause friction that can’t help you r case at work. This is the wrong time for unnecessary scheming within your working arena.

GEMINI: Those of your who are red-blooded for romance may have an exciting and satisfying day. Happenings within your social circles must be taken more seriously.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

CANCER: Confrontation may come your way in the circle but the heavens are working favourably for you. Some doses of romance is not too much for you on a day like this.

LEO: Provided you don’t allow your innate ability to be as diplomatic as necessary desert you, things work favourably for you to the betterment of your finances.

VIRGO: Many of you will be in sentimental mood and exhibit strong romantic desire openly. But then, if care is not taken, you may be carried away to the detriment of your finances. Serious minded lovers are in for happy day.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s my horoscope?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua, I want you to give me my comprehensive horoscope, especially what my special gift is.

Which day of the week was I born? Where were my natal planets and their meanings? Who am I? S.A, Lagos

Dear S. A, There is no space for comprehensive horoscope but what you’ll have here -under is answer to your questions/ You were born on a Thursday and your special gift is LEADERSHIP quality.

YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Day Of Birth: Thursday Sun Sign: Virgo: Sun in 20th Degree of Virgo Moon Sign: PISCES: Moon on 10th Degree of Pisces Mercury in 16th Degree of Libra Venues in 5th Degree of Scorpio Mars in 13th Degree of Cancer Jupiter in 6th Degree of Pisces Saturn in 5th Degree of Aquarius Uranus in 2nd Degree of Virgo Neptune in 11th Degree of Scorpio Pluto in 10th Degree of Virgo North Node in 6th Degree of Leo South Node in 6th Degree of Aquarius Quality and Element Cardinal and air star signs hosted two planets each fixed and earth three each, no planet in fire while mutable and water star signs hosted five planets each.

Push-full influence = 20% Non- push-full element = 80% Final dispositor = Lucky Jupiter

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

36—Vanguard , THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

MOSOP gives condition for oil exploration in Ogoniland

DESOPADEC commissioner donates to hospital

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

A

commissioner in Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, representing Ndokwa Nation, Sir Ken Okolugbo, has donated ambulance to Obiaruku General Hospital.

He also thanked Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the state for providing the enabling environment for the commission to function.

On his part Dr. Gbenedion commended Okolugbo for the gesture, and assured him of effective use of the ambulance.

Meanwhile, Chief Eric Anigala, Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Delta North, has commended Uduaghan for appointing Okolugbo, noting that Ndokwa nation has not had it so good since his appointment and enjoined the hospital to make good use of the ambulance.

P

ORT HARCOURT— MOVEMENT for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, has called for the creation of an Ogoni state as a condition for oil exploration to resume in Ogoni land.

In a statement, yesterday, Chairman, MOSOP Coordinators Forum, Mr. Frank Jonah, said Ogoni will not tolerate a situation where states that contribute nothing to the economy fed fat on the oil resource in the area, while Ogoni communities thrive in suffer poverty.

Describing the poverty situation in Ogoni as sad and painful, Jonah said they had continued to suffer from oil pollution and environmental degradation.

He said: “The health situation in Ogoni is terrible with increasing death rate. While the resources of the Ogoni people are taken and shared by the major ethnic groups, Ogoni people are left to die in Shell Petroleum Development Company polluted land.

“If they want us to negoti-

ate, let them create a state for Ogoni as a matter of urgency and necessity, then

W

ARRI—COMMITTEE for Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, Delta State, yesterday, called on the InspectorGeneral of Police and Delta State Government to fish out and ensure the prosecution of the soldiers that shot and killed a staff of Delta State Sports Council, Mr. Phillip Ekeh, last Sunday, at Okpara Inland, Ethiope East Local Government Area.

Chairman of CDHR in the state,

Mr. Benefit Orugbo, in a chat with Vanguard, said: “Information has it that Phillip, a rising star in the Delta Sports Council, who won silver medal for the state in the 2009 Sports Festival in Kaduna State was shot dead while returning from an outing.

"Another person identified as Monday from Eku was also shot dead.”

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, according to a source, intervened in the

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Chief Aisulimhen Ighodaro, has accused the leadership of the party in the state, led

by Chief Dan Orbih, of “chasing shadows” in the state rather than preparing party members for the forthcoming April 20 local gov-

ernment elections.

Chief Ighodaro, who addressed newsmen in Benin, said: “We express our disappointment over the Orbih-led executive because our party is yet to get its act right. It is more worrisome that on the eve of the council elections, Dan Orbih is chasing shadows rather than substance.

“The loss our party suffered in all the elections in the state since 2007 give cause

for worry and we expect Orbih and his executive to be in the field, mobilising votes for our great party, rather than carrying advertorials on Oshiomhole’s birthday.

“As party chieftains, we expected that the second coming of Chief Tony Anenih would rekindle the interest of our party in the state, rather what we see is another shadow-boxing, which did not yield any fruit in the past.”

FG hails Delta govt over scholarship

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—COORDINATOR of the Federal Government Scholarship Award for students in

matter, yesterday, as he invited the President-General of Okpara community, Chief P. Obakponovwe and the Otota, Chief Pascal Unuero to a meeting in Warri.

Details of the meeting were unknown at press time, but Orugbo, who expressed anger over the incident, said: “Beside the two that were killed, eight other persons were injured and practically taken hostage by the soldiers."

South-South states, (universities and other tertiary institutions), Mr. Ogwunwale Bamidele, yesterday, said Delta State Bursary and Scholarship Board remains the best agency in assisting Federal Government and students of its state in bursary and scholarship awards.

Bamidele spoke when officials of the Federal Ministry of Education visited the state Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof.

Hope Eghagha.

He said the state government had contributed immensely to the empowerment of its students in higher institutions through its human capital development programme.

Urging the state government to maintain the tempo with a view to transforming

the people of the state economically and otherwise, he appealed to the state government to extend its scholarship schemes to secondary school students, so as to allow other brilliant children in the state to benefit from the laudable programme.

In his remark, Eghagha said the human capital development programme of the state government has continued to yield positive results in the transformation and development agenda of the state.

He said the state government will continue to live up to its expectation in bursary and scholarship awards for the students of the state origin, adding “the state government believes strongly that any student who is bright should be encouraged.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

exploration after our demands are met, we will not accept Shell back to Ogoniland.”

We're chasing shadows in Edo — PDP chieftain

Rights group calls for justice on Okpara killings

BY EMMA AMAIZE

we can talk.

“And even if we have to agree on resumption of oil

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On scrapping UTME, NECO

H

OW can anyone be allowed to enter a university or polytechnic without writing JAMB to see if the person is fit to be in the school? NECO should be left alone since it is the only made-in-Nigeria examination.— Miss Olaitan James, Student.

I

heard that schools will be in charge of its admission by the time UTME is scrapped.

It is good because internal supervision seems better and would be more credible. NECO too is insignificant to be allowed to remain.— Mr. Kehinde Babajide, Student.

S

CRAPPING UTME is a good idea, if it is part of the solution to the woes in the educational system. The body can also be restructured and there is really no need to scrap NECO. But for NECO many undergraduates would still be a home today.— Mr. Kotil Hungbo, Unionist.

J

AMB is just a money-making venture. Imagine five million people writing JAMB every year.

That is millions of naira for a few people. And when JAMB let’s you off its hook, POST-UTME will now send you back.— Miss Toyosi Adeleye, Student.

N

ECO is not necessary because only few students use it for admission into universities. JAMB should be allowed to stay because it is a way of ensuring that education is something you strive and work hard for.— Miss Chinwendu Juliet, Student.

P

OST-UTME should go. JAMB has a way of making students read hard for, and prepare for advanced education. However, it has been devalued by POST-UTME. But NECO should be left alone. It is still valuable.— Miss Blessing Ubah, Student.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013—37

Braithwaite’s N10bn suit: Court refuses bank’s plea for time extension

BY JIMOH WILLIAMS

A

LAGOS State High Court has declined to entertain an application for extension of time by Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited in the N10 billion suit against it by Lagos lawyer, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite.

In the application, the bank had sought for extension of time to reply to Braithwaite’s motion on notice, but the trial judge, Justice Doris Okuwobi, who noted that the bank had not paid the necessary fees for same application, refused to allow counsel to the bank move same.

