48 HOURS AS NEW KANO EMIR: Sanusi operates from Govt House

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62163

YOBO ROARS!

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

VANGUARD IN BRAZIL

Nigeria pushes to lead OPEC>8

...We are >64 ready for Iran 48 HOURS AS NEW KANO EMIR:

Sanusi operates from Govt House

•Normalcy returns to Kano, schools, businesses re-open

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

K

ANO —FORTYeight hours after his appointment as new Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is yet to resume duties at the Emir ’s palace, located in Nassarawa in accordance with tradition.

Alhaji Sanusi was named new Emir by Kano Kingmakers following the death of Alhaji Ado Abdullahi Bayero last Friday.

The appointment of the new Emir was announced by the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Rabiu Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS:

Jonathan's •P.19 "most wanted" list of enemies

He looks too tolerant for me

•P.37

Mr & Mrs EDO ASSEMBLY CRISIS—Police at the Edo State House of Assembly as the crisis in the House continued, yester-

day. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike.

Police take over Edo House of Assembly >13

2—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014—3

4—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

HOMAGE—International business magnate and Africa's richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, paying homage to the new Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday.With them are Makama, Alhaji Abdullahi Sarki Ibrahim; Wali, Mahe Bashir Wali; Jarma, Professor Isa Hashim; Dallatu, Alhaji Muhammad Aliyu and the Deputy Secretary of the Emirate Council, Alhaji Sarki Waziri. Photo: Govt.

House, Kano.

48 HOURS AFTER: Sanusi operates from Kano Govt House Continues from page 1 Suleiman Bichi last Sunday and was subsequently issued appointment letter and staff of office by Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso the following day.

Alhaji Sanusi, the 14th Fulani emir, and the 57th Emir of Kano, resumed traditional functions at

the Government House, holding court and receiving guests and well wishers in the fortified seat of Government.

Vanguard learnt that traditionally, the new emir resumes duties at the Nasarawa palace resort as part of the ritual of ascendancy, before proceeding to the official palace of the Emir tucked

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

‘....The Lord searches every heart and understands every motive...’ 1 Chronicles 28:9. What’s in your heart? What are your real motives?

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

It is important to remember that you cannot truly offer to another what you cannot or will not offer to yourself – Take Heart Quotes You express the very best part and highest part of your being when you love your own beingness.

Humans oftentimes have great difficulty in loving themselves. Some believe that loving themselves is somehow wrong and lacks humility. Following are six simple exercises to help you begin to shed the barriers that stand between you and this special part of yourself so that you can begin to release and realize its extraordinary power in your life.

1. Stop looking for other people’s approval to determine your own self worth. 2. Stop feeling responsible for the happiness or unhappiness of others. 3.

Stop thinking you can change what happened yesterday by reliving it today. 4. Stop spending time with people who have agreed to live with negative states.5. Stop believing you can only be as successful as you are willing to push yourself through life.

6. Stop explaining or justifying your actions to yourself or others.

inside the old city.

Earlier, yesterday, the emir ’s Chief Protocol otherwise known as Shamaki handed over to the new emir traditional insignia that included Tagwayen Masu (Royal spear); Bakan Dabo (Dabo bowl), and the Royal swords.

Vanguard learnt that the traditional insignia were those used by the 2nd Fulani Emir of Kano, Ibrahim Dabo, who was an associate and brother to the founder of Sokoto caliphate, Alhaji Usman Dan Fodio in 1804.

Vanguard also learnt that yesterday's historic hand over of symbol of authority to the new emir, signified a new beginning in the emirate's history as plans are afoot to relocate him to the Emir Guest Palace located not far from the Government House.

Meanwhile, the Police still kept vigil at the centuries-old Palace in the city, and it was not certain when they would vacate the palace.

Speculations are however rife in the city that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is due in Kano to condole with the families of the late emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

Air Force helicopters were seen hovering the skyline of Kano metropolis, while Armoured Per-

sonnel Carriers were stationed in strategic locations.

Normalcy returns to Kano Meanwhile, normalcy

has returned to the streets of Kano after two days of violent protests greeted the announcement of Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as emir.

The city came alive shortly after an early morning rain that lasted two hours.

Schools were reopened to students; business activities commenced in all the major markets in the city, as motorists and commuters moved freely in the city without molestation.

Police had on Monday successfully dislodged protesters in front of the Emir ’s palace located along Emir Palace Road.

Residents that spoke to Vanguard on the development argued that “the city deserves peace, especially now that it was clear that Sanusi’s ap-

pointment cannot be reversed”.

A kolanut hawker in the city, Malam Naroun told Vanguard that “people have expressed their anger, and those in position of authority have had their way, so life must go on.”

He added that “from what I know of Kano, the city cannot sustain an enduring protest because most of us live from hand to mouth and government knows this weakness too well”.

However, Police image maker in Kano, ASP Magaji Musa Majia appealed to parents and guardians to caution their wards over illegal assembly, adding that “the city is calm and quiet as we have no record of security breach today”.

AMCON set to pay off N800b bonds •No longer buying non-performing loans •Shareholders cannot challenge AMCON

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE & PETER EGWUATU

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AGOS—ASSET Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON will soon repay debts to holders of its bonds this year as N800 billion has so far been accumulated.

The corporation has revealed that it would no longer buy a Non-Performing Loan (NPL) from any bank, stressing that shareholders of banks cannot challenge it over the recent increase of the contribution of banks to its sinking fund.

The corporation further stated that it would divest from Mainstreet Bank Limited and Enterprise Bank Limited by September.

Speaking to newsmen during an interactive session in Lagos, yesterday, Managing Director/CEO of AMCON, Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi said: “We have

redeemed N1 trillion bonds to the first four bond holders that are held by core institutions outside the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in 2013. For this year so far we have N800 billion accumulated loans to be settled soon, even as we had a target of N1trillion to write off for the Series 5 bond holders, which are banks and other institutions.

“When that is done, the only creditor to AMCON will be the CBN, no one will hold AMCON bonds unless they come to buy from the CBN. “This will now be AMCON owing the CBN and the CBN collecting its money from AMCON recoveries and the sinking funds of the banks that CBN regulate.”

While commenting on the controversial increase of the contribution of banks to AMCON sinking fund, which stood at N118.9 billion in 2013, which the shareholders of

those institutions have vehemently criticized, Chike-Obi said: “Shareholders cannot challenge AMCON, rather the Board of Directors of those banks. AMCON neither keeps nor administers the sinking fund.

"Even, AMCON does not have a representation on the fund. It is the CBN and the banks that had agreed for the fee to be increased from 0.3 per cent to 0.5 per cent. Even, the shareholders should be very happy that the CBN came to their rescue; otherwise some of those banks that are now declaring profit and dividend would have gone under.

“Before now, what was in place was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) where banks on their own agreed to contribute 0.3 per cent of their total asset to the clean-up of the banking system following the crisis that engulfed the sector some years ago."

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Dredger in court for defrauding woman of N20,000

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — THE Police yesterday arraigned a dredger, Charles Okolie, who slapped a woman and obtained N22,000 fraudulently from her before a Tinubu magistrate’s court.

Okolie, 51, of 2/8, Calcutta Crescent, Apapa is standing trial before Magistrate Olaitan Ajayi.

The defendant is facing a four-count charge of obtaining money fraudulently, stealing, assault and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

Police prosecutor, Sergeant Daniel Ighodalo, informed the court that the defendant committed the offences on June 8 at CMS, Marina in Lagos Island.

He said the defendant fraudulently obtained N22,000 from one Victoria Odiaka with a promise to secure a job for her younger brother.

He further told the court that he also assaulted the complainant by slapping her when she discovered that she has been duped and demanded refund of her money.

Ighodalo said the offences are contrary to Sections 166(d) and170 and punishable under Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the offences.

Magistrate Ajayi granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till July 1.

Gang war sparks crisis in Ajegunle •Father of three killed, vehicles smashed

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS — RESIDENTS and traders of Nosamu Street and Boundary Market, Ajegunle, Lagos, yesterday, took to the streets, protesting the killing of a father of three by some hoodlums known as 'One Million Boys', weekend.

The protesters, who raised alarm on activities of the thugs and called on the state government and security agents to come to their aid, also expressed fears that their lives were in danger .

Vanguard gathered that the deceased, identified as Yusuf Ademola, was stabbed to death by the rampaging thugs, who attempted to unseat the chairman of Nosamu tricycle union.

How he was killed

Explaining how life was snuffed out of Ademola, 28, who was a night guard at Boundary Market, one of the protesters who identified himself as Nurudeen Shoyega said: "The incident happened in broad daylight, when the 'One Million Boys' armed with dangerous weapons, including guns, stormed Nosamu Street and started shooting indiscriminately, in their bid to take over Keke NAPEP park.

"We all ran away and when we returned, we saw Yusuf in the pool of his blood. He had been stabbed severally.

“Our lives are no longer safe because they threatened to come back. Our pain is that not even the Ajeromi Ifelodun local council, which is aware of this feud, is taking any action to solve it."

The deceased's elder brother, Sakiru Ademola, claimed his brother was killed because he knew the invaders.

According to him, "I believe they killed my brother because he knew most of them. He was a guard at Boundary Market. They eliminated him in order to gain access into the area and also to

The late Yusuf Ademola. prevent him from revealing their identities to the Police.

"I urge the Police to provide us adequate security in Ajegunle, because those 'One Million Boys' were arrested and paraded by the Lagos State Police Command, yet we don't know how they got back to the streets."

All I want is justice —Widow

The deceased's widow, Kemi, told Vanguard that she was with her husband in their one-room apartment when the thugs invaded the area.

According to her, "he left the room when he heard gunshots, saying he was going to see what was happening. I tried to stop him but he refused. Barely had the dust settled than I saw my husband walking slowly towards our apartment, in pain.

"I rushed to him only to discover that he was soaked in blood. He held on to his chest where blood was gushing out from. I tried to ask him what the matter was but he could not say a word. Rather, he collapsed in the arms of his elder brother's wife who was also with us.

“I immediately raised alarm which at-

The vandalised vehicles tracted other neighbours who rushed him to Island General Hospital. Unfortunately, he died on the way to the hospital, thereby saddling me with the responsibility of caring for our three children alone.

"All I want is justice. I want his killers to be brought to book."

The deceased's father, Pa Soliu Ademola, who is yet to come to terms with the reality of his son's demise, described the tragedy as a serious blow. He said he saw the thugs descending on someone he later discovered to be his son.

He said: "I thought the fight was between factions of area boys, not knowing it was my son that was being attacked.”

Police sources, however, said the incident was being investigated.

Siblings nabbed for manufacturing guns

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BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

SOGBO — Police detectives have arrested two brothers, Musbau and Kamal Raji, for allegedly manu-

Fake, counterfeit, substandard and unwholesome products worth millions of Naira being destroyed

by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, at the Sagamu dumpsite in Ogun State. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

facturing guns in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

The two suspects, who are currently detained at the Zone 11 Police Headquarters in Osogbo, were said to be specialists in gun manufacturing and have sold guns to different categories of people before they were caught.

Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 11, comprising Osun, Oyo and Ondo states, Mr David Omojola, said in a statement issued by the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Sola Babalola, that the suspects were arrested along Osogbo/Ilesa road.

He said the suspects were arrested by men of the Zonal Anti-Robbery squad led by one Bolaji Alao Mutiu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP. Also, the AIG informed that one Adeyemi Wasiu, who was allegedly in possession of a locally-made gun, was arrested at Oloke Estate, Osogbo.

He noted that information at Police disposal indicates that the suspect was a security guard fond of shooting into the air every night at his residence.

Some of the items recovered from the suspects, according to the AIG, were nine newly manufactured single barrel guns; two locally-made single barrel guns; six damaged single-barrel guns; 10 live cartridges and 82 expended cartridges.

However, the two brothers, according to the statement, claimed to be blacksmiths working in Osogbo after being trained by their late father who died 15 years ago.

The AIG maintained that the suspects would be prosecuted as soon as investigations into the matter is completed.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 — 7

EFCC arrests court registrar over missing casefile

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS — THE Economic & Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday whisked away a registrar in Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye's court, simply known as Kenny, to an undisclosed location, shortly before the judge announced that her registrar informed her that a case file was missing.

Kenny was taken away in the commission’s white bus after men

of the EFCC stormed the registrar’s office, although no reason was given at press time.

Obviously shocked that a case file in a criminal trial before her, involving a property developer could not be found, Justice Ipaye gave the registrar 12 hours ultimatum to produce the said case file.

The criminal case (Charge ID/ 1C/14) involves a property developer, Mrs Funmi Joseph, who is standing trial for allegedly defrauding a Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, member Dr. Dennis Oyakhire, of N4.8 million.

According to the charge, the

defendant allegedly collected the money from the victim on the pretext of selling a property located at the Redeemed Camp to him.

Arraigned alongside the defendant is her company, Rockdays Synergy Limited, through which the claimant made payment for the property.

The matter was adjourned till yesterday for further trial after the victim had given evidence of how he was duped by the property developer.

However, when the matter was called up at about 1:30 pm the court registrar informed the

judge that the case file was no where to be found.

Cautioning the registrar that such scenario should not happen in her court again, Justice Ipaye said: “As registrars, it is your duty to keep the file properly and safely as custodians.”

Meanwhile, the defendant and the registrar who spoke with Vanguard on the alleged missing case file, said the file has been found.

Funmi (defendant) explained that the registrar misplaced the case file in the course of taking it to the computer section.

Further hearing in the matter continues today.

Defilement of 9-yr-old: Septuagenarian gets N1m bail

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AGOS — A YABA chief magistrate's court in Lagos, yesterday, slammed a N1 million bail on a septuagenarian, Abel Akindana, for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old girl.

Akindana, 75,who resides at Mafowoku Street, Fadeyi, Lagos is standing trial on a charge of defilement.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Yewande Aje-Afunwa, said the bail condition for the accused would be stringent because the offence stipulates life imprisonment.

She said: “The offence is a serious one and attracts life imprisonment. It is bailable, but the bail condition will be stringent.

“The defendant is hereby admitted to a bail of N1million with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties must own houses in Lagos State."

In addition, she said one of the sureties must be a recognised community or religious leader, while the other should be a blood relation of the accused.

“The sureties must show evidence of tax payment and gainful employment," she added.

Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Godwin Anyanwu, had told the court that Akindana committed the offence sometime in March.

He said the accused took advantage of the nine-year-old girl, who is a daughter of his co-tenant.

“He had sexual intercourse with the girl in his room six times in March when her parents were not at home. He took advantage of her innocence and defiled her,” the prosecutor alleged.

Anyanwu said the case was reported to the Police after the child had revealed the “amorous relationship" to her mother.

Scene of a fire incident involving two companies, Karina International Ltd and Star Paints Ltd, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Isolo, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Diran Oshe.

Employment scam: NSCDC reads riot act to fraudsters, officers

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BY MICHAEL EBOH

AGOS — FOLLOWING high incidence of employment scams associated with it, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, yesterday, said it had set machinery in motion to track down anyone, including its officers, found culpable of using the corps premises to defraud job seekers.

Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ade Abolurin, who stated this in a statement, also warned that henceforth, any person going to the headquarters on the premise of documentation for employment will be arrested and their accomplices found and prosecuted.

According to him, even officers of the corps are not exempted from the wrath of the law if found to be connected with the mischief makers and fraudsters robbing desperate and job-seeking Nigerians of their money.

He expressed concern over the way scammers are offering fake employment letter to unsuspecting applicants and directing them

to the NSCDC headquarters for documentation.

He said: "The corps wishes to state emphatically that it is not recruiting and has issued no employment letter to anybody."

He maintained that the corps recruitment process is not a clandestine affair conducted on street corners, noting that when the corps is to recruit, advertisement will be placed in Nigerian daily newspapers for the general public to see the processes involved.

He said: "The corps has warned applicants to be careful and not to be unnecessarily agitated by rumours of employment making rounds as they are untrue.

"The general public should be skeptical of messages they receive ordering them to pay monies to bank accounts and stating that they can print their appointment letters on the internet because their names have been shortlisted

for an appointment into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps."

"Nonetheless, modalities have been put in place to track down all those behind the fraudulent messages aimed at defrauding Nigerian citizens.

ECOWAS court quashes death sentence passed on minor

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BY INNOCENT ANABA

BUJA — THE ECOWAS Court of Justice sitting in Abuja, upturned the death sentence passed on a minor, Maimuna Abdulmumini, by a Katsina State High Court in 2012 for allegedly killing her husband, when she was just 13 years old.

The court also awarded her N5 million in damages for violation of her fundamental rights by the state.

In its judgment, the trial judge, Justice Hansine Donli, held that pronouncing the death sentence on the plaintiff, when she was still a minor, was a breach of her fundamental human rights and violates international law as provided in Article 6, Sub-section 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The court also awarded N500,000 in favour of Maimuna as the cost of the trial.

Avocats Sans Frontieres France, ASF (Lawyers Without Borders) had filed a petition for interim measures and accelerated hearing on Maimuna’s behalf before the ECOWAS court earlier in the year.

The court ruled in her favour then and granted the interim measures application by ASF, pending hearing in the substantive matter.

Commenting on the judgment, Angela Uwandu, Head of Office, ASF, expressed satisfaction with same.

She said: “The acknowledgement of the fact that detainees have rights that must be respected in the process of legal recourse is crucial to the establishment and advancement of fundamental human rights in our country.”

Court remands 35-yr-old man over rape of teenager

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BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA— AN Ogun State High Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, yesterday, remanded a 35-year-old man, James Babarinde, for allegedly raping a15-year-old girl in the middle of the night at Olorunsogo, Abeokuta.

The accused, who resides at Prison Quarters in Abeokuta, is facing charges of conspiracy and rape.

The Police prosecutor, Jude Michael, told the court that the acussed forced his manhood into the private part of the victim

which made her bleed profusely and caused some damage in her body.

He said: “The offence is contrary to Section 32 (2) of the Child Rights Act 2006.

In his ruling, the judge, Olanrewaju Majekodunmi, who went through the first information report against the accused, ruled that the accused should be remanded in prison pending legal advice.

Majekodunmi, however, adjourned the case till July 11, 2014 for hearing due to absence of witnesses.

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Biometric registration of bank customers begins

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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HE biometric registration of bank customers and issuance of Bank Verification Num-bers, BVN, will commence next week.

This was disclosed by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, NIBSS, Plc in a statement issued yesterday.

It will utilise the biometric technology system for verification and secure authentication of the identity of bank customers and ultimately as a means of authenticating customer ’s identity at point of banking transactions.

It gives customers a uniform and single identity called the BVN that will be acceptable across the Nigerian financial system as all other bank accounts operated by this individual will be tied to that BVN. The NIBSS said: “Roll out of the BVN registration of customers by deposit money banks will commence next week. It signifies end of the pilot phase of the project during which over 7,000 BVN were issued by 21 deposit money banks and NIBSS to existing internal bank customers.

“The enrolments and BVN issuance were achieved across 44 bank sites that include 21 bank headquarters.”

Mr. Ade Shonubi, Managing Director of NIBSS, who doubles as the Head of the BVN Project Management team, said: “The pilot phase of the BVN registration of bank customers served as a model and basis for roll out of the solution to existing bank customers.

“All Nigerian banks have their headquarter servers configured, deployed and tested, and had their staff trained before engaging in enrolment and verification of end users who are mainly internal customers.

“Feedback from application usage and experience were collated, analysed and shared with solution provider to ensure seamless service delivery during eventual roll out.”

D O N AT I O N :

From left— Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Helen Mark; Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Gu Xiaojie, and First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, during the presentation of computers donated by wife of the Chinese Premier, Mrs Cheng Hong to the office of the First Lady in Abuja, NAN yesterday.

PHOTO.

Nigeria pushes to lead OPEC V

IENNA—NIGERIA is pushing for the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, to name the Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke as its Secretary General, people familiar with the matter said yesterday, a move that could end a long running leadership standoff at the cartel.

According to a report by Wall Street Journal, Nigeria’s delegation at OPEC has put Alison Madueke forward as a contender for the group’s top job, OPEC delegates said. If approved by the organisation’s other members, she would be the first woman to lead the group.

If Alison Madueke is appointed Secretary General of OPEC, it implies she will exit her current position as Nigeria’s Minister of

Petroleum, because the OPEC position is a full time job with its office in Vienna, Austria.

Nigeria is proposing to put her nomination as Secretary General on the agenda of OPEC’s semi-annual meeting slated for today.

In recent days, Mrs. Alison Madueke has met oil ministers from Iraq, Libya and the United Arab Emirates, according to delegates. Her delegation has also approached Iran and Saudi Arabia, these delegates said.

Asked by a reporter if Nigeria had put her name forward as a candidate to head OPEC, Mrs. Alison Madueke said: “That would be wonderful. I do not know anything about that.”

But Iraqi Oil Minister, Abdul Kareem Luaiby, said she had raised the issue of her

candidacy during a meeting earlier Tuesday. “We were surprised by this subject,” he said.

OPEC’s current Secretary General, Libyan Abdalla Salem el Badri, was due to retire at the end of 2012. But OPEC delegates have not so far agreed on a replacement, and he continues to serve in the post.

While the job is largely ceremonial, it is highly coveted as it provides a platform on the global economic stage for the country that holds it.

Inside the organisation, jockeying for the top job is often more heated than the debate over OPEC’s bigger mission— setting the group’s quota for oil output.

OPEC members produce one out of every three barrels of oil consumed in the world

ECOWAS court awards N11m to Rivers waterfront evictees

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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HE Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, sitting in Abuja, has awarded N11 million against the Federal and Rivers State governments over the shooting of residents evicted from Bundu Waterfront and its surrounding communities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

It will be recalled that on October 12, 2009, armed security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters in Bundu Ama, an informal settlement in Port Harcourt, leaving at least one person dead and 12 seriously injured.

The total number of dead remains unknown because the government not only refused

to undertake an inquiry into the incident, but denied any such incident happened.

The inhabitants consequently approached the ECOWAS court through a civil rights group, Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP. The court in its judgment, yesterday, held that there was no justification for the shootings by the police during the protests.

It also held that the Nigerian government had breached its obligation to protect and respect the right to peaceful association and assembly.

Reacting to the judgment, Amnesty International and Collaborative Media Advocacy Platform, CMAP, said: “This remarkable

victory brings to a close a long battle for justice by members of the community of Bundu Ama, who were unlawfully killed and injured at the hands of Nigerian security forces.”

Joy Williams, one of the applicants, who was 17 years old when she was shot on the leg during the incident, said: “We have come a long way and achieved a great goal.

“Our community refused to lie down and become victims, but instead took action and have now beaten the government in court.”

Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International’s Africa Director, said: “It sends a clear message to governments that they cannot violate people’s rights with impunity.”

and tailor output to keep prices robust, but not so high that they encourage a shift among consumers to alternative sources of energy.

The Secretary General does not have an official vote in those decisions, but can act to broker compromise among members.

Police tighten security at Abuja markets

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HE police in Abuja, y e s t e r d a y , commenced intensive security checks at the main markets within the metropolis.

In a move which police said was a proactive measure to forestall security breaches in the markets, police officers and other security operatives frisked border traders and their customers entering Wuse, Utako and Garki markets.

Eyewitnesses said security operatives locked up all gates into the markets in the morning and thoroughly searched the traders with bomb detectors before letting them in.

The exercise caused anxiety as some members of the public interpreted it to mean that bomb had been planted.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Altine Daniel, explained that the police were taking measures that would keep the markets safe.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014—9

Nigeria, Pakistan sign MoUs on defence, counter-terrorism, others

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA— NIGERIA and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan have entered into an agreement to boost cooperation between them, especially in the areas of defence and counter terrorism strategies to combat terrorism bedeviling the two countries.

At the end of bilateral talks between Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and visiting Mamnoon Hussain of Pakistan, the two leaders resolved that such cooperation was necessary to combat the terrorism threat.

President Hussain, who spoke with newsmen after a closed-door meeting with Jonathan, said they discussed issues bordering on trade, energy, education, agriculture, oil and gas, defence and counter terrorism.

According to the Pakistani leader, the two countries agreed on the need to strengthen existing cooperation between the two countries in that regard.

He disclosed that his country had extended an invitation to Jonathan to pay a state visit to Pakistan to concretise the agreements reached between the two countries.

President Jonathan described Hussain’s visit as significant because of the common problem of terrorism, especially for Nigeria which is battling to rescue the over 200 schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno State.

The President said: “This is the

first ever state visit by any Pakistani president and that is why we consider this visit extremely important.

“We have just had bilateral discussions in the course of which we examined issues of common interest. This is quite significant because Nigeria and Pakistan are experiencing terror attacks.”

President Jonathan regretted that despite long standing relations between

the two countries, trade has been extremely low.

He said: “Our target in the next five years or so, is to move from under $100 million to at least $1 billion. We are now out to encourage more robust trade relations.”

Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammed, had earlier read a press statement on the meeting between the two leaders in which he disclosed

that some Memoranda of Understanding, MoU, were signed during the parley.

The bilateral agreements and MoUs, according to the minister, included those on agricultural development, industrial cooperation, cultural exchanges and trade/ chambers of commerce, narcotics, anti terrorism/ security, poverty reduction and human capacity development among others.

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ENEVA— THE challenges of discrimination, harassment and other forms of intimidation experienced

by Nigerians, especially youths working abroad, was the focus of Nigeria’s presentation at the ongoing 103rd session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, while addressing the plenary, asked the International Labour Organisation, ILO, to “galvanise its pace setting potentials for the building of national capacities, partnerships and promotion of collaboration in reintegration programmes and

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI— SUSPECTED Boko Haram sect members have invaded two villages in Borno, killing at least five people and carting away food items and livestock.

Residents said some armed men believed to be Boko Haram members, stormed Tohya and Wurojene villages which are about 14 kilometres away from Chibok, where over 200 schoolgirls were abducted almost two months ago.

Chibok resident's story

VISIT: President Goodluck Jonathan (right), Vice President Namadi Sambo (left) and President Mamnoon Hussain of Pakistan (2nd right), during the Pakistani President's visit to Nigeria, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

FG expresses concern over harassment of Nigerians abroad

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE

Boko Haram raid Borno villages, cart away foodstuffs

other forms of interventions for the effective mitigation of the challenges of migration in a largely prismatic world.”

Wogu said Nigeria’s interest in migration “is informed by the large number of Nigerian youths that are globally mobile,” adding that the present administration “adopted a paradigm shift within the framework of the Transformation Agenda with strong emphasis and commitment to managing the challenges of migration as a sending, transit and destination country.

“We have benefitted from this phenomenon, especially in diaspora remittances. We have also experienced the challenges

of discrimination, harassment and other forms of social exclusions in the world of jobs.

“Migration is a problem when it is irregular and we are bothered about irregular migration.”

The Minister said although migration within the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, is legal, “it can still pose a big problem.”

The minister, whose speech coincided with ILO’s World Day Against Child Labour described child labour as “an unfair labour practice,” adding “Nigeria does not support child labour in any form.”

He said inspections are being carried out in factories to ensure that they do not engage in the child labour.

Wogu said: “Nigeria has the lowest incidence of child labour,” and that several government agencies are collaborating to it.

On the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed

by Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, MINILS, and the International Training Centre, the Minister said it was the climax of discussions which began last year.

The minister, while expressing optimistism about the MoU, said: “It has my blessings, including that of Mr. President.”

He said MINILS had started receiving requests from participants from the sub-region, who wanted to benefit from the joint programmes.

The attackers reportedly opened fire on the villagers at about 7p.m., Monday, killing at least five people, a resident of Chibok, who did not want his name mentioned, told Vanguard on phone.

According to him, “the attackers fired at the people and many residents fled into the bush.

There was confusion everywhere as the attackers set fire on houses.

“They continued the attack for about two hours. They carted away bags of grains and chicken belonging to our poor people.

“Most of them slept in the bush throughout the night until the insurgents left after the killing and destruction without any resistance from the military around,” another resident, Mr. James Pona, claimed.

A security source said based on reports from the residents of the two communities, the insurgents were “very well armed though they were not as many as they usually were in previous attacks.”

The source added that the troops around the area did not get an alert on time.

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

LASU students' protest: Attempt to picket Fashola’s office turns bloody ...3 students injured; 2 others, BRT bus driver arrested

BY OUR REPORTERS

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AGOS—AT least three stu dents were yesterday injured when heavily-armed policemen led by Commander of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad, RRS, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, dispersed hundreds of students of Lagos State University, LASU, who stormed Alausa, the seat of government for another round of protests.

The policemen dispersed the students with gunshots and teargas, injuring three students in the process.

The students had stormed the area with three BRT buses and occupied the entrance leading to Governor Babatunde Fashola’s office, even as it was barricaded by policemen attached to RRS. The students sang and chanted anti-Fashola songs for several minutes when the police swooped on them on the order of the RRS Commander.

The policemen shot sporadically into the air and released teargas right in front of the Governor’s office, an action that led the students to take their heels.

The policemen chased the students to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. They later regrouped

MEETING: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (middle); Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye (2nd right), his Transportation counterpart, Mr. Kayode Opeifa (right), Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Sobulo (2nd left) and the Assistant Director, Operations, Directorate of State Service, DSS, Mr. Yinka Salami (left) during Fashola’s meeting with leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in Lagos State at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday. at the Magodo Estate gate.

Two students and the driver of one of the BRT buses were arrested and the bus impounded by the police.

Police officers with guns were seen searching for the students.

The road leading to the governor’s office from the Lagos State House of Assembly was barricaded by police vans.

President, LASU Students Union, Yusuf Nurudeen told report-

ers that they had visited to register their displeasure over delay in announcing new fees for students of the institution.

“We also learnt that the government will be meeting with the Governing Council of the school today and that is why we came. We beat the barricade set up by the police and we were singing peacefully at the entrance of the governor’s office when we saw policemen.

“They shot at us, teargassed us, shot live bullets at us right in front of the governor’s office. It is sad that they shot at us. We came to hear the announcement of the reduction in school fees,” he said.

However, Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Aderemi Ibirogba said the State Executive Council was yet to conclude on the school fees issue, saying it would be concluded hopefully today.

Why we are on strike, by LUTH workers

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & GABRIELOLAWALE

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AGOS—STRIKING La gos Univeristy Teaching Hospital, LUTH, workers, under the eagis of Joint House Unions, JHU, yesterday said they opted for industrial action because ‘the hospital environment is far from being patient or workers-friendly.’

Speaking, heads of the various unions; National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives; the Senior Staff Association of Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associatied Instituitions SSAUTHRIAI, the Non Aca-

demic Staff Union Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, and Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, claimed the working enviroment

was deplorable.

According to the Chairman of SSAUTHRIAI, Kehinde Adegoke, one of the core demands was for improved patient care,

lamenting that the poor patient care had contributed to the bad publicity LUTH had been getting from patients and the general public.

Lagos Assembly condemns military clampdown on media

BY EBUN SESSOU

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AGOS—LAGOS State House of Assembly, yesterday condemned the ongoing seizures of Newspapers, intimidation and harassment of vendors by armed soldiers in parts of the country.

Raising the issue under a matter of urgent public importance at the plen a r y, H o n .

M o shood Oshun, representing Lagos Mainl a n d Constituency 2, said, the seizure of newspapers w a s

meant to silence the press, lamenting that why it was common under military regime, but was wrong under a democracy.

According to him, “If the Federal Government felt bad about any report, it should go to court of law rather than harassing, beating and detaining newspaper vendors, who don’t

even know how the reports in the newspapers were written.

It is wrong for the government to seize newspaper copies at this material time in the country.”

While condemning the act, the speaker, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji said, it was not possible to silent the press, not even the military could kill the press.

Urhobo leaders accuse Lagos Oba of bias

U

RHOBO Leaders in Badagry, have petitioned Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, accusing the Oba of Ibereko, his chiefs and some individuals in Oke-Oko community of persecuting the Urhobos in the area.

The Urhobo leaders said they have also drawn the attention of the Akran of Badadry, De Whenu Aholu Menu Toyi 1, to the matter.

According them, the Oba, is allegedly supporting his chiefs and a handful of individuals who dug gutters across some streets in the community, arguing that instead of channeling gutters to a river or swamp through existing streets in the community, the Oba and some of his chiefs insisted that the leader of the Urhobos, who is also a media practitioner should allow water pass through his compound.

The leaders, who threatened street protests to draw the attention of people all over Nigeria and in Diaspora to the plan to assault their leader and trespass on his land, stated that the Oba and his chiefs said “the Urhobaman’s compound is the shortest route to divert the flow of water instead of spending money to dig more gutters for this reason he should open up his fence and the fence of another landlord from Kogi State.”

They accused one Mr Alimi, alas Baba Luku, of constructing a shop where gutter ought to be cited and instead of drawing the attention of officials of the physical planning to the error, the chiefs and Baale, turned blind eyes to it.

Leader of the Urhobo Union, Deacon Edomi, advised the Oba not to take the law into his hands, saying, “law is not a respecter of persons and no individual is above the law.”

