Confab in disarray adjourns abruptly

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62185

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N150

FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Labour gives FG 14-day ultimatum to get >5 tankers, trucks off Apapa-Oshodi Expressway •NPA worried over endless traffic gridlocks

BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

REVENUE FORMULA:

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Confab in disarray, adjourns abruptly •Dokpesi, Coomasie, others speak •Kutigi to meet 50 "wise men", c'ttee chairmen, deputies today •BORNO MUTINY: Army court-martials 18 soldiers —P.52

BUJA—THE Na tional Conference was, yesterday, thrown into confusion as moves to reach a compromise on recommendations ended in deadlock, sparking off chaos at the plenary session. The rowdy situation forced the house to adjourn abruptly till Monday to prevent the exchanges from degenerating to fisticuffs.

Continues on page 5

DSS arrests suspected kidnappers of Jonathan's uncle >6 COLUMNIST: Donu

Stalemate?

•P.17

Mr & Mrs UPROAR OVER REVENUE FORMULA: Delegates to the National Conference argue during debate on revenue sharing formula as the conference degenerated into a rowdy session, yesterday.

IMPEACHMENT: C M Y K

$49bn oil fund not missing

Nyako, lawmakers head for truce >9 — Senate

>8

2—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

C M Y K

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C M Y K

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C M Y K

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POCKET CARTOON

tral, North -West and any other part of the country.

The Elder statesmen also came up with five per cent allocation for exploration and development of all mineral resources as against the present 4.5 per cent and that 50 per cent of the 18 per cent derivation must go directly to the communities from which the mineral resources are extracted.

Continues on page 56

RAMADAN FAST—Senate President David Mark (L), in a handshake with Sen. Bukar Abba Ibrahim, as others watch after breaking of Ramadan Fast at the Senate President's house in Abuja, Wednesday night. Photo: NAN.

REVENUE FORMULA: Confab in disarray, adjourns abruptly Continues from page 1 To stem the tide, Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, his deputy, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi and other leaders will meet with elders of the confab also known as ‘50 wise men’, chairmen of the 20 standing committees and their deputies at 11 am today.

Disagreement started immediately after the inauguration by President Goodluck Jonathan on modalities of voting. The '50 wise men' intervened and the problem was resolved.

The contentious revenue sharing formula and derivation principle split delegates along regional lines as they failed to reach agreement on what percentage should go to each region.

For the third day, yesterday, delegates failed to conclude voting on the recommendations of the Devolution of Power Committee led by Obong Victor Attah and former Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Coomasie, following sharp disagreements between

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

When you encounter rejection, shake it off and move on. Sooner or later you will succeed if you don’t quit. Don’t personalise it; because someone rejects what you have to offer doesn’t mean you are being rejected.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Happiness and the state of joy is ever lasting when it comes from within— Take Heart Quotes

U

NHAPPINESS lies in that gap between what we have now and what we think we need. But the truth is, we don’t need to acquire anything more to be content with what we already have. We don’t need anyone else’s permission to be happy. Your life is magnificent not because someone says it is, or because you have acquired something new, but because you choose to see it as such. Don’t let your happiness be held hostage. It is always yours to choose, to live and experience.

And from the experts of wisdom notes, Mack and Angel Hack comes this beautiful saying. “As soon as you stop making everyone and everything else responsible for your happiness, the happier you’ll be. If you’re unhappy now, it’s not someone else’s fault. Take full responsibility for your own unhappiness, and you will instantly gain the ability to be happier. Stop seeking in vain to arrange conditions that will make you happy.” Simply choose to appreciate the greatness that is yours in this moment, and the right conditions will start to line up around the contentment you seek.

Northern and Southern delegates.

As part of moves to end the logjam surrounding the Devolution of Power Committee report, especially on resource control and derivation, the delegates on Monday put in place a group of Elder statesmen and leaders called the National Conference Consensus group with three selected from each of the three geo-political zones of the country.

Following protests from other delegates, who alleged exclusion, the body was on Tuesday enlarged to accommodate representations from the Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, Organised Labour, Women groups, professional bodies and people living with disability among others and the number of members rose to 37.

The Elders Committee through its spokesman and delegate on the platform of Elder Statesmen Category, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, on Wednesday presented the report of the committee which raised derivation from 13 per cent to 18 per cent.

It also resolved that there shall be a National Intervention Fund which shall be five per cent of the annual revenue accruing to the Federal Government for the stabilization, rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas affected by terrorism and insurgency, in the first instance in the North-East, North -Cen-

FG gets 14-day ultimatum to evacuate tankers from Oshodi-Apapa Road

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG & IFEYIWA OBI

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A G O S — A P P R E N T LY fed up with the chaotic traffic gridlock on the ever busy Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to among others, evacuate all petrol tankers and other heavy duty vehicles along the access roads to the sea ports, or all ports operations nationwide will be shut.

The union in a petition to the Federal Government, through the Minister of Transport, also demanded relocation of all the tank farms along the access roads to the sea ports and rehabilitation of all the access roads to the sea ports within the next 14 days for industrial peace to reign in the ports.

In the petition dated July 9, 2014, MWUN through its Secretary General S. Aham Ubani, the union lamented that incessant gridlock on Oshodi/ Apapa Expressway, had practically shut all economic and other activities on the Oshodi/ Apapa axis besides inflicting untold hardship on residents and those whose businesses are located in the environs.

The petition read: “We observe with dismay that petrol tankers and trailers have permanently taken over the access roads to our Sea Ports; Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports in particular. The resultant gridlock caused by the indiscriminate parking of the petrol tankers and trailers that daily load

petrol from the tank farms along the access roads to the Sea Ports have made movement of people and goods in and out of our Sea Ports and work places within the Apapa Industrial/ Commercial area impossible. The deep pot holes along the roads which are better described as gullies have now turned death traps and is another contributory factor to the unprecedented gridlock that daily occur on the roads.

“The utter neglect of the access roads has not only compromised the efficiency and service delivery of the Ports due to the huge loss of man hours incurred daily on the roads, but has no doubt impacted negatively on the National Economy. We have repeatedly called on government to relocate the Tank Farms along the Tin Can and Apapa Ports access roads for both safety of lives, properties and economic reasons. However, in spite of the assurance given that the tank farms would be relocated; we are surprised that till date, nothing has been done.

“In consequence of the foregoing, we are hereby giving a fourteen (14) day ultimatum effective from the date of this letter within which: All the pot-holes along the port access roads be fixed; all the tank farms built along the Port access roads be relocated to another place where it would not inhibit free flow of traffic and all the petrol tankers and trailers be removed from the Port access roads.