Standard Chartered’s counsel, had asked for a short date when their application would be considered, by which time they would have paid the penalty for replying out of time, which the court granted.

Braithwaite, in the suit, is asking the court to declare that the bank’s construction of a 14-storey building and a fivelevel car park at 142 Ahmadu Bello Way/Plot 142 Abutting Elias Close, Victoria Island, Lagos, was unlawful and damaging to his rights.

Madam Mene passes on

M

ADAM Ibukun Mene is dead.

She died on March 18, in her residence at Ogunaja quarters, Sapele, Delta State, after a brief illness. She was a devoted Christian and a philanthropist.

A statement by the family said burial arrangements will be announced later.

Late Madam Mene

Call for Oshiomhole’s resignation ill conceived —Edo Professionals

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—LEAGUE of Young Edo Professionals, has described as unnecessary and “playing to the gallery,” the call for the resignation of Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, by the state Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over alleged perjury, saying that the governor never lied under oath.

Edo State PDP had accused the governor of alleged inconsistency on his date of birth and called for his resignation.

Reacting, Edo Professionals, in a statement in Benin by its Secretary General, Osatohamen Nosakhare, recalled that the governor had at the colloquium informed his fellow governors that he was actually 61 but that organisers of the ceremony made the blunder by stating in the programme that he was 60.

He said: “Our members who attended the colloquium believed that the governor was actually 60 years. However, on the same occasion, he made a clarification that the committee of friends which planned the event erred on his date of birth by planning the celebration as

60th rather than 61st birthday, whereas his real date of birth was April 4, 1952.

"Oshiomhole was quoted to have said at the colloquium, while addressing fellow governors, that 'the truth of the matter is, today I am 61. That is my official record and nobody ever noticed because year after year, people kept adding one year,

and I don’t know where they started counting though I ignore it. I ought to have celebrated my 60th birthday last year. This year, I am 61. So Akpabio (Akwa Ibom State Governor) when you are talking to me, you are my senior as a governor, but I am older with many years and I want you to treat me as one of your elders.'

PUBLIC PRESENTATION: From left: GMD, Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti; Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; popular comedian, Julius Agwu and his wife, Ebere, during the public presentation of Jokes Apart, How did I get here, by Julius Agwu, to mark his 40th birthday, in Lagos.

Uduaghan sanctions Consultant Orthopaedic surgeon

BY EMMA ARUBI

W

ARRI—DELTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday, ordered a consultant Orthopedic surgeon with the state Central Hospital, Warri, Dr. Edafe Adike, alleged to have abandoned his duty post for his private clinic in Warri, to report to the Health Commissioner for appropriate sanction.

Dr. Adike told the visiting

governor and his team that he came to his private clinic only 30-minutes ago with his official car.

But the governor, pointed out to him that there were no car tyre prints on the ground to support his claim, showing that the car had been parked for quite some time, saying, “so, you abandoned your patients at the government hospital to suffer while you are here working in your clinic.”

Governor Uduaghan, made

the disclosure during his visit to project sites in Warri, Uvwie and Udu Local Government Areas of the state, to ascertain their level of completion.

He was at the Delta Steel Company Hospital, where he worked as a surgeon before venturing into politics, and expressed regret that the medical centre of excellence was now a shadow of its former self due to apparent neglect by the Federal Government.

Army vows to combat crime in Delta

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—COMMANDANT of 19 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Gen. Pat Akeen, has promised to assist the Delta State Government combat crime in the state.

Speaking during the commissioning of the ultra-modern Army checkpoint at Okirigwe Sapele Local Government Area, donated to the 19 Battalion by S.O Solodems Company Limited, Gen

“If Dan Orbih (Edo PDP chairman) and his men were not at the colloquium, he could have done well to watch the televised programme as it was aired live. He would thus have known that the governor publicly cleared the air on the issue before the representative of Mr President and his brother governors, same day.”

Akeen, said they were determined to complement the peace and security agenda of the state government.

He said the security post will further drive his men in the area to be totally committed and dedicated to effective militarization and crime prevention in the state, adding, “one of the cardinal agenda of the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the is peace and security of the people of the state “The Okirigwe check-point

will certainly complement our effort at bringing cases of car snatching, kidnapping, breaking and entering to the barest minimum in Sapele-Amukpe and its environs.

“I am happy that the company recognises the role and effort of the 19 Battalion in curtaining crime in Sapele and its environs. I thank the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Chief Solomon Ojariefe for his philanthropic activities.”

Rivers to partner ECOWAS on biolarvicides factory

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Government is to partner Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, countries, to produce biolarvicides to control and eliminate malaria in the state.

State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, who briefed newsmen in Port Harcourt, said a factory for the production of biolarvicides will be established in the state, adding that the ground breaking ceremony for the factory is slated for this week.

He said the development will create jobs for about 500 indigenes of the state, as it will be a joint venture of 50/50 partnership between the Rivers State Government and ECOWAS. He said: “The ECOWAS President will be present and Rivers State governor, Mr Chibuike Amaechi will be chief host. The Federal Ministry of Health, United Nations, World Bank and other neighbouring states will also be in attendance at the town hall meeting for the launch.”

38—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

2 jailed for robbing banker

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS — TWO young men, Mohammed Sule and Lawani Idris, have been sentenced to three months

Traditional rulers raise alarm over poor welfare

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA — TRA DITIONAL rulers in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State are lamenting alleged poor attention and paltry welfare package being given to them by the state government.

Consequently, they urged the state House of Assembly to ensure that the welfare of royal fathers in the state was improved.

They, therefore, called on the member representing the area in the House of Assembly, Prince Ikedi Ezekwesiri, to see how he could compliment the little stipend they received to assist them.

Late Elder Onwunali for burial April 14 THE REMAINS of Elder Ikechi Lazarus Onwunali, aged 85, will be laid to rest Saturday, April 13, 2013, in his hometown, Umuakwu Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State.

In a statement by Ekeoma Ikpeama Onwunali, on behalf of the family, interment will take place after a funeral service at St. Joseph Chosen Church of God International at Onwunali’s compound by 10a.m.

He is survived by wife, children, relatives and grand-children.

imprisonment for stealing and robbing a staff of Access Bank Plc, Vivian Ufori, of her belongings valued at N160,000.

Sule 35 and Idris, 28, who were arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing prefered against them by the police before Magistrate (Mrs.) Dan Oni. The two defendants were said to have committed the crime on April 8, 2013, at about 5:30a.m. at Fadeyi Street in Ikeja area of Lagos.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Edet Okoi, told the court that the alleged offence was committed in the early hours of the morning at Fadayi Street in Ikeja at about 5.30am.

He claimed that the defendants stole the following belongings - a hang bag, containing one Access Bank ID card, Access Bank Automated Teller Machine card ATM, a pair of shoe, a Bible, house and office keys and some cash valued at N160,000, properties of one Vivian Ofori, Okoi claimed that the defendants were fond of robbing people of their valuables.

According to Okoi, the offence committed is punishable under section 409,285 (1) of the criminal laws No 11 Vol 44 laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011.

Earlier, when the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded guilty.

APGA chieftain, Chief Maxi Okwu (left), being conferred with a chieftaincy title, 'Ogbaturu-enyi,' by Igwe Ginger Ibeneme of Wunobi community of Oji River lga of Enugu State, yesterday. Photo: NAN

N458m bribe: Imo CNPP goes spiritual .

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI — IRKED by the unresolved N458 million bribe scandal rocking Imo State, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, in conjunction with Concerned Religious Organisations, CRO, has declared seven days prayer and fasting.

The group, which explained that its prayer point was carefully selected based on the current sordid hap-

penings in the state, also added that all party chairmen and members were expected to religiously observe the prayer and fasting.

According to Vanguard investigations, one of the prayer points is “for God to expose the mystery behind the JPRO bribery scandal and any other contract scams and for God to set the innocent free and expose the evil ones.”

The CNPP leadership also called on the citizenry to join

in the prayer and fasting targeted towards the recovery of the missing N458 million.

It denied ever acting out the script of impeached deputy governor of the state, Sir Jude Agbaso, adding that if all the reports available about the JPROS scam was anything to go by, God should vindicate the just.

Sir Agbaso was impeached last week by the state House of Assembly, which justified its action by his involvement in the scam.