‘Court should compel NASS to domesticate Youth Charter'

BY INNOCENT ANABA

L

AGOS—A lawyer, Chuk wunonso Ogbe, has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to compel the National Assembly to domesticate the provisions of the African Youth Charter.

He is also praying the court to declare that the constitutional provisions, which barred Nigerian youths within the age bracket of 18 and 29 years from contesting elections in the country, as be-

ing in conflict with Section 42(1) of the Constitution.

The lawyer is specifically challenging the combined provision of Sections 65(1)(a)&(b), 106(b), 131(b), 177(b) and 117(2) of the Constitution, which disqualify Nigerian youths within the said age bracket from contesting elections into State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, the Senate, Governorship seat and Presidential seat.

The suit was brought pursu-

ant to the provisions of Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules, 2009; Sections 12(1) and 42(1)(a)(b) of the Constitution and Article 1(2) of the African Youth Charter, 2006.

Defendants in the suit are Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Adoke; National Assembly comprising House of Representatives and the Senate; Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and its chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY JUNE 11, 2014—11

I wasn’t induced with money to join APC — ADELEKE •Laoye-Tomori remains Aregbesola's running mate

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO—FORMER Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, who recently defected from the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, swore with the Quran that he did not receive money from Governor Rauf Aregbesola to join the APC as alleged by Hon Adejare Bello, the former speaker of the state House of ssembly and running mate to the PDP governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Also, Adeleke said the former speaker has sunk himself politically.

Adeleke, speaking through one of his aides in Oluponna in Ayedire Local Government Area, said for Adejare to allege that he took money from the APC to destabilise the PDP was a most fraudulent political claim.

Adeleke's aide, Alhaji Debo Badru, had led other loyalists of the former governor to cross over to the APC in Iwo Federal Constituency area of the state.

The erstwhile PDP chieftain told the gathering in Iwo that he and his party members decided to leave PDP for a better party that had people at the centre of governance.

Alhaji Badru compared PDP with darkness, which could not stand the test of APC light.

Meanwhile, Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday warned members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state against carrying arms and ammunition to the polling centres

BY OLAAJAYI

I

INAUGURATION: Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State (middle), New Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Ogun State, Alhaji Roqeeb Adeniji (left) and Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Suraj Adekunbi during the inauguration of the State Executive members of the APC at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta. during the August 9 Governorship election.

He however, encouraged his loyalists and supporters to arm themselves with charms, Bible and Quran to the polling centres, insisting that there was need for all voters to be strongly empowered spiritually before and after casting their votes.

Aregbesola, who spoke during a campaign in Ila-Orangun claimed the PDP symbolised evil and should be confronted with spiritual items for the best to emerge after the election.

This came as three suspected political thugs were arrested at the venue of the rally by the Police armed with dangerous weapons such as guns, axes and cutlasses and handed over to the police.

...Aregbesola retains Laoye-Tomori Also, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday laid to rest insinuations making the rounds that his Deputy, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori,

would be dropped in his second term bid in office ahead of the August 9 gubernatorial election in the state.

Speaking in Osogbo at a programme organized by the people to show their appreciation to the governor and to endorse him for re-election for a new term of four years, Governor Aregbesola said he had since last week submitted the name of Mrs. Laoye-Tomori to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, as his running mate in the election.

Customs steps up surveillance at S-West border

BY UDEME CLEMENT

T

HE Nigeria Customs Ser vice, NCS, Oyo/Osun Command has stepped up security surveillance at all the borders surrounding the region, leading to the arrest of a white Ford Chevrolet bus, with registration number, XW 193 GGE, loaded with 107 sacks of hard drugs (Cannabis Sativa), along Igbora road.

The Command also destroyed 10.000 cartons of frozen products, intercepted along, Agbegi-Olodo axis of Osun State.

The seizure of cannabis sativa, which attracted the attention of top officials of Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, officials of Oyo State Ministry of Environment and police officers in the State, was made by the Command’s Crack Team, led by DSC Alajogun, J. A. during patrol.

Vanguard learnt that the Command recently intercepted over 30,000 rounds of live ammunition, concealed with yam tubers in a Toyota hiace bus and a large quantity of hard drugs among nu-

Oyo guber: Senator Balogun vows to back Alao-Akala against Ajimobi

merous contraband items, smuggled into the state.

The Customs Area Comptroller, CAC, of the Command, Mr. Oteri Richard, in a chat with Vanguard, disclosed that the increased security network in Oyo/ Osun, became necessary to curb

the menace of smuggling arms, Indian hemp and other dangerous items into the country, especially with the security challenge facing Nigeria.

“This year alone, we have cases of incessant seizures of hard drugs, live ammunition, frozen

poultry products, tokunbo vehicles and other prohibited good being smuggled into the Command, mostly through Saki axis, which is the border linking Nigeria with other neighbouring countries”, he said.

Strike paralyses health services in Sagamu

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA—ACTIVI TIES at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, were paralysed yesterday, as the workers began an indefinite strike.

According to the workers under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions, OOUTH, Sagamu, the industrial action was declared due to neglect by the state government, unpaid allowances, delayed promotion and unfavourable working environment, among others.

The JOHESU consists of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Medical

Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, and the Senior Staff Association of Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associatied Instituitions, SSAUTHRIAI at OOUTH. Addressing newsmen at the hospital, the chairman, JOHESU, OOUTH, Sagamu, Kikelomo Enaholo accused Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who she claimed visited the hospital during his campaign three years ago and promised to improve the facilities and the welfare package of workers, of failing to keep his promises.

She claimed that apart from an

outstanding March 2011 salary, the state government owed members 17 months Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure arrears while other 13 months arrears were outstanding on their Consolidated Health Workers Salary Structure.

She alleged that the government had not been remitting its counterpart pension fund, saying “Before the congress took the decision to embark on this sit-athome protest, we have explored all avenues to avoid it but all did not yield any result. We have written to the governor, commissioner, the board and other relevant committees but there was no response." For everything we do

BADAN—SENATOR Lekan Balogun who allegedlly worked against former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala in 2011 yesterday said if the ex-governor could win the primaries, he would support him against the incumbent governor, Abiola Ajimobi, an Ibadan indigene.

He said he now believed Alao-Akala had learnt his lesson and is now well-behaved.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain who received scores of defectors from Accord and All Progressives Congress, APC, to the PDP boasted that he would send back the APC to classes in the 2015 elections.

Balogun described the policies of the ruling government as anti people.

Ubeku, former Guinness MD for burial Saturday

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ENOWNED management guru and first black managing director of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Dr. Abel K. Ubeku, who died on March 9, 2014 in the United Arab Emirates after a protracted illness, is to be buried in his hometown, Araya in Isoko South Local Government, Delta State on Saturday, June 14.

Ubeku, who was conferred with the national honours of the officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 1982 by the Federal Government for his contribution to management development, joined politics after his retirement from Guinness in 1989.

Born in 1935 in Araya, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, Ubeku attained the pinnacle of his career through an uncommon determination to succeed.

Ubeku was married to Chief Mrs. Beatrice Obiageli Ubeku and they were blessed with children.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Ijaw to seek redress at ICJ over oil proceeds —Alamieyeseigha

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—A FORMER governor of Bayelsa State and member of the national conference, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, has called on the leadership of the Ijaw nation to take their prolonged disenchantment with the Federal Government over proceeds from oil and gas exploration to the International Court of Justice, ICJ, in The Hague.

Alamieyeseigha, who paid glowing tributes to late Ijaw hero, Major Isaac Adaka Boro, who was reburied last weekend in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, insisted that the recourse to the ICJ at The Hague was not beyond the Ijaw nation.

He recalled how in 2006, during the Isaac Boro memorial celebrations under the auspices of the Ijaw Peoples Association of Great Britain and Ireland, Chief Melford Okilo of blessed memory, mooted the idea of Ijaw nation seeking restitution at The Hague over issues of oil exploration and despoliation.

He said: “An abiding memory I still hold of that occasion was the seminar session during which Okilo, our late political mentor, called on the leadership of the Ijaw people to take their prolonged disenchantment with the Federal Government over proceeds from oil

and gas exploration to the ICJ at the Hague. He was speaking with regard to the legacy of Isaac Adaka Boro.

“He enjoined our youths to forsake violence and hostage-taking, to learn the rudiments of dialogue and negotiation, and to press home their grievances without shedding blood. As he put it ‘We live in a civilized world where order, stability and justice must be sacrosanct, and the ICJ was set up precisely to settle long-standing disputes of great magnitude between nations and within nations. Ijaw leaders will

do well to seek justice before that world body.’

“Eight years after that pronouncement, Okilo’s suggestion remains an option that I still find fascinating. Yet no attempt had been made to pursue the possibilities for redress that it offers. On the contrary, the access to a violent resolution of the crisis became even wider over the years, resulting in greater insecurity and lawlessness, until the offer of amnesty brought some level of respite to the restive militancy in the Niger Delta

which the Federal Government is still trying to explore under the presidency of our dear brother, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

“I tend to think that the recourse to justice at the Hague is still not beyond us. It is one option that we ought to pursue, even if at the end the amnesty programme yields its best for our disgruntled agitators. Let it be that future generations do not find reason to blame us for failing to register our grievances in the annals of the ICJ."

NGF RETREAT: Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State (right), his Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha (left) and Senator Magnus Abe, during the 4th Nigerian Governors Forum retreat in Port Harcourt.

Amioku lauds Uduaghan's achievements in education

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—THE Commissioner representing Delta State on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Chief

Pa Dudu passes on

P

A Channi Dudu,the Olaraja of Obonteghareda (Dudu Town), is dead, aged 96. He was a community leader.

He is survived by many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Burial arrangements will be announced later.

Tom Amioku, has commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for his outstanding development in the education sector.

Speaking during the conferment of award of fellowship of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku at the institution's first combined convocation and 12th anniversary ceremony on prominent Nigerians, which he was one, Amioku said the renovation of public primary and secondary schools was geared towards uplifting the standard of education in the state.

Conferring the honorary fel-

Prof. Chukwuma Okonjo, Chief Ighoyota Amori, Senior Political Adviser to Delta State Governor among others, Chief Amioku thanked the school’s Governing Council for recognising them with the conferments.

He said the Niger Delta Development Commission was partnering the state government and other states in the Niger Delta in providing infrastructure and educational materials that would boost quality education in the region.

Rivers Judicial workers commence strike

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

Late Pa Channi Dudu

lowship on Amioku, the Chairman of the institution's Governing Council and Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha, said Amioku was being recognised for his outstanding leadership qualities in the state and congratulated him for the feat. Eghagha added that the institution selected Amioku based on his achievements in the public and private sectors.

Responding on behalf of other recipients, including the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku,

ORT HARCOURT— THE crisis rocking the Rivers State Judiciary over the appointment of Justice Daisy Okocha as an administrative Chief Judge by the National Judicial Council, NJC, took a twist, yesterday, with the staff of the state judiciary commencing an indefinite strike action.

Doors to offices and court rooms were locked at the court

premises. Chairman of the Rivers State Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Mr. George Sokari, said they had to embark on the strike action because of Monday’s attack on the High Court in Ahoada East Local Government Area.

Unknown assailants had hurled explosives into the court premises which destroyed valuables.

Mr Sokari, said as judicial

workers, they were no longer sure of their security with the incessant attacks on courts in the state. He said that Monday’s incident was the third time the court would be attacked.

Meantime, litigants and lawyers were stranded yesterday at the court premises in Port Harcourt because of the strike action. Some of them called for an early resolution of the problem.

Orubebe commends Delta First Lady on soul winning

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ARRI—FORMER Niger Delta Affairs Minister and 2015 governorship hopeful in Delta State, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has commended the wife of Delta State governor, Deaconess Roli Uduaghan, for her “extraordinary commitment to winning souls for God.” Orubebe lauded Mrs. Uduaghan at the Nigerian Prisons formations in Ogwashi-Uku, Sapele and Warri, Delta State, where he learnt that Uduaghan’s wife built church auditoriums aimed at drawing both inmates and staff of the prisons closer to God. The former minister, who had declared his intention to contest the 2015 governorship poll in the state was at the prisons as part of activities to mark his 55th birthday celebration. He donated beddings, sports kits, toiletries, Bibles and confectioneries to the staffs and inmates.

He said: “I have heard a lot of good things the Delta State First Lady is doing to uplift the common man. Today, I have seen with my eyes that she is building to win souls for God. Anyone investing in winning souls for God is dear to my heart. God will continue to oil the wheels of Delta’s First Lady anywhere she finds herself.”

The former minister encouraged the prisons inmates that being in prison was not the end of life for them, adding that they stand significant chances of coming out to be great Nigerians in the future if only they would make peace with God. “God told me that some of you are being held here not for any crime you committed, but because an enemy wrongly labelled you bad before the law.

Even the prison officials attest to such situations.

But God never created any man bad. So, the only way you can recover your God-intended rightful labelling is to accept Christ.”

In all three prison formations visited, the officials thanked the former minister, and prayed God to grant his aspirations.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 — 13

Police take over Edo Assembly

zAs nine PDP members suspend Speaker, Majority Leader zIt's laughable—APC lawmakers

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—HELL was let loose at the Edo State House of Assembly, yesterday, following a counter move to suspend the Speaker, Mr. Uyi Igbe, Majority Leader and six others by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Festus Ebea and three other lawmakers who were earlier suspended on Monday by their colleagues.

The police had to take over the premises of the Assembly after youths loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and those of All Progressives Congress, APC, engaged themselves in a free for all.

The nine PDP lawmakers said that they had suspended the Speaker of the House, Mr. Igbe and the Majority Leader, Mr. Philip Shaibu. According to the suspended Deputy Speaker, Mr. Ebea, “I am the new Speaker.”

The suspended members, alongside other PDP lawmakers, who had earlier sat in the

Chambers without the mace, elected the Deputy Speaker, Mr Ebea, as the new Speaker, saying that their action was because of “the Speaker and Majority Leader's unbecoming behaviour, which had brought the integrity of the House into serious disrepute.

“In the last four weeks, the premises of Edo State House of Assembly had been taken over by miscreants, whose presence had become an embarrassment to the law-abiding citizens of Edo State, the House members and the workers at large.

“The House hardly sat at the adjourned time of 10a.m. This was occasioned by the fact that the former Majority Leader had taken upon himself to always decide when and where the House would sit.

“The House always adjourned when the former Majority Leader was not around. This, we feel, was inconsistent with the fact that the Edo tax payers’ money, used to pay us, is supposed to ensure that we must at all times be at our duty posts. Sitting time of

10a.m., is sacrosanct and we believe that every member of the House of Assembly must keep to that time,” he said.

It was however, observed that the nine lawmakers were not with the mace within the three minutes they spent on the floor of Assembly chambers.

Suspension is laughable—APC members

But the 14 APC lawmakers loyal to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, described the alleged suspension as laughable, accusing the police of aiding the four suspended lawmakers to break into the chambers. Kabiru Adjoto, who addressed newsmen at the office of the Speaker with 13 other members, said: “That they suspended the Speaker somewhere in Ugbor village is laughable. You can see the Speaker and the Majority Leader seated here comfortably, so that rumour is arrant nonsense.”

The Clerk of the House, Mr.

Robert Ogini, told newsmen that “I have the mace and I was with the Speaker when they broke the doors of the chambers with thugs. So, I don’t know how they could have suspended the Speaker and the Majority Leader when the mace was not with them.”

The House had, Monday, suspended the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Ebea, Mr. Friday Ogieriakhi (Orhionmwon South constituency), Mr. Jude Ise-Idehen (Ikpoba Okhai) and Mr. Patrick Osayinmen, (Oredo East).

Tension started brewing, yesterday, at 9.45a.m., when a white bus carrying the suspended members drove into the House of Assembly complex with some mobile policemen.

On sighting the lawmakers, the Sergeant at Arms took to his heels.

Barely three minutes after the suspended lawmakers and four other PDP lawmakers sat, Speaker Igbe and 14 other lawmakers stormed the

chambers at exactly 10a.m.

The Majority Leader of the House, Shaibu, who spoke to newsmen after the fracas, said: “We came to sit this morning and we sat as usual. But before we came in, the police escorted the suspended members and the PDP members to the chambers. On our arrival at 10a.m., we saw them hurriedly rushing out of the chambers.

The police had aided them to forcefully open the chambers.

“We took the order of the day, after that we adjourned sitting till tomorrow. So the issue of suspending us, I don’t know how they came about that. The paraphernalia of office is in the hands of the Speaker, the Sergeant at Arms was with the Speaker. We were surprised when the police shot tear gas."

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker and his group, later in the day, described as fallacious, the allegation made by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, that they got N50 million each to dump the APC, for the PDP. It will be recalled that the governor, had while addressing some aggrieved APC youths at the Government House on Monday, said that the four lawmakers, who recently decamped the PDP, had been given N50 million each to decamp.”

14 — Vanguard, WEDESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Reps move to enforce waste recycling by industries

Imo indigenes worry over ‘huge' payments for abandoned projects

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA—THE waste generated by industries must be recycled to protect the environment, the House of Representatives declared yesterday.

Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal, in an address at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting on the Implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility Programme, called for s t a k e h o l d e r s ’ collaboration to tackle the menace of industrial waste littering the country.

He reminded stakeholders of provisions in the law compelling industries to adhere to the rules of recycling industrial waste.

He said: “Specifically, section 8 of the National Environmental(Food, Beverages , Tobacco sector) Regulations, 2009, states that all manufacturers of various brands of products shall establish a buy-back programme for bottles and other packaging for products, and subscribe to an extended products s t e w a r d s h i p programme.”

Chairman of the Committee, Uche Ekwunife, APGA Anambra, in her opening address, stressed the need for manufacturers to observe strict adherence to recycling rules.

O

WERRI—THE billions of naira allegedly paid to some contracting firms by Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration for abandoned projects in the state is now causing serious concern among the citizenry.

All the respondents who spoke to Vanguard on the issue, accused the present administration of being largely responsible for what they described as “the huge fraud rocking the state.”

Speaking to Vanguard, the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prince Ken Njemanze, SAN, wondered why the state government should pay huge sums of money to contractors as mobilisation fees, even when they had not moved to their respective sites.

He said: “If due process are followed when giving out these jobs, we would not have been running after the runaway contractors.”

Speaking also, a chieftain of Progressive Peoples Alliance, Dr. Vitalis Ajumbe, reasoned that if the contracting firms were forced to produce bank guarantees, the huge sums of money said to have been stolen by the runaway contractors would have been recovered from the respective banks.

He said: “It is not enough for the governor to tell Imo people that contractors ran away with our money. He should tell the people who these contractors are, give us their addresses and tell us who found them capable of doing the jobs and who ordered the payments.”

He recalled that during a recent tour of the local council areas, the governor reportedly ordered the arrest of some contractors and their associates but expressed regret that no one had so far been arraigned in court

after the tour.

“We were told that Mr. Joseph Dina of JPROS was paid a staggering N1.2 or N1.5 billion for a job he never did. The State House of Assembly, rather accused an innocent man of having received a bribe of N458 million

and impeached him! This is Imo for you,” Ajumbe said.

When contacted, the Chief of Staff to Okorocha, who doubles as the Chairman, Task Force on Recovering of Funds from fleeing contractors, Sir Jude Ejiogu, said some of them had

been declared wanted.

At the time of going to press, neither the governor nor the Chief of Staff or other government officials could say if any money had been recovered from any contractor and how much was recovered.

VISIT: From left: Ms Josephine Amuwa, Director, Legal Services, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Mr. Ima Niboro, MD, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Dr. Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Mr. Okechukwu Itanyi, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, and Mr. Tony Ojobo, Director, Public Affairs, during a visit by the management team of NAN to the Commission in Abuja, yesterday.

OKOROCHA TO POLITICAL PARTIES: Feel free to use govt facilities for rallies

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—IMO State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has asked all registered political parties in the state to feel free to use all government facilities for their rallies and campaigns.

He, however, banned the littering of the state capital with posters during political campaigns.

Okorocha disclosed this yesterday while fielding

questions from newsmen in Owerri, on a number of national and state issues.

The governor said: “In a bid to promote peace and unity in the state, all registered political parties operating in Imo State, are free to use all government facilities for their rallies and campaigns.”

He disclosed that the days of political bickering and bitterness were over in the state, pointing out that things that promoted progress in the state should be promoted by all for the state to move forward.

The governor maintained that his administration would provide a level playing ground for all a s p i r a n t s , irrespective of political affiliations.

“Honestly, nobody will be stopped for whatever reason, from carrying out his constitutional right during campaign,” Okorocha said.

The governor, however, banned the littering of the state

capital with posters as he enjoined politicians to make use of bill boards positioned at approved places and play politics by the rules.

Anselm Nwasinoke for burial

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R. NWASINOKE Anselm Chukwuemeka, alias Ashanti, who died on Friday, April 25, after a brief illness, will be buried on Thursday, June 12, in his compound, at Isiekwulu village, Ukpo, Dunukofia LGA, Anambra State.

He is survived by a widow, Mrs. Nwasinoke Ebele and four children; Uche, Chigozie, Chidiebele and Chikwelu Nwasinoke.

Late Anselm Nwasinoke

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,JUNE 11, 2014 — 15

PSC promotes 2 AIGs, 7 CPs, dismisses 4 officers

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BUJA—THE Police Service Commission, PSC, yesterday, approved the promotion of two Assistant Inspectors General of Police.

They are CP Chris Olakpe, immediate past Commissioner of Police, Plateau State and CP Grace Ekudo, as seven new Commissioners of Police were also elevated.

The elevation of the two AIGs, which took effect from June 4, 2014 and June 9, 2014 respectively, is coming just as the PSC confirmed 32 disciplinary cases involving Senior Police Officers, SPOs, resulting in the dismissal of four officers.

A statement signed by Ferdinand Ekpe, Chief Information Officer, said: “Two Superintendents of Police, namely: Nyong Enefiok, Offu Ukereke, Deputy Superintendent Eteng Bassey and A s s i s t a n t Superintendent Mohammed Usman Kashim were dismissed, while an ASP was compulsorily retired for offences against police discipline."

Newspapers return to newsstands as military ends clampdown zNLC urges media owners, vendors to demand for compensation

BY WOLE MOSADOMI &

VICTORAHIUMA-YOUNG INNA—AT last, the Military has ceased the war it declared on sales of national newspapers across the country last weekend.

Consequently, newspapers restricted from circulation in the past five days have returned to the newsstand.

This development came as Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, urged media owners and vendors to demand compensation for losses suffered as a result of the action by the military.

The vans of the dailies affected were not intercepted at the usual Military check point along Abuja-Suleja-Minna road where they were usually intercepted, neither were soldiers seen at the distribution centre near Obasanjo Complex where they officially searched parcels of different titles before being circulated.

Yesterday morning, all the restricted dailies, including The Nation, Daily Trust and Leadership, were seen on the stands, with the vendors freely displaying them for people to pick.

The three dailies were worst hit by the military action.

Niger State chairman of Vendors Association, Mr. Festus Elijah, thanked the authorities

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for intervening and assured that they would continue to cooperate with all concerned to avoid crisis in the country.

Meanwhile, Nigeria Lagour Congress, in a statement issued yesterday, called on owners of affected media houses and vendors to seek payment of compensation from the military for losses incurred from the clampdown.

The NLC in the statement by the President, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, also called for arrest and

punishment of soldiers involved in the show of shame The statement, entitled “Stop Disrupting Newspapers Circulation Now!” read: “The ongoing harassment of newspaper vendors, which includes seizure of newspapers, arrest of circulation drivers of several newspaper publishing companies as well as depriving the reading public access to information by operatives of the Nigerian military and other security agencies is

absolutely unacceptable and clearly out of place in any democratic society.

“The military and all the security agencies ought to know that all fundamental rights are germane to democracy and therefore, lack constitutional and legal rights to unilaterally order the circumscription of freedom of press or any freedom in any form as we cannot find the link between insecurity and a free press in democratic governance."

PROTEST: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, addressing youths protesting against some lawmakers who defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benin, yesterday.

DEFECTION: Withdraw suit against Tambuwal, Senator tells AG

BY JOHNBOSCO

A

AGBAKWURU

BUJA—SENATOR Kabiru Marafa, representing Zamfara Central senatorial district, has advised the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN, to withdraw the suit he instituted against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, and the House leadership on the defection of some Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Senator Marafa also told the AG to act like a statesman and be neutral in the House politics and not to create the

impression that he was Attorney General for the PDP and not the country, adding that if he (the AG) should go ahead with the suit, he should also include the list of all the lawmakers who had also defected to the PDP. He said: “Within the next two weeks, I urge the Attorney General of the Federation to withdraw this suit against the speaker or join the other colleagues in the House of Representatives that also defected from other political parties to PDP. “It is when he does so that we will call him the Attorney General of the Federation and not the Attorney General of the PDP. He should withdraw this suit within these two weeks.

“If he fails to do so, I urge my brother and Commander in Chief to show the AttorneyGeneral, the way out (of the cabinet) and to assure the members of the House of Representatives that they can investigate ministers, or any government functionary as part of their oversight responsibility as enshrined in the constitution.”

Adoke had on April 22, sued the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, to give effect to the judgment of an Abuja Federal High Court, which declared vacant, seats of some lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress.

16— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Taraba NLC chair alleges discrimination against Christians

BY JOHN MKOM ALINGO—THE Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, in Taraba State, Comrade Mark Ishaaku, yesterday, accused the state teachers’ service board of discriminating against Christains during its last recruitment drive in the state.

Ishaaku spoke while delivering his goodwill message at the commissioning ceremony of the Ultra-Modern Taraba State Nurses House in Jalingo, yesterday.

He told the acting governor, Garba Umar that 80 per cent of the newly recruited teachers were Muslims, pointing out that the

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consideration for the employment was based on religion and not competence.

Ishaaku further said that apart from this, over 50 per cent of the new teachers were nonindigenes while graduates from

the state were jobless, and looking for what to do.

Taraba State Government recently lifted its embargo on new teachers at the state teaching service board to fill the large vacuum created by the number of

deaths and retired teachers in the state.

However, the NLC chairman said he brought the matter to the public so the issue could be properly investigated by the state government.

FG plans to strenthen LGs through MDGs

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said that the Federal Government would strengthen the ability of local governments in the country to play their roles of rural development through the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, the post-MDGs as well as other items on the

transformation agenda of his administration.

According to the Special Adviser on Media to the Vice President, Umar Sani, Jonathan spoke through his boss, Namadi Sambo yesterday, when he received a delegation of the board members of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, CLGF,

at State House, Abuja.

While commending Nigeria’s membership of the CLGF for not only entrenching the values that enhance decentralisation at the local level of government but consolidating democracy and the rule of law, Jonathan stressed that the governmentwaspromotingdemocracy and improving governance at all levels.

According to him, he had taken his time to investigate what was like a rumour before arriving at his conclusions and asked Umar to order his own investigations in other to avoid crisis.

New monarch assures on devt

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HE NEWLY selected traditional ruler of Alor in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Chinedu Okonkwo, Ezedioranma III, has vowed to make peace, reconciliation and development the centrepiece of his administration.

The monarch who made this declaration at Ojoto, the headquarters of the council during his formal presentation to the council chairman, Prince Peter Ezenwa Jnr., also commended other compatriots who contested for the throne with him.

He expressed willingness to accommodate all of them in the new cabinet, so as to harness all their potentials and zeal for the collective development of the community.

The monarch had earlier been presented and purified at the Obi Agbudugbu grove, the accepted first home/ residence of the community’s progenitor and ancestors.

Passage

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ZE DAMION Chilaka Amaechi, 58, of Obokwu Obizi, Mbaise Local Government, Imo State is dead.

He was until his death a Senior Staff of Sedeco Oil Company Nigeria Ltd, and a community leader.

He is survived by a widow and five children.

He will be buried on June 20, in his home town, Obokwu Obizi, Mbaise Local Government,Imo State.

Late Damian Amaechi

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 — 17

18— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 THE thought that some operators of the Constitution and their cohorts think they are more important than the Constitution is disconcerting – it is actually illegal. Times over, politicians especially those who are holding elected positions - believe that their agreement is needed for the Constitution to be law.

It is time this illegal practice stopped. The most prominent example of a constitutional aberration is the attachment of the absurdity EXECUTIVE to the title of governors. There are about 108 references to “the Governor of a State” in the Constitution. Not once is “Executive Governor ” used. Some governors are said to be so enamoured of the title “Executive Governor ” that any letter to them without the “appropriate” title cannot be presented to "His Excellency, the Executive Governor”.

Pictures of our governors, official correspondences to them, and

Diminishing Our Constitution official publications from their offices bear this illegal title.

Remarkably, some of the governors are lawyers! If there is an “Executive Governor” who is the “Non Executive Governor”? The only reference to “executive” in describing a governor is in Section 176 (2) which states, “ The Governor of a State shall be the Chief Executive of that State.

Perhaps more insulting to the Constitution is the approval that the President gives for the implementation of constitutional provisions. This practice began during the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo. It continues today as a

public relations gimmick that dents the Constitution.

When a court gave a ruling then, former President Obasanjo would obtain the advice of his AttorneyGeneral before a public statement would be issued that the President had agreed or disagreed with the court ruling.

His position decided what happened.

The flagrant annexation of the powers of the court was a regular circus especially in court decision that favoured former Anambra State governor Dr. Chris Ngige.

Obasanjo refused to obey those orders, except the one that

nullified Ngige’s governorship.

It was probably in line with this tradition then, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua approved the Court of Appeal judgment in 2008 that Adams Oshiomhole was governor of Edo State. Did the President have to approve?

A year after, then Vice President Jonathan Goodluck ordered that Ibrahim Geidam, Deputy Governor of Yobe State be sworn in as governor, after the death of Governor Mamman Ali. Section 181 of the Constitution clearly states that the Deputy Governor succeeds a governor who dies or leaves office before the expiration of his tenure. President Jonathan was a beneficiary of this provision when he became a governor in Bayelsa State .

We should stop diminishing the Constitution by acting as if it needs approval for its provisions to be law, or by adding extraneous provisions to the ones, it awards.

OPINION

BY DONALD UMAHI

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ECENTLY in the news was United States discovery of shale and gas in commercial quantity which has made them to stop buying Nigeria crude oil in commercial quantity.

Invariably the recent development will surely affect Nigeria’s revenue considering that crude oil is the major source of the country’s revenue and the US was the highest buyer of our crude before now. It was as a result of this development that people have been agitating and calling on our leaders before now to diversify the country’s economy to make it less dependent on oil.

Economic experts have argued and advised before now that the agricultural sector should be explored and developed as alternative to the current oil-based economy. Some of our leaders paid deaf ear to the warning and failed to do the needful simply because the monthly Federation Allocation must come.

Now that America has stopped buying Nigeria's crude in commercial quantity, the monthly federation allocation must definitely reduce.

It is only states that explored alternative source of income by developing their agricultural sector

Orji and his agriculture award that will survive the effects in the nearest future. One of such states is Abia whose governor, Chief Theodore Orji anticipated this situation and started aggressive and sustained agricultural revolution in the state from the inception of his government.

His government was the first in the country to introduce Youth-InAgriculture Initiative which was aimed at encouraging and supporting youths in practising commercial farming.

Since then, many unemployed youths in the state have been trained and supported by government to practise agriculture in the state. Some of them are today employers of labour.

The government has established liberation farms across the 17 council areas in the state where the youths are being trained in different agricultural practices. At Bende, two rice mills were established to enable rice farmers within and outside the environs to process their rice. Also constructed and stocked in the area were fish ponds of various sizes.

At Akpaa Mbato in Obingwa, the state government purchased 24 plots of land now being used for agricultural practice. Abia Palm Estate in Ohambele in Ukwa East council

area which was comatose before now has been revitalised. The same treatment has been extended to Abia Rubber Company and Cashew Plantation.

For years, Chief David Onyenweaku, a prominent son of the state has remained the number cocoa farmer in the country. The state government has provided more than a million cocoa seedlings free to cocoa farmers in the state since 2007.Also, the government has been making provision for a capacity building programme called farmer field school in collaboration with STCP/IITA. It has done this through the establishment of 15 schools located in cocoa producing communities of the state.

At Lodu Ndume in Umuahia North is a massive cassava plantation with a large number of farmers employed there. Government has been subsidizing agro-inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, seedlings, agrochemical to more than 214, 000 farmers in the state since 2007. Also subsidized by the state government were 55 tractors for farming across the 17 council areas in the state. In the area of payment of counterpart fund, the state government has paid

counterpart fund for FADAMA project 111 and the FGN-NDDC community based Natural Resources Management Projects. A total of 25,262 farmers have benefitted from the projects, while 21, 216 farmers have also received trainings on best agricultural practices with government support in the state.

To ensure that the agricultural produce reach the city for use, the government since coming into office has engaged in massive road construction and rehabilitation in the rural areas where these farms and farmers are residing. Obviously, the government’s massive intervention in the sector is paying off today as the state is gradually becoming the food basket of the nation.

It was as result of this giant stride that Governor Orji was recently honoured with the award of Agriculture Governor of The Year in Lagos at the AGRIKEXPO third PAN West Africa Internal Agric Exhibition.