NPA expresses worry over Mile2-

Apapa gridlock Meanwhile, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA has expressed its readiness to work with relevant government agencies to find a lasting solution to the unending chaotic traffic gridlock along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

NPA Managing Director, Malam Habib Abdullahi, who decried the traffic gridlock on the access road to Apapa said, if the situation was left unchecked, it could have an adverse effect on the activities of both the Lagos Port complex (LPC) and Tin Can Island Port (TCIP), among other business activities.

He called for an urgent collaborative effort by all the major stakeholders in the nation’s maritime sector to address the challenge and said the authority had initiated plans for all stakeholders meeting to discuss the way forward.

According to him: “The authority is committed to cooperate and work with relevant government agencies to find a lasting solution to the perennial traffic gridlock into Apapa.”

While commending efforts of the Federal Ministry of Works in awarding contract for re-construction of the ApapaOshodi Express Way and Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola in trying to find a solution to the problem, he appealed to the construction companies “to expedite action on the reconstruction,” adding that “the NPA has also embarked on remedial work of fixing the common user roads around the ports with the aim of alleviating the problem.”

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Man, 29, docked for varsity admission racketeering

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KURE — A 29-year-old man, Zeblon Henry, charged with fraud was yesterday, arraigned before a chief magistrate's court in Akure, Ondo State.

The accused, who resides in Shagari Village, Akure, is alleged to have takenN120,000 from one Owolabi Sunday under false pretence.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Akeem Durojaiye, told the court that the accused committed the offence at about 1 p.m. on June 13 at 2nd Avenue, Shagari Village, Akure.

Durojaiye said that the accused collected the money from Sunday under the pretence that he would provide admission for him at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He said that the offence contravened Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

The accused, who had no legal representation, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The magistrate, Mr Adebisi Daomi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 and one surety in like sum.

He ordered that the surety must be a responsible citizen of the state, and adjourned the case till August 8 for hearing.

From left, Eldred Magnus Jonah, Raphael Inengesi Abobo, Ibeabuchi Inya, Oreva Abridi, Tammy Tamarapreye Agbai and Felix Onuoha (native doctor) who allegedly kidnapped President Goodluck Jonathan's uncle, Chief Nitabai Inengite, being paraded by the Department of State Services (DSS), in Abuja yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

KIDNAP OF JONATHAN'S UNCLE:

DSS arrests undergraduate, herbalist, four others •I was promised 10% of ransom —Witch doctor

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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BUJA — THE Department of State Services, DSS, yesterday in Abuja, paraded suspected kidnappers of Chief Nitabai Inengite, an uncle to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Those nabbed include Magnus Jonah,30; Raphael Inengesi, 32; Ibeabuchi Inya, 29; Oreva Arbridi, 29; Tammy

Pastor, civil servant arraigned for fighting in public

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ARARABA— A 33year- old pastor, Nathaniel Ogwuche and 43year-old civil servant, Benjamin Amadi, Tuesday, appeared before a senior magistrate's court in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, on a onecount charge of disturbing public peace.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Jacob John, told the court that on July 5, the DPO of 'A' Dvision Police Station, Mararaba, received a report that the accused persons, both of Aso in Mararaba, engaged in fisticuffs.

Jacob said the accused persons in the process disturbed public peace and also caused different degrees of injuries on each other.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 113 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge against them.

Counsel to the accused, John Agbo and K.K. Peter prayed the court to grant their clients bail, adding that they were peaceful and responsible citizens.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Aliyu Aku said there must be witnesses to prove that the accused were peaceful and responsible citizens.

Aku, however, granted the accused bail in the sum of N150,000 each with responsible sureties in like sum each.

He said that the sureties must show evidence of landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

Aku added that both parties must sign an undertaking, and adjourned the case till August 6 for hearing.

Tamarapreye and Felix Onuoha who is a witch doctor from Anambra State.

Jonah, who is an indigene of Nembe town in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State confessed that he masterminded the kidnap and provided a take-off grant of N40,000 which was used for procurement of arms and other logistics in the operation.

He also confessed that prior to the kidnap of Inengite, he had maintained steady surveillance on the victim, adding that his gang had two teams for the operation.

Our role in the saga

Jonah, who hitherto was a 400-level student of the University of Jos, Plateau State, however, stated that the long strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, drove him into the illegal business.

Though Tamarapreye denied his involvement in the act, he however, admitted that he was the owner of the black Golf car used for the kidnap operation.

According to him, he was robed into the operation when Jonah made an innocent request of using the car for a burial ceremony.

I was to get 10% of ransom procced —Witch doctor

Felix Onuoha, a 48-year-old witch doctor, residing in Edo

State hails from Aguleri in Anambra State.

He confessed that his role in the operation was preparation of charms for fortification, success and protection in the gang’s plan to kidnap a known rich man who resided in Bayelsa State.

He stated that he played along with the kidnappers on the offer of 10 per cent made to him from the anticipated ransom and the need to save himself and family from any seeming harm that would have come from refusing to work with the group.

It will be recalled that Inengite was kidnapped on February 23, 2014 and held captive at two different locations in the creeks of Brass and Okigbene in Bayelsa State. He, however, regained his freedom after 17 days in the hands of his captors, following operations by security agents.

10 other kidnappers

In a similar development, the DSS also paraded another set of 10 kidnappers who specialised in terrorizing young women in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja and its environs.

They included Onyemire Asagba, 29, who is the leader of the gang; his second in command, Sunday Attah, 30; Zacheus Salami, 30, the armourer; Sani Mohammed, 23, the operational/utility driver, and Victor Bassey, 32.

Others were Aragba Ademo, 33; Ojo Gambo, 22; Haruna Asama, 38; Dikko Iko, 22 and Moham-

med Adamu, 20.

The gang members met their nemesis on June 17, 2014 after successfully kidnapping two sisters aged 15 and 17 years respectively on June 8, 2014 at New Life Camp area of Abuja.

The girls had, however, been released from captivity following a successful operation by men of DSS who arrested the kidnappers at different places in Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi and Plateau states.

The leader of the gang, a 29year-old Asagba, a native of Amukpe in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, is an ex-convict who was released from Keffi prisons on March 2013.

He told journalists that his gang received N10 million ransom before releasing the victims.

He also confessed that the operation was successfully aided

by Dikko Iko, a 22-year-old from Magure village in Darkin Pawa, Niger East Local Government Area of Niger State who was a guard at the residence of the two kidnap victims.

While briefing journalists, Deputy Director, Public Relations of DSS, Marilyn Ogar, said though insurgency and terrorism in the country were utmost priorities of security agencies, the agency would still not relent in ridding the country of all other criminal activities, saying that issues of security cannot be left in the hands of security agencies alone.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 — 7

Commercial bus crushes three pupils in Lagos

BY EVELYN USMAN & ESTHER ONYEGBULAM

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AGOS — A mob yes terday, barricaded the Mile Two-Badagry expressway, protesting the killing of three primary school pupils by a commercial bus driver.