Save us from hunger, disease, death, IBC pensioners plead

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI — FRAIL and hapless pensioners of Imo Broadcasting Corporation, IBC, are appealing to the state government to pay their pension arrears, which have now run into 34 months.

Confirming their ugly plight to Vanguard in a telephone interview, spokesman of the pensioners, Mr. Lugard

Igwe, lamented that hunger, disease and eventual death had gradually but steadily started decimating their number.

“We have suffered untold hardship, extreme poverty, acute neglect, hunger, disease and eventual death of some of our members in the past months. I do not know how many more would go before succour will come our

way,” Igwe lamented.

The senior citizens had at various times, taken their protest to the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Dr. Anthony J.V. Obinna, urging him to speak to Governor Rochas Okorocha on their behalf.

Vanguard recalls that Governor Rochas Okorocha had set up a committee headed by the then Chief of Staff,

now deputy governor, Prince Eze Madumere, to look into how best the problems could be solved.

It is not clear at press time if the Madumere committee had submitted its report, especially as the Commissioner for Information, Strategy, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Chinedu Offor, neither received nor responded our correspondent’s calls.

Enugu - Port Harcourt federal road goes bad 3 months after rehabilitation

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

Late Onwunali

MUAHIA — BARELY three months after the busy Enugu-Okigwe-Umuahia-Port Harcourt federal road was rehabilitated under the supervision of FERMA, some portions of the road have gone bad again.

When reputable contractors

like Julius Berger and Setraco were mobilised to rehabilitate the road, especially the Okigwe-Umuahia axis which was then a real death trap, motorists and commuters jubilated but their joy has turned out a temporary one.

This is because potholes have developed on the road, especially in the middle, endangering the lives of road

users.

The potholes are mostly located between Ezinachi in Okigwe and Ofeme in Umuahia, a portion handled by one of the major contractors.

However, the stretch from Umuahia-back to Okigwe is in a better condition.

Even FERMA, which has its name advertised at several points along the road,

has not made any effort to patch the new potholes.

Motorists and other road users are wondering what would happen when the rains come in full force.

The pace of rehabilitation work between Umuahia and Aba is abysmally slow, subjecting road users to unnecessary traffic snarls.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 39

FESTIVAL— From left: Pastor John Kuforiji; Prophet Gabriel Onaolapo, President; Pastor Chris Oakhena and Pastor Matthew Oladipo, Vice President, Missions, all of Christ the King Rescue Global Ministry, during the church's 12th Freedom Festival, in Lagos.

SUMMIT—From left: Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria, Mrs Bola Adesola; Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank, Africa Region, Ms. Diana Layfied and Minister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the Nigeria Economic Summit organised by the Economist.

SIGNING—Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (right); Chinese Consul-General, Liu Xian Gang (left); and Managing Director, China Civil Engineering Construction Company, Cao Bao Gang during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding on Light Rail Mass Transit Project in Abeokuta.

COMMEMORATION—From left: Chairman, Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Babatunde Sagoe; Managing Pharmacist, New Heights Pharma Ltd, Ogheneochuko Omaruaye, representing Commissioner for Health; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Femi Olugbile and Head of Service, Adesegun Ogunlewe at the screening for hypertension/diabetes in commemoration of World Health day in Lagos.

PULL-OUT—Mrs Olufunke Davies-Jones, Deputy Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, inspecting parade during her pull-out from Immigration at Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

LECTURE—From right: Oyo State Governor, Chief Abiola Ajimobi; Chairman Island Club, Prince Demola Dada, Bankole Agbaje (Assistant Secretary) General Secretary of the Club, Mr Diji Vera-Cruz and Chief Winsala during the Island Club quarterly business lecture at Peacock Hall, Island Club, Onikan, Lagos.

VISIT—From left: Chairman of Council, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Alhaji Mustapha Abubakar; Director General, SON, Dr Joseph Odumodu and Vice chairman of Council, SON, Dauda Ketbu during the Council's visit to SON's facilities in Lagos.

INAUGURATION—From left: Mr Olufemi Bakare, Executive Director, First City Monument Bank Plc; Shamsudeen Olaleye, Chairman, Isolo Local Council Development Area and Oba Kabiru Adelaja Agbabiaka, Osolo of Isolo at the inauguration of climate change unit in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

BRIEFING— From left: Mrs Jumoke Akinkoye, Adviser on Human Resources to Bishop Lagos West; Rt. Revd. (Dr) Peter Awelewa Adebiyi, outgoing Bishop of Lagos West and in- coming Bishop, Rt. Revd. James Odedeji during a briefing on new Bishop, Diocese Lagos West at the the Arch Bishop Vinning Church, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe.

40 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

Don urges FG to increase funding for science education

KIDNEY TRANSPLANT: Health ministry, cattle breeders disagree over patient's bills

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

I

LORIN—PROF. Sylvia Malomo has asked the Federal Government to increase funding for science and technology education to fast-track Nigeria’s pace towards becoming a developed nation.

Malomo who is in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin spoke while delivering the 127th inaugural lecture of the institution, yesterday. ”I wish to add my voice to those calling for increased funding as it is paramount to improving the education sector in general, but particularly for science and technology education, if Nigeria must improve its pace towards becoming a developed nation."

Why Boko Haram amnesty’ll fail— Activist

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

L

AGOS—A NORTH ERN-based human rights activist, Mr. Musa Reef has faulted the proposed amnesty for members of Boko Haram Islamic sect by the Federal Government, saying that unless the sect changed its ideological perception, the amnesty would fail.

He also said that for the amnesty to be effective, Islamic clerics from the region should tackle the issues involved.

Reef, who said this in a statement, condemned those who blaming President Goodluck Jonathan for the current insecurity in the country.

His words: ‘’The group is basically ideological and cannot be assuaged with any form of amnesty.

"In fact from the snippets of messages of treats issued by the group, dialogue with the government is an anathema. So, what group is the government offering amnesty to?"

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

From left: Spokesman for Internaly Displaced Persons, Alhaji Salisu Eggi; Toro LGA Care-taker Chairman, Mr Aliyu Ibn-idris and Gov.Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State during the governor's visit to the Rehabilitation Camp in Toro LGA on Tuesday. Photo: NAN.

Diamond, Fidelity banks to expand lending operations

BY EMEKA MAMAH, WITH AGENCY REPORT

L

AGOS— TWO Nigerian banks; Diamond and Fidelity, have said that they would raise about $1.1 billion (about N175 billion) in debt or equity to expand their lending operations this year.

Diamond Bank’s Chief Financial Officer, CFO, Abdulrahman Yinusa said, Tuesday, that the bank will raise $750 million (about N119.25 billion), while Fidelity Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Reginald Ihejiahi said Fidelity has asked Citibank to lead-manage a planned five-year Eurobond this year that should come in at around $350 million (about N55. 65 billion) to fund oil, power and infrastructure projects.

Diamond Bank Plc, had disclosed plans to raise $750 million to finance projects and meet central bank’s capital requirements.

The lender ’s shares dropped 10 per cent to N6.3, the most on record. Diamond Bank has advanced 28 per cent this year, compared with the 19 per cent rise of the Bloomberg NSE Banking 10 Index, which tracks the most capitalized lenders in the industry.

The bank plans to raise the $750 million in shares or bonds this year to fund more projects and raise its capital adequacy ratio, a measure of financial strength, to between 20 per cent and 25 per cent, Yinusa said in an interview with Reuters.

Also, Fidelity Bank’s CEO, Ihejiahi also said that the $350 million bond would help meet demand for dollar financing, much of it from

energy clients in the count r y .

"We are bolstering our balance sheet on the dollar side.

There will be a Eurobond later in the year,” he said.

He added that the bank was targeting a 15 per cent growth in its loan porfolio for 2013, from its current N400 billion ($2.54 billion) value.

The mid-tier lender launched a $100 million two-year loan facility in February, also managed by Citi, which analysts said tested the water for possible bigger issuance.

According to Ihejiahi, the bank had several projects with dollar financing needs, some of them with power companies buying state as-

sets under a privatisation programme launched this year. They included two “significant size gas pipeline projects.”

Fidelity has also a $500 million Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with Royal Dutch Shell to finance its local contractors, he said, even as the bank’s operations had been heavily focused towards the corporate side, with around 70 per cent of its loan book in the corporate sector, against 20 per cent in retail banking.