His government’s efforts in agric sector if sustained by successive governments in the state will be a major source of revenue for the state in the face of dwindling oil revenue in the country. *Mr. Umahi, a commercial farmer, wrote from Abam, Arochukwu, Abia State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014— —19

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has many political enemies. The irony of the President's situation is that many of his very vocal supporters are among his most ardent enemies. They are in the class of Nigerians I have in the last one week here referred to as the enemies within the President's government. By self-perception the President himself believes the Nigerian press hates him. He has bought into the logic of the many enemies he once claimed have infiltrated his government and firmly believes he is the victim of a compromised press. Whereas his problem emanates from the legion of fair weather friends and dogooders out to fish in the troubled waters they have created for the President. There is no doubt there are many Nigerians out there who are genuinely troubled by what they perceive as an overly critical press; one they believe is a problem rather than a genuine watchdog and partner of the Jonathan administration. For the sakes of these Nigerians it is necessary to shoot straight by coming down hard on some of these wolves masquerading in sheep clothing around the President. Last week I identified Alex Badeh, the Chief of

Defence Staff as one of those stoking the fire in Jonathan's bush of trouble.

Another culprit that doesn't need any special effort to unmask is Mbu Joseph Mbu- yes the same infamous Mbu that was, even as police officer, the de facto governor of Rivers State. While Badeh could be seen and excused as a recent recruit into the cadre of Jonathan's internal enemies; while it is even possible to see him as a misguided recruit, Mbu has a relatively long career of deliberate mischief. He is a power-monging anarchist in police uniform. Nigerians couldn't have forgotten too quickly that Mbu it was that all but ran Rotimi Amaechi out of Rivers as the elected governor of that state? In the many controversies that pitched Amaechi against the President, his wife and their political supporters in Rivers State, Mbu was the unhidden hand that led the charge against an elected governor.

As a public officer, the Commissioner of Police of Rivers State, that ought to be seen far more than he was heard, Mbu made an art of disrespect to a superior to whom he should be answerable.

He openly took side in a matter that was no concern of his even

when he could have successfully served as a peace-maker between two estranged political associates that were his superiors. Certainly Mbu tried to pose as a loyal subordinate and friend of the President. But the true motive of his soapy support and unbridled, even reckless support of the President's wife was for the purpose of his pocket and position. He was simply out to make an impression however ignoble as a supporter of President Jonathan, especially his wife and her local supporters in Rivers. Mbu was a major actor in the drama that made life unbearable for Amaechi, making the difference between him and the President irreconcilable. Mbu remained a thorn in the soft underbelly of Amaechi until his shenanigans attracted enough attention as to make his continued stay in Rivers State untenable.

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ow as Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, Mbu is once more at the game he knows best- courting at

With Oshiomhole and others losing grips, whither APC?

BY ABUBAKAR GALADIMA

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HESE are not the best of times for the All Progressives Congress, APC, and this should concern all progressives in the country, from the real to the latter day ones like Governors who have come into the APC and bequeath the party with nothing but crises.

From Lagos to Edo, from Kogi to Katsina, there are crises everywhere; the generality of the youth in the party from the Northern part of the country are no longer sure that the beloved General Muhammadu Buhari will get the presidential ticket following a selfish machination put together by the so-called Yoruba leader who misfired by hurling invectives at all but three of the traditional rulers of his tribe.

It is not clear yet what he hoped to achieve, but he has caused mileages to be lost in an area he is supposed to deliver. The progressives, or this 21st Century version, now have to contend with a house divided against itself. Femi Fani-Kayode left, but not quietly because Nigeria's version of Goebbels in the APC, could not rein in his tongue and his pen, against a man more articulate than himself. And that articulate party hopper has spilled some poisonous beans into the public space.

And what about Edo State where the Comrade Governor is no longer beloved and cannot keep together his game. First, Chief Tom Ikimi was treacherously dealt with at the centre and he wrote some satanic verses, but now that he is prevaricating about leaving, those verses are there for all to recall.

Couched in diplomatese, the architect drew the image of a collapsing party structure everywhere, noting that he was writing from Benin City where all was not well with the party.

He said: "The latest problems arise from the congresses where in the South-South region.

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There are fundamental problems in Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Cross Rivers and Edo. I have been informed of similar problems in most other states across the country. Parallel Excos have emerged in Ogun State!

"Here in the South-South, I could personally do nothing as a leader or the South-South Vice Chairman since the arrangements on ground give me no powers to operate. Party headquarters has established very strange channels of communication with my region and State.... The mass failure of these processes (the congresses) is not a surprise to me at all. How the personnel for these congresses have been generated is shrouded in utmost secrecy. A failed ward congress can only give birth to a failed LGA congress, a disaster at state level and mayhem at National Convention."

Before Ikimi's verses, some founding leaders of APC had taken a walk from the party to the PDP. Among them were Chief Solomon Edebiri (2012 ANPP governorship candidate) and many leaders from the state and local government areas who were received into PDP. Like the loquacious Governor of the State, Edebiri described the government of Adams Oshiomhole as one of the most corrupt ever, adding that the APC government was run on pages of newspapers. He mocked the ward and local government congresses of APC, describing them as a sham.

If Edebiri was not a big fry, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu could not be described as such. He left in a huff and dragged his supporters with him. He was also not quiet in leaving and reiterated what Ikimi hinted; only this time he said the APC was an "Animal Farm."

Oshiomhole did not take kindly to Ize-Iyamu's truthful barbs and hit back. Ize-Iyamu said he joined the PDP because he believed that the party was the best vehicle for democratic governance. He said there was a desperate move by the governor to dismantle his

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Jonathan's 'most wanted' list of enemies

The President would be doing himself a world of favour to be alert and alive to the tricks of these enemies lurking like snakes at his door

once avoidable and unnecessary controversy all for the sake of power and influence. This man is no doubt a politician in police uniform and until the police authorities do something about putting him where he truly belongs he would continue to bring them unfavourable attention. He is simply bad news as his latest misadventure in trying to ban rallies in aid of the release of the abducted school girls of Chibok demonstrates. Mbu last week issued an order he obviously consulted nobody, not even his superiors at Louise Edet House.

By this order, the police man banned any procession aimed at campaigning and drumming support for the return of the Chibok girls. In his warped reading of the matter, Mbu made the astounding claim that the campaign constituted a threat to security as it could be used as a cover to detonate explosives and thus embarrass government. It was a unilateral decision that could only have come from someone full of his own sense of importance, a deluded public officer unconcerned about the limits of his authority. By this order Mbu sought to return Nigeria to the era of the military or the colonial authorities with whom Nigeria's founding parents fought the struggle of independence. And a note of warning here: Should any thing untoward, including detonation of explosives, occur during the #Bring Back Our Girls# campaign Mbu should be held accountable.

It is strange what type of trouble some people simply create for others in the name of supporting them. Although IG Mohammed Abubakar has reversed Mbu's thoughtless order but the damage has already been done. The Police has been in the unenviable position

There are fundamental problems in Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, AkwaIbom, Cross Rivers and Edo; I have been informed of similar problems in most other states across the country

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structures and that his problem with the governor was because he dared to speak the truth.

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is words: “The governor publicly and privately has come to me to say Pastor, I appreciate the support you have given to me. I know how competent you are. When the time comes, I will support you to become the governor. If he denies it, it will completely show he is not a man of his words. The issue is somebody has consistently promised me this but with the way the comrade has been going, by 2016, I don’t think there will be any APC again.

“APC today has become an animal farm.

Everything we condemned is still in place.

The governor wanted to conduct the congress in an undemocratic way by asking me to take five wards and the deputy five wards. He was so petrified about Ize-Iyamu being in control that he wanted me to become a minority.”

At the APC state congress, Oshiomhole had his day when he said: “Those who insist we must do politics as usual where positions are appointed by one person, those who insist that I should unilaterally decree them as the next governor cannot fit in."

Fearful of the hurricane that is heading his way, the self-acclaimed strongman of Edo

of splitting hair on the actual text and meaning of something as unambiguous as Mbu's irresponsible order. The man, forgetting that Abuja is not Port Harcourt where he could run amok, has succeeded in portraying the police and the Jonathan government as both paranoid and afraid of criticism however well-meaning.

Mbu has succeeded in bringing a N200 million law suit on the Nigeria Police. He has further helped in publicising what he claims to be against a campaign he believes has been politicised. Which is not impossible really. But who is responsible for that if not the government?

Even from a distance one could see that President Jonathan is a quiet human being. But this very fact is what many jobbers masquerading as friends around him have exploited quite unconscionably for their own purposes. But neither the President nor his minders are any wiser for it.

They would need to wake up from their slumber and begin to recognise the likes of Mbu for who and what they are: common busybodies in need of relevance.

These enemies posing as friends of the President are many and come in different guises. Many are members of his party. Others are in his cabinet. And yet others are in the security agencies. But too often the usual suspects for Jonathan and his supporters are members of the opposition many of whom only see an opening of criticism they could exploit.

They are less dangerous in certain circumstances than those in and around the President. He would be doing himself a world of favour to be alert and alive to the tricks of these enemies lurking like snakes at his door.

politics has started whining about a plot to impeach him. As usual, PDP chieftains in Abuja are the whipping dogs for Oshiomhole who is daily getting his politics and his own agenda wrong. Read Oshiomhole: "They brought a lot of money from Abuja, paying assembly members whom we campaigned for. We marketed some of these people who are not known in their neighbourhood.

They rode on my back to get to the House of Assembly.

"Some of them cannot walk on their streets.

They collected, as I read in the papers, huge sums of money for them to decamp, to mortgage, to put on sale the mandate that you all, in your respective areas, gave them on the basis of their promise that they will work with me to deliver the state."

Two things quickly came to my mind when I read these lines by Oshiomhole. First, I remember how Oshiomhole in his first term as governor deployed the instrumentality of the state and its resources to depopulate the PDP-controlled House of Assembly such that the ACN ended up having the majority in the state legislature. Persons elected on the PDP platform defected to the ACN to the admiration of Oshiomhole. Today, Oshiomhole is crying, talking about huge money being used to woo his party legislators over to the PDP and for his impeachment. If his claim is true, then I think it rings true that what goes round comes round. He now knows how it feels to be at the receiving end.

Then second, Oshiomhole said that these people were not known in their neighbourhoods, that they rode on his back to get elected into the House of Assembly; and, I ask, how come these purportedly unknown individuals are the ones giving him sleepless nights? If they were unknown, he should not bother with them or their antics. But the fact is that they are now known, reputed representatives of their people; and the governor cannot deny this. *Mr. Galadima, a political analyst, wrote from Abuja.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Rainfall palaver

BY EBELE ORAKPO

Ejigbo intersection: Still crying for help

BY OBOH AGBONKHESE

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T is a major intersection for the usually heavy traffic flowing from IgandoIkotun-Egbe and environs to Oshodi/Isolo/ Cele Express(along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway) and vice versa. But Iyana Ejigbo does not seem to enjoy the recognition which its importance in this regard should ordinarily engender.

Neglected for several years, it has become a byword for traffic chaos, a nightmare for motorists, indeed all commuters, plying that route. This is in spite of the traffic control post there always manned by personnel from, at least, three different offices— the Police inclusive.

Ejigbo falls under the old Alimosho Local Government Area said to be peopled by about 2,047,026 (or less) Lagosians, depending on who one believes between the Lagos State government and the Federal Government. Data from whoever you believe agree that it has the highest population density in Lagos and geographically bigger than some states. Which is why, according to one of the state’s commissioners, infrastructure development in the local government appears in-

*Motorists caught in traffic snarl at Iyana Ejigbo going to Benin, he would still be sweating on the road while his Benin friend would have had his dinner of pounded yam and Ogbono soup.

As one motorist said: “If you are on Ejigbo road and there is no traffic, “park somewhere and ask around if everything is okay.”

A sigh that should sound like a rumble would be expected from this densely populated area, that also boast of all kinds of businesses, when road construction work started. Not so. A resident, who gave his name as Emmanuel, said: “Can you honestly compare the pace and quality of work here with what you get in Surulere and Victoria Island? Even the fixing of the area around NNPC

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Between Danfo drivers trying out Hollywood stunts and private motorists that flout traffic rules, they manage to turn a 40-minute journey to five hours of hell

visible. What is striking, however, is not the eloquence of the administration, but that between Cele and Ikotun, there seem to be a pothole for every household.

So, between commercial bus or Danfo drivers trying out Hollywood stunts and private motorists (suit, tie and all) that flout traffic rules, they manage to turn a 40minute journey to five hours of hell. That is, if an Ikotun resident leaves Mile 2 with somebody

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Bust Stop became an issue between the state and Federal Government.

Who is deceiving who?”

Cynicism aside, the construction activities seem to have gathered momentum. The force is so much that drainage that look like gullies appeared everywhere.

When rain fell, the gullies were flooded and businesses shut down. A banker said customers simply abandoned their branch. A fuel station

manager said his premises had become a park for caterpillars and two entrances to the station had been excavated out of existence. Only a few customers know that a side entrance exists.

However, some wise men still know how to do business. Chief Ezenwa, “an importer, exporter and dealer in general merchandise,” got some other traders together and “encouraged” the contractors to build them a bridge to their plaza.

Mrs Olayera, a food seller, can easily move her table around as the flood dictates. But Kemi’s pickup load of tomatoes and pepper cannot get to her store. So she pays boys to move the baskets and passes the extra cost on to customers.

It is a different story for a book seller, who refuses to disclose her name.

“Anytime rain falls,” she fumes, “my books are condemned. They are constructing gutter on one side of a road that receives flood from all over Ejigbo. Take note that their equipment are what you see in building sites: pans, shovels, manual cement mixer handled by carpenters and bricklayers. No wonder the gutter looks twisted like a snake.”

Her outburst was interrupted by screeching tyres and crunching metals. A red SUV probably thought that the best way to ride a rough road was to jump lanes. The breaks gave way and it rammed into a Volkswagen LT commercial bus. The rat-

tled passengers were screaming. Happily there was no collision and the SUV ploughed into the busy Ejigbo market.

Although the book seller had sobered up, she still had enough presence of mind to say that work looked serious on the road because 2015 was near. “As soon as elections are over,” she said authoritatively, “ work will stop.” Elections or not, the traffic officers appear very busy. Especially when a wealthylooking driver is behind the wheel of an exotic car.

The hot spots are Pako roundabout, Jakande, almighty Iyana-Ejigbo, in front of Synagogue Church and Ikotun roundabout. At this point one would have counted about 15 traffic officers.

This is beside the police patrol vehicles lurking around and waiting to pounce on any traffic offender on a road that looks like it does not exist on any map, but was actually, like many other enduring Nigerian roads, constructed by the military. When the state government took time out to announced plans to commence repair works on Oke-Afa/Egbe Bridge from April 17 to April 28, people expected so much.

But only the annoyingly protruding metals have been covered.

Residents, traders and motorists do not look impressed by the caterpillars and construction machines parked all over Ejigbo road and some adjoining link roads.

"Driver, please stop and give me back my money; let me take another bus. How can I pay you only to be drenched in your bus,” complained a commuter by name, Kate in the Iju-Ishaga bus as the skies let loose. Two more commuters joined Kate in demanding for a refund or for the driver to do something about the situation as water came pouring into the bus from up, down and sides.

"Imagine! Something from which you earn your livelihood, you cannot spend a little time and money to put it in order,” said Jide, adding: “Before you know it, he will tell us that the roof just started leaking."

"What are you saying?" asked the driver feigning ignorance of what was going on behind him.

"How will you know what is going on when you are comfortably seated? My friend, give us our money so we can find our way,” retorted Iyke.

"Just manage it please. We will soon get to our different destinations," said Tunde.

Replied Kate: "In this hold-up wey wear suit and tie? My brother, this hold-up no get part two so if we spend less than four hours in this bus, it will be a miracle.”

The vehicles were indeed moving bumper to bumper and the driver said: “Sorry, if traffic starts flowing the water will stop entering the vehicle so please be patient.”

"Driver if you have an umbrella, bring it so they can use it till the rain subsides," suggested Tunde, whereupon the driver handed him a big umbrella, the one popularly known as Insurance Cover.

Tunde then tried to pass it on to Kate who asked him to first put up the umbrella before giving it to her.

"I was just trying to help. If you don’t want it, I will give it back to the driver after all, I am not the one being drenched by the rain," said Tunde.

"But Bros, how on earth do you think you can conveniently put up that mighty umbrella in this bus and even if you do, what about other passengers because as the rain falls on the umbrella, it trickles down and of course, it will drench those sitting around the person holding the umbrella. So your solution is not feasible at all. It will rather create more problems," said Jide.

"Ok oo, I was only trying to help. Why should I be the one to put up the umbrella, don’t you have respect?" asked Tunde to which Kate replied thus: “Shut up and face your front. Who asked for your help in the first place?”

“I don’t blame you. You can insult me because I happen to be on the same bus with you. If I was in my own vehicle, what would have brought us together?” lamented Tunde. “I can employ you and pay your salary. In fact, I will give you back your fare so you can get off this bus. You are a nuisance.”

“We are eight in number so give us N1,600 and we will go. Hmmm, I dey laugh oo. We all know where the rich guys are. You will never see them in a public bus like this, so just keep quiet,” replied Kate.

“Oga, you were wrong. How on earth did you think you could use that umbrella in this bus? Even a foolish person knows it’s not going to work,” said Jide. Replied Tunde: “Since you have decided to buy this case, get ready because I’ll beat you black and blue when we get to the bus-stop.”

“Abeg keep quiet. Real men don’t talk much, they act. It’s only a sissy that will talk the way you are talking without an ounce of strength,” taunted Kate.

This went on, and then as if in answer to prayers, the rain subsided and the traffic jam eased as vehicles began to move, albeit slowly. As the bus got to a point, Iyke said: “Driver, please take right and join the major road, it’s easier,” but the driver continued on his way until he met another hold-up.

Trust the Lagos commuters, they let loose their tongues on the driver.

"You are as stubborn as a he-goat," said Jide.

“See im ugly face. No woman will marry this one if he doesn’t have money. Why do some people like suffering? You see better road but you prefer to come and suffer on this one,” said Jane.

"No wonder God calls us sheep and not goats because a goat will never obey any command without a fight," noted Iyke. At the bus-stop, Tunde alighted quietly without a word about his threat to beat up Jide.

Vanguard, WDNESDAY , JUNE 11, 2014 — 21

AGOA not beneficial to Nigeria — NACCIMA D

IRECTOR-General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA Dr John Osemede, said Nigeria was yet to maximise opportunities in the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Osemede, who said this in Lagos, added that Nigeria had not benefitted from existing trade agreements with other countries due to its infrastructural deficit and lack of protection for local industries.

According to him, majority of Nigerian non-oil exports have been rejected because they have failed to meet required standards. “What is the agreement on the WTO agreement? What is the agreement on ECOWAS? Why are countries using VAT - 5 per cent, 10 per cent, 20 per cent - to protect their infant industries?

Who is protecting the infant industries? That was when the problem started. So people

From left: Non-Executive Director, Propertygate Development and Investment Plc, Mr. Jonathan Oluwole Ogungbola; Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Adetokunbo Ajayi and Company Secretary, Mrs. Olutosin Aarinola, during the company’s 5th Annual General meeting in Lagos. can now take our produce, they determine what to take, the quantity to take, the price

to pay, but in the first republic it was not like that because we had laboratories.

“Cocoa laboratory was in Lagos, cocoa laboratory was in Akure, but today those things

Prioritise disbursement of N220bn intervention fund, SMEs urge CBN

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OME Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have appealed to the new governor of the Central Bank, Mr Godwin Emefiele, to promptly disburse the N220 billion intervention fund for operators.

In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos, some SMEs associations have urged Emefiele to release the fund to enable them utilise it in the second half of the year. Mrs Lola Okanlawon, President, NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW), said the establishment of the fund in August 2013 raised the hope of many entrepreneurs who had been obtaining loans at high interest rates.

“However, the delay in the disbursement of the fund has got everyone disappointed. We hope that all the barriers against prompt disbursement of the fund would be removed soon. We laud President Jonathan for his efforts to boost small and medium enterprises; some of our members benefited from the YOUWIN project, but more needs to be done.” she said. Mr Segun KutiGeorge, the Chairman, Lagos chapter, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), also appealed to the CBN governor to give priority to

the disbursement of the fund.

“We want the governor to priotise the disbursement of the fund to enhance efforts to Most banks have been paying lip service to the assistance they claim to grant to SMEs because they have stringent conditions that our members cannot meet. We laud President Goodluck Jonathan for the initiative and believe that the disbursement of the fund would assist so many ailing businesses to bounce back, while creating more jobs”, he said.

Mr Eze Ubiji, the Executive

Secretary, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), expressed optimism that the new governor of CBN would disburse the intervention fund soon.

According to him, there are some conditions that have to be met to ensure smooth disbursement of the fund in line with the country’s revised Microfinance Policy Regulatory and Supervisory framework. “One of the major reasons I think the disbursement of the fund has been delayed is because of the collateral issues that is prominent in ac-

cessing loans in Nigerian banks.

The new governor of CBN mentioned that Collateral Registries Committee was being set up so that it would make it easier for more SMEs to access loans under a secured collateral system, but so many business owners are not aware.

“What I mean is that some women may have gold jewellery worth millions at home, but will be running here and there in search of collateral in form of property or land which they don’t have.”

IFC signs advisory services agreement with FirstBank on mobile money

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NTERNATIONAL Financial Corporation (IFC) on Monday in Lagos signed an advisory services agreement with FirstBank on mobile money worth N90.75 million. In a statement, the IFC said that the agreement with FirstBank Plc for Firstmonie, a subsidiary of bank, was to advance mobile financial services and agent banking.

It said that the agreement, funded by Bill & Melinda & Gates Foundation, was to strengthen the supply of affordable financial services to low-income earners and small-scale en-

trepreneurs in Nigeria.

Firstmonie Mobile Money Service is an innovative product that enables customers to access financial and other value added services through mobile phones.

According to IFC, the agreement will also allow it to provide Firstmonie technical assistance in financial modeling, agent management and customer activation, Mr Mike Ogbalu, the Managing Director of Pridar Systems, owned by FirstBank and the owners of Firstmonie, said the agreement would boost financial inclusion and mobile banking

across the nation. Ogbalu said, “At Firstmonie, we are committed to expanding mobile financial services to the under banked and low income communities.

“With the advisory support from IFC, we hope to achieve our goal of boosting financial inclusion through our product offerings and decrease the population of the unbanked and under-banked in Nigeria “Nigeria has a low rate of financial inclusion with only 43 per cent of the adult population having access to formal financial services.”

are not there, even the labs and all that we have here are only certified for import; that is why we are now working for other people.“ Osemede urged the Federal Government to establish laboratories that would ensure that exportable goods met the required international standards. He also called for the establishment of a functional commodity board and commodity exchanges, to moderate the demand and supply of commodities.

“One, is to have a sampling laboratory that if there is any issue, even if you have to go to the International Court of Justice or anywhere, that lab will be the first port of call.

Two, we need a commodity board, which will now regulate supply and demand, price, quantity and quality; there’s what we call compliance; there’s what we call standardisation.

Then we have commodity exchanges, so that the demand and supply, and we now know where to maintain the equilibrium. Failure to do that, whether AGOA is extended for 20 years, we will continue to work for other people. “ We are the number one producer of cassava in the world, why are we importing starch? We were producing 27 per cent of the world’s total palm oil requirement in the first republic, today we produce 1 per cent of the world requirement.“ Osemede said that Nigeria would benefit more from AGOA if the programme was expanded to include more agricultural products for which Nigeria had comparative advantage.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 The advent of technology, research and development is a major tradeable asset that has radically changed the dynamics of trade among nations of the world, hence Africa insurance market cannot afford to be left behind

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INSURAN

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11 financial books every intending investor should read

BY WILLIAM BERNSTEIN

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ILLIAM Bernstein, cofounder of investment management firm, Efficient Frontier Advisors, writes in his recently published e-book “If You Can: How Millennials Can Get Rich Slowly” on the importance of having a basic understanding of finance in order to successfully save for retirement. He recommends reading the following books on investing.

I suggest you log off, power down your computer, and read some books.

Take your time. The months you spend perusing this list will be well spent.

I’d recommend reading at least the first four books listed before even thinking of getting your hands dirty with real investing.

“A Random Walk Down Wall Street”

by Burton Malkiel An excellent investment primer. It explains the basics of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, and will reinforce the efficient market concept.

“Common Sense on Mutual Funds”

by John Bogle It provides as much detail as you could ever want about this important investment vehicle. Mr. Bogle is the founder and retired chairman of The Vanguard Group, and has been an important voice in the industry for decades. Beautifully written, opinionated, and highly recommended.

The book also demonstrates the democratisation that has swept the investment industry in recent years.

Until a decade ago the sort of sophisticated mutual fund analysis described in his book was the brief of just a handful of professionals with access to expensive proprietary databases and mainframe computers.

Almost all of Bogle’s work was done with a subscription to Morningstar and a statistically competent assistant, and could have been performed by any small investor with similar software and ability. . “Global Investing” by Roger Ibbotson and Gary Brinson This is a beautifully written volume on the history of investible assets. An informed investor cannot know enough about market history, and this is the best single source in this area. Want to know what the returns for U.S. stocks have been in each of the past 200 years? The price of gold for the past 500 years? Interest rates and inflation for the past 800 years? It’s all here.

As implied by the title, the authors also provide an excellent perspective on the place of foreign assets in a diversified portfolio, and provide some worthwhile insights on portfolio theory and the efficiency of the marketplace.

“What Has Worked in Investing” is

a free pamphlet from Tweedy, Browne A low-key sales pitch for their funds, it is also the best compilation I’ve seen of the data supporting the value method.

“The New Finance, the Case Against Efficient Markets” by Robert Haugen If you’re intrigued by the Tweedy pamphlet and wonder why value investing still works after all these years, this is your book. The prose is breezy, even quirky Ben Graham meets Hunter Thompson on bad acid. . “Value Averaging” by Michael Edleson An extremely useful how-to guide on deploying a lump sum of money among multiple assets. Finally back in print as a Wiley Classic Edition. . “The Intelligent Investor” by Ben Graham A popularised and more readable version of his earlier classic, “Security Analysis,” written with David Dodd. Although it has great relevance to the markets in general and should be read by any serious investor, it is particularly pertinent to those who feel compelled to buy individual stocks.

Many of today’s most successful money managers obtained their original financial inspiration from these two books. It is always fun to look at excesses in the marketplace and ask, “What would Ben say about this?” This 2003 edition benefits from annotation by one of finance’s most brilliant observers, Jason Zweig. By the way, if you get bitten by the Graham bug and decide to do “Security Analysis,” make sure you read the original 1934 edition, recently reprinted by McGraw-Hill.) . “Devil Take the Hindmost” by Edward Chancellor You simply can’t learn enough about market history, and Chancellor’s story of boom and bust in the capital markets, beginning in the 17th century, is pure mind candy. Supersedes Mackay ’s “Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.”

“The Millionaire Next Door” by Thomas Stanley and William Danko If you can’t save, it doesn’t matter if your name is Warren Buffett. If you think the road to happiness runs past a Beemer and a McMansion, this book will scare you straight. .

“Asset Allocation” by Roger Gibson cullied from Bussiness Insider.

By Favour Nnabugwu

T

he promotion of new business growth spurred the need to build indigenous companies on the one hand and retaining and expanding firms on the other as cornerstones of a competitive strategy for economic development in insurance markets across Africa and beyond.

These and more other issues sparked off the gathering of over 700 insurance operators from Africa for three days on the impacts of technology, research and development on the insurance sector at the 41st Conference and General Assembly of the African Insurance Organisation, AIO concluded in Kigali, Rwanda last week Wednesday.

The problem of insurance industry growing at slow pace was compounded by the fact that $1.4 trillion being currently spent on research across the global economy by countries competing in a growing number of markets, resulted in highly differentiated demand and supply within market categories.

Secretary-General of AIO, Ms Prisca Soares said the nongovernmental organisation really took time to decide on the theme of this year’s conference, “Insurance in Africa: The Importance of Technology, Research and Development” which had a large turnout of delegates from Africa, Asia, United Kingdom and United States of America because of its significance to African insurance industry.

Soares observed that the advent of technology, research and development is a major tradeable asset that has radically changed the dynamics of trade among nations of the world hence Africa insurance market cannot afford to be left behind.

According to her, “What the centuries’ old law of comparative advantage does not take into account is the fact that the basis for trade, that is, a set of comparative

African insurance industry sees prospect in technology, R&D advantages, can no longer be expected to remain fixed for very long”.

“The development and utilisation of technologies on a scale large enough to attain significant global market shares for domestic industries require investment in a number of other categories of assets including research and technology” The AIO scribe reiterated that technological change increasingly alters relative prices and hence the absolute advantages or disadvantages across technologies.

According to her, “they include human capital, better channels for technical and

From right: Alhaji Bala Zakariya’u, Chairman, Niger Insurance; Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel; Ms Prisca Soares, African Insurance Organisation, AIO, Secretary-General and Mr. Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi, MD, Lasaco Assurance at the just concluded African Insurers Association, AIO, general assembly in Kigali, Rwanda.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 —

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CE & YOU

To deliver insurance products and services effectively on the ground, insurers and managing agents need a strong core insurance system and ICT infrastructure in place

23

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Law Union bonds with children

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AW Union & Rock Insurance Plc said that it partnered with Inspiration FM to create a bonding session for children and avail them with accident insurance covers.

In a statement, the firm said that it interacted with the children during an event organised to celebrate children’ day in Lagos recently. The firm said that it used the opportunity to create more brand awareness for insurance and sell its personal accident for children between the ages of two and 25 years. Law Union said that it has innovative products for diverse people in the society including children.

To motivate the children, the firm also gave out gifts for outright purchases of insurance.

TPA is a personal accident insurance with a premium of N500 per annum and covers medical expenses up to N25,000 and bodily injury up to N250,000,” it stated.

Law Union said that the product is affordable business knowledge diffusion to firms of all sizes, incentives for capital formation, intellectual property protection, and modern industry structure”.

She strongly believed that a strategy is essential because the business climate is hyper-competitive both domestically and internationally, added that the competition is between countries, states and communities, as well as between large and small firms and among industries”.

She believed that to deliver insurance products and services effectively on the ground, insurers and managing agents need a strong core insurance system and ICT infrastructure in place. Africa insurers and managing agents need to consider and embrace research and technology and use the many advantages both offer to enhance their offering, or stand the risk of being left behind.

Immediate past President of AIO, Mr.Raouf Kotb said despite high achievement recorded in the area of technology globally, Africa is unfortunately being left behind in the technological world.

Kotb observed that lack of strong core insurance systems and information and communication technology infrastructure has hampered delivery of insurance products and services effectively in Africa.

According to him, african countries spends about 0.7 per cent of its GDP on research and development compared to 2 per cent in EU, 2.8 per cent in USA and 3 per cent in Japan.

He further said that the number of researchers and engineers per 1000 of the working population is 0.7 in Africa when compared to 4.84 per cent in Australia and 0.3 per cent in Malaysia. Kotb who handed over the mantle to Mr. Jean Baptiste Ntukamazina of Rwanda, affirmed that in developed world there are four out of every 1000 of the working population in the EU; eight in US and nine in Japan. He was optimistic that the trend can be reserved in Africa if the continent invests in focused research and technology developmental strategies, stressing that solution to this problem lies in technology saying, “ we have to map out strategies aimed at improving those figures by making use of technology and research.”

“We have to put on capacity building, research and innovation in order to better serve the population of our continent and make insurance available to all classes,” he admonished.

He noted that with over 600 insurance companies operating in 52 markets. Africa counts for about 40 reinsurance companies made up of private state owned, sub- regional, regional and foreign companies.

and different from HMOs where you are limited based on your HMO medical plan.

Law Union provides professional services in all classes of insurance business namely: general insurance and risk management solutions.

STI enters committee on oil & energy pool in Africa

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OVEREIGN Trust Insurance Plc, STI, has been appointed into the nine-member committee to steer the affairs of the Oil & Energy Pool in Africa.

The company was appointed

From left: Mr. Eddie Efekoha, CEO of Consolidated Hallmark Insurance; Prince Feyisayo Soyewo, Chairman of Prestige Insurance Brokers; Mr. Corneille Karekezi GMD of Africa Reinsurance Corporation and a participant at the 41st AIO conference in Rwanda.

CIIN conference to focus on insurance contribution to economy

T

he Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), 2014 International Education Conference, described as the flagship of the CIIN educational programmes, will focus on the theme: “Redimensioning the Insurance Industry Contributions to the National Economy.”

CIIN President, Mr. Fatai Lawal said that the conference theme could not be more apt, stating that the conference seeks to provoke the thoughts of participants who are key practitioners in the insurance sector to the buoying effects of the rebasing of the economy which would, among others, show the real contribution of the insurance sector to the nation’s GDP that currently stands at about 1%.