Two of the deceased were said to be children of same parents.

There were different accounts of how the pupils were killed in the unforunate incident. A version of the account had it that the deceased, whose identities were not immediately ascertained were at the median, trying to cross over to the opposite side of the road when the commercial bus ran over them.

Another version had it that they had successfully crossed to the opposite side when the bus, moving against traffic, rammed into them.

The protesters, who were armed with dangerous weapons, reportedly set three commercial buses ablaze while several vehicles' windscreens were shattered.

The protest resulted in a gridlock which forced commuters to trek long distances before they could board buses to their destinations.

One of the protesters, who simply gave his name as Lekan Ajayi said: "The reckless manner in which bus drivers ply this route is deplorable. Several persons have been killed along this route, no thanks to these drivers who drive with reckless abandon. The most annoying aspect of it all is that when they knock down someone they won’t wait to assist the person to the hospital. Rather, they will continue their business as if nothing had happened.”

"In this case, the driver of the Hiace bus was not patient enough to allow the one ahead of him move. In his bid to move ahead, he veered off his lane because he was on high speed and ran over the pupils who were standing on the median at ACOED bus stop.

Nurse docked for failing to prevent illegal abortion

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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Some of the burnt commercial buses. Photo: ESTHER ONYEGBULAM "Commuters who witnessed the incident went on the trail of the fleeing bus but could not get the driver or the conductor. That was what led to the protest."

One of the pupils, who was later identified as Odu Timothy, a primary four pupil of Anglican Primary School, Otto Awori, died on the spot. The other two died while efforts were on to take

them to the hospital. Two others who sustained injuries were rushed to the hospital."

However, Police sources at Area 'K', Morogbo, dismissed claims that three pupils lost their lives in the tragic incident, stating rather that only one person died.

According to Police sources, "the incident occurred at about

7.30 a.m. after a commercial bus ran over one pupil at Ijanikin and she died on the spot. The incident generated a mob that set the bus ablaze after its driver and conductor fled. Normalcy has been restored."

Efforts to get the reaction of the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, failed.

Mother of 3 loses 2 daughters in fuel fire

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

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NITSHA— It was a black Tuesday night for Mrs. Patience Egwuonwu, a widow and orphan from Amaudara village, Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State as she watched helplessly while her two daughters got roasted alive in a fire incident that gutted her bedroom.

Her nightmare did not stop at that. She is currently battling for survival and that of her only surviving son at St. Charles Boromeo Hospital, Onitsha where they are lying uncon-

scious at the intensive care unit.

The fire outbreak, according to sources, began at about 9 p.m from a candle light which ignited the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS (Petrol) which she kept inside her bedroom.

According to the source, Patience was a black market petrol seller at Awkuzu and she used to store her unsold stock outside her four-room apartment but when she discovered that village thieves usually steal some of the fuel at night, she now resorted to keeping unsold stock inside her bed-

Destruction of illegal crude oil dump in Soku, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

room, for safety.

The source stated that having found out that the new arrangement was more favourable to her, she now adopted the idea and kept storing fuel inside her bedroom at night after she closed for the day’s business and brought them out for sale during business hours.

But on the fateful night, when she had retired from business for the day and stored her unsold stock under her bedroom, as usual, all her three children, including six year-old Emeka (male), four year-old Blessing (female) and two year-old Ezinne (female) were already asleep inside the bedroom and she was also about to lie down when all of a sudden, a stick of a burning candle she lit fell off from the table on the mattress.

As she was struggling to extinguish the candle fire from the mattress, it was gathered, the flame which had already torched the mattress, sparked off fire underneath where the petrol was stored and within a twinkle of an eye, the whole bedroom was ablaze.

The source also hinted that out of confusion, she started shouting for help and before the neighbourhood could rush, her two daughters, Blessing and Ezinne, had already been roasted by the inferno, while the woman and her son, Emeka were rescued.

AGOS — AN auxiliary nurse, Jimoh Ismail, has been charged before a Lagos high court sitting in Ikeja, for failing to prevent an illegal abortion for one Joy Endurance.

The court is presided over

by Justice Kudirat Jose.

The defendant, through his counsel, Mr. Dele Oloke, informed the court that the abortion which led to the death of Endurance was conducted by Dr. Lekan Wahab, who is still at large.

At the resumed hearing, a prosecution witness, Inspector Solomon Ojo-Oni, explained that although the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, advice stated that the said abortion was carried out by Wahab, it was the defendant who did the abortion.

“The defendant claimed not to be the one that did the abortion. But one Blessing Edet, in her statement, said the defendant had earlier performed an abortion on her. It was Blessing that brought the deceased to the defendant for the abortion. I have spent 10 years in the homicide section of Panti and I have 25 years experience in the police force,” Inspector Ojo-Oni said.

The witness told the court that no autopsy was conducted on the corpse, but a thorough investigation was carried out.

Ojo-Oni noted that the deceased was five months pregnant before she was taken to the defendant for abortion, adding: “Endurance died two weeks after the abortion due to complications."

He further explained that the reason the police later decided to use its third suspect (Blessing) was because she brought the deceased to the defendant and she too had an abortion through the same defendant.

“But now, Blessing cannot be reached. Each time we call her number, the response we get is that it is not reachable.

When it became obvious that we cannot reach Blessing anymore, the only thing we did was to inform the prosecutions counsel,” Insp Ojo-Oni added.

During cross-examination, the defence counsel asked the witness why an autopsy was not carried out on the deceased, he answered: “The pathologist did not carry out the autopsy since the statement of Blessing showed that she took the deceased to the defendant.”

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

$49bn oil fund not missing— SENATE zOrders NNPC to remit $912m to Federation Account

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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HE Senate, yesterday, cleared the air on the alleged missing $49 billion oil revenue as it said there was no missing fund as alleged, but un-remitted funds which should be remitted to the Federation Account.

The Senate, while adopting the Senator Ahmed Makarfiled Finance Committee report on the alleged missing money as claimed by the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who is now the Emir of Kano, also rejected the Federal Government’s plan to remove the subsidy on the petroleum products, saying government should embark on sensitisation of the public because of the effects it would have on the common man.

The Senate further mandated its committee on finance to follow up and receive the forensic audit reports from the Auditor General of the Federation and the PriceWaterhouseCoopers, PWC, and also study and report back to the Senate as soon as possible.

zMandates Finance C'ttee to collect forensic report from Attorney Gen expenditure (January 2012 to July 2013) was N813.8 billion ($5.254 billion) for PMS, while DPK was N486.57 billion ($3.512 billion).