Ihejiahi however, added that the bank was looking to increase the share of retail customers over time.

Azare College of Education lecturers suspend strike

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI— THE Aca demic Staff Union of College of Education, Azare, Bauchi State, COEASU, has suspended its indefinite industrial action in the institution.

In February, the union embarked on strike over what it described as alleged insensitity of the management and governing council in re-appointing Aliyu Shehu as Registrar of the college as well as the termination of the appointments of 194 striking lecturers.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the union, Comrade Sanusi Ibrahim in Bauchi, yesterday, the union stated that the suspension

followed the intervention of the Katagum Emirate Council which met and resolved the matter with Governor Isa Yuguda.

Ibrahim said that Yuguda was not aware that 194 lecturers in COEASU were sacked and directed the state head of service to meet with the governing council of the college to resolve the problems once and for all.

“We have seen a reasonable commitment from the side of the state government because the state head of service has been visiting Azare frequently over the matter and has held discussions with the Wazirin Katagum and in view of the present intervention, we have suspended the strike."

AUCHITHE Bauchi Ministry of Health and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the state have disagreed over the medical and transportation expenses of Buba Abubakar ’s successful kidney transplant in New Delhi, India.

Abubakar, 25, was the patient whose two kidneys were removed by a quack medical practitioner at the Aminchi Clinic in Bauchi State early last year.

However, the Miyetti Allah Association had in a letter to the Bauchi State Governor, Isah Yuguda, yesterday, requested that a committee be set up to investigate allegations that a top official of the state Ministry of Health, connived with his friend whose identity is yet to be known and requested for the refund of N955, 000 as against N350, 000 that was actually spent on Buba’s transportation and medical bill.

Those who signed the statement include the Chairman, Mr Yakubu Jibrin and Administrative Director, Sadiq Ibrahim Ahmad.

While the Ministry had outstanding medical bills and transportation expenses of the patient totalling N955, 000, the association said that it had evidence that only about N350, 000 was spent, pointing out the money was sourced from a private consultant of the patient as against the claims by the Health Ministry that N955, 000 was spent by the government.

“Buba’s outstanding medical and transportation expenses were communicated to an official in the Bauchi State Ministry of Health by a close friend now in India in liaison with the patient’s hospital which had been working hard to ensure the successful return of the patient."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 41

42 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 43

C M Y K

44 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

I N S I D E

Rights Group raises alarm over Nigerians on death row

Presidential Pardon: Abuse of discretion is impunity

— 46

— 46

AS VIOLENCE AGAINST PERSONS BILL PASSES SECOND READING IN NASS

Can a female commit rape?

BY DAYO BENSON

I

N recent times, cases of rape and sundry sexual molestations seem to be on the increase. There is hardly any day without one report of rape or the other. Worried by the development, the lower chamber at the National Assembly, the House of Representative, is currently considering a bill that seeks to prescribe life imprisonment for a convicted rapist and 20 years for an accomplice. . An accomplice, for instance, is an on-looker when the act is being committed.

The bill, which has passed second reading in the House, is being sponsored by Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa. The House seems to have taken a cue from Lagos State, which already in its Criminal Law of 2011, in Section 258, prescribes life imprisonment for a rapist.

According to Section 357 of the Criminal Code Laws of the Federation: “Any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl, without her consent, or with her consent, if the consent is obtained by force or by means of threats or intimidation of any kind, or by fear of harm, or by means of false and fraudulent representation as to the act, or, in the case of a married woman, by personating her husband is guilty of an offence which is called rape.”

Similarly, Section 582 (1) of the penal code provides thus: “A man is said to commit rape, who save in the

Speaking on the bill, House Committee on Human Rights, Hon. Beni Lar, said that rapists would face life imprisonment once the current Violence against Persons Bill becomes law, adding that the National Assembly had decided to expedite action on the passage of the bill considering the increasing prevalence of rape in the country.

Lar said: “My only concern is that in our laws today, the punishment for

Midway into the journey, at a lonely place, they stopped the motorcyclist at gun point and ordered him to pull his trouser and lay on the ground

,

case referred to in subsection [2], has intercourse with a woman in any of the following circumstances against her will, without her consent, with her consent, when her consent has been obtained by putting her in fear of death or of hurt, with her consent, when the man knows that he is not her husband and that her consent is given because she believes that he is another man to whom she is or believes herself to be lawfully married; with or without her consent, when she is under fourteen years of age or of unsound mind.”

However Section 258 of Lagos state Criminal Law 2011 has a similar provision. It says “Any man who has unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman or girl, without her consent, is guilty of the offence of rape and liable to imprisonment for life.”

•Speaker Aminu Tambuwal

•Senate President ,David Mark

,

rape is very light and that is why you find people committing rape against children. It’s unfortunate. It is because of issues like this that it has come to the attention of the National Assembly that we have the Violence Against Persons Bill.

“It is a bill that seeks to eliminate violence in private and public life, to prohibit all forms of violence including physical, sexual, psychological, domestic, harmful traditional practices, discrimination against persons and provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment for offenders.

“It would no longer be business as usual with the passage of the law.

Why we have an increase in this violence is because we have a culture of silence. Most of the people that commit acts of violence against

Cases and statistics from other jurisdictions

A

CCORDING to a documentary on the issue of rape by women, a woman who raped a twelve year old boy, held him down and forced him to have sex and then pushed him off a bridge so he wouldn’t talk, but couldn’t be charged with rape because women can’t be charged with raping men.

A U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics said that less than 1% of all incarcerated rape and sexual assault offenders were femal. By 1997, however, 6,292 females had been arrested for forcible rape or other sex offenses, constituting approximately 8% of all rape and sexual assault arrests for that year.

Additionally, studies indicate that females commit approximately 20% of sex offenses against children. Males commit the majority of sex offenses but females commit some, particularly against children.

In 1978 in the UK, Joyce McKinney was sentenced to 12 months in prison for forcing a man to have sex with her while chained up, but she did not serve it because she jumped bail. Several widely publicized cases of female-on-male statutory rape in the United States involved school teachers raping their underage students. women are people that are known to women.

Against this backdrop, a pertinent question then begs answer. What happens if a female sexually assaults a male since the law does not contemplate that a female has capacity to rape? Put more succinctly, can a female rape? A recent incident probably illustrates the question.

Two young ladies stopped a commercial motorcycle operator popularly referred to as Okada and asked to be taken to a destination.

Midway into the journey, at a lonely place, they stopped the motorcyclist at gun point and ordered him to pull his trouser and lay on the ground. The two ladies took turn to have sexual intercourse with him at gun point.

When they were done, they told him that they were HIV positive and intended to spread it because they

were also infected by men.

The question again is: In the eye of the law can the two ladies be deemed to have committed rape? Some lawyers spoke on the issue.

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 45

Can a female commit rape?

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

It's difficult for a man to be raped — Prof Itse Sagay

No offense if victim is a male — Ekwunoh Morah In the Nigeria criminal jurisdictions, the offense of rape is similarly created and defined by both the Criminal Code Laws and the Penal Code. Since the cardinal and operative language and expression in the law creating and defining the offense of rape talks about having unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl, and not of a man, there is clearly no offense when the person whose carnal knowledge is a man.

Thus, express mention by the extant laws that the person whose unlawful carnal knowledge should be had to constitute rape must be a woman or girl, and not a man, means implied exclusion by the said laws of women and girls as capable committing rape under our criminal law.

This is sad and most unfortunate, though this is of the very nature of justice according to law, and not law according to justice, which law Honorable Justice Nnaemeka-Agu of the Supreme Court (as he then was) aptly described as an unruly ads, which

•Chief Ekwunoh Morah

•Prof Itse Sagay SAN

keeps galloping only along the paths of law.

If the law does not specifically require that for rape to take place it must involve unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl, and not such knowledge of a man, the conducts of the ladies in forcing a male into sexual relationship would have clearly constituted rape.

In many jurisdictions, particularly in Europe and America, where elastic, flexible and liberal creation and definition is given to the

,

I have doubts whether a woman can commit rape; the reason is that a man has to be aroused sexually to be able to have sex with a woman. If a woman tells a man that he must have sex with her, it won’t work because the man will be so frightened and disorientated that he won’t really be able to do it. Under that circumstance, the man won’t be able to be in the proper physical mood to be able to have sex with the woman.