“This low contribution to national productivity has always been in tandem with the low insurance penetration index in the

The company has in place corporate governance structure to achieve sustainable shareholder value enhancement, and also deliver efficient and effective services to customers and other stakeholders generally.

country which operators now have ample opportunities of reversing,” Lawal said.

Dr. Ayo Teriba, Chief Executive Officer, Economics Associates Nigeria and Prof. Sola Fajana will lead other eminent speakers at the conference. CIIN’S Director-General, Mr. Kola Ahmed also said that the conference will provide other opportunities by virtue of its subtheme titled: “Paradigm Shifts in Insurance Education for Greater Relevance” which will be addressed

by Prof Fajana, Vice Chancellor, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State. The papers will thereafter be discussed by a panel of speakers in a roundtable session which will be moderated by Sir Ogala Osoka, Chairman, Enterprise Bank Ltd. Meanwhile, the Annual General Meeting and Council Elections will hold during the period at the same venue and climax with the investiture of Mr. Bola Temowo as the 46th President of the Institute.

at the just concluded African Insurance Organisation’s, AIO, conference, held in Kigali, Rwanda and was announced at the 51st Management Board and 27th Annual General Assembly of African underwriters in oil & energy insurance at the conference.

With this recent development, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc alongside two other insurance companies in the country and some African Insurance Companies, namely, Misr Insurance Company from Egypt, Chanas Assurances S.A, Cameroun, Compagnie Centrale De Reassurance, Algeria, Zeb Re, Kenya, Tunis Re, Tunisia and Cica Re, Togo will administer the Oil and Energy Pool from 2014-2016.

Managing Director/CEO, of STI, Mr. Wale Onaolapo said that this appointment is in recognition of the company’s expertise over the years in underwriting of Oil & Gas risks which further reaffirms the company’s overwhelming capacity in this very critical sector of the country ’s economy and the African continent at large.

He further said that the underwriting firm will not relent in providing world-class insurance services in the oil and energy sector and other allied areas to further consolidate its leadership position in that regard. In the same vein, General Manager and Head, Technical Division, Mr. Olaotan Soyinka stated that Sovereign Trust over the years has created an enviable niche for the company in the oil & energy sector and the insurance market as a whole by continuously building capacity and expertise on a continuous basis in that sector.

In his words, “It is a familiar terrain to us and we are set to maximise our potentials and assert our leadership position.”

24—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

NSE: Expert predicts continuous stocks rally in Q3 M

ARKET rally witnessed in the first half of the year will continue into the third quarter, says Mr. Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company, FDC. He stated this in his June edition of Monthly Economic News and Views titled, ‘Moomoo-nomiks vs Economics: Disinformation of the Uninformed’.

He noted that already, the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s All Share Index, has gone up marginally by 0.35 percent yearto-date and 7.76 percent in the month of May, while average turnover was up to N5.03 billion in May, as high as N12.26 billion on a trading day.

He observed that market price earnings ration (P.E ratio) was up to 13.44x, while market capitalisation to cash flow was down to 25.47x.

He, however, explained that this will be followed by possible correction in subsequent quarters.

He added that most sectors on the NSE are still undergoing recovery process with the consumer goods sector leading underperformance in the second quarter of the year.

Listing possible challenges the equities

market may face the remaining part of the year, Rewane said that allocation of pension assets, which now stands at 4.3 trillion, to equities may inflate the Nigerian Bourse.

He further pointed out that possible change in Monetary Policy direction may also pose risk to the shares of the banking sector.

Drawing comparison between the NSE and other markets, he said that at 0.35 percent growth in the first half of the year, the NSE still underperformed other markets.

He explained that corporate earnings released in May were up 8.19 percent, MSCI World, a stock market index of 1,612 world’ stocks is maintained by MSCI Inc., formerly Morgan Stanley Capital International, was up 3.26 percent within the same period, S&P 500 and FTSE 100 were up 4.07 percent and 1.72 percent respectively.

Europe and other frontier markets, he said, were up 17.12 percent and 3.76 percent respectively.

Euro-dollar bond issues by both large and small economies are becoming the norm with companies in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and Zambia joining the league.

From left: Manager, Brand Activation, Honeywell Flour Mils Plc, Mrs. Ebele Oluwalana; Executive Director, Marketing, Mr. Benson Evbuomwan; Founder, Little Saints Orphanage, Rev. Dele George and Senior Brand Manager, HFMP, Mr. Lanre Da-Silva; during products and cheque presentation to the orphanage, in Lagos.

‘Poor organisational structure frustrating SME financing’

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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OOR organisational structure of ma jority of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs, has been identified as one of the major factors hindering the SMEs from accessing funding from banks in the country.

Speaking at a forum for SMEs in Lagos, Mr. Oyediji Atoyebi, Head, Small and Medium Enterprise Desk, Access Bank, noted that SMEs are crucial to the development of any economy with great potential for employment generation, improvement of local technology, output diversification and development of indigenous entrepreneurship.

He said, “The recapitalization of the banking sector has enabled the growth of the sector with more banks offering credit facilities to eligible businesses.

“Owing to the organizational structures of majority of SME businesses and other organizational challenges, many banks

find it challenging to accurately profile SME businesses and analyze their financial standing.”

To this end, he said the bank is providing easy access to finance, especially providing working capital to finance operational expenses.

He said the bank intends to carry this out through a secured and reliable Internet banking solutions; swift and efficient cross border banking including multi-currency options and through the deployment of corporate Internet solution for collection and cash management.

He added that the bank intend to bring down the cost of banking for the SMEs and providing financing at all levels of the value chain of the SMEs. He identified key issues in the sector to include poor funding, low managerial expertise, poor project feasibility study/business case, lack of proper bookkeeping and absence of corporate governance.

The 2013 Company results and shareholder concerns S EVERAL companies have, in the last few months, had their Annual General Meetings, AGMs. Shareholders of each company have considered the annual report and accounts of their company for the year 2013 and have also declared at the AGM a dividend to be paid to shareholders from the profits of the company. We still expect results from some companies whose financial year does not end on 31st December. Such companies include Guinness Nigeria Plc, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc and University Press Plc. However, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc has during 2014 paid an interim dividend of 19.91 kobo per share as well as a special dividend of N1.30 per share. We still expect a final dividend from PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc. From the results submitted to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, during 2014, ABC Transport and Julius Berger Nigeria have each proposed a bonus share issue of 1 new share for every 10 existing shares.

Following on its AGM, Nigerian Breweries Plc, NBPlc, has announced proposals for a merger with Consolidated Breweries and its share price on the NSE has risen from about N150 per share to about N178 per share at the close of business on Friday 6 June 2014. Forte Oil Plc was one of the first companies to hold its AGM this year. The company has experienced resurgence in its share price which also closed at about N250 per share on Friday, 6 June 2014.

This is the same price as at the share offer in 2008.

Following on its AGM, FBN Holdings Plc, FBNH, has paid a dividend of N1.10 per share which is 10kobo less than would be expected if the company had kept to an apparent policy of increasing dividend by 20k per share from one year to the next year. The indication is that FBN is still underperforming and this is due to the fact that there are no positive results from some of the company ’s major investments.

For example, the Rainbow Town project in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, remains substantially uncompleted as at Saturday, 7 June 2014. The project promoters should at this juncture concentrate resources on one of the high-rise buildings such that one building would be completed before the administration of Governor Amaechi leaves office in May 2015. If there is a completed building by this time, the incoming administration would readily find it attractive to complete the project as a priority.

Otherwise, the project would be subject to further delays whilst various probes, studies etc are

carried out by the new administration.

Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, UBN, expects to write off its accumulated losses once the resolutions to that effect are approved at its AGM. This should pave the way for UBN to declare a dividend at the next available opportunity. The current directors of UBN should not ignore the circumstances in which some of these accumulated losses were inflicted on the company by the previous directors of the company. There is available evidence before the courts to the effect that funds belonging to UBN were misapplied by previous directors in the purchase of UBN shares.

However, the courts have only given a decision on whether there was manipulation of UBN’s share prices on the NSE over a period of time. UBN and the previous directors have entered appeals against the decision on share price manipulation. One hopes that UBN would not eventually have to pay substantial sums as

,

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

There is available evidence before the courts to the effect that funds belonging to UBN were misapplied by previous directors in the purchase of UBN shares

,

compensation when the appeals processes are completed whilst the previous directors walk away free from the issue of misapplication of UBN funds.

Shareholders are still not receiving annual reports, whether in paper format or CDformat. We have received reports from NBPlc, Mobil Oil and lists of unclaimed dividends No 10 – No 14 for Access Bank Plc in paper format whilst Dangote Flour Plc sent its report and lists of unclaimed dividends in CDformat. We have not received reports from Access Bank Plc and FBN Holdings in any format. The issue of non-delivery of reports leads to the issue of unclaimed dividends.

DR. AKINTOLA OMIGBODUN omigbodunaa@yahoo.com

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014—25

DIARY z z Critical Communications World 27-29 May 2014 BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand

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

Preview

SATELLITE IN LIMBO:

New inventions shaping life and living

Gear4’s new alarm clock monitors your sleep patterns

‘Nigeria may lose another satellite' •Needs more to fight insurgence •Our satellite can't trace Boko Haram

By EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

Gear4’s new alarm clock monitors your sleep patterns throughout the night and knowing whether you’re in a light or deep snooze, can calculate when the best time is to wake you up so you feel more alert in the morning.

Doubling up as a charge dock for the Iphone, Ipad or Ipod, the Renew SleepClock’s dashboard is managed through an app built especially for Apple’s IOS. It tracks your sleep history and allows you to calculate and compare how good or bad your slumbers have been over a period of time.

I N S I D E

Technology behind new top-loading washing machine

N

IGERIANS woke up on November 12, 2008 to the sad news that the country’s communications satellite, was missing. Although the satellite has long been replaced by the original builders, China Great Wall Inc, the mass outrage that followed the mishap, was unbelievable.

That satellite cost the country, about N40 billion and that is not child’s play.

However, the then Managing Director of Nigerian Communications Satellite, NIGCOMSAT limited, Engr Ahmed Rufai came out to explain that the satellite was de-orbited following a fault in the solar panel. It was not peculiar to Nigeria alone, many countries of the world had lost their satellites in such a manner.

As a matter of fact, Rufai said

that either technical faults or natural causes could de-orbit a functional satellite and have it packed in a place called 'graveyard in the space.'

But he nearly drew the ire of the people when he demanded the National Assembly to immediately approve the building of two more satellites.

However, it now seems that

If we have three, four, five satellites moving in constellation, you can have the areas covered throughout 24 hours and movement could then be spotted and monitored

Data centre, live wire of 21st century companies

what Rufai advocated then is still what is going to happen if Nigeria is to avert the loss of another satellite.

This is following a warning from another satellite expert and Director of Centre for Atmospheric Research, Kogi State, Prof Babatunde Rabiu, that Nigeria stands a risk of losing another satellite if more back ups are not built immediately.

Rabiu did not stop at that. He also revealed that even the satellite we have now can neither trace Boko Haram nor solve the insurgency in Nigeria.

Interestingly, Rabiu disclosed this at Abuja, the seat of power, during the satellite Technology Development week, held at Obasanjo Space centre, last week.

Our satellite can’t see Boko Haram According to him, “the earth observation satellite Nigeria currently has cannot pick activities

‘Online education bridging gaps in 21st century learning’

on ground in real time because of its passage time. It will be unthinkable for anyone to begin to expect the satellite to be a potent weapon for counter insurgency in the country, pending when more satellites are built” “Besides, when the satellite passes through a point, it takes another four days before it passes that point again. But if we have three, four, five satellites moving in constellation, you can have the areas covered for twenty-four hours straught and movement can then be spotted and monitored,” he said.

He however, called for development of home grown small satellites across the country, which he said could support government to solve the varying insurgency challenges facing the country.

The Indian example or another satellite may go The Don however, warned that Nigeria stands to lose another satellite if nothing is done to build back up Continues on page 28

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Broadbased Communications showcases fibre optic network

BY RICHARD UDOFIA

B

ROADBASED Communications Ltd, recent ly introduced its Open Access Metro Fibre Network to Banks and other financial institutions to aid their business in the Lagos metropolis. The company is providing a high capacity data network, a voice network as well as a security network for Banks and e-Payment Switching and Processing Companies.

In a presentation to the Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and Heads of IT Networks of Banks and e-Payment Switching and Processing Companies in Lagos, Mr Chidi Ibisi, the Chief Marketing Officer of Broadbased Communications Ltd, noted that no bank can succeed without embracing modern technology. To this end however, he said the company is offering the financial services sector the best connectivity solutions that can enhance their services. On connectivity for banks, he said though, some banks have been doing their business with one megabyte (1Mbps) connection to each branch; that can no longer help them to meet the demands of today’s modern banking. “Yes, 1Mbps has done the job, but in this era of modern banking, 1Mbps cannot do it. You need a larger pipe of a minimum of 5Mbps,” Ibisi said, adding that the company was glad to provide 10Mbps and more.

“We can provide any capacity to your branch to enable you provide the kind of services that your customers expect,” he said.

He added that now that everything is moving towards e-banking, Broadbased provides the banks with a link on which they can have a single integrated data, and voice network covering all their branches and also linking them up to others within the ecosystem: to other banks or to other financial institutions.

Y’ello Care : MTN preaches education in a digital world

BY RICHARD UDOFIA

M

TN Nigeria has commenced its annual staff volunteerism programme, tagged 21 Days of Y’ello Care, which is a varitable education platform for the poor in digital world.

The theme of this year’s programme is “Education in the Digital World.”

The event featured activities aimed at promoting a conducive learning environment as well as drawing attention to the fundamental role of education in the development of the nation. Reiterating MTN Nigeria’s commitment to giving back to communities in which it operates at the flag-off of the programme in Lagos, Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, described education as a vital tool for social and economic development.

“The weeks ahead are filled with various initiatives that will enable MTN, through the 21 Days of Yello Care programme, continue to contribute its quota towards improving educational standards in Nigeria. Under the Digitech Classroom Project, digitally equipped classrooms will be established across the country to drive access to digital learning. Access to the Internet and education will position a great number of pupils on the same platform as their counterparts in other developed countries, helping to ensure that they do not suffer learning disadvantages even though they live in a developing country,” he said.

Initiated by the MTN Group in 2007, the annual programme encourages MTN staff across its 21 operations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East to volunteer their resources, time and skills to help others and the communities where they live and work.

Also featuring among projects lined up for implementation is the company’s Adopt a Girls’ School Project, which will see each unit within MTN adopt an all-girls school towards empowering the girl child and promoting gender equality in education.

Technology behind new top-loading washing machine D

o you know that your clothes might look clean on the surface, but can still host an assortment of germs and other micro-organisms? So when LG Electronics announced the release of its latest big capacity top-loading washing machines, equipped with powerful heaters that enable warm washing for hygienic cleaning results, it was very well received by critics.

The technology and hygiene-enhancing capabilities of the new product are largely seen in the high performance heater. Equipped inside the full stainless steel tub, the heater increases the water temperature up to 60 degrees Celsius, creating a warm wash for more effective cleaning.

With the stain care course, the internal temperature of the washer is raised to 40 degrees Celsius for effective stain removal. Meanwhile, the allergy care course employs 60-degree heat to elim-

•LG top load washer

inate allergy-causing germs and bacteria from clothing.

“We designed these new top-loaders with the consumers’ needs in mind, making sure they provided greater hygiene and a bigger capacity,” said Mr. Hyunwoo Jung, General Manager, Home Appliance Division, LG Electronics West Africa

Operations.

Also equipped is an innovative steam function, which rapidly increases and maintains the temperature of the internal tub.

LG said that the new product is also the only top-loading washing machine to use the heater to hygienically clean the washing tub.

LG’s Tub Clean+ course makes it 99.99 percent effective at sterilizing the washer tub.

Yet, the full stainless steel tub results in up to 90 percent less bacteria growth than a conventional plastic washer tub. It has also been tested by Intertek for its ability to limit bacteria growth. Intertek is the leading provider of quality, safety, testing, inspection and certification.

LG’s Inverter Direct Drive motor uses a precise control system to enable its proprietary 6 Motion technology to work efficiently.

The machine also include the Jet Spray, which reduces water usage throughout the course of the rinse cycle. Unlike LG’s conventional rinsing where the entire tub is filled with water first, the product sprays clean water from a valve at the top of the machine while the tub spins, extracting the dirty water.

Etisalat vows to retain in-ported subscribers, gets ISO 9001 Cert

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

A

FTER claiming inheritance of about forty five percent of subscribers in Nigeria who left their respective networks for another, Etisalat vows not to let those subscribers go back to their parent networks again.

The strategy to retain these people according to Etisalat was to ensure their maximum comfort on the Etisalat platform.

To maintain that promise, the network tuned its management style up a bit and in so doing attracted the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON’s

coveted ISO 9001 certification award recently.

This certification validates that Etisalat’s quality processes and systems meet specific criteria and recognizes the company for determining customer requirements, making informed decisions, and consistently providing its products and services to enhance customer satisfaction.

ISO 9001:2008 is accepted worldwide as the standard that defines quality, sets the criteria for a quality management system and provides the necessary framework to improve company efficiency, minimize risk and maximize

opportunities.

Director General of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu, represented by the Director, Administrative and Human Capital Development, Mr Samson Adegun, described the certification as a giant stride for Etisalat in its pursuit of excellence to provide world class products and services to its customers.

On this, the Acting CEO at Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher, noted that “achieving ISO 9001:2008 certification is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team members,”

Director, Administrative and Human Capital Development, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Samson Adegun; Director, PMO and Operational Strategy, Etisalat Nigeria, Ms. Ndidi Okpaluba; and Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Matthew Willsher at the Etisalat ISO 9001:2008 Certification ceremony, in Lagos

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 — 27

By PRINCE OSUAGWU

G

lobal infoswift and its partners, TechXact last week described the data centre industry as one of the biggest industries in the world generating multi trillion dollars in revenue.

The companies which teamed up to bring data centre training/seminar to Nigeria, noted that if the country desires to move up its level of ICT adoption, there is need to pay a lot of attention to data centre because everything ICT today, is dependent on it.

In his opening remarks at the event, MD Global InfoSwift, Mr Solomon Edun said that data centre is the live st wire of every progressive 21 century organization and critical attention should be given to it. According to him, even in the Cloud, all operations need to run optimally is a good data centre.

However, President, DCA, TechXact, Mr Mehdi Paryavi observed that a lot of businesses make mistakes in choosing data centre applications or infrastructure, leading to data failure in most instances.

He advised MDs of companies to ensure they get proper education before going for data centre because operating a data centre must follow set standards and comply with current trends to get adequate benefits.

According to him, “today, cost of downtime is far more than the cost of hospitals. To reduce the costs, data centres must be built. However, when

zModern data

centre

Data centre, live wire of 21st century companies doing this, businesses must get expert advice.

“The growth of data centre is guided by the infinity paradigm, where everything is supported by IT infrastructure for the ecosystem.But the main challenge in data centres today is that issues are handled by vendors who obviously are not the right peo-

ple to handle the issues. Vendors design according to their targets. And when people buy boxes from them, you struggle to fit your business into their solutions."

He said that what his organization does is study an organization, know its business, develop a strategy and allow it to go to the vendors

based on that business strategy and not based on solutions already created without the business in mind. “So much education needs to get into data centre before buying the equipment.

He advised companies to go for new generation data centres which he described as open source and not one

brand specific, industry specific, cloud based and not physically specific.

He noted that new generation data centres are not just about cooling and storage but infrastructure and solution based, carrying all of these in the package. It must reduce hazards and life threatening processes which are seen in today’s data centres.

Africa’s growth depends on tech entrepreneurship, innovation levels

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

R

ising from a digital Africa conference last week, technology professionals who form bulk of the participants at the event advocated for structured global partnerships, favourable regulatory environment, constant engagement with policy makers and increased investment in technology training if Africa’s economic growth prospects must be met.

For them, these activities would ensure that Africa attains technological competence, and becomes more developed and economically competitive.

They will also help the country close the huge gap between it and the developed markets of Europe and North America in the next 20 years.

For instance, Dr. Evans Woherem, Chairman, Digital Africa Global Consults Limited, organisers of the Confer-

ence & Exhibition, said that constant engagement between technology industry players and policymakers, favourable regulatory environment and increased investment in capacity building must be made priorities if Africa must close the huge gap between it and developed markets in 20 years.

Africa, according to available data, is a passive consumer of technology products that must be galvanized into becoming a dominant innovator and producer.

It is now commonly known that countries that have technological competence are more developed and economically competitive.

But Woherem noted that Africa lags behind other continents of the world in technology acquisition. “Other continents, especially the Americas, Europe and Asia seem to be on steroids in acquiring and adopting new technolo-

gies. But in Africa, there is no sense of urgency in this regard at all”, he said.

Advocating technology entrepreneurship and innovation as the way forward, he distinguished between passive consumption and being a producer of technology products.

“Of course, there is a difference between using technologies invented and innovated by another country and actually being the inventing country. It is more rewarding to be one of the key inventing and innovating countries of the world in technology. This is what I mean as technological competence.

In other words, it is not the mere purchase and use of technologies invented from abroad or technological diffusion. To get to the level of technological competence of the rest of the world, African countries need to run faster than they are doing so far.

zINNOVATION: Urine powered generator This requires our leaders to comprehend that reality and develop a sense of urgency for the development of technology and the economy”, On her part, Ms. Nneoma Ofodile, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Africa Global Consults Limited said, “It is for this reason that Digital Africa Global Consult Limited was incorporated in Nigeria

to provide ICT Services and engage in organizing events that bring ICT manufacturers, customers and policy makers together. We also promote activities that lead to increased level of innovation in Africa and provide a gateway for international companies interested in setting up presence and growing their businesses in Africa."

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

‘Online education bridging gaps in 21st century learning’ W

ith the shift from traditional to virtual classroom, convenience is the driving force behind online education and the reason it is steadily gaining grounds as a veritable means of learning.

In this interview with EMEKA AGINAM, Craig Marsh, Chief Academic Officer, University of Roehampton Online spoke on a number of things regarding online learning, the use of technology to increase access to information and the role online education plays in bridging learning gaps towards fast-tracking economic development.

Excerpts

popular in Nigeria, with Nigerians representing more than 35% of our student body. We are able to meet the demand of Nigerian students who want to pursue tertiary education but may not have the opportunity to do so at a local campus.

For those students who want to earn a degree, especially from a UK-based institution, without leaving their home, family or job, our all-inclusive masters programmes are designed to enrich students’ knowledge, help them develop practical skills that can be applied in their work immediately and promote career advancement.

W

hat are the benefits of online education compared to traditional learning models?

Online programmes can combine individual instruction with video, audio and written content to provide high-quality courses

,

P

eople may have d i f f e r e n t interpretations of what online learning means. Can you give us a brief overview of the University of Roehampton, London Online?

In 2012, the University of Roehampton, London partnered with online learning experts Laureate Online Education, part of the Laureate International Universities network – a leading global network of accredited highquality, innovative institutions of higher education reaching more than 800,000 students worldwide. Through this partnership, we are able to continue the University ’s legacy of increasing access to learning and providing affordable online masters degree programmes to men and women all over the world.

This partnership allows the University to continue its reputation as an accessible, multicultural institution providing quality online education that maintains the standards set by the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and by the University’s own regulations.

Over the past decade, online education has recorded phenomenal growth all over the world. What has your organisation’s experience been like in Africa, especially Nigeria?

Online education has become widely accepted over the last 10 years and the rate of growth of online students has greatly outpaced that of students in tertiary education overall.

Increased Internet access has allowed for more people to access online programmes easier than ever before, opening up new opportunities for students to pursue tertiary education while overcoming challenges such as physical location as well as work and family commitments.

Flexibility and convenience still remain priorities for students, but the ability to accommodate multiple styles of learning and the opportunity to connect with peers and faculty around the world are added benefits of online learning.

Roehampton Online programmes have proved very

to the relevant topic and benefiting from the insights of their peers.

Thanks to a 24-hour classroom, one of the things our students tell us they like most about studying with Roehampton Online is the freedom to choose when they study. They also say their online programme allows them to build their schedules in a way that fits their daily life without affecting their work or personal lives.

Online students at the University of Roehampton gain critical-thinking skills and knowledge needed to make an impact in their professions by addressing contemporary

*Craig Marsh relevant to working professionals. A single course can accommodate many different learning styles by presenting content in diverse ways such as with streaming video, online discussion forums, reading and even downloads to your mobile device. Our classroom incorporates all of these multimedia elements, and our classroom navigator makes it easy for students to access all of their resources and keep track of their progress throughout the course. Our learning model also facilitates active student engagement and participation through shared activities – where students can discuss and debate what they are learning via an online discussion board, contributing their own experience, values and ideas

Online programmes can combine individual instruction with video, audio and written content to provide highquality courses relevant to working professionals

,

trends and issues that relate to their field or industry and helping equip them with the research skills to address those issues and opportunities, both now and in the future. Unlike traditional learning models, they are able to apply the knowledge and skills they learn in class in their jobs almost immediately, meaning that students don’t need to wait until graduation to start seeing the benefits of their education.

Nokia begins sale of XL dual SIM in Nigeria

BY EMEKA AGINAM

T

HERE was excitement last week in the Nigerian ICT market when Microsoft Devices released Nokia XL, its flagship large screen offering under the Nokia X family for sale.

The Nokia XL device is the next offering in the Nokia X family which includes Nokia X, launched earlier this year in Nigeria.

A close monitoring of market activities in the Nigerian Computer Village on Monday showed that the new affordable smartphones that run Android apps is already tickling customers as a results its innovative features.

With a 5" In-Plane Switching capacitive colour touch screen, the Nokia XL brings the large screen experience at an unbelievably affordable price point.

However, the device further augments the imaging experience with a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls on Skype and a 5-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and flash.

With a powerful 2000 mAh battery, and rated for 16 hours of talk time and up to

41 days of s t a n d b y, the device is

armed w i t h t h e Fast lane experience which has been completely reimagined for the Nokia X family.

Fast lane is now more customizable and social. Users can select what appears on their Fast lane feed, read notifications from their social networks and update their status from within Fast lane, making the experience even more productive.

“With the Nokia X family, we want to offer a variety of choices to our consumers at different price points. After receiving a great response with the Nokia X, which introduced the category to this market, we are now bringing the much awaited Nokia XL and offering consumers an opportunity to go large with amazing X family experience on more screen real estate. Nokia XL, our flagship offering within the Nokia X family, comes packed with a 5'’ IPS capacitive touch large screen experience, a superlative front camera and a wide array of apps, offering a great Smartphone experience at an affordable price point.

‘Nigeria may lose another satellite' Continues from page 25

satellites and learning the rope of developing local capacity, the Indian way.

“NigComSat1 may not be the only Satellite Nigeria will lose because space environment is a very dynamic place.

With the interruption of spacebased facilities, poor performance of satellite, interruption of space satellite drag, satellite loss, instability in space environment, navigation errors, failed signals, any satellite could get lost,” he said.

For him, the country has to get it right from the beginning as the instability and inconsistency in space environment could be disastrous.

Prof. Rabiu said space technology has justified its relevance in driving major developmental strides in the area of agriculture, weather monitoring, air navigation, land survey, supply of satellite imagery, good governance, promoting quality of living, control of immigration, tourism, public safety and mobile technology among others, adding that space technology has a lot of benefits if Nigeria accord it more priority.

Plugging capital flight in satellite sector He stressed the need for domestication of satellite technology with small satellite development in Nigeria, which he said is capable of saving the country of capital flight it has recorded since its first move into the space.

According to him, the only way Nigeria can achieve this is by building a space environment, which will provide the local engineers the opportunity to compete with the rest of the world.

He assured that the space agency would continue to be part of national development.

Earlier in his speech, the Director and Chief Executive for Satellite Technology Development, CSTD, Dr. Spencer Onuh said the week was aimed at merging the benefits and untapped potentials from the previous CSTD week conferences. He said this years’ approach would help the Centre create awareness to the public on the sustainable socio-economic benefits of Space technology.

Dr. Onuh who lamented the low awareness of space technology sector in Nigeria urged Nigerians to accord similar priority attached to other sectors to it.“Unfortunately, we are in an environment where people see less relevance on space technology and feel more prominence should be placed on other sectors such as agriculture, security, education, military and so on.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 — 29

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

National standard manual for IT education curriculum coming soon

BY EMEKAAGINAM

L

Former Governor of Oyo State,Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala (left) and former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha during the flag-off campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial candidate for Ekiti State, Dr Ayo Fayose, at Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado Ekiti.

AGOS — THE Compu ter Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), Monday, in Lagos disclosed that national standard manual for IT education curriculum at all levels will be unveiled next week in Abuja during the 2014 IT Professional Assembly.

Chairman of the council, Alhaja Sekinat Yusuf, who stated this in a press conference to unfold details of

2014 CPN IT Assembly said the document was developed by CPN in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA. According to her, the document contains Ministry of Education standard that every education curriculum designed in primary, secondary and tertiary education should meet.

“It is a standard from

which every curriculum should be drawn from, starting from early education to tertiary education. It is a national compulsory standard.

"The National University Commission, NUC, and other bodies regulating education in Nigeria must use the standard to develop their curriculum. It is a minimum any education curriculum must meet,”she explained.

Also speaking, the CPN Registrar, Mr. Sikiru Shehu explained further that it was a standard from early education to tertiary education, adding that it is a national document that must be used in all levels of education in Nigeria.

According to him, the document will address all challenges faced in Nigerian IT education in the 21st century knowledge economy.

OAPs, comedians raise malaria awareness

F

OLLOWING the need to address the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, in Africa, 3ra’fique Communications held its 2nd edition of its malaria novelty football match, which pitched comedians against on-air personalities.

Tagged Join the Cast, the match which held at the Campos Mini Stadium Lagos Island, saw entertainers such as Bovi, Shakara, MC Bishop, MC Prince, Princess, Ogbolor, O’tega, Oluwa Bimz and many more play against Steve Onu (Yaw), Frank Edoho, Colin Udoh, Femi and the Gang, D.O.2D.T.U.N, Sensei Uche, Jimmie, Nedu, Niran among others.

Speaking at the event, which was supported by Ali Baba and Good Knight Insecticides, the Chief Executive Officer of 3ra’fique Communications, Mr. Irabor Okosun, said: “This 2nd edition of Join the Cast is one of many inventive communication tools to help address and achieve the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, in Africa.”

The event also witnessed free rapid diagnostic testing for malaria by the Society for Family Health, free Artemi-silin combination therapy drugs, free mosquito nets, insecticides and counseling.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 — 31

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Bosnia ‘won’t man mark Messi’

B

osnia coach Safet Susic has said that he didn’t plan to man-mark Argentine superstar Lionel Messi for his side’s first ever World Cup showdown on Sunday in the Maracana.

“We never put a player on another ...

We have (Muhamed) Besic but putting him only on Messi wouldn’t be very good,” said Susic after a 5-1 warm-up win over a youth select from Brazilian outfit Santos.

Susic told reporters he preferred a zonal system and that whose job it would be to close Messi down would depend on where the Barcelona striker happened to be at any given time.

He did not give any hints as to his line-up, saying only that “everyone is ready to face Argentina.”

•Messi

Eagles give Iran cause for concern

A

ssistant coach of Iran’s national team, Oceano Cruz has predicted defeat for African champions, Nigeria when both nations square up in the second Group F game at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

The Super Eagles and Team Melli will go head-to-head at the Arena da Baixada, Curitiba on 16 June and Oceano, an extremely important member of Iran’s coaching staff, has voiced his sentiments about the potentially decisive fixture.

Team Melli have been in fine fettle as their preparations for the 2014 World Cup finals continued with an impressive 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in their last tune-up game.

FORMER Nigeria international and former Abia Warriors coach, Emeka Ezeugo believes the Super Eagles need to up their game in order to face the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup the challenge.

The USA ’94 Nigerian World Cup defender was not pleased with the slow pace of the Eagles in the three friendly matches played against Scotland, Greece and USA and has urged the team to raise their game Ezeugo who in his active days played professional football in five continents; most famously for Connecticut Wolves (an A-League club in United States), East Bengal, Kolkata, India, Peru and Dhaka Mohammedan during a successful 15-year playing career. warns in this interview, that the Coach Stephen Keshi tutored Eagles should be wary of Argentina and Iran. Excerpts:

By SOLOMON NWOKE

Brazil gears up for World Cup as strike threat looms

G

lobal football leaders descend on Sao Paulo yesterday amid tensions over subway workers’ new threat to spoil Brazil’s World Cup party by going on strike the day of the opening match.

FIFA opens its 64th Congress under the cloud of a corruption scandal surrounding the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, which has drawn rebukes from some of the world football body’s biggest sponsors.

Sao Paulo is meanwhile facing headaches of its own after subway workers threatened to resume a damaging strike on Thursday, the day the world’s eyes turn to the Brazilian megacity for the start of a World Cup whose build-up has been plagued by delays, overspending and protests.