“It is for the National Assembly to approve or not approve such request or take any other measures it deems necessary.”

The committee said NNPC should not pay operational expenditures direct from the Federation funds without appropriation by the National Assembly.

Blasts NNPC

The panel further observed that “there was poor record keeping and nonchalant work attitude by the NNPC by not rendering returns on subsidy claims on monthly basis from January 2012 to

date which contributed largely to creation of the problem in hand.”

Senate further stated, “Gross Liftings of NNPC on behalf of NPDC from January 2012 to July 2013 was US$6.815 billion.

Government share of revenue to the Federation Account was US$2, 175,635,436.

“Accountant General of the Federation confirmed the payment to the Federation Account by NPDC as US$1,727,817,552. Therefore, NPDC should remit to the Federation Account the sum of US$447,817,884 being balance of Royalty and Petroleum Profit Tax, PPT, with interest.

“Gross lifting under the Third Party Financing was US$2,430,750,973 out of which share for Federation Account was US$1,588,242,004. The AGF confirmed and gave

documentary evidence showing the sum of US$1,370,172,650.36 was remitted to the Federation Account. Therefore, NNPC should remit the balance of US$218,069,354.32 to the Federation Account.

“NNPC to refund and remit to the Federation Account the sum of US$262 million being expenses it could not satisfactorily defend in respect of Holding Strategic Stock Reserve; Pipeline Maintenance and Management Cost and Capital Expenditure.

“We have noticed that no proposal is made in 2014 Appropriation Bill for subsidy on Kerosene, DPK, and that for PMS also looks inadequate. Therefore, only what is appropriated should be spent by the executive.”

Mark commends c’ttee

The Senate President, Senator David Mark, who presided over the session commended the committee for presenting a courageous report based on the facts that were presented to it, stressing that the committee was forthright by paying attention to details in the course of their assignment.

Mark said: “At the inception of the 7th Senate, I did say emphatically that there is no issue in this country that we cannot discuss as respected and distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“If we have the courage to set up a committee, nothing will stop us from taking the report of that committee and nothing will be swept under the carpet.”

On SURE-P funds

In a 21-point recommendation, the Senate accepted the subsidy deducted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, from January 2012 July 2013 of US$5.254 billion (N813,803 billion) since it was certified by Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, and appropriated by the National Assembly.

It asked NPDC, a subsidiary of the NNPC, “to remit to the Federation Account $447.8 million being balance of royalty and petroleum profit tax.”

According to the recommendation, “NNPC should refund and remit to the Federation Account $262 million being expenses it could not satisfactorily defend in respect of Holding Strategic Stock Reserve; Pipeline Maintenance and Management Cost and Capital Expenditure.”

Other recommendations include: “The President should prepare and present to the National Assembly supplementary budget to cover the expenditure in the sum of N90.693 billion ($585 million) for PMS subsidy for 2012 and N685.910 billion ($4.430 billion) for kerosene subsidy expended without appropriation by the National Assembly in 2012 and 2013.

“The Senate should, however, note that the proportionate

PROTEST: Former staff of Nigeria Airways protesting non-payment of their entitlements at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Chibok girls campaign group denies DSS' allegation

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

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BUJA— THE #Bring Back Our Girls campaign group that has been leading protest for the release of the more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State, yesterday, denied an allegation by the Department of State Services, DSS, that the group had turned into a franchise.

In a statement by the Coordinators, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili and Hadiza Bala Usman, in Abuja yesterday, the group said it was just a

protest group and accused security agencies of harassment, vilification, innuendoes and threats.

It will be recalled that, Tuesday, the spokesperson for DSS, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, accused the BringBackOurGirls campaigners of turning the protest into a franchise.

However, the statement of the group read in part: “For over two months, security agencies have harassed and sought to intimidate our movement incessantly. The latest was the statement on Tuesday credited to the Deputy

Director of Department of State Services, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar who described the #BringBackOurGirls campaign as a franchise.

“This is a dangerous and unprecedented attack because as is well known in security circles, the term ‘franchise’ is used to refer to inter related terrorist cells.

“She is reported to have said that if indeed our movement ‘ was a protest group it would not need to force members to register and wear tags’.

“There is a clear attempt to smear our work with a link

to Chibok and Sambisa forest.

It is clear from these comments that the security agencies are setting up the movement for a crackdown based on trumped up accusations.

“Our activities are open and our meetings are in a public space, the Unity Fountain.

There is no compulsion to membership and our symbols such as the red T shirts, face caps and pins are donated voluntarily be members. We are motivated by empathy and the need to search and rescue these girls.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014—9

that the member could not even listen to our most cherished traditional leader, his Highness the Emir of Mubi.”

Probe panel

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ECOWAS President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and other Ecowas Heads of State and governments at their 45th Ordinary Session in Accra, Ghana, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

IMPEACHMENT: Nyako, lawmakers head for truce

z Constituents reject pro-impeachment lawmakers' Ramadan gifts

BY UMAR YUSUF

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OLA— INDICATIONS emerged yesterday that Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, who is at loggerheads with the state lawmakers that were determined to remove him from office, may escape impeachment after all.

The governor, yesterday, did the bidding of the lawmakers by swearing in 36 Development Area administrators as requested by the lawmakers, which he had earlier refused to do leading to the face-off.

Shortly after the governor performed the swearing in, the lawmakers immediately endorsed the governor ’s nominee, Mr. P. P. Elisha as Special Adviser on Government Affairs, whose nomination as commissioner was earlier rejected by the lawmakers.

The swearing in of the administrators, believed to be part of the deal struck in Abuja, was conducted shortly after the governor came back from Abuja where he held closed-door meeting with lawmakers led by the Speaker of the

House, Ahmadu Fintiri.

Constituents

Meanwhile, some lawmakers who participated in the impeachment move against the governor and his Deputy Bala James Ngillari, are facing the wrath of their constituencies as the constituents have rejected their Ramadan gifts.

The members affected include member representing Girei constituency, Abubakar Umar; Mubi North, Abubakar Jaringol, and Maiha Local Government,

Hassan Kaigama.

The constituencies took the measure to protest the involvement of their lawmakers in the plot to impeach Governor Nyako and his deputy.

According to a resident of Mubi town, “that is not what we elected them there to do,” adding that they regretted ever voting Jaringol.

He said their representative never deemed it necessary to consult with the people on whose mandate he went to the assembly.

He said: “It is unfortunate

The seven member panel probing Governor Murtala Nyako’s alleged maladministration is expected to return to work today and may raise issues concerning his refusal to honour its invitation.

The panel had pasted the summons on the walls of the Government House in Yola on Wednesday and fixed today as the return hearing date for the governor, who returned to the state yesterday morning but shunned the panel.