So I have my doubts and I really need to be convinced that a woman can rape a man because of the anatomical difference between the two sexes. A woman can easily be raped because her anatomy is such that it is the one that is penetrated. That is why I find it difficult to say that a man can be raped because he does the penetration, if he is not inclined noting will happen.

Infact the law may be neutralized, since Nigerian laws are neutralized these days. There is no distinction between man and woman, like in the family law and others.

offense of rape is of unlawful sexual intercourse of person by another person, which creation and definition do not specify, as is the case in Nigeria, the sex of either the offender or the victim, anybody, whether a man, lady or girl, can be prosecuted and convicted for rape.

It is due to the jurisdictional differences in the creation and definition of the offense of rape, and not due to lack of organ of penetration in ladies and girls, that no trials and or convictions of ladies and girls,

This is sad and most unfortunate, though this is of the very nature of justice according to law, and not law according to justice

offense of rape as among others, “sexual intercourse, or other form of sexual penetration, of one person by another person without the consent of the victim...”

In those jurisdictions, since creation and definition of the

,

for rape, have been, or can be premised in Nigeria.

Whereas, ladies and girls have been tried and convicted in other jurisdictions where the offense of rape has elastic, liberal and flexible creation and interpretation.

On the whole, it is sad and most unfortunate that ladies and girls cannot be tried and convicted in Nigeria for rape, even with the highly aggravating circumstances.

No doubt, This brings to the front-burner the urgency of legislative intervention in this regard ,which appears imperative, in order to amend our Criminal Code Laws and its Penal Code counterparts with a view to bringing us at par with other advanced jurisdictions where ladies and girls, and not only men, can be tried and convicted for rape.

It is yet to be criminalized — Izuagie Usman Over the years, so many arguments have cropped up in respect of this same issue, as to whether a woman can commit rape as our legal system is. I want to say categorically that there has been no law in Nigeria criminally to that effect.

According to our law as it defines rape, rape exists when there is a penetration of a male organ into the female organ. By this definition, one will understand that it is only the male that can commit rape, and not a woman.

But we find in our modern day life the way women lure men into committing rape. In the eyes of Nigerian law, women can only lure men to commit rape but they cannot on their own commit rape.

Morally, from what we have seen, women do commit rape but we just have to work by our law. Whatever we do in our legal system here, is a copyright of what is obtainable in the western world.

In the US, what is obtainable there is that any person can commit rape. But here in Nigeria, as our legal system is, only the male can commit rape. In terms of our laws, I think we should begin to work in line with what is obtainable in the US, that rape is being committed by both sex.

46 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

Presidential Pardon: Abuse of discretion is impunity

BY UDO JUDE ILO “THE criminal code of every country partakes so much of necessary severity, that without an easy access to exceptions in favor of unfortunate guilt, justice would wear a countenance too sanguinary and cruel.

As the sense of responsibility is always strongest, in proportion as it is undivided, it may be inferred that a single man would be most ready to attend to the force of those motives which might plead for a mitigation of the rigor of the law, and least apt to yield to considerations which were calculated to shelter a fit object of its vengeance. The reflection that the fate of a fellow-creature depended on his sole fiat, would naturally inspire scrupulousness and caution;” …..Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist #74, March 25, 1788 In one of the most

embarrassing acts of ill advised ‘self immolation’, President Jonathan on Tuesday, March 12 granted presidential pardon to Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha. The President purported to be acting within his powers under section 175 of the 1999 Constitution as amended which grants the president power to grant pardon to individuals convicted by any law made by the National Assembly. On legal grounds and going by the conventions around •President Goodluck Jonathan the world, the Presidential power of imposing a grave destroyed the moral pardon is discretionary. obligation on them but foundations of this The Constitution under also calling on their section 175 did not even sense of responsibility to presidency and undermined the sanctity require him to provide a help give meaning to of his office. It is not reason. However, the the intendment of the enough to follow the law exercise of discretion constitution as a to the letters. If the speaks more to the moral document designed to constitution intended a authority of the ensure rule of law, zombie-like fidelity to President than his legal democracy and the the constitution without authority. In granting moral integrity of the the human discretionary powers to state. By the exercise of interpretation of the elected officers, the this power by President spirit of the Constitution, Constitution is not only Jonathan, he has

then the constitution can as well be a computer program that brooks no allowance for human ‘creativity’. Exercise of power under the Constitution answers to three gods. The god of public good, the god of the letters of the constitution and the god of morality from whence power drives legitimacy and credibility.

The defects of this pardon lies not just in its abysmal moral contradictions but also in its inadequacies on legal and conventional grounds. On conventional grounds, after examining the practices around the world democracies and dictatorships, pardons are granted to – cure the defect of judicial process; promote public good; promote repentance by acknowledging extraordinary act of penitence by a convict; ensure national security and

promote reconciliation.

These lists are not exhaustive but are rather indicative of the altruistic nature of the exercise of presidential pardon powers. Under the current presidential pardon, none of the above is captured by this act extended to Alamieyeseigha On the legal front, it becomes more problematic.

Alamieyeseigha is an international fugitive with an international arrest warrant hanging over him having jumped bail in the United Kingdom. He also has charges of money laundering against his person in the United Kingdom and the United States. These realities are peculiar circumstances and carries with it serious legal implications. How then can the President justify extending pardon to an international fugitive?

To be continued

Rights Group raises alarm over Nigerians on death row

BY DAYO JOHNSON, Akure

S

OME Human Rights Groups have petitioned the National Assembly to mount pressure on the presidency to wade into the cases of 14 Nigerians awaiting death by execution in different prisons across Indonesia and ensure that their liberty and lives are secured.

The President of World Alliance against Terrorism, Violence and Inhuman treatment, Mr Anthony Orunkoya, a lawyer, said that the nation’s national pride will be destroyed if the federal government closes its eyes on the plights of the 14 Nigerians that are awaiting death for various offences in Indonesia.

Orunkoya said that Aside the 14 persons on the death row 31 others who are citizens of Nigeria are currently serving various jail terms in different prisons in that country for various offences including drug peddling.

He hinted that investigation carried out by his organisation revealed that out of the 16 condemned Nigerians, two of them, Samuel Iwuchukwu Okoye and Hassan Anthony Nwolisa were

executed on June 28, 2008 while one Augustine Ogbonna died under mysterious circumstance in prison custody in September, 2008.

Others according to Orunkoya are, Emmanuel Ihenjirika from Ebonyi State, Daniel Enemuo who hails from Udin town in Enugu State and Michael Titus, Okwudili Ayataeze, Oziazi Sibamda all from Idemmili.

They also include, Eugene Ape, a native of Nsukka in Enugu State as well as Fredric Luther and Denis Anumona both from Anambra State.

He told Journalists that a petition has been written and sent to the two chambers of the National Assembly and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) appealing and seeking the intervention of the federal government.

According to him, “a lot of petitions had been written in the past by concerned groups to the federal government in respect of this issue.

Sequel to the earlier petitions, the President of Indonesia visited Nigeria and assured the then president, Late Umaru Musa Yar’adua that the matter will be looked into. But since then, nothing has been

done to secure the release of the people.

“I know certainly that Nigeria has a very cordial diplomatic relationship with Indonesia which could be explored to secure the release of those Nigerians. My brothers and sisters, these guys we are talking about here are currently languishing in jails and they are due for execution any moment from now”.

Orunkoya expressed dismay that Nigeria did not avail itself of the opportunity of the visit of Indonesian President Mr. Suuilo Bambang Yudhoyono to the country to pressurise Indonesia to get relief for the troubled Nigerians.

He further posited that a high level delegation comprising of members of human rights organisations in the country will be sent to the Houses of Assembly of the states of origin of the 14 Nigerians to further increase pressure on the federal government to resume negotiation with relevant Indonesian authorities on the matter.

Orunkoya said, from the information available from Jakata, the Capital of Indonesia, that the rules of natural justice and fair hearing was not strictly adhered to by the Indonesian government

before death sentence was passed on the Nigerians.

Also speaking on the issue Mr Mike Akubuwe, also a lawyer, representing Committee for the Defence of Human Right (CDHR) urged the federal government to expedite action on the matter by negotiating with Indonesia to release the people on humanitarian ground

irrespective of their offences.