• Brazilian fans

W

hat is your feeling about the Nigerian team to Brazil 2014 World Cup? I am happy that Nigeria qualified for the World Cup in Brazil and I am also happy that we have a good team that can represent us. The feeling is very high that my country’s flag will be among the 32 nations’ flags that will be hoisted in Brazil.

My impression of the games is that the Eagles are practically slow in their approach and I think it’s one of the areas Coach Stephen Keshi should address especially with our starting 11 (Eleven). What I saw of the friendly matches was not our best in the match against Scotland and partly against Greece, Keshi was still experimenting looking at some players. I know that he has a reason for doing that, but if I were him I will field my best players especially my first team players to really detect the final flaws and fixing them before the World Cup proper.

Do you belong to the group that says Nigeria can go as far as the semi finals in

Brazil?

Why semi final? Nigeria can win the World Cup trophy. One thing with the World Cup is that it’s a game of surprises, The countries that you least expect to do well may be the ones winning the games while those everybody focuses on turn out as big flops. We have some players who are plying their trade outside the country with some big clubs..

You are sounding a bit optimistic here?

Yes, you have to be optimistic and positive because if you are pessimistic there’s nothing you can achieve. I am happy with the crop of players Keshi has assembled for the World Cup. We need to support them.

W

ho do you think can make the difference in the Nigerian World Cup squad?

We have a few players there that can make the difference. Mikel Obi is there, we have Emmanuel Emenike, Osaze Odemwingie is there and unfortunately, Ike Uche and Sunday Mba are not in the squad. We have a couple of them there in the team.

Do you feel comfortable with the inclusion of the

team Captain Joseph Yobo and goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim in the 23 man list?

I’m comfortable with whoever Coach Keshi chooses and whatever decision he makes. I am okay with that because he’s the coach, the buck stops on his table and his decision should be respected.

W

hich of our opponents do you think will give us headache?

We have Argentina, Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Iran, I know play very well.

Argentina, I know also play very well, but Bosnia and Herzegovina are a bit obscured, though any team or country that made it to the World Cup final is as good as winning it. I think Bosnia will be a bit difficult, but nonetheless, Eagles can handle them well if they put their acts together. But Iran and Argentina are stronger teams, I must say. Iran is too good technically. Iran I know them from my playing days in Asia, at that time, Iran and Iraq used to be Asia’s best. I know how they play. They have the speed and timely with the ball while Argentina are world beaters any day, very skilful and have most of their players playing in the first team of their various clubs.

So, I think Argentina and Iran are the teams to be wary of. We should expect tough games from these countries.

You were a member of the Nigeria USA’94 World Cup team, now as a former player of the national team, this is another World Cup period what kind of feelings are you having?

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 — 33

Brazil’s Alves calls for World Cup truce

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razil star Dani Alves has expressed hope that the threat of violent protests does not overshadow the World Cup as he sets his sights on a final showdown with South American rivals Argentina.

The 31-year-old Barcelona right-back backed the protests that marred last year’s Confederations Cup in the country. But he sent a truce appeal to his compatriots during a press conference at Brazil’s training camp in Teresopolis.

“I know that sometimes it is difficult to put the situation in our country to one side, but the whole world will be here and everyone deserves to be welcomed in the way the Brazilian people know how,” he said.

“It gives us great joy to see the supporters starting to get excited about the World Cup and it is going to be a marvellous moment for everyone.”

With the tournament’s opening game between Brazil and Croatia in Sao Paulo in Group A taking place on Thursday, Alves allowed himself to get carried away when asked about who he would love to face in the final at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on July 13.

“If you want me to choose a final I would like to see Brazil against Argentina, because it is a ‘clasico’, a game with so much history. It would be great to win a World Cup by beating such a team,” he said.

As if the prospect of winning a sixth World Cup, and a first on home soil, were not enough, Alves would love to do it by beating a side they have not met in the finals since 1990.

Nostalgia, at the same time full of expectation for my countrymen to do well and make our fatherland proud at the World Cup .

So what is your advice to Coach Keshi?

I don’t have any advice for him because I am sure he knows what he’s doing, he is up to his responsibility. He knows what to do and he does not need my advice or that of other football pundits from Nigeria. I tried not to give him (Keshi) a call at this time unless there’s something I feel that is a major issue that I need to alert him of, then I give him a call. Otherwise, I don’t see any reason calling him.

So how’s your relationship with Coach Keshi?

Ideal relationship! (he retorted) We have been together for seven good years even in the national team, so I have great relationship with him.

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oach Stephen Keshi once said that he has seen some flashes of the 1994 team spirit in this present squad, do you think this squad will perform better than the ‘revered’ USA ’94 World Cup team?

There is nothing wrong with them performing better than our USA ’94 team, but definitely, there is no basis for comparing the two squads. USA ’94 team were grossly determined to excel, they were arguably the best crop of players that Nigeria ever had.

In every department of the team, we had naturally talented players who could fit in perfectly. If you look at

•Ezeugo

the number of first team players in their various clubs in Europe who could not make the team, that will tell you the calibre players we had at that time. So, there is no basis for comparison.

Are you not bothered that most of Keshi’s first team players are bench warmers in their clubs?

Like I said earlier, the buck stops with Keshi. He is responsible for the team and even if those he selected are bench warmers in their various clubs, he knows the reason why he selected them.

And we should also know that club forms may not or even be translated into national team form. I know players who had matches going for them in their various clubs and when they come to the national team, they never perform and those who don’t do well in their respective clubs perform creditably for their national teams. So club form is not

•Keshi

everything.

For instance, some of the club players in Europe play in front of 20,000 capacity stadium and are shining there and when they come to the National Stadium in Surulere Lagos and you are playing in front of 90- 100,000 spectators and you have another 200,000 watching on television outside the stadium wanting to see you play is different from what you experience in your club. Obviously, you wouldn’t even know when the 90 minutes is up and you wouldn’t even touch the ball. So club form is quite different from National team form.

So there’s a great difference between a club form and national team form?

Great difference!

On a final note, what are you telling the team?

Like I said earlier, I wish the national team good luck and if they get to the final and win the Cup, I will be the happiest African on this planet.

But can they get to the final?

Why not! We need to get there, if we are there, why not.

Emzor hooks Super Eagles

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mzor Pharmaceutical Industries has just signed an endorsement deal with the Nigerian Football Federation. This definitive step between the company and Nigeria’s football governing body, has, consequently, brought about the choice of Emzor Paracetamol as the “Official Paracetamol of the Super Eagles”.

On why her company decided on partnering with the NFF, at this time, Dr. Stella Okoli, OON, the GMD/CEO, Emzor said ‘the game of football is loved by all Nigerians and it emphasises wellness. Just like Emzor Paracetamol, our household brand, which is loved by the young and old’.

According to her: ‘The vision driving Emzor is to see a world where unlimited wellness is made available to all and is affordable by all. For this reason, the company has consistently provided high quality healthcare products made available at prices which create value for all stakeholders.’

34 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014— 35

I think like a man and act like a lady — Chibuzor, Meljenstin boss

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hibuzor Patrick is Chief Executive Officer, Meljenstin Nigeria limited, a public relations and event management company with a niche for capacity building, branding and perception management.

She is a consummate public relations practitioner with a polyvalent university training and experience in business communication, human resource development, gender and lifestyle, with over ten years of postgraduate experience. She is a registered member of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations as well as the Institute of Governance and Management in Nigeria. She has won more than 15 awards from institutions and prestigious groups. The author of the motivational book “Treasures money cannot buy” is also the MD of Calben Films Entertainment. In this interview, she talks about her career, aspirations, challenges and the future of her company.

Genesis?

I started my career with Julius Berger as public relations personnel and became departmental head before I resigned to established my own company. I think I have the entire professional requirement it takes to run a public relations company anywhere in the world.

What inspired you into establishing a PR company?

As a person, I love challenges. Heading the public relations department of a large organisation comes with its own challenges. But over time, once you have mastered the act of tackling challenges, they are no longer a challenge. At that point, challenges become normal, like a comfort zone. And if you belong to the class of people that love adventure and conquering challenges and setting higher standard, there is always the hunger to do more. That was the point where I found myself. So, the desire to accomplish more was the driving force that led me into setting up my company in 2010.

How has it been since i n c e p t i o n ?

Since we started, we have done several jobs for different blue chip companies and these years have been very successful.

As an entrepreneur, determination and being focused have been very key to our achievements.

Business growth curve Since 2010 when we started

bad that no matter how brilliant you are, no matter how novel your proposal, it all balls down to who you know.

People are not given equal platform to thrive based on merit. We have qualified professionals with genuine proposals and ideas who do not get contracts in the industry, not because they are not qualified but because of the system we operate in. In other climes, people get jobs from recommendations.

People call you not knowing who you are. But in Nigeria, it is the other way round. And we do these for self fish reasons; we place unqualified persons in key positions to watch our back.

Why can’t we do things right

our growth curve has tremendous. We h a v e grown gradually, but steadily at a progressive rate.

Challenges The challenges are there on the streets and they are enormous.

The funds are not readily there and most times, you hardly find people who believe in you. Because I started out as a corporate person, I didn’t have issues with funds starting up my company.

Being focused and determined has helped me overcome the regular challenges. Before I started, I did a swat analysis to determine my strengths and weaknesses, and my strength has become opportunities.

The moment I made up my mind to start up my business, I knew it wasn’t going to be a bed of roses. The challenges that will close down budding companies like mine didn’t affect us, because from the very beginning, I knew they will be there. And from the onset, I have made proper assessment, I have been focused

and determined to succeed.

Staff strength?

B ecause of the nature of my company, we have more of marketers and few office staff. I have this philosophy that everyone who works from Monday to Friday deserves their wages and if you tell a story at the end of the month it means you are wicked. If you can’t afford to pay 50 staffs at the end of the month, have 20 that you can comfortably pay. That way, it is a win-win situation.

How has the industry fared over the years?

With all sense of humility and without pointing fingers, the event management and PR industry in Nigeria has gone so

,

*Chibuzor

very low. There are so many things like social media that have taken over our youths and this is an ugly trend. We believe that children are the youth that eventually become leaders. However, for them to rise up to this fact, they must be prepared physically, intellectually, emotionally, morally, psychologically and constructively. If we want a better Nigeria, we must empower our youths.

We organize essay competition for public and private secondary school students. We do this to encourage inherent abilities deposited in each child because when they have platforms like these, their talents find expression.

Combing business and family life as a wife and mothe r . . .

...the event management and PR industry in Nigeria has gone so bad that no matter how brilliant you are or how novel your proposal, it all balls down to who you know

so that we won’t need anyone to watch our back? If you are not committing crime you don’t need anyone to watch your back.

Is your company involved in any CSR? Y es, we have a youth empowerment initiative which seeks to instill discipline and knowledge, as a way of giving back to society.

The reading culture of the average Nigerian youth is

,

Honestly, God’s grace has been sufficient. We are all created differently. I think like a man and act like a lady. My brains are over activated 24hours of the day. And because I love challenges, I am not comfortable with comfort zones. For me, whatever I do effortlessly is not worth it.

Honestly, when you are passionate about what you do, the stress involved in doing it disappears because joy comes from within.

36 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

VANGU ARD, WEDNESD AY, JUNE 11, 2014 —37 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA

Why have I gone off love making?

Dear Bunmi, I met my current boyfriend towards the end of last year and we’ve never had a fight.

This may sound crazy but I’ve tried to get him mad by being bitchy for no reason.

I have also deliberately stood him up but he never takes the bait. Is he for real?

Does it mean that he’s not passionate about me?

Dupe, By e-mail.

Dear Dupe, I know my job is to help solve problems, but I want to offer you this possibility— could you still be in the honeymoon

How do I get out of this mess?

Dear Bunmi, I’ve been secretly dating my current boyfriend who used to be my brother’s new wife’s ex.

It’s not a serious relationship as he has other girlfriends.

This has never bothered me until now that I’ve discovered I’m pregnant. I’m scared to tell anyone as this man is the father of two of my sister-inlaw’s children.

What on earth should I do?

Ego, By e-mail.

Dear Ego,

You’ve not really done anything wrong, as this man of yours is not a blood relation.

But since you both agreed your affair was a fling, do you know how he feels about this pregnancy?

Morally, it could be a bit embarrassing and you have to have the possibility of having a child by someone who is almost certainly not going to stand by you.

So you may need to think carefully about what you do next. Whatever decision you arrive at, you have the most to lose.

phase of a great relationship and there isn’t any problem?

It is one of life’s great ironies that the gender responsible for hunting, war, and professional wrestling will do anything to avoid fights with the opposite sex.

Why do most men hate fighting with women so much? It is possible to have a wrestling match with you because he’s not into you, but I doubt that is the case. More likely, he avoids fights because he thinks they’re an admission of failure, both in your relationship and in himself.

So, short of pouring his cold glass of beer over his head in order to make him mad, all you can do is make sure he knows that fighting is a healthy part of a relationship.

Has he ever done anything that bothered you? If not, hold on to that guy— he is a variety! If he has, then you need to bring it up, discuss it, and resolve it to show him that problems should be addressed and then solved, leaving your relationship better off than it is now.

Hubby doesn’t know I was a good-time girl

Dear Shafi, Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re not an awful person. The fact that you were intimate with other men before your husband is irrelevant. When you slept with those men, you did it for the best reasons: you wanted to give and get affection and

support.

Plus, you didn’t even know your husband then. In fact, your husband has most probably slept with as many people as you have— if not more!

He knows he’s not the first man you’ve been with.

I advice you stop fretting about the past and enjoy the happiness that you’ve now found. To be a good wife and mother, you need to put the past behind you. The happier you are, the happier your husband and son will be.

,

Dear Bunmi, I count myself lucky. I am married to a wonderful man and have an adorable son, but I’m really unhappy. When I was younger, I had a very active social life. I met men, went on dates and to parties, and along the way, I had some good relationships and flings.

Then I met my husband and fell madly in love with him.

Now I feel so guilty about all those men I’d slept with before I meet him.

What if he found out? I can’t change the past but how can I cope with the humiliation of being found out I was such an awful person?

Shafi, By e-mail.

You really must change your views of your life and yourself. Start believing in yourself; go out and have real fun without looking over your shoulders for a potential lover; you need to enjoy life for its own sake, rather than looking for a life partner

,

He looks too tolerant for me

Dear Bunmi, I have suddenly discovered I don’t want to make love ever again. This started towards the end of last year. I live with my boyfriend and we used to have a fairly active love life, but I’ve now lost all interest.

I can no longer bear the idea of anyone touching me, and it is making me feel like a frigid freak.

My partner is really getting fed up with the lack of intimacy in our relationship because he knows I didn’t even enjoy it the few times we tried. How can I get my libido back?

Ibidun, By e-mail.

So, short of pouring his cold glass of beer over his head in order to make him mad, all you can do is make sure he knows that fighting is a healthy part of a relationship

,

Will I ever find a good man?

Dear Bunmi, I am thirty something and haven’t had a boyfriend for four years. The ones that showed interest are men I wouldn’t be seen dead with.

I’d really love to meet a decent man and fall head over heels in love, but I haven’t had even one good relationship. I feel as if I’m already on the shelf!

Friends have assured me I’m quite nice-looking and I’ve had men smile at me as if they are interested when I go to parties. So why haven’t I landed a good catch up till now? I have a good job but I’m convinced I’m doomed to be single forever.

Francisca, By e-mail.

Dear Francisca, I’m sure you’ll find a man

,

Dear Ibidun, Lots of women go off love making at some point in their lives, so you’re not alone. But it usually does mean that there’s something wrong. So, what could it be? If you went off it suddenly, there’s likely to be a physical cause— a hormone imbalance, illness or stress. If your interest fades slowly, it’s more likely to be emotional— a lack of self-esteem or relationship problems.

Whatever the reason for your current distress, you have to break your silence.

Talk it over with your partner then see your doctor.

Go now. The sooner you seek professional help, the sooner you’ll get sorted.

to love, but not if you carry on as you are now. You’re being pessimistic and as a result you’re unhappy and desperate. Unfortunately, these feelings are probably coming across to the men you meet and it is spelling death to any chance of romance.

The bottom line is, no one wants to have a relationship with someone who is so downbeat.

You really must change your views of your life and yourself. Start believing in yourself. Go out and have real fun without looking over your shoulders for a potential lover. You need to enjoy life for its own sake, rather than looking for a life partner.

If you do find him all your admirers will carry on smiling as you walk up the aisle together. Good luck!

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

APC: Push comes to shove THE first national convention of the recently evolved All Progressives Congress, APC is bound to elicit a lot of interests as politicians who pushed for the merger for the first time contend with one another for political power at the national stage.The party arose from the vestiges of three parties, the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP. The first two of the lot, ACN and CPC were remarkable by their deficiencies in democratic deeds. But given the framework of the 2010 Electoral Act and agitations for internal democracy, the leaders of the new party have for long promised to espouse internal democracy in the choice of their executives and flag bearers for elective office.

The exercise to choose officers at state and local government levels were visited with

•Oyegun

•Tom Ikimi

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hief John Odigie-Oyegunis the candidate being backed by Asiwaju Tinubu and those loyal to him. The word of support from the national leader of the party should have ordinarily given him the job were it in the defunct ACN. However, given the desperation of several party chieftains including some governors from the Southwest to surreptitiously checkmate Tinubu, Odigie-Oyegun is in for a contest.

He is praised for his ideological consistency being the only one of the candidates never to have associated with the PDP. He is also praised for his parsimonious lifestyle, a factor the outgoing national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, is reported to have used in advancing his name for the job in the Tinubu camp. Critics, however, point out that as national chairman he could become a proxy for Tinubu. Some are also pointing out that at 75, that Odigie-Oyegun may not have the energy to drive a new party to confront the PDP.

S

•Jaja

limited success because even on convention eve, the party was yet to sort out issues arising from many states. (see accompanying story). However, despite the profession of internal democracy, the culture of secrecy that was the hallmark of the defunct ACN and CPC has continued to trail the new party. At press time yesterday, the guidelines for the contest for the available national offices remained a mystery to many party officials and followers.

Even the contestants for the several offices were largely unknown. The exception were the four names that have been in the public realm allegedly interested in the office of national chairman. The four are Chief John OdigieOyegun, a former governor of Edo State.

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HIEF Tom Ikimi, was the national chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention, former minister of foreign affairs and now, interim national vice chairman, South-South, of the APC. Ikimi according to sources is being backed by some governors and chairman of the board of trustees of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. Ikimi is being supported by those the Anti-Tinubu forces who believe that he is the only one with political fibre to withstand Asiwaju and carve some independence for the mainstream of the party outside the desires of the former governor of Lagos State.

Besides his seeming independence, his supporters also back his experience as the founding national chairman of the NRC. His antagonists, however, point at his services for Gen. Sanni Abacha and President Olusegun Obasanjo. As returning officer for 2003 presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP he is famously etched in history for his Eagles Square yeoman proclamation of Obasanjo, Obasanjo, Obasanjo and Obasanjo.

Should Timipire Sylva be screened out as is being alleged in some quarters, the job would be a straight fight between Ikimi and Odigie-Oyegun. Ahead o f the convention, Ikimi received a morale booster when the state chapter of the party in his native Edo State gave him a full endorsement ahead of Odigie-Oyegun, a former governor of the state being pushed by Asiwaju.

AM Sam Jaja, the erstwhile national deputy chairman of the PDP and subsequently of the nPDP was initially the secret weapon of the Tinubu camp. Factors that had prompted the camp to push for Sam Jaja were that he could be used to divide the camp of the governors aligned against Tinubu.

The thinking then was that fielding Sam Jaja and with the backing of Governor Rotimi Amaechi a number of the governors would swing to endorse him and as such sustain the mystique of Tinubu in the party.

However, that argument was deflated few weeks ago when some ideological purists in Camp Tinubu led by outgoing national chairman, Chief Akande reportedly countered that it would be abomination to have a former top official of the PDP preside over the APC. That was how the consistency of Odigie-Oyegun became an attraction for the Tinubu crowd.

•Sylva HE major attraction for the Sylva candidacy was his youth and dynamism.

At 49 he is the only one of the four aspirants less than 50. Another strong argument in his favour is the fact that he is from Bayelsa State, the home base of President Jonathan.

However, given the size of the state and its electoral value, critics say that that could count little for the party.

He is being backed by some governors and Sylva according to party sources has reached out to General Muhammadu Buhari for support. A major drawback for the Sylva candidacy is the court case against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on allegations of corruption while in office as governor. Based on the corruption case, a move has been initiated by some party chieftains to screen him out from the contest.

Those against him say that they cannot afford to give President Jonathan the luxury of hounding the chairman of the APC to trial on allegations of corruption.

T

Matters pending

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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ESIDES the contention for the offices at the national level, party elders are expected to also resolve a lot of simmering disputes in some of the states.

The most contentious states that have tasked the energies of the party leadership were in Ogun, Delta, Anambra, Adamawa, Imo and lately, Rivers States.

In Ogun State the battle is pitched between a national leader of the party,

Aremo Segun Osoba and the governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. The battle between both factions has been allegedly fuelled by associates of both men who apparently are using the names of their principals for battle.

Amosun is seriously opposed by most members of the National Assembly from the state especially given his own inclination and apparent support

Continues on page 39

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014—39

Jonathan didn't cause our problems — Wachuku •Says insurgency is politically-driven FORMER Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), a delegate to the National Conference from Abia State and National President of Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Dr Chuku Wachuku, in this interview proffers suggestion on how Nigeria can wriggle out of the Boko Haram insurgency, become a great. He also shared his thoughts on Democracy at 15 and how Governor Theodore Orji is silently transforming Abia State. Excerpts:

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OW do you react to comments that the government’s handling of the Chibok school girls’ abduction is slow, chaotic and uncoordinated?

I don’t see the government as being too slow. In this country, there is an underlying politics in everything we do. If President Jonathan moves too strongly as he should, tribal and religious sentiments will come into it and yet, he should do what he ought to do. May be he is more considerate in the approach. You have to understand the enormity of the weight of the decision he has to make.

You see it is a Nigerian aggression. It is treason against the state. If he should crush it the way he should, then, religious and tribal connotations will come into it immediately.

And if people are shouting and conceited people, for their own selfish reasons, are creating more problems, I feel the weight of decision must be with caution.

In the light of our peculiar circumstances, I believe he is doing the best he can. This is a

Continues from page 38 for those who came with him from the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP to combat the incumbent legislators for the 2015 tickets.

Associates of both men held parallel congresses that threw up different executives from the ward to the state level.

The party is apparently in a corner on how to reconcile the two factions given the level of rancour to which the disagreement has degenerated to. In Delta the party is divided into at least three factions. While the mainstream of the party remains behind the original founders of the APC led by elderstatesman, Senator Francis Okpozo, younger elements who have been throwing up a lot of money to win influence.

president who is a true Nigerian.

When people are talking about marginalization, all his key commanders are from the North.

National Security Adviser, NSA, is from the North; Minister of Defence is from the North and a host of others. What else do you want this man to do? He has armed the military, so if there is failure I think we should probably do more of intelligence gathering. But the point is who does the President really trust?

Does he have saboteurs in his government? I don’t know. There are obvious questions that Nigerians must begin to ask. This is not a Jonathan problem, it is a Nigerian problem.

Nigerian problem Jonathan did not cause it. But everybody points at the poor man.

The people are not allowing him to do his job.

How do you think the Boko Haram issue can be resolved?

It can only be resolved when all Nigerians put away their tribal sentiments, religious bigotry and come together as Nigerians to condemn what is bad and evil.

•Wachuku What is evil is evil whether it’s from this religion or the other, from this section of the country or the other. All Nigerians must come together to say this is evil.

People are dying, children are being kidnapped and harassed, they are being traumatized. We should be talking about lives being wasted.

What is your take on the assistance of the international community in the antiinsurgency crusade?

We will welcome any help at all. It’s up to our own military and various communities to guard what they don’t want the outside world to know. Intelligence gathering is a common thing all over the world. So, I don’t see anything wrong. I think we should do whatever we can to

solve the problem.

Still on democracy, you have examined the presidency. What about the states?

It depends on the state. You

,

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

Jonathan did not cause it. But everybody points at the poor man, the people are not allowing him to do his job

know sometimes, some governors claim on the pages of newspapers what they have done, but it is up to the people to determine whether those things are true or false.

For instance, in Abia, where I hail from, it is a total departure from what it used to be. When the present governor, Chief Theodore Orji came on board, he

APC: Matters pending The younger group who have a rich billionaire from Delta Central as their leader was able to push through a new executive with Prophet Jones Erue from Delta North as chairman.

Original members of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in the state miff that the congress which produced Erue was mired in controversy especially given the fact that it was allegedly conducted in the prophet’s church premises.

Prophet Erue and his backers are alleged to have the support of loyalists of Chief James Ibori, an issue that has unnerved Okpozo and other elements in his group who for years have not partnered with the Ibori establishment in the state.

Party sources disclosed that Erue has been asked by party leaders in Lagos and Abuja to seek habitation with the original founders of the party in the state.

In Edo State another man of God in the person of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu helped to diminish the status of the party after he led his associates in the Grace Group to walk out of the party.

With his exit the party is now fully united around the leadership of Governor Adams Oshiomhole but noticeably reduced in capacity.

In Anambra State the state is polarised into two factions respectively led by Senator Annie Okonkwo and Senator Chris Ngige.

found absolutely nothing. He met a state of chaos; the leadership was divided with the people hating one another. People dying over issues they shouldn’t die of.

The governor came on board with tremendous pressure. In the first three years, he was accused of laxity and ineptitude, but again he has to go to the fabrics, the fundamentals. Did he have freedom? No, he didn’t have freedom. So, when he rose up to free himself, the state took a quantum leap.

Governor Theodore Orji is experienced, very calm and given to laying claims to things he didn’t do. He is transforming the state in a quiet way. All the accolades he is winning are deserved. When he decided to come up with the legacy pact, he was laying the fundamentals of strict administration. Since the creation of Abia State, the fundamentals of governance have not been put in place. You may not understand it, but the next governor will inherit the instruments of modern statehood in Abia State. For so many years, governance was been operated from rented accommodation.

Why didn’t the previous governors undertake the construction of the Government House? Secondly, if you entered Umuahia before now, you will see ramshackle accommodation for civil servants.

Why didn’t the previous

Both men it would be recalled fell apart in the midst of the last gubernatorial election campaign when Okonkwo walked out as Ngige’s campaign manager alleging the later betrayed agreements reached with him on issues.

Senator Okonkwo’s faction produced Barrister Emeka Ibeh as its factional chairman while Senator Ngige’s faction produced Barrister Chidi Igwedibia as chairman.

The party had at the last National Executive Committee, NEC meeting penultimate week established a committee of elders to look into the issues, but as at press time there were little indications to show that the committee made much success.

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governors construct a modern secretariat for civil servants? T.A Orji has constructed a modern secretariat, really ultra modern.

He has embarked on the construction of the Government House. He is constructing an International Conference Centre.

Why didn’t they think of rebranding, rebuilding the infrastructures in Abia State? Look at the market that was in Umuahia for years, it took guts to move it to a permanent site.

Umuahia is now looking like an emerging state capital. Before, Umuahia was looking like a village.

He may not complete them, he has to start somewhere. He has completed the International Conference Centre. He has completed the secretariat. If you go to the High Court, it is fantastic. I went to the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State and I can’t believe it.

These are legacies. And he is going to leave the legacy of a peaceful and a united Abia that anybody can talk about. There are no warring factions in Abia anymore.

All for the first time, Abians are united under one leadership, facing a common goal and a common enemy.

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014, 2014

COMMON THEMES FOR PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE

The Books: Bible & Qur'an THE QUR’AN

T

HE Qur’an is the holy of Islam. The scripture is believed by the Muslims to be the final revelation from God to Mankind (Al-Mallah, 2008:96).

It is believed to contain words of God and consequently, it serves as an expression of divine will. According to Charis Waddy (1982:14), if the Qur’an has to be compared with anything in Christianity, it must be compared with Christ Himself.

This is because Christ, according to christian belief, is the expression of the divine among men, the revelation of the divine will and this is what the Qur’an is for Muslims. He compares the role of Muhammad with that of Mary because Muhammad was the vehicle of the divine words as Mary was the vehicle of Jesus birth. The Muslims regard the Qur’an as the greatest of all miracles, hence, much reverence is given to it. The collection of divine revelations in the Qur’an serves Muslims as the primary source of guidance. It is also a source for their religious doctrines.

The Qur’an was revealed in the Arabic language. Kenneth Cragg(1971: 40) rightly remarks that Qur ’an is the glory of Arabic while Arabic is the pride of the Qur’an. The scripture is divided into one hundred and fourteen (114) chapters of unequal length known as suwar (plural of Surah). The particular titles are sometimes taken from a particular matter treated or a person mentioned therein.

comprises the Gospels, the Acts, the Letters and the Apocalypse.

We would discuss these books in greater details in Chapter Three. Even though the Bible consists of two testaments, they are not independent of each other; as a matter of fact, the NT complements the OT. It has been argued that Christianity originated from the OT because the ethical monotheism” which was perfected in Jesus, originated and developed in Israel. According to Baker (1976: 159), the cultic and nationalistic elements of the OT were eventually subordinated to this spiritual faith in the preaching of the prophets, and Jesus simply continued their message.

Spirit.

The Qur ’an was revealed piecemeal within a period spanning almost twenty-three years (610-632 C.E.). In other words, the Qur’anic revelation was progressive, a fact confirmed by Surah 17:107 which claims that the scripture was revealed in stages. The first revelation of the Qur ’an occurred at the Cave of Hirah in the month of Ramadan on a night later known as Lailatul Qadri (Surah 2: 185, and Surah 97:1). This was sequel to Angel Gabriel’s visit to the cave at the time Muhammad was on

,

Each time Muhammad received a revelation, he recited it to the companions, who, at once, committed it to memory and writing. Thus emerged two models of preserving the scripture

The Qur ’an gives us some information regarding its revelation. According to the scripture, it was revealed to prophet Muhammad through angel Gabriel (Jibril) as evident in Surah 26: 192-195 which reads: “And surely this is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds, the faithful spirit has come down with it upon thy heart, that thou may be of the warners...” Surah 2:97 of the scripture, clarifies who the faithful spirit is when it declares: “Whoever is the enemy of Gabriel, surely he revealed it (the Qur ’an) to thy heart by Allah’s command”. From these passages it is understood that the Qur’an is a divine message revealed through Gabriel and not a prophetic utterance made under the influence of the Holy

Central themes of the Bible

Muslims holy site of Makka in Saudi Arabia

,

meditation there.1 The central themes of the Qur ’an are creation and invitation of man to the right way in which the prophets from Adam to Muhammad were engaged.

The preservation of the Qur’an Each time Muhammad received a revelation, he recited it to the companions, who, at once, committed it to memory and writing. Thus emerged two models of preserving the scripture.

Collection of the Qur’an The historical account of how the Qur’an was collected as a canonized scripture is more complex than it is sometimes thought. This is as a result of the diverse traditions on the subject. In al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-

Qur’an by Al Khoee, A.A (nd: 240) alone, twenty-two of such traditions are listed. The most widely accepted tradition, however, is the one attributed to Zaid b. Thabit which is quoted below as contained in al-Jamic Li ahkam al-Qur’an vol. 1 of al Qurtubi (nd : 50)Zaid reports as follows: Abu Bakr sent for me on the occasion of the deaths of those killed in Yamamah wars. I found Umar b. alKhattab with him, Abu Bakr said, ‘Umar has just come to me and said: ‘In the Yamamah fighting death has dealt most severely with the Qurra and I fear it will deal with equal severity with them in other theatres of war, and, as a result, much of the Qur’an will perish. I am, therefore, of the opinion that you should command that the Qur’an be collected.’ Abu Bakr added, “I said to Umar, ‘How can we do what the prophet never did?’ Umar replied ‘that it is nonetheless a good act. He did not cease replying to my scruples until God reconciled me to the undertaking/Abu Bakr continued, “Zaid, you are young and intelligent and we know nothing to your discredit. You used to record the revelations for the prophet. So pursue the Qur’an and collect it all together.” By God! had they asked me to remove a mountain it could not have been more weighty than what they would have me do in ordering me to collect the Qur’an. I, therefore, asked them how they could do what the

prophet had not done, but Abu Bakr insisted that it was permissible. He did not cease replying to my scruples until God reconciled me to the undertaking as He had already reconciled Abu Bakr and Umar. I thereupon pursued the Qur’an collecting it all together from palmbranches, flat stones and the memories of men ...

From this report, we can deduce the following facts: that Muhammad did not collect a complete written text of the Qur’an before his death; that nothing of the Qur’an was lost; that it was preserved primarily in oral form and that when recorded the recording was done on primitive materials; that the first official retention authorised by the first caliph was also the first complete collection. Most Muslims not only recognise these points as facts but regard the narration as the authentic historical account of the collection of the Qur’an.

THE BIBLE According to Arndt and Gingrich (1979: 141) the word Bible is derived from the Greek word biblion which means book.