The governor had given the indication that he would not appear before the panel, having gone to court to challenge the way and manner the members had violated the laws regarding the process of impeaching him and his deputy, James Ngilari.

The governor is relying on a Supreme Court ruling which provides that he should be personally served the impeachment notice since, in the eyes of the law, substituted service is not deemed as sufficient.

A copy of the summons, which was pasted on the Government House walls in Yola and obtained by Vanguard yesterday has been dismissed by the governor as a non service.

The summons dated July 9 and signed by the Secretary of the Panel, Mr. Binanu Esthon, had ordered the governor to appear before it.

ODUKOMAIYA @ 80: Maku, Utomi, Ohuabunwa preach non-partisan journalism

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE & IKENNA ASOMBA

M

EDIA practitioners in Nigeria have been urged to shun partisan journalism to achieve the good that Nigeria, and indeed every Nigerian, desires.

The advice was handed down by different speakers as eminent Nigerians and renowned journalists gathered in Lagos, yesterday, to celebrate Prince Henry Odukomaiya, a renowned journalist and former Managing Director and Editor in Chief of Champion Newspapers, at 80.

In their separate submissions, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku; Professor Pat Utomi and Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, noted that it is only when today’s journalism is devoid of partisanship that the nation can move forward as a great country.

Roll call

Other eminent Nigerians and veteran journalists who graced the event were Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, represented by Mr. Olatunji Bello, Commissioner for Environment; Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, represented by Yusuf Olaniyan, Commissioner for Information and Strategy; Mr. Sam Amuka, C h a i r m a n / P u b l i s h e r, Vanguard Newspapers; Gbenga Adefaye, General Manager Publications/ Editor in Chief, Vanguard Newspapers; Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, former Managing Director, Daily Times group and Chief Olu Falomo, Chairman, Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited.

Others were Dr. Doyin Abiola, former Managing Director of the defunct Concord Newspapers; Chief Duro Onabule, former Chief Press Secretary to General

Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.), Steve Omojafor, former President of Association of Advertising Practitioners of Nigeria, AAPN, among others.

On partisan journalism

Speaking on Existential Imperatives in Culture Collapse: The Media and the Nigerian Condition, Professor Pat Utomi, who was the guest lecturer, said: “Good journalism is inherently skeptical, and probing.

“Not enough of that is happening today and that has deepened cynicism about what is going on. The case of abduction of a generation of the daughters of the people of Chibok is a case in point.

“More sophisticated disposition should have meant that most journalists would have read Robert Kaplan’s Coming Anarchy and so would have been more discerning of where the brewing society crisis could be taking us. Journalism should

be in serious self-examination today as we honour the true pioneers of journalism.”

Maku, who called on media practitioners to put professionalism ahead of partisan journalism, recalled how Odukomaiya, some years ago, displayed high level of professionalism and not partisanship by publishing an analysis he (Maku) did predicting in the wake of the June 12, 1993 election, that MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, will win the polls instead of the National Republican Convention, NRC candidate.

He said: “He allowed this story to be published without removing anything, even though our Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, was a big wig in the NRC. “Unfortunately, today you can pick up a newspaper and you will know whether the owner is a member of PDP, APC or other parties.”

Meanwhile, Ohuabunwa,

who chaired the occasion, described Odukomaiya as a humble man to the core, said: “We are all here today because this 80 years old man has impacted our lives in different positive ways.

“As we reflect on his life at 80, let us ask ourselves how we can be agents of the change we so desire. At 80, Odukomaiya is not yet tired, so let us like him, leave legacies that people will emulate.”

Prince Odukomaiya.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Alleged fraud: EFCC closes case against Fani Kayode

BY INNOCENTANABA

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AGOS—THE Eco nomic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, closed its case in the trial of former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, charged with money laundering before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

Fani-Kayode is standing trial on an amended 40count charge, bordering on the alleged offence.

At the hearing, prosecution notified the court of a letter from his principal Mr. Festus Keyamo, informing the court of its intention to close its case.

Defence counsel did not object to the letter by prosecution, but informed of its intention to file a no case submission in response to the charge against the accused.

Trial judge, Justice RitaOfili Ajumogobia, adjourned the case till October 28 for adoption of final written addresses.

Vanguard NUPPPROW elects executives

N

ATIONAL Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers, NUPPPPROW, Vanguard Media Limited chapter, has elected new officials to run its affairs for the next three years.

Mr. Oghene Joseph, of the Administration Department emerged chairman after scoring 106 votes to defeat two other contestants, Suleiman Mumuney and Bruno Ogbebor who polled 57 and 37 votes respectively.

Mr. Aromashodun Alade who emerged Vice chairman, polled 120 votes to defeat Agbim Sunday with 83 votes.

Similarly, Mr. Alex Kola Folorunsho and Destiny Eseaga were elected Secretary and Assistant Secretary respectively unopposed.

Mrs. Charity Ottah was also elected Treasurer.

Speaking the new chairman said he would use the opportunity given him to further enhance members’ welfare, saying “To have emerged as the winner is by divine grace. I am ready to work together with everybody to improve the welfare of members.”

End in sight to LASU strike as unions move to resolve issues

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & IKENNAASOMBA

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AGOS—THERE were in dications yesterday, that the protracted strike by Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian University, SSANU would end soon as the management of the institution and striking unions have brokered peace.

The three main issues that led to the strike by the lecturers are the implementation of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2012), as amended, which stipulates that academic staff on professorial cadre shall retire at age

70 and that principal officers shall serve for a single term of five years instead of two terms of four years each; downward review of the institution’s tuition fees regime, where new students paid as much as N348, 750 and abolition of the ‘no vacancy, no promotion’ policy allegedly adopted by management.

On the other hand, SSANULASU went on strike to demand for four issues on an alleged inconclusive 2011/2012 promotion exercise; outstanding 2012/2013 promotion; reversal of outrageous school fees and 65 years retirement age for non-teaching staff.

But following the management’s marathon meeting with SSANU-LASU penultimate Tuesday and another with ASUU-LASU, Tuesday, aggrieved unions may return to work, if the Governing Council and management of the university show enough sincerity to meeting their demands as resolved in their meetings.

While the Vice Chancellor Professor Obafunwa John, signed the agreement on behalf of the management, Professor Omotayo Ayo, signed on behalf of Appointment and Promotion (Academic) Committee and Dr. Kunle Idris A, signed on behalf of ASUU-LASU Speaking to Vanguard, ASUULASU Chairman, Dr. Idris Adekunle said: “Presently, there

are some developments, but calling-off the strike is no a unilateral decision for me. Our congress will decide. However, we are still awaiting the Governing Council’s decision on our last meeting with the management. When they finally get back to us, our congress will meet and then take a new stand. But we are optimistic that the council will be sincere and we promise the university will forge ahead.”