According to him, by virtue of the International Convention on Human Rights, every person is entitled to his or her life and dignity of human persons and such right is not just a natural right but a universal human right that must be respected by all nations.

He added that

Nigeria and Indonesia being members of the international convention must respect the right.

Akubuwe disclosed that findings revealed that the victims were being kept in various prisons in Nusakambagan Island including L.P Kembang Kuning, L.P Batu, L.P Besi, L.P PasirPutth, L.P Permisian, L.P Markoba, Bandung, Bali and Medan all located in the city of Jakata.

Will litigants get justice this way?

After litigants are forced to submit 20 extra copies of every process for filing at the Court of Appeal, the extra copies end up being stashed at the corridor of the court premises where they are wasted by the elements. This photo says it all at the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal. With no substantive President of the Court for the past 20 months, every body is on his own in the court. Even records cannot be kept in orderly manner.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 47

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 49

British test tube baby scientist, Rober obertt Edw Edwards ards dies

R

OBERT Edwards, the scientist known as the father of IVF for pioneering the development of “test tube babies” for couples unable to conceive naturally, died yesterday at the 87.

The Briton, who won the Nobel medicine prize for his achievement in 2010, started developing invitro fertilization (IVF) in 1955 - work that culminated in 1978 in the

birth of Louise Brown, the first so-called test tube baby.

More than 5 million

S/Korea increases surveillance as North moves missiles

S

OUTH Korea said yesterday there was “very high” probability that North Korea, engaged in weeks of threats of war, would launch a medium-range missile at any time as a show of strength despite diplomatic efforts to soften its position.

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said South Korea had asked China and Russia to intercede with the North to ease tension that has mounted since the U.N. Security Council imposed fresh sanctions on North Korea after its

third nuclear arms test in February.

But all was calm in the South Korean capital, Seoul, long used to North Korean invective under its 30-year-old leader Kim Jong-un.

Offices worked normally and customers crowded into city-center cafes.

Seoul stocks edged up 0.77 percent from a fourand-a-half-month low hit earlier in the week, though trading was light with threats from the North still clouding the picture. The won currency gained 0.3 percent.

babies have been born around the world as a result of the techniques that Edwards, known as “Bob” to his friends, developed with his late colleague Patrick Steptoe.

Edwards, who has five daughters and 11 grandchildren, said he was motivated in his work by a desire to help families.

“Nothing is more special than a child,” he was quoted by his clinic as saying when he won his Nobel prize.

IVF is a process by which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body in a test tube, giving rise to the term “in vitro” or “in glass”.

Working at Cambridge University in eastern England, Edwards first managed to fertilize a human egg in a laboratory in 1968. He then started to collaborate with Steptoe.

In 1980, the two founded Bourn Hall, the world’s first IVF clinic, in Cambridge, where gynecologists and cell biologists from around the world have since come to train.

Experts say that today, as many as 1 to 2 percent of babies in the Western world are conceived through IVF.

Thatcher: Visa giver in Nigeria, Milk snatcher in Britain

BY ADEKUNLE ADEKOYA

Continued from yesterday

T

HEN shadow home secretary in the Labour party, Gerald Kaufman said: “It is typical of this government that in future white visitors from racialist South Africa will be able to come here without a visa while a visa will be required for parents and other family members of British citizens living and working in this country.”

And so has it been, since 1987 when the policy took effect.

Before then very few Nigerians, except those who of necessity had to, knew the address or

location of the British Deputy High Commission in Victoria Island, Lagos. However since then, everybody who must travel to the UK, and indeed some other western nations, are now familiar with “Eleke Crescent” and the notorious queues for visas that begin at unholy hours of the day; as early as 3.00a.m., before the drop box measure and outsourcing were adopted.

As a result, the late Baroness Margaret Thatcher will be remembered by the traveling public in Nigeria as “The Visa Giver.”

That she was a woman of steely determination was demonstrated some

42 years earlier in 1971 when she was Secretary of State in charge of the Department of Education.

In August 1970, the Treasury Department demanded for cuts in four areas — further education fees, library book borrowing charges, school meal charges, and free school milk. After various considerations, Mrs Thatcher decided to end free milk for all schoolchildren except those in nursery and primary schools. Earlier, former PM Harold Wilson’s Labour government had stopped free milk for secondary school pupils in 1968.

That decision earned her the sing-song alias: “Thatcher, Thatcher, the Milk Snatcher!”

50 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

In Ajegunle community, Paincare Outreach preaches good health B

Y 6:30AM the premises of Araromi Central Primary School, New Road Bustop, Achapo, in Olodi Apapa area of Lagos was full. No less than About 10,000 residents of Ajegunle had gathered to benefit from the largesse of free medical consultations, diagnoses, prescriptions and dispensing of drugs.

Majority of those present were women with babies strapped to their backs or by their side. Young boys and the aged were not left out. They were all there for one purpose - to partake of the monthly medical mission organised by Paincare Outreach.

The Paincare Christian Outreach

comprises of a team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and evangelists offering spiritual and free medical services to the less privileged.

The event coincided with Easter so there was enough food to eat and take away. The Ministers of God were on hand to preach the Gospel while medical doctors administered free consultation and treatment.

The in-house Pastor, Pastor Steve Akindasa, said: “The whole idea of Paincare Outreach was aimed at providing free medical services, and drugs, for the poor and the needy in relatively backward communities, while also preaching the gospel to win souls for Christ which has just happened,” he added.

Akindasa, who disclosed that P a i n c a r e Outreach had touched not less than 20,000 people directly since inception explained that the mission was basically to provide succour for the needy n d • Founder, Paincare Outreach, Mr. Peter Nwosu, sharing a tags to beneficiaries of the free health outreach at Ajegunle, i m p o v e r i s h e d Nigerians, Lagos recently.

spiritually and medically.

Expressing joy, he said coming to Ajegunle is like going to the days of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Pastor Charles Dawodu of the Trinity House International Church, who delivered the sermon, stressed the need for political office holders to replicate the programme in their various communities.

Host/ Pastor-in-charge, RCCG, Zone 10, Lagos Province X1, Pastor Ayodele Temitope said the programme was part of the Church’s Easter programme called "Lets go fishing".

Dr. Femi Ajagun, Head, medical team said the crowd showed how paincare outreach is meeting a very vital need. Ajagun lamented the increased number of hypertensive patients saying that 80 percent of the people during each mission have undetected high blood pressure.

Some beneficiaries lauded the vision of the outreach. Mrs. Grace Oluwawunmi, who lives at No.108 Nasama, Ajegunle blessed the group for leading her to Christ saying: "May God bless PainCare and the Church I was given medications, food items and mosquito net free of charge. I appreciate the programme more because the put God first. According to another beneficiary, Mrs. Ngozi Okere:"I came with my children and the doctors did medical examination for all of us."

•Praise-God Olafisoye.

Boy, 3, needs N2m for heart surgery

H

E was born with a hole-in-theheart three years ago and battles for survival each passing day.

Praise-God Olafisoye’s lfe is threatened by the condition which medical doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, descibe as Teralogy of Fallot. A medical report from LASUTH signed by Dr. B. A. Animansaun, says Praise-God, a patient of the Paediatric Cardiology Unit requires urgent surgical intervention in India that will cost N2.0 million.

Praise has problems with his breathing and general weakness of the body. The family cannot afford the hospital bills have called out to State Governors, corporate organisations and Nigerians at large to help save him. If you are touched by Praise–God’s plight, please send your donations to First Bank Account Number: 3065255475, PraiseGod Oluwasegun Olafisoye or call Mr. Femi Olafisioye on 07062033976.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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ELLO Uche. I never miss your publications. Please I have a problem. My wife and I have been married for two years now. We both work and earn money and yet, she expects me to take care of everything. Things are difficult and this is her family too - Chinedu Dear Chinedu, this issue is quite common especially amongst couples who dated for a short time before getting married. However, females generally believe that financial responsibilities belong to the man alone although many women are now learning to contribute to their households.

This is what I advise you to do. Forget about what your wife earns and make your budget based on what you earn, even if you don’t earn enough. The reason you need to approach it this way is that if you force her to contribute financially, it will create all sorts of problems for you and you will lose her respect and your control of your household. I have seen this happen to couples too many times. Just accept that providing for your family is your responsibility and do your best. That is what men do.