The plural form is biblia. The Bible contains sixty-six books; thirty-nine form the Old Testament (OT) while twentyseven form the New Testament (NT). The OT books are classified into three, namely: The Pentateuch (Genesis to Deuteronomy), The Prophets (former prophets - Joshua to Kings; later prophets - Isaiah to Malachi) and The Writings (Cook Stanley 1958: 35). The NT, on the other hand,

The central themes of the Bible, reveal continuity in the two testaments. The themes are creation, sin, fall, redemption and salvation. In the beginning, God created man and he was in the state of well-being until he was tempted to sin and consequently fell.

God started a plan of redemption with Abraham and made promises in Genesis twelve. Thus, Israel was to be a prototype to reach out to the entire world. Under the leadership of Moses, God made a covenant with the Israelites.

They settled in Canaan and established a monarchy.

Corruption reigned supreme, consequently prophets appeared on the scene. The kingdoms later fell: the North was captured by the Assyrians in 721 B.C. and the south (Judah) was captured by Babylonians in 586 B.C. This incident was followed by the exile of the Israelites. The first of the exiles returned to Jerusalem from Babylon in 538 B.C. Return from the exile saw the beginning of the intertestamental period when the messianic expectation was rife.

The NT era was ushered in by John the Baptist. With the advent of Jesus (the expected Messiah) the Gospel was declared and after him the apostles propagated it with emphasis on the second coming of Jesus, while the eschatological events are being anticipated as enunciated in the Book of Revelation. Thus God’s singular programme developed progressively from Genesis to Revelation.

The Biblical books were not Continues on page 41

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014—41

COMMON THEMES FOR PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE Continues from page 40 committed to writing very early.

Perhaps this was due to the importance attached to memorisation or because writing was cumbersome in those days. Much of the OT was based on oral tradition. The Pentateuch to Samuel was based on many oral traditions which centered mainly around the patriarchs, Moses, Joshua, the Judges, Samuel, David and later in a section of Kings, Elijah and Elisha (Wilfred, J.H 1976: 21).

This, however, does not rule out the use of written sources.

David and others, such as Solomon, Jeroboam I and II probably had secretaries in their courts who could have recorded events that happened during their reigns. This is to say that the Israelites were not ignorant of the art of writing. They were exposed, in some ways, to writing because of their contact with Egypt. For instance, the Ten Commandments were immediately written down.

Different reasons have been advanced for why the NT was not written very early: the active participants (i.e., Jesus’ disciples) were still alive; their reliance on their retentive memory; emphasis on the Kerygma (i.e., oral message preached); anticipation of the early second coming of Jesus; persecution of the Jews by the Romans (which did not give them rest of mind); and the laborious nature of the art of

The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem

The Books: Bible & Qur'an ascribed to well-known Biblical personalities while controversy surrounds the authorship of some, e.g., Mosaic authorship of Pentateuch in the OT and the Book of Hebrew in the NT. ii. As regards the duration of writing the books, Huffman is of the view that the thirty-nine OT books were written during a period of one thousand years beginning about 1100 B.C. while the twenty-seven books of the NT were written in less than one hundred years between 50 and 150 C.E. iii. How was the Bible written? The OT books were

throughout the Roman Empire in the first and second centuries C.E. (Hunter A.M 1972 : 9).

We can now turn our attention to the preservation of the Bible.

As mentioned above the Biblical books were preserved in writing on scrolls and codices by original writers. The early Christians out of enthusiasm to have copies of the scripture, copied either directly from the original manuscripts or from the copied materials.

The Qur’an and the Bible are believed to be revealed scriptures and as such, they are seen as containing divine words. Having been preserved for some time, both became authoritative after they had been given official sanction by the scrutinising councils of their respective religions

The Qur’an and the Bible are believed to be revealed scriptures and as such, they are seen as containing divine words. Having been preserved for some time, both became authoritative after they had been given official sanction by the scrutinising councils of their respective religions. Thus the two scriptures passed through similar processes of evolution, i.e. revelation, preservation and collection/canonisation; but not similar methods as our discussion has revealed.

While the Qur ’an was revealed to Muhammad through angel Gabriel within a period of about twenty-three years, the Biblical books were written by about forty inspired writers in several centuries. In view of the fact that the two scriptures emanate from the same source which is God, their contents are believed to be inspired. However, the Muslims understand the Qur ’anic inspiration in the sense of angel Gabriel dictating the words of God to Muhammad. This concept of inspiration does not gain currency among the Biblical scholars.

The Qur ’an was not only reduced to writing but was also fully memorised by the huffaz.

Great importance is attached to the memorisation of the Qur’an

,

writing. Writing of the message was later encouraged because original apostles and eye witnesses were dying; the second advent did not quickly come; there was need for missionary work and there was also need for scripture for worship and devotion (Duffield G.P. et al 1983: 9).

In discussing the writing of the Bible, three aspects of the subject should be considered: (i) the writers of the scripture; (ii) the period of writing and (iii) the method of writing. i. It is not easy to determine with precision the number of the inspired writers who wrote the books of the Bible. This is because some books were written by more than one author while some writers wrote more than one book. Huffman (1945:53) suggests that forty inspired writers wrote the different books of the scripture.

Sometimes, the author of a book dictated to a professional scribe as Jeremiah and Paul did. Some of the Biblical books are

,

hand-written in ink usually with a reed pen, on scrolls made of leather or papyrus, while the NT books were written originally on scrolls but, later on, the early Christians copied the scriptures on codices and parchments or valium (Ryrie C.C. 1976: 45).

A scroll was made from a number of papyri or prepared animal skins. After the sheets were sewn together to make a strip measuring ten to thirty feet long, it was rolled around a stick like a map. A codex (pl. codices), on the other hand, was made of several quires of parchment of papyri sheets folded to make pages. The quires were stitched together like the modern book (Mckenzie J.L 1978: 102).

The OT was originally written in Hebrew except for four chapters in Ezra, six chapters in Dn. and Jr. 10:11 which were written in Aramaic. The NT, on the other hand, was written in Koine Greek, the language commonly spoken and written

A Comparative Appraisal of Evolution of the Qur’an and the Bible

because firstly, the huffaz were employed to check the correctness of the written records and secondly, up till today, Muslims commit several chapters of the Qur’an (and in some cases the entire scripture) to memory for use in their daily prayers and on special occasions. With regard to the Bible, its books were written on scrolls or codices by inspired writers while their adherents faithfully copied the scripture and translated it into different languages. Apart from copying, many Jewish Rabbis and members of the early church memorised different passages of the scripture. In an attempt to correct errors in copying, different editions of the Bible emerged. Memorisation of the two scriptures by the early Muslims and Christians respectively was due to their veneration for the words of God contained in the Holy Books.

Canonisation of the Bible As regards the canonisation of the Bible (in contrast to collection with reference to the Qur’an) the following points are worthy of note: (i)Canonisation took place several centuries after committing the books to writing. (ii)It was done in stages, i.e., the books of law became canonical before the prophetic books, while the prophetic books became canonical before the writings and the NT was naturally canonised after the OT. (iii)Canonisation involved scrutinizing the authenticity of the original of each books leading to its recognition or rejection.

Conversely, the Qur’an was compiled only six months after the death of Muhammad when many of the memorisers were still alive and the manuscripts

were still extant. It was compiled by Abu Bakr and reviewed under twenty years later by Uthman. The absence of any spurious portion of the Holy Book made its compilation and review straight forward for those who carried out the exercises. Its authenticity as perceived by Muslims has never been in doubt. The main task of the reviewers was merely to reconcile the dialectical differences detected among its readers during Uthman’s caliphate.

The wideness of the time lag between the period of writing the Bible and its canonisation accounts for the easy access of accretions and interpolations into the scripture which were being got rid of gradually by reviewing the scripture from time to time on discovering valuable manuscripts. On the other hand, the shortness of the time lapse between the complete revelation of the Qur ’an and its compilation makes it exceedingly difficult for any accretion and interpolation to get into the scripture.

These are academic reasons for the preservation of the text of the Qur’an. To the orthodox Muslims, however, the preservation of the Qur’an is divine and spiritual as contained in Surah 15:9 of the scripture. The foregoing illustrations notwithstanding, Muslims have a way of applying Islamic concept of revealed books to the JudeoChristian scriptures by making Prophet Musa’s Taurat equivalent to Moses’ Pentateuch. Prophet Daud’s Zaburah equivalent to David’s Psalm and Prophet Isa’s Injil equivalent to the New Testament.

TOMORROW While the Qur'an teaches that God is one, indivisible and unique with none sharing from His divine essence as taught by Surah 112:14, the Nicene Creed asserts that there are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, all of whom are co-eternal

42 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 SAGITTARIUS: Although erratic people from unexpected quarters may oppose you openly, your being self assertive will earn you both victory and financial success. Then tomorrow will prove more successful.

CAPRICORN: Yes! It’s your day again. The more ambitious you are the better for you. Then you will need to ignore those with queer characteristics within your working arena..

AQUARIUS: Mixed trends are indicated. If you take good advice from your cool headed friends, you will benefit more than you imagine, but if you take to unpredictable attitude, you will today start fire that will burn with great intensity tomorrow.

PISCES: If you take the veterans within your base for granted, they will fail you painfully. Yet here is a lucky day for you when your being secretive and self reliant will earn you success. Be more ambitious.

By Richard Eromosele

I

guess you know what the word ‘Retrieve’ mean.

This simply means to get back something from the place it is now, especially a place it ought not to have

Retrieve Yourself been.

Many of us have lost it all – our identity, our values, our self esteem, our personality, our vision, self worth

TERROR MUDA

etc. If you have lost all of this what can you do? Get back your personality.

Get back your selfesteem. Be the man or woman you are destined to be. Be

in “Never say goodbye”

the person you are created to be and unleash yourself on the world.

Be the best God destined you to be.

Retrieve yourself from whoever you have subsumed it before.

By Lanre Kehinde

ARIES: Some of the people around you may get on your nerve via careless remarks, you must not allow them to disorganise your plans. The closer you are to the influential people the better for you.

TAURUS: “Money is the root of all evils” says an adage.

And if care is not taken, money may set you and some other people fiercely against each other to the detriment of your cause. Be cautious.

GEMINI: Opposition between the Moon and Venus may induce personality clashes you don’t need at lest for now.

What can help you now is love and your being persuasive.

Think of the future.

CANCER: Positive events that started yesterday will continue today. Rely more on your ability to be as bold as necessary so that you can get things done your own way at work.

LEO: Romantic interlude that started late yesterday may become excitingly louder and melodious to the satisfaction of your soul.

VIRGO: If you allow domestic pressure to affect your working pattern, your senior colleagues may not understand and make things a bit more difficult. IF you’re stable, you will have more to gain financially.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

LIBRA: After snappy aggressive approach exhibited by you yesterday ,you are back at your being pleasant self to the admiration of others. This is the wrong time to take law and it’s agents for granted. Young-at-heart are favoured so also commercial activities.

SCORPIO: Some of you will wake up from slumber and realise mistakes about your finances early enough and make amendment but those who are reckless will commit more blunder. Beware of joint venture.

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,

Why constant frustration?

Dear Joshua, Although I am a healthy person yet I want your Astrological ex-ray about my star and tell me what to expect health-wise and/or how to manage myself, career and financially. Right now I am in the Military as a Soldier.

Oshin, Lokoja.

Dear Oshin, Your parents must have gone through a few numbers of troubled moment while trying to raise you as you have what looked like a dirty childhood from both health and other areas of your life as indicated by opposition between conjoined planets across Pisces and Virgo when you were born Luckily for you however, as your natal Moon strongly got positive aspect from Venus, Your survival is assured. And there are indications of better health for you as you out-grow the childhood problems.

Nonetheless what you will need to take seriously include constant worries, toothache, skin infection, headache (fever)lungs, stomach-ache, feet and sometimes the bones (dislocation). Nothing fatalistic about everything stated here but mere warnings.

Yours is a rugged personality suitable for military career of any type. And whenever you opt out of the military, it will be wise of you to give consideration to involvement with liquid related business especially the oil industry. The computer world and essential needs of women. Actually dealing with women along your business line will prove most fortunate for you.

Fish farming and other agro-allied can be favourable but because of your love of changes, you may not be able to see such through.

As your natal Moon got good aspects from comfortably placed Venus (another money related planet), financial success is within your reach.

T-square aspects formed by your natal Sun/Saturn, Uranus/ Pluto and Jupiter will bring delay related frustrations.

Miscalculation and gambling like tendencies are other things capable of militating against your finance.

Financial success will eventually be earned by you but you will need to embrace discipline nature in handling your finance.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014—43

UNILAG students make case for Chibok girls

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

ENUGU BUDGET: From left— Mr. Godson Nnadi, Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development; Mr. Kester Onyema Agbowo, Commissioner for Budget and Planning, and Mr. Louis Dilibe, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Chairman (right), all of Enugu State, at a briefing on the state's 2014 budget break down.

Alleged Akunyili would-be assassins mourn her death

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

O

NITSHA— TWO suspects, Olisa Igbokwe and Christopher Mba, awaiting trial in prison custody for allegedly attempting to assassinate the late former Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Professor Dora Akunyili, in 2003, have joined millions of Nigerians in mourning her death.

This came as Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Anambra State chapter, yesterday joined in mourning late Akunyili.

The accused persons conveyed their condolences to the Akunyili family from their prison custody yesterday, when Mr. Okemonwu Akuma, Chairman of Anambra State chapter of Nkporo Youths Association, Ohafia, Abia State, of which one of the suspects, Igbokwe, is an indigene, visited them in the custody.

They noted that although they were being falsely accused and detained, they were still expressing dissatisfaction with her untimely exit, even as they recalled that the late Akunyili had told them that she was blaming the court for their incarceration in jail, and that justice delayed was justice denied.

Also contributing, the National President of the group, Chief Arunsi I Uka, in corroborating what Akuma said, recalled that when wives of the accused once visited Akunyili before her death and pleaded with her to allow the court release Igbokwe to enable him bury his late mother, Akunyili told them that she was not in a position to grant such a request.

It would be recalled that on December 26, 2003, gunmen rained bullets on Akunyili in an attempt to assassinate her when she visited her home town, Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.

She escaped death by the whiskers as the bullets pierced through her head tie. She was then DirectorGeneral of NAFDAC. Consequently, Mba and Igbokwe were arrested and

charged to court alongside three other suspects, but after a year trial, the matter was struck out and all the suspects discharged.

However, Akunyili appealed against their discharge and Mba and Igbokwe were re-arrested.

CNPP mourns

Similarly, the CNPP in a statement by its state Chairman and Secretary, Oby Okafor and Peter Okala, respectively, in Onitsha, yesterday, described her

sudden death as a great loss to all the political parties in the country, Anambra State and Nigeria in general.

CNPP further stated that her resourcefulness was what the present day government of Anambra State would have needed to fast-track development.

It extended its condolences to the people and government of Anambra State, the bereaved Akunyili family and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

Physically-challenged in S'East demand elective, appointive quota

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—PERSONS with disability, PWDs, in the South-East have called on the governments in the zone to allocate elective and appointive quota to them as a way of integrating them into the larger society.

They called on all PWDs and their wards to register with Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the 2015 and subsequent elections, saying their number could make a big difference.

They said that participating actively in the election process would help to better their lots.

Speaking under the aegis of Ohanaeze Disability Forum, ODF, the South-East disabled also condemned the Boko Haram insurgence in parts of the country and abduction of the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls.

In a statement issued after

the inauguration of the forum, the group called on South-East states to “facilitate the passage of the disability bill that protects the rights of PWDs as has been done in some states.”

The group also urged governments “to discourage street begging and other vices

amongst PWDs through effective employment and empowerment schemes.”

It also implored the governments to put in place a comprehensive scholarship scheme and accessible school environment for disabled students at all levels.

Professor Nwokolo dies at 93

P

ROFESSOR Emeritus, Chukwuedo Nwokolo, aged 93, is dead. He died on Sunday, May 18, in New York, United States.

Born in 1921, Professor Nwokolo was educated at Government’s College, Umuahia, between 1934 and 1939 and proceeded to Yaba Higher College, Lagos, where he studied between 1940 and 1946.

After his high school education in Nigeria, Nwokolo proceeded to the United Kingdom where he earned MRCP in Edinburgh,

Scotland, in 1953, the second Nigerian to achieve distinction in this area and became a fellow of Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, in 1961.

The deceased has served Nigeria in many capacities, including chairmanship of National Institute of Medical Research (1971-1980); prochancellor and chair, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and chair, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, among others.

Burial arrangement is yet to be announced by his family.

AGOS— A group, Campus Students Community Project, has appealed to Boko Haram insurgents to release the over 200 schoolgirls abducted in Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Bornu State.

The group, made up of law students of University of Lagos, UNILAG, also feted no fewer than 500 lessprivileged children at Ilaje, in Bariga area of Lagos State as part of events to mark the Children’s Day celebration.

Speaking at the event, the General Coordinator of the group, Kodichi Anibogu, said the abduction of the Chibok girls had put their parents in very difficult situations that might affect their health unless the girls were immediately released.

It called on the Federal Government to ensure the release of the girls as quickly as possible to prevent them from being indoctrinated by the sect.

Burial

B

RIG-Gen Ben Akpunonu, who died on April 3, aged 63, will be buried on June 17 at his country home in Ekwusigo council in Anambra State.

A wake-keep will hold in Enugu on June 17, followed by another one on June 19 at the his hometown in UmuonwukaUruokpala, Egbema Ozubulu, in Ekwusigo council of the state.

Requiem mass is June 20 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ozubulu, followed by interment at Akpunonu’s. Next day is obsequies, while June 22 is Outing Service at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

A'Ibom council pensioners protest non-payment of entitlements

‘Nigeria loses $2.5bn to gas flaring annually’

BY TOM MOSES

U

YO— LOCAL g o v e r n m e n t pensioners in Akwa Ibom State, yesterday, protested at the state Government House, Uyo, the non-payment of their entitlements, including pensions and gratuities.

The council retirees, under the aegis of Nigerian Union of Pensioners, NUP, lamented that many of their members had died of starvation and other ailments occasioned by the non-payment of their terminal benefits many years after their retirement from service.

They said those that survived the hardship could hardly take care of their domestic responsibilities.

NUP branch Chairman, Mr. Effanga Ettah, who spoke during the protest, said: “Gratuity has not been paid to us, but it has been paid to state workers.

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— F E D E R A L Government has been urged to enforce existing laws in the country to save the nation the loss it suffers from gas flaring, estimated at $2.5 billion annually.

National Coordinator, National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spills in the Niger Delta, NACGOND, Rev Father Edward Obi, who spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the end of a programme to mark the World Environment Protection and Control Day, said that the country loses about $2.5 billion in potential revenue annually from gas flaring.

He said: “168 billion cubic metres of natural gas is flared worldwide with 13 percent of this figure in Nigeria.”

In a related event, Managing Director, Niger Delta D e v e l o p m e n t Commission, NDDC, Mr. Bassey Dan-Abia, has described the United Nations Environment Programme’s slogan for this year ’s World Environment Day, Raise your voice not the sea level, as apt, adding that it would stimulate positive response towards addressing issues of pollution and climate change.

Alleged discrimination

“If anybody in the state civil service retires by June, at the end of the month, he will receive his gratuity on time, followed by pension arrears.

But ours is different.

“There are pensioners who at the end of the month are being paid N500. Some of us who retired since 2009 have not collected our gratuities and we are suffering.

“More than 80 percent of our members have not been paid their entitlements since 2010 and there are also many cases from 2005 to 2009. It is also on record that some money approved for the monthly payment of pensions have stagnated in the past five years.”

Govt begs for time

Speaking on behalf Governor Akpabio, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, said he was aware of the plights of the local government pensioners and promised to work with the committee set up by the state

governor to harmonise the pensions and gratuities of civil servants who retired from both the state and councils.

According to him, the government needed to take time to work with the committee to address the

NISA tasks Transport Minister on national carrier

BY IFEYINWA OBI

N

IGERIAN Ship Owners’ Association, NISA, has urged the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar to pursue with vigour, a recent directive from President Goodluck Jonathan in respect of the nation’s urgent need for a national carrier.

NISA chairman, Chief Isaac Jolapamo, in a chat at his office, noted that President Jonathan’s directive, if strictly adhered to, was capable of creating genuine employment opportunities for Nigerians.

He said: “We have the size, maritime endowment and expertise to run a thriving shipping business. The issue of a national carrier is something that all stakeholders should pursue with vigor through a Public Private Partnership, PPP arrangement.”

Chief Jolapamo noted that if it appeared as if the goal would be achieved, the authorities saddled with the responsibility would introduce a new hurdle, which would require that the entire process be dismantled in a bid to surmount the new hurdle.

President Jonathan,

according to Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Director-General, Patrick Akpobolokemi, had tasked the agency to mid-wife a national carrier as soon as possible.

Akpobolokemi, who disclosed this during a workshop on PPP strategy

for infrastructural development and modernisation in the Nigerian maritime sector, organised by NIMASA in collaboration with the Infrastructure Concession Regulation Commission, ICRC, in Lagos, said that the President was serious in respect of the directive.

‘North should join war against terrorism’

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ETIRED army generals from the North have been urged to join President Goodluck Jonathan to end terrorism in the country.

The Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, NDIMRC, which made the appeal, also said that a prominent northern monarch, the northern governors and ex-military generals cannot stop the reelection bid of President Jonathan in 2015.

A statement by its President, Nelly Emma, called on the North to forget the Presidency till 2027 and vowed to cut oil supply to the North should leaders from the region

continue to oppose the reelection of Jonathan in 2015 by using Boko Haram to cause mayhem, especially in the Northern part of the country.

The statement said: “We want the monarch to know that we are aware of his game plans with some governors and exmilitary generals from the North to frustrate the reelection of Jonathan in 2015.

“We want him and his cotravellers to take this as a warning that we will resist any attempt by them to stop the President in 2015.

“The issue of the re-election bid of Jonathan in 2015 is sealed, signed and delivered

by God.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

issues and also guarantee that they were not underpaid in anyway.

He pleaded with them to be patient with the process as it was going to benefit every pensioner in the state, whether from the state or local government.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

Professor Dora Akunyili

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OD’S ways are not our ways; neither are His thoughts like ours. That is the only way I can understand the exit of Professor Dora Akinyuli. May her soul, through the Mercy of God, rest in perfect peace. Amen.— Ms. Awodi Deborah, Broadcaster.

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HO am I to question the Lord?

If I had the power, her types would have forever received my votes for any office.

With her type around, one is sure that the suffering of my people would have drastically reduced.— Mr. Mustapha Alero, Carpenter.

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HIS great icon merits a state burial. She loved Nigeria till the end and spent her life for the country. Nigerians will never forget you. May God reward you with eternal life for the many lives you saved fighting the fake drug dealers.— Ms Vivian Pretty, Worker.

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HERE are very few people in the world with the juice to make a positive change in any given dimension with any given opportunity.

Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili was one of such extraordinary people in Nigeria.— Mr. Dozie Adichie, Entertainer.

Dora is the reason we have over 150 million Nigerians alive today.

Imagine the millions of people that might have died from using or being administered fake drugs. These fake drugs kill instantly and in installment.— Mr. Darlington Okie, Student.

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great woman of substance has passed on. It is such a pity; the people of worth are passing while the worthless ones are gaining ground. Anyway, we love and appreciate you, and your legacy will live forever in our hearts.— Ms. Ani Chioma, Model.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014—45

Appeal Court rules against Benin-based transporter

Ijaw students pledge support for Mutu

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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HE National Union of Ijaw Students, NUIS, has expressed its support for House of Representatives member representing Bomadi/Patani federal constituency, Mr. Nicholas Mutu, urging him to re-contest for the position.

NUIS, in a statement by its ex-President , Awipi Peibulou, said that the federal lawmaker has an enviable track record in the provision of scholarship for indigent students in secondary and higher institutions as well as infrastructural development spread across BomadiPatani Local Government Areas of Delta State.

Peibulou noted that as the House Committee Chairman on Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mutu demonstrated zero tolerance for abandoned projects, by prevailing on the commission and contractors not to neglect any project in the Niger Delta region.

DESOPADEC commissions two blocks of classrooms in Ukwani LG

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ELTA State Oil Pro ducing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, has commissioned two blocks of six classrooms at Eziokpor Mixed Secondary School and Umuebu Secondary School, both in Ukwani Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking during the commissioning, the commissioner representing Ndokwa nation on the board of DESOPADEC, Sir Ken Okolugbo, said the projects were part of the commission’s effort to boost the standard of education in oil producing communities of the state.

Charging the schools to take advantage of the conducive learning environment being put in place by government to impact positively of the students, he called on Ndokwa people to continue to support the state government to enable it do more for them.

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AGM/BUSINESS FORUM: From left: Mr. Victor Okoronkwo, General Manager, Upstream Gas, Shell Petrolum Development Company of Nigeria Limited; Mr. Bolaji Osunsanya,1st Vice President, Nigerian Gas Association/CEO Oando Gas and Power; Mr. Saidu Mohammed, President, Nigerian Gas Association/MD KRPC and Mr. Abdullahi Sule, Deputy Group Managing Director, Dangote Suger Refinery Plc/guest speaker, at the 15th Annual General Meeting and Business Forum of Nigerian Gas Association, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

You can produce Edo's next gov, Ogbemudia tells Ijaw community

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—FORMER governor of old Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, has said that the Ijaws in Edo State stand the chance of producing the governor of the state in 2016, if they work in harmony with other ethnic groups.

This came as some leaders from Edo North senatorial district, under the aegis of Edo Mass Movement, expressed their support for the moves by Dr. Ogbemudia to find a credible successor to Governor Adams Oshiomhole in 2016. They declared their support in Afuze,

Owan East Local Government Area of the state.

Addressing Ijaw leaders and hundreds of youths in Gelegele community, Dr. Ogbemudia said the Ijaws of Edo State have all it takes to produce the next governor of the state. He, therefor, urged them not to distance themselves from other ethnic groups in the state so that they can have political allies from other areas.

He said: “I want to tell you that I see the Ijaw people as part and parcel of the state and therefore, we can’t

do without them. I need to tell you that I know, God spearing my life, I will see a South senatorial man or woman, an Ijaw extraction, being the governor of this state. So, the foundation that I have come to lay is for us to work together so that this dream can come true. The Ijaw, as they are in Edo State, can’t produce a governor in the state without the help of others. Benin people can’t, Esan can’t, Etsako can’t. Therefore, for them to be able to push the cannon forward, the engine must be intact."

Kidnap of 90-yr-old Bayelsa Speaker’s mother-in-law barbaric —Zipamone

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ARRI—THE kidnap of Madam Ogboro Dark, mother-in-law of the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr Kombowei Benson, has been condemned by the Managing Director and Chief Executive of a Yenagoa-based construction company, Anderson Zipamone Construction Company, AZCC, Mr. Anderson Zipamone.

Reacting to the abduction of the nonagenarian at her Seibiri compound, Korokorosei, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, he said: “Kidnapping a 90-year-old woman suggests that the criminals are sub-humans needing rehabilitation in a civilised society,” adding that it was barbaric.

Zipamone added that “the action clearly shows absolute disrespect for old age.

It is unfortunate that old age has become a target for kidnappers. It is regrettable.”

Describing same as a covert attempt to distract the lawmaker, Zipamone said that the Speaker was a focused leader, whose leadership in the House of Assembly had been remarkable through quality laws to improve the state and attain greater heights. He advised the Speaker not to be deterred by the incident and steer the leadership of the House with firm conviction to the admiration of his detractors.

“The Speaker should remain undaunted. He should concentrate and commit his unfading attention to the good of the state,” he added.

Zipamone who demanded the unconditional release of the Speaker’s mother-in-law, tasked security agents in the state to ensure the timely release of the frail nonagenarian to reunite with her family, just as he enjoined every Bayelsan to pray for her safe and early release.

He wondered why the Speaker ’s family has become an easy target in the state, recalling the abduction of his 76-year-old biological mother, Betinah Benson, on January 14, 2013 by a gang of armed bandits.

ENIN—THE Court of Appeal sitting in Benin, Edo State, has dismissed the appeal by a Benin-based transporter, Chief Godwin Edosa, against the judgment of the lower court which had earlier entered judgment against him over the ownership of Plots 20B and 20C Dawson Lane, Benin City.

Chief Edosa was alleged to have purchased the aforementioned property in 2004 from one Mrs. Margaret Ehimwenma, the mother of the 1st defendant, Eguagie Ehimwenma, who resides in America and who, along with Enoma Ehimwenma, 2nd respondent had inherited the same property from their father in accordance with Bini native law and custom.

The lower court presided over by Justice E. Ahamioje, had entered judgment in favour of the respondents and substantially granted their reliefs and dismissed the counter claim of the appellant.

However, the appellant lodged an appeal before the Appeal Court, urging it to determine whether the learned trial judge was right in his judgment."

Presiding judge of the appellate court, Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, in the lead judgment, resolved the issues raised by the appellant in favour of the respondents.

Uwangue of Warri passes on at 103

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HE Uwangue of Warri Kingdom, Chief Bernard OtuedonOkome has joined his Ancestors, at the age of 103.

Second in the hierarchy of chiefs of the Warri Kingdom, Chief OtuedonOkome was conferred with the Uwangue of Warri title by the then Olu of Warri, Ogiame, Erejuwa II in 1986, after his predecessor, Chief Ogbemi Rewane.

Late Chief Otuedon-Okome

46 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Presidency convenes summit on June 12

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BRIEFING: From right: Idowu Olusile, Head, Policy Research and Communication, PRC, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, CPRCN; Alhaja Sekinat Yusuf, Chairman of Council, CPRCN; Mr. Sikiru Shehu, CPRCN Registrar and Ibrahim A.I, Director, Technical, CPRCN, in a press conference on Monday to announce details of 2014 IT Assembly.

Agency procures 3.2 million nets in Bauchi

‘Ajaokuta, other steel firms key to Nigeria's economy'

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

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AUCHI—THE Bauchi Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDs, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria, BACATMA, says it has concluded arrangements for the distribution of 3.2 million Long Lasting Mosquito Nets, LLMN, in the state.

The Chairman of the agency, Dr Abdulaziz Manga, made the disclosure on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Bauchi.

He said that a committee had been set up to map out modalities on the distribut i o n .

According to him, 60 supervisors have been trained for the exercise.

“The nets are already in Bauchi and very soon, we will start the distribution.

Vincentians hold reatreat

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INCENTIAN Re treat Centre, 1, De Paul Close, Yakoyo, Ojodu, Lagos will commence its monthly three-day retreat tomorrow by 5.00pm.

The event with the theme, Come Let’s Praise the Lord, will feature P-Bright and other established gospel artists.

It will end on Friday, June 13, with a vigil starting by 10.00pm and will include stations of the cross, adoration and mass.

It will be hosted by Rev Father Jude Dimonyekwere and Rev Father Samuel Umanna.

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OKOJA—THE Federal Gov ernment has said that the revitalization of Ajaokuta Steel Company, and other steel companies in the country was paramount for the expected revolution in the nation’s economy.

The Minister of Power and Steel Development, Alhaji Musa Muhammed and his counterpart in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Olusegun Agaga made this known yesterday during a facility tour of the Ajaokuta Steel comp l e x .

Aganga said contrary to some insinuations, the Ajaokuta Steel plant was not obsolete, adding that it was an asset towards the industrial revolution of the country.

”Ajaokuta has become more important today than before, because it will now move the country in a new direction. The President launched industrial revolution drive of the country in February and there is no way you can revolutionize your industry without a wider steel industry and Ajaokuta provides an answer to that,” he said.

He assured that the government would provide an enabling environment for the private sectors to drive the economy and also maximize the potential of Ajaokuta Steel for the benefit of the nat i o n .

On his own, the Minister of Power and Steel, Musa Muhammed said it had become necessary to revive Ajaokuta Steel in view of its strategic importance to the nation’s economy.

Gov Yari's tenure, a disaster — APGA SCRIBE say he is a godfather, dictating

BY SALISU MARADUN

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USAU—FACTIONAL Na tional Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Alhaji Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi has described the threeyear administration of Governor AbdulAziz Abubakar Yari in Zamfara State as a disaster.

Shinkafi who spoke in interview with Vanguard at the party’s state secretariat in Gusau, said that this had always made him shed tears for the state. ’’Whe we voted for him in 2011 the people were yearning for a change. They thought the change will be for service to humanity but what they are getting now is great failure in the conduct of the government business.

He is a complete disaster.

“When I look at the conduct of government business in Zamfara State, I shed tears. Once you are elected into office and you have a principal officer or a pay master, somebody who will stand and

the affairs of the government, then I am sorry, such government is bound to fail.