On his part, SSANU_LASU Chairman, Comrade Ademola Oseni said: “Though, there were new developments from our meeting with the management on July 1, but not everything has been resolved. We were asked to come up with a proposal, which we have submitted on July 8. So, we hope the management will be sincere after deliberating on our proposal. ''Therefore, when they call us for another meeting probably this week or next week, the outcome of the meeting will determine our next line of action. But we are optimistic, the issues will be resolved and we shall call off the strike.”

Nigeria, fastest growing human resources nation, says global PR group CONDOLENCE VISIT: Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja, Barrister Yinka Farounbi signing the condolence register at the residence of Late Bamidele Aturu in Lagos.

Fasehun lashes APC govs •Says party’s behaving like bull in China’s shop

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

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AG O S — N AT I O N A L chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, Dr. Fredrick

Fasehun yesterday took a swipe at the alleged impunity being perpetrated by state governments under the All Progressives Congress, APC, in their

Lagos seeks private sector support in housing

BY MONSUR OLOOOPEJO

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AGOS—LAGOS State Government yesterday sought the collaboration of the private sector to address the one million housing deficit in the state, even as Governor Babatunde Fashola named the Iloro Housing Estate after the late Olu of Agege, Oba Lateef Adams who died in 2011.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Fashola, said the decision to name the housing estate after the late Oba was to appreciate his immense and unforgettable contribution to development of state.

According to him, “The late Oba was like a pillar of support to our administration. He support me during campaign and after the election, he did not reneged. ''He was a great traditional ruler and we will miss his immense contribution.”

On the housing deficit, the governor said aim of the state government through the Lagos Home ownership Mortgage Scheme, Lagos HOMS was to reduce the housing deficit in the state, saying the scheme was to ensure that residents who were tenants in the state became home owners under the new housing scheme.

respective states.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos on the state of the nation, Fasehun, said; “It is clear that in all these cases, the APC is on rampage and on a war of attrition against democracy and the common man. Be it in Edo, Adamawa, Lagos, Ekiti or Osun State, APC is behaving like a bull in a china shop, trampling on citizens’ rights and Nigerians must control this party’s reign of impunity.”

Commenting on the impasse in the Edo State House of Assembly, he said “the Governor’s interference in the ongoing leadership tussle in the State House of Assembly is an abuse of the separation of powers doctrine that is the hallmark of democracy universally.”

Fasehun, who is also founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, faulted the imposition of a N27,000 levy on commercial bus operators by the Lagos State government describing the policy as a “clear misplacement of priorities.”

L

AGOS—A global profes sional Human Resources certifications body, Human Resources Management, SHRM, has said Nigeria has been identified as the fastest growing human resource market outside of the United States, US. Executive Director at SHRM in charge of Middle East and Africa, Mr. Brad Boyson, spoke as key speaker at the HR Leaders in Africa Conference, in Lagos.

According to him, “SHRM has confidence in the Nigerian HR development and has made partnership investments with Nigerian HR groups to strengthen the local support channel for SHRM members and HR professionals practising in the country. ''We are here to promote HR professionalism, bearing in mind the elements of localization required in this market, through standardization and promotion of best practices,” he said, adding that, “SHRM’s portfolio of HR certification programmes are engineered and proven to focus on best practices obtainable anywhere in the world.”

Ms Benny Nwagwu, who represented HR Certifications Lead for Skills-Farm Ltd, which partners with the SHRM, told delegates that SHRM has broadened the array of services and support available to Nigerian HR professionals through Skills-Farm.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 —11

Steer clear of Oyo, APC warns Fayose

BY OLAAJAYI

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BADAN—FOLLOWING comments by the governorelect of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would clinch victory in Oyo State as it did in Ekiti, the All Progressives Congress party has warned him to stay away from the state.

The warning was handed down by the party’s state Chairman, Chief Akin Oke yesterday.

He said unlike Ekiti, the Oyo State people were too sophisticated to be bought by the PDP. He said; “The people of Oyo State are too sophisticated for the pedestrian politics being played

by Fayose.”

“We warn the governor-elect to concentrate his energy on his Ekiti people as Oyo would be too hot for his kind of politics.

“We have watched Fayose’s flippancy getting worse by the day since his alleged victory in Ekiti. We do not have any qualms with his riding on a roller coaster of this supposed victory and talking down on everybody while telling them that he is the newest thing to happen in South West politics. We only warn him that that brand of murky politics which saw him grandstanding and riding roughshod over everybody will not work in Oyo State”.

“We are a people who do not allow foreign Generals to lord it over us”.

The APC condemned what it called “Fayose’s sudden and uncontrolled attack on everyone, including leaders of the Yoruba people”, noting that he(Fayose) should learn a lesson in keeping his mouth shut

BY GBENGA OLARI-

NOYE

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OYEDEPO VISITS AREGBESOLA: From left, Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Founder, Living Faith Church, aka Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and his wife, Sherifat, during the Bishop's visit to the Governor in Government House, Osogbo, Osun State on Wednesday. so that he does not incur the wrath of the ancestors of the Yoruba people.”

“The ancestors of Yoruba people warn that a farmer who just had his barn running over with a bountiful harvest must be humble enough to be sober in plenty.

Doom awaits such a farmer in the long run. This warning is what Fayose is not heeding as he is running his trap against everybody,” said the APC. The APC said that its partyled government was beyond reproach as it had acquitted itself in the eyes of the people in the dispensation of the divi-

dends of democracy.

The Oyo State APC Chairman also wondered why the PDP rally was held in a small corner of the capital of Ibadan with alleged rented crowd asking why the PDP could not muster enough people to fill a standard venue befitting of the state chapter of the much touted largest party in Africa in one of the most populous cities in Africa.

“It was glaring that the PDP in Oyo State lacked any credible leader or candidate who could put his legs into the shoes of the party-led government and had thus resorted to the engagement of

mercenaries and the recycling of spent forces in the dream to win elections in the State.

“The people of Oyo know that the APC government is an administration that has changed the dwindling fortune of the state from what the PDP, in eight years, lorded over it. The violence, decay and shame that the PDP foisted on our people for eight years have been written off and our people are witnessing an infrastructural revolution that is unparalleled. Our people will compare our government with the PDP government and make their choice,” said the APC.

Osun guber: Ooni sues for peace in Ile-Ife BYGBENGAOLARINOYE

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SOGBO—THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade has appealed to all the politicians in Ile-Ife not to turn the community into a theatre of war.

The foremost traditional ruler also advised the residents of the ancient town to shun violence before and during the

August 9 governorship election in the state.