Sometimes it takes married women time to realise that they need to support their husbands in whatever way they can, and many of them do realise this eventually and start contributing. But they will only contribute in their own way and not exactly the way you expect. If you pay attention, you will just notice one day that your children have nice clothes and toys and a bunch of other things that you did not buy.

Women’s money often goes to the upkeep of their children and a few other domestic expenses that men hardly notice. But if you are trying to make her pay rent this year because you paid last year, it will only end in disaster. Avoid controlling how she spends the money she makes. Sensible women always end up contributing – Uche I have weak erection problems and I cannot perform the way I want. Please what is the best drug for me?

Money is not an issue. I have heard about all you do to

help people. Please I want the best – Henry Henry the best of these erection enhancers is Xzen Platinum. It is the only erection enhancer in the market that gives hard erections, stamina for multiple rounds, enlarges the penis in length and width, stops premature ejaculation and increases sperm volume.

Normally you need to buy three or four different products to achieve all that Xzen Platinum does and one capsule of it works for one week. No other product does all these things. Xzen Platinum is all natural and better than Viagra by far. It costs more than other supplements but it is good value for money considering all that it does – Uche My husband says I don’t show emotion during foreplay. I don’t know what to do. I can only say that I don’t always enjoy sex – Mrs Williams Mrs Williams, don’t fake it if you don’t enjoy it. But men need to know when their women are enjoying what they are doing. Your husband wants to pleasure you and only you can tell him if he is doing things right. So when you are enjoying the intercourse, moan and groan. This is called verbal affirmation and it is your way of signalling satisfaction.

Verbalising the pleasure you feel also heightens sexual pleasure for both of you. Secondly, to ensure you always enjoy intercourse, your husband must start with foreplay.

Sometimes the lack of foreplay is what hinders women from sexual enjoyment. If he is in a hurry and skips foreplay, slow him down by stimulating yourself until you are ready for the main act. That is what vibrators and orgasm gels are for. Sometimes we need to take matters into our own hands to get the satisfaction we want – Uche That’s it for today. Adults in need of these novelties and treatments can call to order them on 08191978308, 08051924159 or any other number here. They can also order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. We deliver all over Nigeria. For enquiries, email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 51

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52—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 Edited by MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU 08056180157 E-mail: chimeena@yahoo.com

A feast of colours from Old to New P Testament

BY ONWUKAMIKE NWACHUKWU

enultimate week, at Didi Museum, Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island , a feast of colours served in engagingly creative compositions, opened to the viewing public.The show tagged, ‘The Old and the New Testaments’ will feature Bona Ezeudu’s emotional representation of existential issues in colours.

From March 28 through Sunday, April 7, veteran artist and founding member of Enugu State based AKA Group of Exhibiting Artists (founded 1986), will display the latest collection of his art to the Lagos viewing public. The show will mark a return to regular solo-showing by Ezeudu who until three years ago was a regular exhibitor in several mainstream art houses across the country.

Since the mid 1980s Mr. Ezeudu had been in the vanguard of art collectors’ choice, along with his colleagues in the AKA Group such as Nsikak Essien, El Anatsui, Obiora Udechukwu, Tayo Adenaike, the late Bonaventure Okafor etc.

Ezeudu reigned from the visual arts scene in the 1990s.

Even when the group’s yearly outings in major cities of Nigeria (and sometimes abroad) became less frequent

after 1993, Ezeudu was one of the standing members that found a way of sustaining the visual tradition.

He left teaching at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu to fully focus on private studio

One of the works exhibited at the ongoing exhibition

T

o many, the Niger Delta is known for violence and militancy, hence the popular adage; can anything good come out of that area, but that notion was erased last week when many literary giants, captains of industry, friends and family members of the author gathered in Lagos for the celebration of a creative enterprise and womanhood .

The event was the presentation of a new book titled From an Orphan to a Queen written by Bayelsa State born PR and Communications Specialists, Mrs Titi Horsfall .

In the book, the young mother of three brings a message of hope to all especially women as she carved a delightful tale from the life of a once peasant woman, who warmed her way into the heart of one of the most powerfaul kings on earth, king of Medo-Persian empire, King Darius.

The well attended event which was chaired by Engr.

Tony Ogbuigwe (Group Executive Director, Petrochemicals and Refineries NNPC) also had Mrs Adesuwa Onyenokwe

A message of Hope from Horsfall (Publisher, TW Magazine) as Special Guest of Honour, while Mr. Michael Ikpoki (Chief Executive Officer; MTN Ghana) was the Guest of Honour.

In his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Tony Ogbuigwe described the occasion as a celebration of a gift from God in the person of Titi and her works. He commended the author for coming up with the book which he described as special and urged all to abide with the message in it.

S

pecial Guest of Honour, Mrs Adesuwa Onyenokwe (Publisher, TW Magazine) who described the book as a movie said that the whole thing about the book and her coming to the occasion was God’s incidences. She commended the author for choosing the character which has a lot of message for all.

According to her, the story of Esther from the creative stand point of the author is a heritage of national transformation. It reveals that when a woman

,

By JAPHET ALAKAM

practice and for the running of his studio, Bona Gallery. Through that venture he remained consistent in the mainstream art practice until the shock of the abduction and subsequently, killing of his undergraduate only child even after payment of ransom demanded by his abductors, was made.

Following that harrowing experience,Ezeudu’s return to the exhibition hall is read as a bounce-back in some quarters. Today’s exhibition is more remarkable to pundits who have seen the quality of the works.

The paintings still retain such rich colour identity that marks Ezeudu’s composition. Rather than show signs of a lull in his practice, the masterly imprimatur of the artist exudes profusely in the works. However, the deep concepts and themes running through individual pieces buttress the show’s title, ‘The Old and the New Testaments’ Featuring 42 selected paintings, the collection serves a selection of Ezeudu’s paintings and drawings, produced within the past 35 years of his professional practice.

Among the works to be shown are: Drummer at Birds Eye View, a painting with concentric circles on analogous hues overlayed with contrasting black and blue lines. The painting depicts the flow of rhythms from the vibration of the drums.

Another work, First Outing, oil on board, represents a crowd in brilliant patches of colours. It speaks of the colourful nature of coronation and other special ceremonies.

Other works include; Migrants, Blue and Red Dialogue, Birds at Home and Mother-Grand Mother on a Palm Sunday.

The story of Esther from the creative stand point of the author is a heritage of national transformation

,

sets their mind to do something, nothing will get them out of it, that women should use whatever talent God gave them positively and also reminds us of the role of parents in the proper up bringing of their children and urged all to imbibe such virtues.

The book reviewer, Onochie Uche Izuora who presented an engaging and inspiring review of the book described it as a well researched facts presented through great analytical and narrative skill.

The excited Horsfall, who saw

the launch as a dream come through said, “the book is a gift to the world, this is a knowledge which initially was obscure, which overtime, we took research and love for details and determination to realise, I’m so happy that this book has come to life.”

One of the guest, Nollywood actress, Monalisa Chinda who

noted that the book is a movie in waiting promised to adapt it into a movie script.

The event also featured a drama presentation titled The journey of life. In the well crafted drama piece, the audience were taken back to the biblical account of Esther and how she persevered and delivered her people from annihilation.

\

Queen Esther, been lifted up in a dramatic preformance of the book at the event

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 — 55

Nigeria pull out of 2014 CHAN F A

F R I C A N champions Nigeria have opted out of next year ’s Championship of African Nations (CHAN) due to poor finances.

Nigeria were due in June to battle Cote d’Ivoire in a qualifier for the tournament reserved for players featuring in their respective domestic leagues.

The forthcoming CHAN will be staged early next year in South Africa.

Nigeria have twice failed to qualify for the tournament proper.

NFF executive committee member Emeka Inyama said the association had to take this decision because they are broke.

“The home-based Eagles won’t play in the CHAN as we have withdrawn from the qualifiers due to lack of fund,” Inyama announced.

“We have a lot of financial commitments and we have to look at the competitions in order of importance.”

NFF are broke and are looking to downsize the technical crew and backroom staff of the various national teams as well as slash the Eagles win bonus of $10,000.