“It's unfortunate that the present government cannot account for all monies it has so far collected from the federation accounts since inception in 2011,” he said.

summit of all the polit ical parties registered in Nigeria and other stakeholders tagged the “All Nigeria Political Parties and Political Stakeholders Summit” will be held on June 12, 2014 at the International conference Centre, Abuja to commemorate the annulled June 12 1993 election This year ’s anniversary, jointly convened by the Office of the National Security Adviser to Mr President and the Office of the Special Adviser to Mr President on Inter-Party Affairs, will be chaired by the former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

The Summit will attract leading Nigerian political stakeholders, civil society organizations and members of the diplomatic community, and will be declared open by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Justifying the summit, Chief Ben Obi, Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, said at a press briefing in Abuja that “while Nigeria’s Fourth Democratic Republic has witnessed unbroken political transitions and power successions from 1999, there are still very powerful anti-democratic forces operating in the political system that are ever ready to exploit lapses in the management of the political and electoral processes to wage a bitter struggle against the democratic state. The Boko Haram terrorist insurgency is one such detestable force.

He continued: “At the heart of inter-party conversation is the building of inter-party consensus through institutional and informal collaboration. If the collaboration between existing political parties is sufficiently reinforced, the national political climate will wear a positive outlook, social stability will be guaranteed, national security will be deepened and democratic consolidation will be effectuated”.

He decried the “current national political outlook with its low level of inter-party collaboration, the unchecked conduct, behaviour and utterances of leading politicians, at

home and abroad, which spread unnecessary tension in the country, stoking the embers of discord, bitterness and rancour, and obviously playing into the hands of extremist elements that are waging a vicious terror war against the Nigerian state. If these enemies perceive the political class to be in disarray it will further embolden them in the crimes they are daily committing against the Nigerian people”.

The summit will help the political parties to close ranks to safeguard the nation’s democratic infrastructure even as they pursue their separate governance vision and compete for power in a healthy, decent and civilized manner, chief Obi said. It will also enhance collaboration among Nigerian political parties and politicians, reinforce the key ingredients in the code of conduct of political behaviour and re-commit Nigerian political parties to its salient norms. In addition, it will help to emphasize the role of political parties in enabling the condition for social stability, national security and democratic consolidation while highlighting the negative consequences of the politics of bitterness, rancour, mud-slinging and unnecessary bellicosity to the political, economic and social well-being of the nation, chief BenObi said.

Obi said that that all political parties should appreciate that they are key national patriotic stakeholders, either in government or in opposition, and should be genuinely committed to the success of the Nigerian project, and so must ensure free, fair, transparent and violence-free general elections in 2015. He called on politicians to embrace Alh. Ibrahim Waziri, the leader of the Great Nigeria Peoples Party’s philosophy of “Politics without bitterness.”

In conclusion, he said: “This Summit is a product of deep and intense consultation with Nigeria’s leading political parties and I am proud to state that it enjoys the support of the nation’s two leading political parties, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as the endorsement of the nation’s political stakeholders”.

Civil society groups petition Jonathan over Boko Haram

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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civil society group, So ciety for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, Intersociety, said that 1,296 Nigerians were killed by Boko Haram insurgents in 66 days, between April 1, and June 5, 2014.

Intersociety in a petition by its chairman, Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi to President Goodluck Jonathan, said “Between April 1, and June 5, 2014, a period of 66 days, at least, 1, 296 Nigerians including a first class Emir have been killed by

Boko Haram violent sect.

“The recorded April 1, and June 5, 2014 Boko Haram killings are: April 10, 60 killed in Kala Balge, same day, eight killed in Dikwa, April 14, 71 killed in Nyanya Park bombing, Abuja, May 1, 19 killed in second Nyanya Park bombing, May 5, over 300 killed in Gamboru Ngala in Borno, May 8, 4 killed in Kano, May 20, 118 killed in Jos, May 21, 25 killed in C h i k o n g u d o .

“Others are: May 25, 54 killed in Yobe and Borno

States, May 26, 20 killed in Kamuyya Village in Biu LGA, Borno State; May 26, 21 killed in Waga Village in Madagali LGA, Adamawa State; May 27, 14 soldiers, 11 policemen and 10 civilians killed in Buni Yadi in Gujba LGA, Yobe State and Chinene Village in Gwoza LGA, Borno State.

“The Boko Haram terror sect had in recent months gone by massacred between 55 and 59 boy-students of the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi in Gujba LGA of Yobe State, who were asleep in their dormitories.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 — 47

Wamakko wants partnership with Indian govt on health

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OKOTO — GOVERNOR Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has called for partnership with the Indian government to establish Faculty of Health at the state-owned university, to train manpower in the health sector.

The governor made the call on Monday in Sokoto when Mr Ghanashyl Ajjarnpurrangaiah, the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, paid him a courtesy call.

He said that if established, the proposed faculty would train students in medicine and pharmacy to operate the various health institutions in the state.

He said his government had taken measures to establish a science university to train students in science subjects.

Earlier the High Commissioner had informed the governor that India had completed arrangement to establish hospitals in Sokoto State to address the healthcare needs of the people.

“We will continue to assist the government in its efforts to provide qualitative and effective healthcare services to the people by establishing hospitals in the state,” he said.

He said that the Indian government had also completed arrangement to operate direct flight from Nigeria to reduce the air fares being paid by Nigerians seeking medical attention in India.

DEFECTION: Our doors are open for returnees —Plateau PDP

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OS — THE Peoples Demo cratic Party, PDP, in Plateau, yesterday, said that its doors were wide open for those that left the party but interested in returning to the party.

Mr Haruna Dabin, Plateau Chairman of the party said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Pankshin.

According to him, the party leadership in the state was aware that so many card-carrying members, who left the party, were very much interested in returning.

He expressed delight on the development saying: “We in PDP have decided to throw our doors open for those interested in coming back to the largest party in Africa.

"What we expect the returnees to do is to first go to their wards and register afresh so that they can be given membership cards."

Southern Kaduna indigenes accuse Senator of poor representation

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

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ADUNA — CONCERNED indigenes of Southern Kaduna have accused Senator Nenadi Usman of poor representation in the Senate.

They spoke against the background of last week’s donation of 325 motorcycles, 100 tricycles, 35 cars and other gifts estimated at over N200 million to local supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the zone at Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Speaking at a news conference in Kaduna, yesterday, spokesman for the group, Dr. John Fulani, said: “In the face of the destruction of lives and property by invaders in Southern Kaduna since 2011, Senator Usman has not had the courage to stand up on the floor of the Senate to make a strong case for her constituents. She has failed to call the attention of the federal

authorities to the plight of the wounded, the displaced and the traumatised.

“We do not know her stand on the bill on grazing reserves, which Southern Kaduna so vehemently opposes because she does not want to offend certain people.

“The Senator did not tell us where she stood on the girl-child marriage controversy, and she knows that Southern Kaduna will never support the marriage of minors.

“We want to add that it is not a matter of bringing Keke NAPEP (tricycles) to deceive delegates to the forthcoming senatorial primaries in Southern Kaduna at this time. She has been unable to attract any federal project to Southern Kaduna or influence the maintenance of, for example, the dilapidated federal roads that pass through Southern Kaduna.

“She has never held any town hall meeting in Southern Kaduna

since she became senator. Representation is not just to come around few months to election with gifts. This is nothing but a Greek gift. It is an insult to think that our delegate can be bought so cheaply.

“We want to know the number of bills she has sponsored that directly affect Southern Kaduna people and the area positively."

Attempts by Vanguard to get comments from Senator Usman yesterday proved abortive as she neither picked her calls nor responded to a text message sent to her on the issue, but one of her aides who spoke on condition of anonymity said those criticizsing the Senator were jealous of her track record on poverty alleviation in Southern Kaduna.

“If you follow her performance well, she has addressed what they are accusing her of not doing," she said.

VISIT: From left: President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Mrs. Bunmi Oke; Prof. Attahiru Jega, Chairman, Independent national Electoral Commission, INEC and Registrar/CEO, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Alhaji Bello Kankarofi, during a visit of AAAN and APCON excutives to INEC office, in Abuja.

LG boss denies Boko Haram attack in Dikwa

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI — THE Care taker Chairman of Dikwa Local Government Area in Borno State, Alhaji Ali Modu Gana, has expressed disappointment over reports by a section of of the media, yesterday that "some Boko Haram terrorists invaded the local government Monday and set ablaze the council secretariat after chasing away security operatives deployed to the area."

According to Gana, “there was no Boko Haram attack in Dikwa as carelessly and unprofessionally reported,’’ pointing out that "the report are baseless, unfounded, untrue and aimed at misleading the public and giving terrorists cheap publicity.”

He explained that what actually

happened in Dikwa on Monday was that there was an explosion caused by faulty solar street light batteries that led to panic by some residents and not an attack in any way.

The chairman, who spoke to newsmen in Maiduguri, said the reports were contained in the Hausa Service of some broadcast organisations.

Gana further said it was not true that he spoke or confirmed the report to anybody or journalist in an interview as reported.

He said: "I did not say that the military and other security operatives ran away when the terrorists invaded Dikwa before setting the council secretariat ablaze, because there was nowhere in the council where the insurgents attacked as was widely reported.

"It is amazing that people could

concoct a story that did not exist/happen. It shows how members of the public are being misled, misinformed and misguided. ”I was in Dikwa throughout Monday. I even sworn in all the appointed ward councillors peacefully, but all of a sudden, people started calling me on the telephone yesterday morning to sympathize with me that Boko Haram attacked my town. It is unfortunate. ”In as much as the constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression, such freedom must not be misused to give Boko Haram cheap publicity.”

He, therefore, urged the media to always verify their information before going to press to avoid misleading their audience.

MTN sponsoredpilgrims return from Jerusalem

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

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AGOS — THE over 20 pilgrims sponsored by the leading ICT and telecommunications company, MTN, have arrived the country, after a spiritual uplifting and life enriching experience in the holy land of Jerusalem.

The pilgrims, who came with a high sense of spiritual fulfillment, had the opportunity of visiting places they only read in the Holy Bible prior to this awesome experience.

Some of the places visited included the Manger where Jesus was born, Nazareth, Mount of Olives, Mount of Calvary, River Jordan, the Tomb of Jesus, the Wailing Wall, Garden of Gethsemane, St. Peter’s Church, Mount Tabor, Mount Nebo, Jericho and the Sea of Galilee.

The General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Kola Oyeyemi explained that the strategic focus for this initiative was to show support to MTN Christian subscribers.

“We are committed to the total well-being of our customers as we drive to make their lives brighter through our propositions, products and value-added services.

This is one of such initiatives aimed at uplifting and encouraging our subscribers to get closer to God One of the beneficiaries, Tunde Akinnoye, a Bible Study Teacher, told journalists that the journey was uplifting and fulfilling, noting: “As a Sunday School teacher, reading the Bible sometimes appears distant as one is not familiar with particular scenarios in it.

But now, I have direct knowledge of these places and this has really enhanced my faith and made me a better Christian. This I would surely share with my family and friends.”

Another pilgrim, Blessing Amadi spoke on how the journey will shape her spiritual life. According to her, “it has started. There are certain issues concerning my spiritual life that I had wanted to reconcile with God. When we went to the Wailing Wall, I cried and prayed there, I felt God restoring me. Spiritually, it’s going to lift me up.”

48— Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

REOPENING: From left: Hon. Wasiu Odeyemi, representative of Olu SESSION: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (middle), with beneficiaries of Epe, Otun Seriki of Epe Kingdom, Oloye Kadiri Odedeogboro, and of the state's scholarship scheme in UK Universities, after an interactive session the sponsor, Senator 'Gbenga Ashafa, during the reopening of the renovated Bado-Isale laundry house, at Epe, Lagos. with them in London. Photo: Bayelsa Government

COMMISSIONING: From left: General Overseer of Destiny Chapel International, Bishop Cletus Bassey, Chairman/CEO, Planet Radio 101.1 FM, Anthony Afia, Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Lady Valerie Ebe, Mrs Idara Afia, Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, SSG, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, and Director General, National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba, during the official commissioning of the radio station at Ibiaku Uruan, Akwa Ibom State.

From left: Comrade Popoola Ajayi, Coordinatior, Civil Society Coalition for Mandate Protection, Comrade Kehinde Adegbuyi, Secretary and Comrade Debo Adeniran, Convener, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, at the public presentation of the result of the survey on good governance in Ekiti State, in Lagos, yesterday.

WORKSHOP: Mr. Austin Ntor-Ue, Director, MDAs/Tax Offices, River State Board of Internal Revenue, Prince Welekwe, Director, Other Taxes, RSBIR, Omoefe Siakpere, Chief Operating Officer, FLOBAL Trust Limited, Warri, Delta State, and Mr. Israel Egbunefu, Director, Corporate Taxes River State Board of Internal Revenue, during the workshop on Secure Future, organised

by FLOBAL Trust in collaboration with Klass and Korporate for RSBIR.

AWARD: Dr. Any Binta Shumbushe, Project Smiles Initiator (3rd left) and some of the contestants, at the award ceremony for the winners of Free Smile Make Over contest in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele

CONFERENCE: Delegates at Lagos edition of Women in Government and Politics conference in Lagos.

HONOUR: Senator Ben Obi (left) and Princess Stella Oduah, OON, at the Ogbaru grand reception and award in honour of Princess Oduah as a former Minister of Avation.

From left: Mr. Joseph Okonmah,Chairman, NIPR, Lagos State chapter, Mr. Banji Adeleye,MD, Addefort Ltd, Mr. Akeem Bello, Senior Special Assistant, Media], to Governor of Lagos State, and Mr. Akin Akinniyi,Head, Press & PR, Lagos State Judiciary Sevice Commission, during the 8th day Fidau Prayer for the late DG of LASRAB, Alhaji Rafiu Uthman in Lagos.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014—49

50—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Police barricade Lagos State House of Assembly road, to deny protesting Lagos State University LASU students access to Lagos House, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

2015: Gov Shettima denies Boko Haram was set up to stop Jonathan

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BY LUKA BINNIYAT

ADUNA—BORNO State governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, yesterday, denied allegations that the north set up Boko Haram to stop a southern president or President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2015 general elections.

Shettima also said that the utterances of the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku on Boko Haram showed that he was "blind" to issues about the sect, wondering how a minister who does not ungerstand an issue could educate other Nigerians on how the end the insurgency.

He spoke at a two day conference on security and human rights organised by the Centre for Historical Documentation and Research, Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria.

Shetima also said that the Borno State government has spent over N10 billion as counterpart fund in managing the violence since the insurgency began before his administration. His words, “No one might ever know the extent he might have inflicted his understanding of the Boko Haram on Service Chiefs he has worked with. If Boko Haram succeeds in overrunning the North East as they seek, they will surely want to extend greater havoc to other parts of the north and if they overrun the north, they would want to move to the south. Crisis of any type has got a life of its own which depend on something for survival.

“As humans, we depend on oxygen and crisis depends on negligence and this negligence can be in different forms. Negligence can be in form of parents or teachers failing to instil the right habits on children to keep them out of crime; it can be in form of government failing to create and provide jobs for citizens in order to make crime unattractive or government failing to work hard to get the right intelligence at a good time or refusing to act appropriately with the right wares…

“Boko Haram insurgency has drenched our society in blood and systematically, it has been responsible for a creeping destruction of the harmony of communities in huge swathes of Borno State especially, but also in other states of northern Nigeria. The insurgency threatens the order of human and civilised existence and the ability of the state to provide security and welfare which the Nigerian constitution says is the basis of existence of the state.

“Boko Haram slaughters, shoots and crushes innocent people; destroys communities and public establishments for the fact that citizens do not share their violent ideology of murder and destruction. To Boko Haram, the life of a Muslim who does not

share its ideology is as condemned as that of a Christian or a traditionalist.

“This group of misdirected few among us has continued to unleash horror and of course, do much harm to the integrity of the religion of Islam. They have killed thousands of innocent souls in Borno and destroyed property worth tens of billions of naira. There is one form of negligence that I didn’t mention, which is one of the major factors standing on our way of ending Boko Haram. There is a supreme negligence of understanding the Boko Haram crisis itself and this makes it stubbornly difficult to make prescriptions.

“Only days ago, the Minister of Information, and chief spokesman of the country, Labaran Maku, trivialised the Boko Haram crisis by blaming it on Borno State government. Maku is the one to educate, not just Nigerians, but the entire world on what constitutes Boko Haram. However, the driver happens to be blind.

Supervising minister “What would make one really disturbed is that Maku was the supervising Minister of Defence for some time. No one might even know the extent he might have inflicted his understanding of Boko Haram on security chiefs he had worked with.

Boko Haram crisis is highly misunderstood by many people, some of whom, unfortunately are in positions to form part of those that will make decisions to fight it. Let us not forget that Maku is a member of the Federal Executive Council ”Let me dismiss belief in some quarters that the Boko Haram insurgency is aimed at stopping President Jonathan from succeeding in his assignment. There is the unfortunate saying that Boko Haram is an agenda to stop a southern President from doing his job. Of all the attacks by Boko Haram from 2002, their major attacks were in 2009 when Mohammed Yusuf was killed under a northern President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. The attacks snowballed in 2011 till date. So, what are we talking about?

“I am deeply worried about the understanding of Boko Haram because the solution lies in all of us understanding it and facing it with sincerity. The problem is that those who do not understand the crisis can inflict others that might include those in position to directly deal with it. The misconception can trickle from the topmost level to the ground fighters and this is very dangerous. Then, they say that the Borno State government is not supportive on the fight against insurgency.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014—51 start the orphanage was my wife’s, Dr. Rev. Beauty Ochuko Okah; but it was not fully concretized until I read a newspaper at Evangel Christian University, Monroe, Louisiana USA about the death of the parents of two little kids in an automobile accident and how an orphanage quickly picked them up. I related it to Nigeria, what would have happened to those orphans.

They were met at their point of need. The orphanMOST Reverend Michael Edaduri Okah, founder and first rector of Christ the Rock age has in fact, exposed us to the kindness and conInterdenominational Bible College, is a man of deep and insightful thought who cern of informed Nigeriwas consecrated archbishop in March this year. In this interview, he appeals to the ans about the wellbeing of the less privileged in the northern leaders to talk to the Boko Haram people just as he advises our law ensociety. The vision came to forcement agents to co-operate with the foreign experts, et al. Excerpts: us because my mother died when I was four years and I know what I went URING your investiture service, through in the hands of you launched a book titled, Hisstep mothers. We have tory of Pentecostal Movement in some kids with us whose Nigeria. What motivated you to write mothers died during birth. the book?

We try to make them comIn fact, I witnessed the whole movefortable, happy and have ment in Nigeria, its coming, when God a sense of belonging. actually visited Nigeria so to say. Not Churches everywhere, that the orthodox churches were not yet crime seems to be on trying: they built schools, had followthe rise. Are these ers with effective church administration; churches really doing but when Pentecostalism entered Nianything to contain their geria it changed the whole concept of members?

Christianity we used to know. But one Churches are thing I noticed was that scholarship has wonderful!!!

Of course not been so established in the Pentecrime will be on the costal churches. We only preach and increase. So it was in the shout; “Praise God, Halelluya.” I redays of Noah. When he ceived the inspiration to chronicle how was preaching, the people we began because so many people padid not listen. So as it was rade themselves as pastors and bishin the days of Noah so ops. That was the motivation. shall it be in the days of In the book you referred to a woman Son of man. We are preachwho brought trouble to the world and ing and they continue in another, a source of liberation. Could their evil. I tell you, were you elaborate on this? it not for the churches this Some Pentecostal churches do not country would have been believe in the ministry of women. It is something else. Take for true that the singular act of Eve brought *Most Rev. Michael Okah instance, if all the youths curse to this world, but it is a woman who assemble in our too who gave birth to Jesus Christ who churches were to join Boko cleansed the world. One woman did a wrong and another repaired it. Why do Haram, what do you think this country to arrest insurgency in Nigeria? we say women should not preach or be would have become?

Leaders in the North are not talking in ministry?

Do you envisage the collapse of new about Boko Haram. These people generation churches one day? should be appealed to; the emirs, poliWomen in No, because true churches will stand ticians and governors in those places the test of time. Jesus Christ said: 'I will ministry should initiate processes of negotiation. build my church and the gate of hell There is a precedence. When we had It is to encourage people that they the problem should not condemn women because of militants Let us all go down on our knees...some they have a place in ministry. in the Nigercannot be praying and others are playing...

On insecurity… Chibok girls, Delta, we got indiscriminate killings and serial together and Our politicians are playing with Nigeria bombings talked to them and eventually they laid down Well, biblically we’re living in the last cannot prevail against it.' The churches their arms. Let them talk to their peodays and a lot of things are bound to which are the ark of Noah will stay for ple and stop heaping the blame on the happen. What we are witnessing now eternity. The ark saved the people at Central Government. In spite of the asis just the beginning of sorrow. Many Noah’s time; so the Church is the savior sistance from the international commupeople accuse President Goodluck of the days of the Son of man. nity I will also appeal to our security Jonathan of not tackling insecirity. InIn the midst of these turbulent days, agents to be more alert because the fresecurity had been with us before the what’s your prayer for the nation? quency and magnitude of these operaemergence of Jonathan administration.

We will survive. In the midst of many tions are embarrassing.

As for what Boko Haram is doing today troubles come viable options. To God On the National Conference I would say anti-Christ has visited Niwe are not in trouble. To the best of my The idea of the National Conference geria. How else do you explain Nigeriknowledge, many churches in the counis okay. The expectation is that someans killing Nigerians needlessly? We try have set up prayer groups to pray thing useful will come out. We give keep praying over these things and they for this nation. Let us all go down on them the benefit of doubt that in the keep happening. Look at the abduction our knees. Some cannot be praying and final analysis they may come up with of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok, others are playing. Our politicians are something new instead of the usual rebombing churches and mosques, vilplaying with Nigeria. This is the probcurring decimal that has been the halllages, et al. These are all unimaginalem. We are praying, some are playing mark of past conferences. ble things. In fact, in war situations, with Nigeria. Praying in public places, Does your ministry runs an orphanwomen, the aged or unarmed people politicians would advise “don’t pray age? are treated like sacred cows---protected. long.” What kind of advice? Don’t pray Yes. Christ the Rock Kingdom Church Anybody collaborating with Boko long. Now we are suffering long. How is an entity under which is the DaughHaram is an enemy of this country. do we do it? This is a problem. But terson Orphanage. The original idea to What could be done beside prayers whatever happens Nigeria will survive.

Northern leaders should dialogue with Boko Haram—Archbishop Okah

D

,

Akinde urges FG to tackle corruption, insecurity

A

RCHBISHOP of La gos and bishop of the Diocese of Lagos Mainland, (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Adebayo Akinde has called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts in curbing insecurity, corruption and other social vices in the country, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. A communiqué released at the end of the second session of the third Synod of the Diocese of Lagos Mainland at both the St. Jude Anglican Church, Ebute Meta and All Saints’ Church, Yaba between May 22 and May 25 with the theme: "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” the bishop stressed the need to tackle corruption.

Lamenting on the high rate of corruption in the country, Dr. Akinde said there is lack of political will to prosecute those who are evidently corrupt at both federal and state levels.

This single attitude, according to him, makes a mockery of the nation's much vaunted fight against corruption, and sends very wrong signals to potential investors.

His words: "Impunity only begets more crime. Therefore all proved cases of official graft must be prosecuted. That way, this socio-economic malaise can be reduced to the barest minimum."

Activities of insurgents The bishop also urged government to make the country safe by curtailing the activities of insurgents, kidnappers and other criminal activities.

The cleric bemoaned the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, describing the act as medieval, callous and criminal while urging the Federal and Borno State governments to do everything possible to ensure the students are brought back to their families safe and alive.

According to him, this is no time for puerile politics, but a time to convey the message that Nigeria is not a failed or failing state.

Praying for the success of the ongoing National Conference, the cleric hoped that the outcome of the conference will bring healing to the country.

He then advised the delegates to be focused.

On next year's general elections, Akinde advised government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the elections were free, fair and credible, to avoid further deterioration in the country.

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52—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

APC/PDP clash:

Fayose briefs president

BY BEN AGANDE

A

HEAD of the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met behind closed-doors with the Peoples Democratic Party candidates of the two states Ayodele Fayose and Iyiola Omisore respectively.

The meeting was held at the Presidential Villa, and allegedly centred on the preparations of the two candidates.

Though the two candidates arrived separately for the meeting, they left together after the meeting.

Ayo Fayose who spoke with State House correspondents after the meeting said the

••Monarch

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

T

HE Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Idowu Adamo Babalola has expressed concern over the rising spate of violence in the state.

The monarch also cautioned the state Police Commissioner, Mr Felix Uyanna to desist from giving life ammunition, to police officers while checking peaceful demonstrations.

While referring to Sunday’s incident where supporters of the APC and PDP engaged in a bloody clash which led to the death of one Taiwo Akinola, the monarch cautioned that the state should not be turned into a theatre of war.

•President Jonathan

•Fayose

confrontation between his supporters and those of the APC which led to the death of

one of his supporters was discussed.

Giving his account of what happened on Sunday, he said

warns police He said “we don’t want Ekiti to be turned into a theatre of war as being preached in Abuja”.

He, therefore appealed to all politicians to embrace peace for the coming election to be peaceful and acceptable to all parties.”

The monarch also called on the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar to effect the immediate removal of the Commander of Mobile Police Force in Ekiti, Mr Gabriel Serenkele.

“In all civilised nations, police are meant to maintain, peace and protect the citizens. The barbaric act exhibited on Sunday by a member of the Nigeria Police Force gunning down an innocent

LP chides APC for re-branding corpse

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

L

ABOUR Party candidate Opeyemi Bamidele has faulted the APC for seemingly making political gain from the murder of Taiwo Akinola last Sunday.

Bamidele said that the APC in Ekiti state has been “acting in a manner as if the slain youth was its card-carrying member until he met his death, thereby pretending to be on the defensive.”

According to him, “the body language of APC leaders and that of Governor Kayode Fayemi in the last seventy two hours indicated that they were playing to the gallery, trying to look innocent where they are guilty.”

In a statement by his media aide, Ahmed Salami, the governorship candidate bemoaned the APC for turning the unfortunate incident to

•Bamidele politics.

“We are amused by the recent horse trading trailing the death of Taiwo Akinola who was killed in Ado Ekiti on Sunday morning by the ruling APC in Ekiti. Part of APC’s attempts to pull the wool over the eyes of Ekiti people in this tragedy was the dramatic covering of Akinola’s corpse with an APC-JKF branded vest at a time when a first aid support should have been offered him.”

citizen is totally unwarranted and unacceptable to the Council of Obas in Ekiti State. It is condemnable entirely.“

APC supporters accosted his supporters who were coming from a campaign outing and later killed one of them.

He said, “What happened on Sunday was that APC supporters went about sweeping the feet of the President who on Saturday led PDP bigwigs to a mega rally in Ado-Ekiti. I don’t even have any objection to that because that is part of politics.

“There are some of my supporters who always sleep over in my campaign office.

These people wearing my branded green T-shirts were returning home and the APC

COSEG warns against rigging

BY DAPO AKINREFON

A

pan-Yoruba socio-political pressure organization, Coalition of Oodua SelfDetermination Groups (COSEG), has advised the PDP against any attempt to rig the election, warning that the consequence of such an attempt would not augur well for his government and the

PDP plans telecoms cut, mass attack —APC cries out

BY DAPO AKINREFON

T

HE APC has accused the PDP of planning to breach telecommunication transmission networks across Ekiti State.

The party said it uncovered the plan by the PDP to disrupt communication flow among poll monitors and INEC staff so as to “hamper communication among APC members to make it impossible to respond to emergencies in hot spots where PDP plans to rig elections.”

Also, it alleged that the PDP plans to “unleash mayhem in the state, killing APC members to be clad in PDP colours and then blame the act on APC.” The party maintained that the plan is to allegedly “paint APC members black among Nigerians, thus necessitating extraordinary security measures by the Federal Government that will put fears in the minds of APC members after their leaders would have been arrested for murder.”

A statement by APC’s interim State Chairman, Chief Jide Awe, said aside planning to disrupt communication in the major telecommunication networks, “two South West governorship candidates of PDP met in Akure, the Ondo State capital, where they perfected plans to start the orgy of violence leading to the killings of APC members, don the

people accosted them.

“They macheted some of my supporters and even killed one of them. They were at the point of removing the deceased’s branded T-shirt and replacing it with APC shirt when the OC MOPOL arrived the scene.

“As he was trying to stop them, Fayemi drove in to block him. It was when they wanted to mob the police officer that he shot teargas into the air.”

He however claimed that his supporters remained focused despite the attack and still fully mobilised to vote for him in the forthcoming election.

corpse in PDP colours and blame it on APC leaders after which APC leaders would be arrested for murder.”

Call for redeployment of Compol

Ajijola faults Fayemi

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

CHIEFTAIN of the PDP in Ekiti State, Mr Lati Ajijola has condemned Governor Kayode Fayemi’s call for the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Felix Uyanna, saying he, Fayemi and members of his party, the APC should rather be held responsible for last Sunday’s violent incident.

The PDP chieftain rather accused the APC for being behind most of the recent violence in the state.

Fayemi had called for the redeployment of Mr. Uyanna and the MOPOL commander, Mr. Gabriel Selenkere over the Sunday clash between supporters of the PDP and APC. “Calling the removal of the Police chiefs for a crime committed by All Progressives Congress (APC) thugs is a deceit carried too far by Fayemi and his party.”

•Fayemi nation as a whole.

COSEG also threw its weight behind the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor John Kayode Fayemi for the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos, the National Chairman of the group, Dayo Ogunlana said “Any attempt at rigging Ekiti Governorship election will lead to serious uproar. The on-going insurgency in some northern parts of the country ought to have given concern to a responsive and responsible government and warn it against any other act that would be capable of putting the country in more trouble.”.

The group stated that the attempted assassination on Dr. Kayode Fayemi on Sunday was an eye opener that has challenged COSEG and the people of Ekiti State to be prepared for June 21 battle.

“This is a challenge we shall face and as usual the people will win. We will not stay aloof and allow a thug or people with no value, dignity and credibility be foisted on our people in Ekiti, no, not in our region.

“COSEG, having diagnosed and evaluated the potentials, attributes and characters and records of performance of the candidates, found out that Dr. Kayode Fayemi is above all and the only candidate who can genuinely stand not only with Ekiti people but also with Yorubas at this difficult time in the history of Nigeria,” Ogunlana declared.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014—53

54—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014—55

56 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO, ONITSHA

F

OR residents of Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of the South Eastern part of the country, these are not the best of times. Reason: The rising occurrence of collapsed buildings in the city has unsettled many residents who are not sure of which building will cave in the next time.

To deepen their fear, the collapses are not restricted only two old buildings. In fact, out of the recorded cases of building collapse in the town, more are either new buildings or those under construction. Available statistics show that no fewer than 10 buildings have collapsed between 2000 and 2014. Six of these were new buildings while the rest were old ones.

The most recent ones were the collapse of an old three-storey building at the Fegge area of Onitsha, early last year. This was followed by the collapse of another five-storey building still under construction at Obanye Street. The most recent collapse occurred penultimate Monday when a four-storey building which had reached the plastering stage, fell like a pack of cards.

The latest incident occurred at about 1.00 p.m. when the building suddenly came down, killing four persons, including three artisans doing the plastering job. Also killed was a church worker looking after the St. Christopher’s Anglican Church premises, Odoakpu, where the building was situated.

Eyewitnesses told Vanguard Features, VF that it was only God’s intervention that prevented the death of many pupils of the primary school located within the compound. The pupils who usually played in the collapsed building, had just returned to their classrooms after the break, when the building crumbled.

Late rescue operation VF further learnt that four hours after the collapse of the building,

Frequent buildings collapse:

Fear grips Onitsha residents

*One of the collapsed buildings in Onitsha Cross. Similarly, Onitsha South Local Government could not provide excavators or cranes to assist in removing the debris from the

,

Eye-witnesses told newsmen that four hours after the collapse of the building, no rescue team was on hand to clear the debris and probably save the trapped victims from the clutches of death

no rescue team was on hand to clear the debris and probably save the trapped victims from the clutches of death. Rescue operation only commenced when the victims had already given up the ghost. Rescue operation however started when members of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, NRCS and other voluntary agencies and individuals arrived the scene of the disaster.

Eyewitness accounts informed that officials of the Church were not on hand to to assist the Red C M Y K

,

collapsed site But the Chairman of he Onitsha South Council, Mrs Ann Chukwuneke, attributed the collapse to poor materials and supervision. She charged the Anambra State Urban Development Board, ASUDEB, to, as a matter of necessity, hand over approved building plans to the Council engineer who would oversee the supervision of the construction of such projects.

Also reacting, the Council engineer, Mr Oluchukwu John

and the Liaison Officer, Emeka Okafor corroborated the Chairman’s reason for the collapse of the property.

The Ogirishi Igbo (Igbo Spiritual leader), Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, also attributed the collapse to poor quality materials. He called for the use of only high quality materials in erecting buildings of such size.

Ezeonwuka also stressed the need for builders to do soil tests to determine the suitability of the soil where the building is being erected.

Meanwhile, the church has debunked claims that about 15 persons died in the incident. The Parish Mission Committee, PMC of the St. Christopher’s Anglican Church insisted that only four persons lost their lives in the disaster.