Oba Sijuwade’s appeal came against the rising wave of violence between the supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC and its main challenger, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP. The monarch, who spoke through the Obalufe of Ife, Oba

S F Omisakin at a press briefing held at the House of Chiefs in the Palace of the Ooni of Ife warned against political violence in the ancient town.

The monarch, who decried the recent violent attack between members of the APC and those of the PDP stressed the need for all politicians in the town to preach peace and work

New LCDAs: Ekiti Assembly calls for referendum

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

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DO EKITI—DESPITE the opposition being mounted by the incoming Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government, against the creation of 18 Local Government Development Areas, LCDAs, Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday directed the State Independent Electoral Commission, SIEC, to conduct a referendum on the matter.

The House at its plenary session on Wednesday in Ado Eki-

Aregbesola hands over N1.3bn equipment to police

ti also transferred the bill on the creation of 18 local councils to its ad hoc committee for further legislative action.

This followed the motion by the House Majority Leader, Hon Churchill Adedipe and seconded by Hon Ogundele Folorunso. Adedipe explained that the motion was aimed at ensuring that proper thing was done on the proposed councils in the state.

While the only PDP member in the Assembly, Hon Ajibola Samuel in his contribution, ob-

jected to the move, saying the House should stop further action on the bill.

Ajibola who is representing Ekiti East Constituency 2, cited Order 54 Section 5 of the House Standing Order which forbids the House from discussing issues already before a law court to buttress his point.

But the House Deputy Speaker, Hon Orisalade Adetunji and Hon Ayodeji Odu however countered his objection, insisting that the House was unaware of any case on the issue.

towards sustenance of peaceful co-existence.

At the briefing attended by all traditional chiefs in Ile-Ife and heads of various quarters, the Ooni of Ife, who is also the President, Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs said only a peaceful election could guarantee development in the state.

He stressed that all the candidates seeking the Governorship position were his children, hence his resolve to render necessary advice to them in the interest of the state and the Yoruba nation at large.

“I have no preferred candidate among all the candidates’ they are all my children.

There is non of them that would emerge as the winner that can neglect Ile-Ife, this is because they are all from the source”, he said.

He also called on the residents of the ancient town to be vigilant to strange faces recruited to distrupt the hitherto peaceful atmos-

SOGBO—GOV ERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, yesterday launched and handed over of 20 armoured personnel carriers, APCs at the cost of N1.3 billion Naira to the Osun Police command in Osogbo.

He lamented that when government fails to guarantee safety of lives and property, such government had no business to be in power.

Aregbesola said security, safety and the welfare of the people were the primary responsibilities of any government as enshrined in the Nation’s constitution, saying “security is the most essential responsibility of a responsible government. When a government fails to provide security, it has no business in power.

At the event, he decried what he called the Federal Government’s penchant for playing politics with crucial security matters, even as his government fulfilled its promise to further equip the state police command with additional 20 sophisticated Armoured Personnel Carriers, APCs.

Ogun ends Obada market crisis BYPEACEONYEUGWU

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GUN State Gov ernment has finally resolved the crisis rocking the Obada Market located within boundaries of the three Local Government areas.

The crisis had pitched the three traditional rulers against themselves over ownership of the market.

Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Basorun Muyiwa Oladipo, at a joint peace meeting of stakeholders from the three Local Governments, announced that the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs would employ a consultant to collect revenue in the Market on behalf of the three local governments.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Edo crisis: Suspended lawmakers ordered to obey High Court ruling

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—THE Appeal Court sitting in Benin, Edo State, yesterday, ordered the four suspended Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, House of Assembly members to obey the order of the state High Court in Benin, which restrained them from entering the premises of the Assembly complex on Ring Road, Benin City.

It will be recalled that the state House of Assembly had suspended Festus Ebea, Friday Ogierhiakhi, Jude IseIdehen and Patrick Osayinde for alleged misconduct. But the lawmakers described their suspension as illegal and continued to attend the House proceedings.

Consequently, the Mr. Uyi Igbe-led House approached the state High Court and obtained injunction restraining them from entering the Assembly premises. The court also restrained the Police from the premises of the Assembly.

The suspended lawmakers, meanwhile, approached the Appeal Court, where they prayed the court to stay the execution of the order.

However, delivering judgment on the appeal yesterday, the three-man panel presided over by Justice H. Ogunwumiju, faulted the PDP lawmakers for coming to the appellate court when they re-

fused to obey the judgment of the lower court.

According to her, it was the “responsibility of the court to interpret an order of a court and not the parties.”

The appellate court further chastised the four suspended lawmakers for approaching the appellate court after refusing to obey the lower court order, noting that their decision to run to the appellate court was “hasty” and an abuse of court process.

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the PDP lawmakers,

Mr. Fred Orbih, SAN, said they will study the judgment and react appropriately.

Mr. Ken Mozia, SAN, counsel to Speaker Igbe and Edo Assembly, described the ruling as a good omen for democracy.

He said: “The effect is that the order restraining them has now been re-emphasised and there is no further bar to the continuation of the committal proceedings against them as long as they remain in contempt by fail-

ing to abide by the decision of the court restraining them from going to the House.

That is the import of this ruling.

“It is up to the Commissioner of Police and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, to decide how they want to be remembered. They have a duty to comply with the order of the High Court, which the appellate court has said they failed to do."

VISIT: From left: Coach Victor Kodei, former National, African and Commonwealth Wrestling Champion; Technical Director, Sir Ohaike Damian; Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson; Mr. Daniel Igali, President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation and Mr. Akuh Purity, Assistant Coach, when the Nigerian Wrestling Federation visited the governor in Abuja.

Delta community issues 7-day ultimatum to NPDC

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ARRI—THE people of Polobubo (Tsekelewu) in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State have given the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, one week to open negotiations with the community for a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, on the company’s operations in the area or face eviction.

Addressing newsmen in Warri, yesterday, the Polobuba (Tsekelewu) National Council, PNC, said the community was compelled to tow a path of confrontation with NPDC as its management had refused to give listening ears to the host community.

National President of PNC, Ebilate Mac-Yoroki, who led other community leaders, said three years after Shell Petroleum Development Company sold its stake with over 15 oil wells and other facilities hosted by the community, NPDC, which took over the opera-

C M Y K

tions came in and has been operating without consulting the people.

He said: “As bad as Shell was, they signed a lease agreement with us and there was a policy for staff employment and contracts defining stakes to the host community. Best practices dictate that NPDC signs a new lease agreement and negotiates fresh Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMOU, before

taking over. Chevron operates here too with a GMOU. “NPDC is evasive. They have a draft GMOU with a clause that the document will not be effective until it was negotiated and signed by parties. Instead of calling for negotiation, the company preferred operating through the back door, to the extent of exploiting the crude as we speak. They

have commenced dredging of our river and land without an Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA. “We have been slighted enough. We are, therefore, giving them till next week Monday to open negotiations. We want a GMOU that guarantees community development, employment, contracts and 10 percent equity stakes for our people."