Super Eagles defender, Godfrey Oboabona, won't be at CHAN.

downsizing the backroom staff of the Super Eagles. He said that coaches of the Eagles and their backroom staff were up to 17, a number too large for the federation to sustain. He said that henceforth, Eagles would have two assistant coaches and one goalkeeper trainer.

Other national teams will also be affected according to NFF who said their lean funding compelled these decisions.

Match bonuses of the Eagles were also slashed to

Rufai may go to jail over 200K Euro claims that “last year, the Nigerian Community Football Club, an outfit managed by the ex-international and in division four of the Belgian League, received 200,000 euro (about N44 million) from the Belgian authority to prosecute the club’s programmes.

Others like Ghana, Sierra Leon were also beneficiaries.

BY JACOB AJOM

T

HE former national team goalkeeper, Peter Rufai has distanced himself from claims in the report that alleged he received money from Belgian football authorities on

the former amount of $5,000 as winning bonus. The Presidential Task Force for 2010 World Cup increased it that year to $10,000 and NFF continued paying that after the World Cup. Sylvanus Okpala has been relieved of his job as an assistant coach to Stephen Keshi and the NFF said it was also for lean funding which could not sustain the current staff. Valere Hoaundinou, we gathered, may continue if only Keshi could afford to be paying him from his own salary.

behalf of the Nigerian community in that country.

“My name remains Prince Peter Rufai. I am not running to anywhere. As I speak with you, my family is still in Belgium, my children live and school in Belgium and my house is just

NFF paid Valere and Okpala 50 per cent of their bonuses during the Nations Cup. NFF vice President Chief Mike Umeh said Tuesday night that the NFF did not discuss the sacking of Okpala but the federation in it’s reaction yesterday lied that Chief Umeh ever said such a thing even as it is known that such a decision must not necessarily be discussed at the board level.

The leadership of the Federation was also said to have frowned at the attitude of Keshi for traveling out of the country without leave.

10 meters away from the Governor of the City of Antwerp’s residence. We are wall-to-wall neighbours,” Rufai said yesterday.

The former Nigeria international said “if there was any such thing, by European standard, my family would have been the first point of contact.”

Rufai said he is a member of the Belgian Football Federation development committee. “In 2008/09, I was awarded a certificate of excellence as champion of youth events organiser in Belgium. And only last year, I became the first stranger to be given a medal for what they con-

sidered my contributions to the development of football in that country.”

He said there was no truth in the report, challenging the writer of the story to publish his identity. He explained further, “last year I paid several visits to Belgium with expatriates for my business and, like I told you, my house and family are all there.

“There is no way I can run away from Belgium.

Indeed, it is almost impossible for anybody to commit a crime and want to hide anywhere in the world. Where is the Interpol?” he asked.

Malaga to lodge official protest

M

But while others used the money as specified that of Nigeria was diverted by the manager, Rufai who left with it to Nigeria since last year and has not returned.”

Orijoreporter gathered that Dodo Mayana as he is fondly called in Nigeria risks being jailed for three or six months if he returned to Belgium.

•RUFAI: My hands are clean

There’s no truth in the report — Rufai

Amodu Continues from BP

ORMER Super Eagles goalkeeper and 1994 African Nations Cup gold medalist, Peter Rufai worked very hard to be in form and maintained good name. He was in goal for Nigeria’s senior national team for over a decade, and kept goal for numerous European clubs such as K.S.C Lokeren, K.S.K Beveren (both of Belgium) and Deportivo de La Coruna of Spain.

But Rufai, fondly called Dodo Mayana, may have run into trouble if reports reaching us are anything to go by. A Ghana-based website, SpyGhana.com reports that Rufai allegedly diverted the sum of 200,000 euro that was put in his hand by the Nigerian Community in Belgium and ran to Nigeria last year.

The report claims that the Belgian government has an arrangement in place for ethnic groups and nationals of other countries in Belgium are given financial supports every quarter.

The report further

ALAGA CEO Vicente Casado says the club will file an official complaint to UEFA over the referee’s performance in their Champions League exit.

La Liga outfit Malaga lost 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-final second leg on Tuesday, with Felipe Santana netting the winner from what Malaga believed to be an offside position.

Head coach Manuel Pellegrini voiced his dismay with the decisions of Scottish referee Craig Thomson and Malaga have now decided to take formal action.

Eaglets Continues from BP same time on Wednesday and were promptly transferred to M a r r a k e c h .

Protocol Officer at the Nigerian Embassy in Rabat, Mr. Saad Wunti Abdullahi, was on ground to help the Golden Eaglets complete mandatory immigration formalities assuring the team of a wonderful stay inMorocco.

The Nigerian contingent led by the Nigeria F o o t b a l l Federation(NFF) Director of Competition, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi which landed in Casablanca aboard Royal Air Maroc at 9:25am local time( 10:25am in Nigeria), was conveyed in an air-conditioned bus to Marrakech in a journey that lasted about three hours. The team is lodged at Ryad Mogador Menara, Marrakech in the heart of the city which used to be the capital of Morocco.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

Golden Eaglets land in Marrakech

T

HE Golden Ea glets yesterday arrived Marrakech exactly five days ahead of their opening Group B match against Ghana’s Black Starlets at the 10th CAN U-17 holding between April 13 and 27.

Incidentally, the Golden Eaglets and their West African rivals, Ghana both arrived Aeroport Mohammed V in Casablanca about the Continues on Page 55

Amodu grabs NFF job •NFF frowns at Keshi for traveling without leave •Appoints Olympic Team coaches

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

I

T is a matter of time for Amodu Shuaibu to assume office as the new Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation.

James Peters, Kashimawo Laloku and Amodu met the federation for the job Tuesday but we have it on good authority that Amodu is favoured to take the job. The federation

•Amodu

also considered some way of accommodating Peters and Laloku to assist Amodu but that would depend on their finances.

“Amodu has been given the job. He was favoured even before the visit to the federation on Tuesday,” a Federation source said last night.

The names were announced during the meeting of the Technical Committee on Tuesday.

The names of Fatai Amoo, Baba Jibril and David Ngodigha were also announced as the ones to tinker the Olympic team. President of NFF, Aminu Maigari was said to have explained to the meeting why the federation was Continues on Page 55

Nigeria pull out of 2014 CHAN P.55

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

A HEADY AFFAIR: Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and Galatasaray's defender Semih Kaya (R-back) jump for the ball during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match April 9, in Istanbul. Gala won 3-2 AFP PHOTO

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Pattern (6) 5 Dash (6) 9 Knave (5) 10 Uproar (6) 11 Pantry (6) 12 Thwart (5) 14 Prophet (4) 17 Arid (3) 18 Image (4) 20 Senior (5) 22 Skilful (5) 23 Newness (7) 24 Hurt (5) 26 Puckish (5) 29 Ragout (4) 30 Expert (3) 32 Tie (4) 33 Aridly (5) 35 Cake (6) 36 Rammed (6) 37 Hymn (5) 38 Scan (6) 39 Joined (6)

DOWN 1 Degrade (6) 2 Edged (6) 3 Seize (4) 4 Wanderer (5) 5 Tarnish (5) 6 Summit (4) 7 Incite (6) 8 Despot (6) 13 Exigency (7) 15 Choose (5) 16 Renovate (5) 18 Poem (5) 19 Eye-related (5) 21 Wand (3) 22 Consumed (3) 24 Rate (6) 25 Doctor (6) 27 Starved (6) 28 Required (6) 30 Range (5) 31 Nudge (5) 33 Cubes (4) 34 Christmas (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 4, Pagan 7, Amulet 9, Web 10, Tag 12, Roach 13, Twig 15, Lucid 17, Ordeal 19, Easy 20, Eerie 22, Rut 24, Macabre 27, Ran 28, Aroma 31, Drop 33, Stupor 35, Alter 37, Sign 38, Vogue 39, Egg 41, Sad 42, Ensign 43, Ashen.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Battle 2, Junior 3, Jet 4, Peri 5, Abode 6, Accustom 8, Tale 11, Guarantee 14, Grim 16, Club 18, Dear 21, Enormous 23, Trap 25, Cast 26, Eros 29, Origin 30, Awoning 32, Pause 34, Urge 36, Lean 40, Gnu.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

P

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

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

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

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