The Chairman of PMC, Evangelist Kingsley Agbadike told newsmen at the scene of the

...Yet another incident that three of the victims were artisans plastering the building, while the other was a church yardman who was just sweeping a corner of the rooms when the incident occurred.

Agbadike further confirmed that construction work on the building which was designed as Parish office, commenced in 2012. it was roofed in February this year and was at the plastering stage when it caved in.

Government to set up materials testing lab He said the caterpillars were still evacuating the debris of the collapsed building, after which investigations would commence on the actual cause of the building collapse.

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State who visited the site of the collapsed building unveiled plans by his govern-

ment to commission a laboratory that would test and verify the quality of all the materials used for the building.

The Governor who was received at the site by the Anglican Bishop On The Niger, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo, emphasised that the laboratory which would be commissioned by next week, would also be used for testing all the materials to be used for future building construction in the State. This is to ensure that only quality standard materials were used and to forestall further building collapse in the state.

The proposed laboratory, he said, would operate like the drug laboratory to ensure maximum quality.

The Governor directed the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Callistus Ilozumba to carry out a technical survey of another building within the premises of the collapsed building in order to ensure that it met the required structural standard. He warned builders in the state not to cut corners, stressing that hence-

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

— 57

Welcome to Arepo where vandals are kings

Poor quality materials Speaking at the 7th edition of the Perspective, the annual lecture series of the chamber, Ajibo regretted that low quality imported and locally produced materials have flooded the Nigerian markets and created serious obstacles to our national development. ”We should follow world standard and depart from low quality standard both on what we produce and those we import, both consumables and non consumables,” he said. He regretted the number of lives and properties so far lost to buildings collapse, saying it has impacted negatively on the organised private sector, OPS, which the Chamber represents.

In his own reaction, the Chairman of South East Zone of the Campaign for Democracy, CD, Dede Uzor A. Uzor canvassed the setting up of a committee to monitor all building projects in the state.

When set up, the committee, he said, should screen all those who claim to be engineers and building contractors, as well as building materials being imported into the country.

Police patrol in search of pipeline vandals

BY DAUD OLATUNJI, ABEOKUTA

H

UNDREDS of lives, including those of security men and vandals, have been lost to pipelines explosions at Arepo, a community in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. The community is host to several oil pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation, NNPC .

The vandals are fond of deliberately breaking or rupturing pipelines which transport refined petroleum products from the Atlas Cove Jetty in Lagos to the Western states, including Kwara State.

The NNPC said it lost about N3.6billion to last year’s pipeline vandalism of its System 2B Pipeline at Arepo, in Ogun State. Aside the financial losses, Vanguard Features, VF, learnt that no fewer than 20 suspected pipeline vandals were burnt to death when a ruptured NNPC pipeline exploded into flames.

Petroleum products The vandals were said to have gone to the area to siphon petroleum products from the ruptured pipeline which caught fire and consumed them.

It was gathered that the explosion was sparked off by one of the vandals who released a gunshot into the air to assert his superiority over his colleagues. VF checks revealed that these vandals have become kings, wielding enormous powers which the security personnel attached to the facilities, cannot match.

In fact, the gains from the illicit oil deals in Arepo creeks appear to be too attractive for the vandals and their accomplices, hence they are not willing to let go in a hurry. They usually defy the men of the Nigeria Police Force, whose station is located about 500 metres away from the creeks, to siphon fuel with ease. There are unsubstantiated claims by the residents that these vandals are aided by men in uniform. This allegation is premised on

the fact that apart from the police, other military personnel occasionally patrol the area but with little or no result to show for their ‘efforts’.

VF recalls that a few months ago, a traditional ruler in the area, Oba Solomon Oyebi, gave the security outfit another office within the town distinct from the portion of land he had earlier given to the security men to build their security post.

A recurring decimal Pipelines vandalism has become a recurring decimal since 2010. It, however,

,

forth, the state government would prosecute any contractor whose construction work collapses.

Diocese sets up committee to investigate collapse As a fallout of the collapse, Bishop Nwokolo has set up a Diocesan Committee of Inquiry to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the collapse. A press statement issued by the Diocesan Director of Communication, Sir Oseloka Offor said the standing committee of experts and professionals would determine the quality of work going on in all the church projects in the diocese as a means of stemming future occurrence.

The statement stated that in accordance with the tradition, the building cannot be enlisted as one of the church projects until it was certified by the diocesan consultants.

The church noted that as soon as it got wind of the collapse, it contacted Julius Berger Construction Company, Consolidated Construction Company, CCC and other construction companies operating in the commercial town, which joined in the rescue efforts.

Director-General of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ONICCIMA, Mr. Dominic Ajibo also aligned with those who attributed the collapse of buildings to poor quality materials.

by them indiscriminately.

The latest incident which left in its trail the disappearance of some policemen after a gun duel with the hoodlums, has unsettled the hitherto peaceful community. Spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye explained that the difficult terrain of the area is hampering access to the place, thereby making it difficult to apprehend the notorious vandals.

It would be recalled that at least nine policemen attached to the InspectorGeneral of Police Special Anti - Vandalism squad, were allegedly apprehended by the oil thieves. VF learnt from a security source that Police authorities did not want to disclose the actual number of missing policemen in order not to discourage their colleagues and aggravate the security situation in the country.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the Ogun State, Muyiwa Adejobi, had told VF after the abduction that many people were trapped in the incident. But he refused to confirm the actual figure of missing policemen.

Residents’ plight Meanwhile, residents of the area have cried out for help from the government to quickly arrest these incidents. Those who spoke to VF noted that peace has eluded the area. Many of them alleged that the vandals are not living in the neighbourhood. Their fear is that another explosion may soon erupt in the community with its attendant devastation.

An unconfirmed report claimed that some security men in the area have a pact with the vandals. The recent attacks,

Apart from loss of lives,the NNPC said it lost about N3.6 billion to the last year’s pipeline vandalism of its System 2B Pipeline at Arepo, in Ogun State

assumed a deadly dimension between 2013 and this year. Their renewed onslaught came on January 11, 2014 when they (vandals) destroyed some NNPC facilities in the area. The incident led to multiple deaths. Apparently not satisfied with this attack, the vandals two weeks later, struck again and were able to escape.

It was, however, learnt that some of the oil thieves and their lieutenants were consumed in the inferno caused by the vandalism. Two rival groups which were involved in the illicit oil business, were said to have engaged in hot arguments which resulted into gunshots being fired

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according to the allegation, was sequel to a breach of that pact by the security personnel who attacked the vandals. It was also gathered that the vandals resorted to the abduction of the policemen to punish them for reneging on their agreement.

Despite these allegations, the traditional ruler of the area, Oba Oyebi wants urgent steps to be taken to stem the rising occurrence of pipelines vandalism in the predominantly farming community. He regretted that their farmlands have been destroyed and rivers contaminated by the activities of these oil thieves.

Another police patrol ...

C M Y K

58 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11 , 2014

Iraq PM calls emergency as troops flee T HE Iraqi prime minister has called for a national state of emergency after the city of Mosul and parts of the northern province of Nineveh fell to al-Qaedainspired fighters.

Nouri al-Maliki said yesterday that he would ask parliament to declare the emergency after the overnight takeoverby groups including the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.

He said: “We will not allow Mosul to be under the banner of terrorism, We call on all international organisations to support

Iraq and its stance in fighting terrorism. The entire world will suffer if terrorism spreads.”

He stated that the government would arm and equip civilians who volunteered “to defend the homeland and defeat terrorism”.

This came as Militants seized control of the airport, TV stations and the governor’s offices in Iraq’s second-largest city as police and soldiers ran away from their posts, a stunning collapse of the security forces that has raised questions about Prime Minister Nuri al-

Maliki’s ability to hold the country together.

Thousands of people — some carrying plastic bags, others pushing carts — have fled the fighting in Mosul, creating a humanitarian crisis that has caught the government off guard.

The militants are believed to be members of the extremist group the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, an al Qaeda splinter group also known by its acronym ISIS. Many foreign fighters are believed to be among their number, senior police officials said.

Civilians flee Ukrainian city amid attacks

S

OZENS of charred bicycles stand upright in the rubble of a burnt-out sports shop in Slaviansk, a strategic stronghold for pro-Russian separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.

After a week of intensified shelling by government forces, windows of buildings on the outskirts of the city have been blown out, fires have gutted stores and the hulks of damaged Soviet-era cars lie abandoned in the road.

A few stores were still operating in the leafy town center, where the muffled sound of mortar fire drifts in from areas around the city edges, but life has been transformed even there.

A few days ago, residents were showing de-

fiance by carrying on their lives as best they could.

Now only a handful of people dare to walk in the open near the city hall, barricaded by sandbags and fenced off by the rebels. Others have fled.

“Why do my children

APOSTASY: Sudan judges to rule on Christian woman

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three-judge panel in Sudan will examine the appeal of a Christian woman sentenced to hang for apostasy, in a case that has drawn international condemnation, her lawyer said Monday.

“The judiciary appointed three judges last week to examine the

German Minister visits Nigeria on business talks

BY EMEKA AGINAM

T

HE German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dr. Gerd Müller, arrived Lagos yesterday for a state visit on business potentials in Nigeria.

The Minister which will be in Abuja today will meet with representatives of the German business community in Lagos to discuss among other things, business opportunities, the already existing cooperation in the field of vocational training for young Nigerians as well as the NigerianGerman Energy

and I have to know every day what time the shelling will start?” asked Nina Moiseyeva, tears rolling down her face as she walked with two bags of groceries. “We know when to expect it every morning: eight or nine o’clock.”

Partnership.

Accordingly, the delegation will also travel to Ogun State to visit several projects supported

by Germany in the framework of the GermanNigerian development cooperation.

appeal filed in the case of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag,” lawyer Mohanad Mustafa told AFP, without specifying when they will deliver a ruling.

Ishag, who was born to a Muslim father, was sentenced to death on May 15 under the Islamic sharia law that has been in place since 1983, and which outlaws conversions under pain of death.

The 27-year-old was raised an Orthodox Christian, her mother ’s religion, married a Christian man originally from South Sudan and already had a 20-monthold son before she gave birth on May 27.

"Friendly fire" kills five US troops in Afghanistan

F

IVE American troops were killed in an apparent coalition airstrike in southern Afghanistan, officials said yesterday, in one of the worst friendly fire incidents involving United States and coalition troops since the start of the nearly 14 year war.

The U.S.-led

international coalition said the service members were killed in an apparent friendly fire incident, which an Afghan official said was an airstrike in southern Zabul province. A statement said all five soldiers died on Monday but did not give further details.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 — 59

Nyanya blast victims obtain relief materials

BY EVELYN USMAN

A

MULTINATIONAL medical company, Johnson and Johnson, has donated relief and medical devices to three hospitals in Abuja for the treatment of victims of Nyanya and Zuba bomb blasts.

The products are valued at N3 million , according to the company's Market Development Manager in charge of Anglophone West Africa, Mr Eyong Ebai.

Hospitals reportedly sent some of the victims of the May 1 bomb blast that rocked Zuba Park in Nyanya home owing to lack of space and facilities to treat them.

Eyong said it was against this back drop that the company is supporting with lifesaving efforts of surgeons to treat the victims.

“The donation is our little way of showing support and assistance to the victims, with a view to allowing them have access to medical products that they may not be able to provide for themselves. It is also aimed at boosting efforts of management of the hospitals geared towards availability of needed facilities to treat the victims.

"Rather than making cash donation, we felt it will have greater impact on the casualties by providing the hospitals with products that can actually be used in the operations and treatment of the patients.

"The donated products are a combination of sutures and

sterilisation product to help with infection control and other surgical product that can be used by surgeons when victims are operated on.

“After ascertaining the kind of wounds they sustained, doctors will use the product for the immediate treatment of patients in the hospital" he stated.

Lamenting the devastating effect of the incident on the victims, Eyong expressed hope that other private companies would also come to their aid by making donations that would expedite action for their treatment.

Medical mission saves lives in Apapa

BY CHIOMA OBINNA HEN Musiliu Adetona, 63, was diagnosed with with a blood sugar level of 576 during a Medical Mission recently, doctors described him “walking corpse.”

Musiliu is one of millions of Nigerians ignorantly walking around with lifethreatening illnesses. But thanks to the medical outreach by the Arise Women of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos Province 4, City of David, held for residents of Apapa Community in Lagos, less privileged Nigerianshave better access to medical treatment.

Dr. Ademola Lafenwa who attended to Musiliu, said cases like his abound during each medical outreach.

W

•Some of the beneficiaries of the Medical Mission organised by the Arise Women of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos Province 4, City of David, for residents of Apapa in Lagos.

“When we get to communities like this, I’m particularly shocked by people not knowing their health status. We see people that are diabetic or hypertensive without being aware.”

He said through such medical outreaches several Nigerians could be saved from incidences of irreversible illnesses such as stroke, kidney failure, heart attack and sudden death.

Lafenwa also noted that many Nigerians were still unaware of the need for regular health check-up.

No fewer than 600 residents of Apapa including men, women and children benefited received medical services such as free consultations, free drugs, screening for diabetes mellitus, cancer, hypertension, malaria, pneumonia and teeth care.

The Mission, which held at the United Children Primary School ground, Bombay, Apapa have on ground, two ambulances and a mobile clinic, owned

by Arise Women and dedicated to such outreaches.

Convener of Arise Women, and wife of the Resident Pastor, Mrs. Siju Iluyomade, said the medical wellbeing of women was one of their focal programmes, providing medical intervention in every community they were led by God. “What we have decided to do is go round Lagos State as much as we can.

We will be able to expand this to the rest of the country.”

She noted that illiteracy has remained a major problem and poverty is also a problem because people feel that when you go to hospital you will pay “but you cannot compare life with any amount of money.”

Customer service in Nigerian healthcare A

S I settle down in this Intercity train from Manchester to London, the initial subject of today's article has been substituted for an account of an incident that occurred this morning at a hospital just outside Manchester.

A visiting Nigerian Consultant Surgeon stormed out of the Theatre Suite. "I was advised this morning to do electronic rather than paper discharge letters," he said.

"It has to be electronic for the hospital to get paid for the patients you have operated upon," I said.

"They are just telling me that," the Surgeon threw his hands up. "I did paper discharges yesterday. Operated on eight patients. Earned nothing for the hospital."

"So do electronic today," I said.

"I cannot log into their network. Their entire EHR is different. I have stopped the list until they get IT to log me on.

The theatre staff are insisting I do paper discharges. They said, 'after all, you will be paid. Why

worry about the hospital getting paid?'

"Why worry about the hospital getting paid?" I repeated.

In that statement lies the deep roots of customer service in healthcare delivery. The waiter has just set down a tray of gastronomic delicacies in front of me, with a glass of cabernet sauvignon to top it all.

Am I truly on a train? When can we travel like this from Lagos to Abuja? Please permit me a respite in the delivery of this article. Hmmnnn...

Cost of health services

Health services cost money.

Even when "free", someone is paying for it. It is a business and, like all businesses, it must somehow be profitable.

The profits may not necessarily be monetary.

Improved health status and statistics of the citizenry translates to better productivity and increased economic potential. The patient, the customer, is the ONLY reason the service exists. Without the

patient, there is no clinic, facility or hospital.

Staff attitudes to patients and employers vary greatly across countries, systems and cultures.

By "staff" I mean, doctors, nurses, cleaners, technicians, orderlies....everyone employed in a healthcare facility.

To many patients it is the interactions with staff that are most memorable. The way the nurses address them; the warmth and bedside manner of the doctors; the tone of the receptionist; the smiles, the touch, the compassion shown....these are the, positive or negative images and emotions that patients take home.

Degrees of servive My surgical friend in Manchester belonged to a rare breed of Nigerian doctors. He held practicing medical licenses in the USA, UK and in Nigeria.

He had experienced three different degrees of customer service in the three locations.

In Group 1, the staff will do enough to ensure job security.

They treat patients like family.

doctor@lagospainclinic.com They follow hospital policies, protocols and guidelines. Any deviation from standards of practice may lead to internal memos, incident reports, disciplinary committees and possible de-registration.

However, to these staff, the financial success of the "organisation" is secondary.

Cost saving or revenue enhancing practices are ensured only as set in the organisation's guidelines, and only as far as their positions are secured.

The organisation or business enterprise is a mystic entity to which they are unrelated or distantly related.

In the second variant of staff attitudes, there is everything from the first group..plus the belief that the enterprise must succeed. There is a sense of investiture in the facility and its success. If the organisation makes money, not only do they

have job security, but they are also rewarded with financial benefits, like bonuses, vacation time, and CPD time. The business is, indirectly, their business.

Then there is Group 3. Staff have little or no concern about job insecurity. Their positions are safe, no matter their customer service failings.

Where there are organisational protocols and procedures these staff are inconsistent in compliance. To them the patient is a nuisance to be met with impertinence and impatience.

Attempts may even be made at self gratification to the detriment of organisation and/or patient.

All three staff attitudes are found in each of the three countries stated. In which customer service attitude group would you place staff in your local clinic or hospital? My train has just rolled into Iddo Terminus. Sorry, Euston.

60— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Uncer tainty over Omeruo’s fitness

S

UPER Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo’s level of fitness could still not be ascertained even as the team jetted out of the USA yesterday. The Chelsea defender missed a number of regular training sessions in America due to an injury he cupped after he was tackled by Victor Moses and picked up a minor knock.

The player was unable to cap against USA because of the knock The 11-times Nigeria representative had to miss the training session after. Instead his training was light and individual.

Defenders are a valuable resource for the

•Enyeama

Enyeama: Time for Africa to win World Cup S UPER Eagles and Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, believes that an African team can reach out for the World Cup this year.

Among the teams that are capable of doing great in the Brazilian tournament Enyeama tipped Ghana, Ivory Coast and of course Nigeria. Cameroon and Algeria are the other two, unmentioned representatives of the African continent.

“It (an African side winning the World Cup) can happen. It can happen. Nigeria has a good team; Ghana has a great team. Cote d’Ivoire has

Continues from B/P The doubt in Nigerians trails a string of unimpressive results the Super Eagles produced in the friendly matches played in London against Scotland and in the US against Greece and USA respectively.

Most Nigerians wrote off the team, particularly after their last match against the US which the Eagles lost 1-2.

Worrisome was the unco-ordinated midfield, a somewhat confusing defence formation

a great, amazing team.” said Enyeama “I believe an African team can win the World Cup. It can happen. I don’t believe in negativity. I am a very positive

person so, I believe it can happen in Brazil.”

But historically this happening would break the statistics as only three times African teams reached the quar-

ter-finals: 1990 Cameroon (lost to England 23 after extra time), 2002 Senegal (lost to Turkey 0-1) and Ghana in 2010 (lost to Uruguay after penalties).

Eagles happy with W/Cup bonus plan

S

•Maigari

Keshi and a lack of rhythm in the Eagles attack. The team was in shambles, as the US players ran rings around them and Altidore, the two-goal hero on the night mesmerized. Nigerians watched helplessly.

Sports Vanguard sought the views of the head coach on the state of the team which takes on Iran on Monday.

Keshi was economical in his expression as he simply said, “no shaking,” meaning there is

UPER Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo says the players of the national team are satisfied with the proposal of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over bonuses for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

Yobo and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel had earlier met no cause for alarm. He insisted that the results from the friendly matches should not be used as yardsticks for measuring the level of preparedness of his team.

“We are in Brazil for serious business.

Friendlies are meant to serve as rehearsals.

They are different from competitive matches.

This is not an excuse for our performance in the matches, but seriously speaking, the results do not mean anything to me, Evaluate us in the World Cup.”

with the top NFF members to demand an appearance fee for the 2014 World Cup. This is outside the match bonus, which starts at $10,000-a-man for a first round match win, announced for the players for Brazil 2014.

Continues from B/P Stephen Keshi’s men will be hoping to begin their World Cup campaign on a winning note when they face Carlos Queiroz’s side at the Arena da Baixaba in Curtiba on June 16.

The 33-year old defender said that despite not winning any of their pre-World Cup friendlies, all is now set for the Eagles to have a brilliant outing in Brazil starting with the game against Iran before facing Bosnia and Argentina.

“We believe in ourselves. We have played

Super Eagles as earlier on Uwa Elderson Echiejile was supposedly knocked out of the World Cup and his place was taken by Ejike Uzoenyi, who is a winger or forward. If the injury rules Omeruo out of the squad for the match against Iran it would be very bad news for Nigeria as the variety of defending formations will shrink to an even poorer level. The Nigeria national team arrived in Soa Paulo last night.

•Omeruo

Uzoenyi Continues from B/P Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the World Cup. Uzoenyi had returned to Enugu were he had resumed training with his Glo Premier League club side, Enugu Rangers.

He trained with Rangers Monday evening and yesterday morning.

The petite winger I his team mates after yesterday’s training that he had already booked a mid-morning flight to Lagos, from where he will connect with a 10:00pm flight to Brazil.”

The winger took part in

Tuesday morning’s training session with his team-mates at Enugu Rangers, to keep him in good shape before he arrives at the team’s camp at the Vitoria Hotel Concept in Campinas.

Ejike’s place in the squad was shrouded in confusion as a section of the media reported yesterday that Echejile had been recalled. But FIFA has since reflected the change on it website, naming Uzoenyi with the number 3 jersey, originally meant for injured Echejile.

We are ready some friendly games.

Not the results we expected but we have learnt a lot from it,” Yobo said. “(The games were) a little bit experimental as well, but now were ready to go so come the first game against Iran, we’ll make sure we do very well and get the three points.

“Yes, they’re right, but as I said these games sometimes it’s experimental, to try different things. The World Cup is the ultimate.

“We are also disap-

pointed that we didn’t win because we want to win and get the confidence.

“But the game is over now. You take the positives from it and look forward to the bigger targets. We want them to still believe in this team, we need their support because without their support we can’t go anywhere,” he concluded.

Nigeria did not win any of their three preWorld Cup friendlies forcing Scotland and Greece to a draw and losing 2-1 to the United States of America.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 — 61

World Cup: 24 hours to go

Dutch fans pessimistic as Holland get set Pele: Rooney will shine for Spain

A

S Holland begin their World Cup campaign against Spain on Friday, Coach Louis Van Gaal has targeted the semi-finals but the view at home is more pessimistic. A largely inexperienced squad, possessing a number of talented individuals, is expected to finish second to Spain. That would probably mean a last- 16 tie against Brazil and Dutch fans fear that would be the end of their tournament.

Before taking over at Manchester United, Van Gaal is desperate to exorcise the ghost of Holland’s 2002 World Cup nightmare. Van Gaal has had an illustrious managerial career with clubs including Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich but was in

charge when the Dutchmissed out on the finals 12 years ago, the first time they had not qualified since 1986 .

Holland will rely on Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder. Daley Blind, son of former Holland legend Danny, has had an excellent season for Ajax and the 24- yearold could follow Van Gaal to Old Trafford.

Blind is likely to start in midfield but can also play at left- back.

Do not expect Total Football from a team that will try to grind out results. Van Gaal has used his trusted 4-3-3 formation during qualification but he has been forced to rethink after Roma’s Kevin Strootman was ruled out through a knee injury.

•Rooney

P

ELE has backed Wayne Rooney to star for England at the World Cup. “Wayne Rooney has not scored [in a World Cup finals] but he was fantastic for the team,” the threetime World Cup winner told Sky Sports News.

“He was always the player who fought more

Messi nervous!

•Van Persie

S

HORTLY after coming on as a second-half sub in Argentina’s last World Cup warm-up, Lionel Messi doubled over and appeared to vomit on the pitch.

He’s done it at least a half-dozen times with Argentina and club team Barcelona, mystifying doctors and fans alike.

“Nerves,” says Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella, and that’s a diagnosis as good as any.

The Argentina captain and four-time world player of the year is under tremendous pressure to lead the Albiceleste to its

Pjanic: We don’t fear Argentina, Eagles

M

IRALEM Pjanic has outlined that Bosnia-Herzegovina have no fear in facing ‘one of the favourites’ for the World Cup, Argentina.

“We do not fear anyone

because we believe in our chances.We will against one of the favourites in Argentina, but we have the expertise to challenge them. Many of us have played in big European tournaments and know how to deal with certain situations.“Progressing from the group is our goal. Brazil is beautiful, it seldom happens that you can train on the beach, and we are realising how fascinating this country is.”

•Diego Costa

Calls for Blatter to resign

S

•Pjanic

ENIOR officials including England FA chairman Greg Dyke are calling for FIFA President Sepp Blatter to resign.

“FIFA is a suspect organisation where there

has been an awful lot of corruption,” Dyke said.

“FIFA has an ugly reputation around the world and Blatter as President is ultimately responsible,” added Dutch Federation

for the team - I would like him in my team, you know.

“England have a difficult group but I think they could pass,” the Brazilian said.

“The World Cup is a very short tournament and the experienced players always do well.”

President Michael Van Praag on SSN. “People don’t really take him seriously anymore, because a few months ago he all of a sudden said the vote for Qatar was a mistake. That means he blames all the others. Yesterday he linked racism to Qatar.

•Messi

first World Cup trophy since 1986.

“I reckon that in these moments there is anxiety more than anything,” Sabella said before the team departed for Brazil, where it opens its World Cup campaign against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sunday. “It’s difficult to remain calm.”

“I don’t know what it is.

But I had a thousand exams,” Messi told Argentine broadcaster TyC Sports earlier this year. “I start to feel nauseous to the point where I almost vomit, and then it goes away.”

62 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Eagles must beat Iran — NFF G

•Oboabona gets past Jozy Altidore of the USA during their friendly. USA won 2-1.

NOC unveils Rio 2016 medals target

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

T

HE Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) is set to partner with various arms of the armed forces for the purpose of ensuring that Team Nigeria wins medals at the Rio 2016 Olympics Games.

Team Nigeria recorded a very poor performance at the 2012 Games in London, which led to President Goodluck Jonathan organising a sports retreat in Aso Rock to fashion out modalities to return Nigeria to winning ways at the next Olympics.

And with Rio 2016 Olympics Games just two years away, the body responsible for Nigeria’s participation in international sporting

competitions is moving fast to stem the tide of a repeat poor showing at the global stage.

Speaking yesterday in Lagos, President of the NOC, Sani Ndanusa said that in line with President Jonathan’s directive that the Olympic body was partnering various military and paramilitary bodies in the country to groom athletes that can win medals in Brazil.

Ndanusa said the NOC hinged its decision to reach out to the armed forces because “ we all know that they have the facilities and people who are trained in the art of shooting, swimming, boxing and other combat sports, which are multi-medal sports in the Olympics.

ENERAL secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Musa Amadu has said that the Super Eagles must do everything to beat Iran in their first match of the World Cup to have any hope of progressing in the competition.

The scribe also described last weekend’s defeat to the United States in a friendly as a blessing in disguise that will enable the team prepare harder for their first match against the Asian representatives.

“We must beat Iran in the first match which to me is the important match to play. A victory against Iran will pave way for more successes in the subsequent games. I am confident that the boys are capable of doing it,” Amadu said.

“I think [the 2-1 loss to the USA] is better the way it happened because if we had won all our three friendly matches we would have thought we have arrived.

“I am happy that it happened like that. We had two draws and a loss in the three matches the team has played.

“We are not bothered

by Iran and our other opponents. It is not the number of friendly matches you win going to the World Cup that will determine your performance in the World Cup. “There are teams that won all their friendly matches before going to the World Cup and did not last the first round of the competition.

•Mark Ellis (l) former Arsenal assistant coach exercising with coaches during the coaching clinic held at the Warri Township Stadium.

“We will go to Brazil with great spirit. The loss against the Americans will let us know that the job is not yet done. There are lessons to be learnt in the three matches most especially the match against USA which would help the coach to correct these lapses before we start playing the World Cup. “I remember Bulgaria in 1994 World Cup in the United States of America, prior to the competition they lost all tune up matches and lost their previous 13 matches and even lost 30 to Nigeria but ended up being the fourth best in the world. So the most important thing is preparations for the competition and what you have been able to do during that period.”

All Africa Challenge: 3 lady golfers represent Nigeria in Kenya

N

IGERIA is being represented by three lady golfers at the ongoing 2014 All Africa Challenge taking place in Kenya. The three golfers include Rachel Danjuma from the IBB Golf and Country Club, Abuja, Alaba Adetunji of the Ikeja Golf Club and Faith Gaya of Ibori Golf and Country Club, Asaba. The team is led by the President of the

•A lady golfer in action

Lady Golfers Association of Nigeria, Margaret Actoh.

Speaking from Cairo, Actoh said that Nigeria’s chances are bright as the golfers were doing well on the course.

“We have a very bright chance of winning the tournament. We are well placed to win the overall title as we are represented by the best from our land.”

She lamented the lack of sponsorship for women golf as efforts to solicit corporate support for her association from companies in Nigeria have been abortive.

“Most companies have not shown interest in what we are doing. But we are here representing the country,” she said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 — 63

WORLD CUP: 1 day to go

WORLD CUP: 1 day to go Nishimura of Japan to referee World Cup opener

J Brazil looking to start strongly about the heavily

B

RAZIL are looking to send a message to supporters and rivals in the World Cup’s opening match, right back Dani Alves has said, raising the stakes for the clash against Croatia.

A lacklustre 1-0 win over Serbia in Friday’s warmup game brought jeers from the home crowd and raised doubts

favoured Brazil team, which Alves was quick to dismiss. He said the host nation’s players would be at their best when the tournament begins on Thursday. ”The moment of truth is starting now,” he told reporters, turning the focus to the opener. “It’s not just about three points, it should also send a message to future rivals."

Brazil's Alves ready to go

APANESE referee Yuichi Nishimura will handle the opening game of the World Cup between Brazil and Croatia as FIFA picked the same official who oversaw the Brazilians’ elimination in the last tournament in South Africa.

FIFA also selected Nicola Rizzoli of Italy to officiate the hotly-anticipated Group B game between world champion Spain and the Netherlands, a rematch of the ill-tempered final four years ago.

FIFA said Tuesday that Nishimura will be joined by compatriots Toru Sagara and Toshiyuki Nagi,

who will be the assistant referees for Thursday’s Brazil-Croatia tournament and Group A opener at the Itaquerao stadium in Sao Paulo. Iran’s Alireza Faghani is the fourth official.

The 42-year-old Nishimura handled four games at the last World Cup, including Brazil’s loss to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. He sent off Brazil’s Felipe Melo in that game for stamping on Arjen Robben as the Brazilians surrendered the lead to lose 2-1.

Of FIFA’s 25 referees for Brazil, Nishimura is one of five that have been retained from the World Cup in 2010.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Yobo roars...

PROTECTED: Graham Zusi of US sheilds the ball from Ogenyi Onazi during their friendly. USA won 2-1

We are ready for Iran S

UPER Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo has expressed the Super Eagles readiness to trample upon Team Melli when both sides face in Group F’s opening game at the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil.

•Yobo

Continues on pg 60

Uzoenyi off to Brazil

E

JIKE Uzoenyi de parted for Brazil last night to join the rest of his team-mates after he was selected as replacement for injured Elderson Echiejile in Continues on pg 60

No shaking — Keshi

S

•Keshi

UPER Eagles head coach Stephem Keshi remains confident in the face of fading optimism among Nigerians over the his

team’s chances to pull off good results in Brazil 2014 World Cup.

Continues on pg 60

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Staunch (4) 4 Maul (3) 6 Die (4) 8 Coma (6) 9 Ally (6) 10 Wonder (3) 12 Snake (5) 14 Javelin (5) 15 Avoid (5) 18 Author (6) 20 Scare (6) 24 Engine (5) 26 Enquired (5) 28 Drunkard (5) 30 Aye (3) 32 God-like (6) 33 Reviewer (6) 34 Lake (4) 35 Vessel (3) 36 Entrance (4)

DOWN 2 Trunk (5) 3 Tower (7) 4 Excuse (4) 5 Spouse (4) 6 Brittle (5) 7 Under (7) 11 Marry (3) 12 Intimidate (3) 13 Greeting (3) 16 Limb (3) 17 Newt (3) 19 Rest (7) 21 Decay (3) 22 Pressing (7) 23 Sailor (3) 25 Mineral (3) 27 Chosen (5) 29 Order (5) 30 Yap (4) 31 Scrutinise (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Abate 7, Lasso 8, Throw Tired 12, Rip 13, Civil 15, Melodic Roared 19, Sea 20, Deviate 23, Maid Year 26, Debated 30, Say 31, Defile Receded 37, Sleep 38, Tor 39, Drape Halve 41, Osier 42, Smith.

10, 17, 25, 34, 40,

DOWN: 1, Radio 2, Astir 3, Boiled 4, Teem 5, Throaty 6, Topic 9, Rid 11, Desired 13, Crime 14, Valid 16, Lea 18, Delayed 21, Eerie 22, Creep 24, Deserve 27, Bad 28, Despot 29, Petal 32, Flesh 33, Lever 35, Col 36, Dram.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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