JTF destroys 110 illegal oil refineries in Rivers

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT—THE Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, has destroyed 110 illegal refineries in Rivers State in the last seven months.

Commanding Officer, 29 Battalion of the 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, Lt. Col. Olusegun Oladuntoye, disclosed this in Soku, Akuku Toru Local Government Area of the state, yesterday, when they stormed the area to locate and destroy illegal refineries.

He said that they use what he termed swamp bugging machines to completely destroy the storage tanks used by oil thieves to store illegal crude, adding that the military operation was part of measures to rid the region of illegal bunkering activities.

He said: “We have destroyed over 40 illegal refineries in Alakiri, Dutch Island and Victoria Island (in Rivers), and in Soku oil field areas. We have also destroyed

over 70 illegal refineries.

"Early this year, there was a review of JTF strategy, which has to do with the use of swamp bugging (machine) for the destruction of illegal refineries.

“So far, the use of the machines has been very effective in the sense that previously when we destroy and set ablaze illegal refineries, the metal storage tanks still remained because the metal cannot be burnt.”

2015: Group urges Jonathan to declare for re-election

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ENAGOA—THE National Coordinator of No Vacancy in Aso Rock 2015 Campaign Organisation, NVAR, Mr. Godstime Ombu, has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to declare his intention to seek re-election without further delay in the interest of the country.

Ombu, who made the call in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at a meeting of state coordinators of the organisation, to evolve strategies to drum up support for a Goodluck/ Sambo ticket in 2015, explained that the organisation had finalised plans and framework to launch a robust mobilisation of the grassroot in the country for the support of President Jonathan come 2015.

He said that the country’s past leaders should be grateful to Jonathan for cleaning up the mess of their mis-rule, which he said was fundamental to the country’s challenges today.

He said: “We are impressed with his management of the affairs of the country, particularly the handling of the current security challenges. That is why we are mobilising Nigerians to support Mr. President, who is working hard to correct the system.”

DLI launches books in Rivers

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EVELOPMENT and Leadership Institute, DLI, a Port Harcourt-based non-government organisation, will today present two books to the public.

DLI board Chairman, Prof Ebere Onwudiwe, in a chat with reporters, said it was one of the resolutions of its 23rd Board.

Onwudiwe said the two books are African women can lead and Niger Delta Environmental Roundtable.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014—13

Olotu denies EFCC's allegation of N2bn in foreign account

2015: Block votes await Jonathan in Etsako —House of Reps aspirant

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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B

ENIN—A RETIRED Federal High Court judge, Justice Gladys Olotu, has denied the allegation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that it had traced about N2 billion to her foreign account.

Justice Olotu, who denied the claim in a chat with Vanguard, yesterday in Benin, Edo State, explained that the domiciliary account which she opened with First Bank, United Kingdom, was contained in the Code of Code Form which she had earlier submitted to the body, adding that the account had no substantial money in it.

She said: “The account is there for all to see. What is there is about 37 pounds sterling and this is contrary to the allegation by EFCC that it had traced N2 billion to my foreign account. I call on the EFCC to investigate the account.

“They should also carry out a detailed investigation into the case where I was alleged to have received a bribe of N2 billion. The woman who was alleged to have bribed me with the amount is a widow and has not been paid anything by the company i"nvolved in the case.

"They should investigate where she got the money to bribe me. They should name the account and who made the payment.”

She insisted that when she was interrogated by the EFCC, they did not ask her any question relating to the alleged N2 billion bribe and wondered why the issue suddenly surfaced.

It will be recalled that Justice Olotu was compulsorily retired from the Federal High Court by the Federal Government over alleged misconduct and she had blamed her predicament on some highly placed persons in government and the judiciary, who she claimed vowed to deal with her for refusing to do their bidding in a case before her.

VISIT: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (middle); Mr. John Kennedy Okpara, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (right), and Brig. Gen. Jones Aladehinde Arogbofa (rtd), Chief of Staff to the President, during a visit to Ibom E-Library in Uyo.

Inclusion of judiciary budget in states Appropriation Bill unconstitutional —Court

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

A

N Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has declared as unconstitutional, the practice, where the annual budget estimates of the judiciary are included in the Appropriation Bills, which state governors lay before state Houses of Assembly.

Trial judge, Justice J. Adeyeye, made the pronouncement in his judgment in the suit by Dr. Olisa Agbakoba against the Attorney General of Ekiti State, Ekiti Judicial Service Committee.

The practice is for governors to include judicial estimates in their Appropriation Bills, which are then passed into the Appropriation Law, by the states Houses of Assembly, contrary to Section 121 of the Constitution, which guarantees independent funding of the Judiciary.

Agbakoba in the suit, had asked the court to declare that the present practice of funding

the judiciary is unconstitutional.

He also asked the court to declare that any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state ought not to be released to the Judiciary in warrants by the executive arm, as is the present practice, but to be paid directly in whole to the Heads of Court for disbursement.

He had also prayed the court to declare that the continued dependence of the Judiciary on the executive for its budgeting and funds release is directly responsible for the present state of under-funding of the judiciary, poor and inadequate judicial infrastructure, low morale among judicial personnel, alleged corruption in the Judiciary, delays in administration of justice and judicial services delivery and general low quality and poor out-put by the

Judiciary. * A perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants from all practices on judiciary funding which is contrary to Section 121 (3) CFRN 1999, to wit submitting Judiciary’s estimates to the Executive and release of the Judiciary ’s fund in warrants by the Executive instead of directly to the Heads of Courts.

The court granted all the orders.

It will be recalled that Justice A. Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja, on May 26, 2014 delivered a landmark judgment in a similar case filed by Dr Agbakoba and held that estimates of the federal judiciary should not be submitted to the executive for inclusion in the Appropriation Bill.

The court ruled that judicial estimates should be submitted by the National Judicial Council direct to the National Assembly for consideration and appropriation.

Ogoni set to storm Abuja over UNEP report

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT—THE Ogoni have concluded arrangements to storm Abuja to protest the delay in the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme report, UNEP, on Ogoni area.

Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, in a statement, yesterday, said the body had constituted a team to lead the protest.

President of the organisation, Mr. Legborsi Pyagbara, gave the names of members of the team set up for the protest as Gani Topba, Chairman; Bari-ara Kpalap, Secretary; Prince Biira, Elvis Ikoma, Martin Nchima Sampson and Legborsi Abaadam as members He said: “Following the expiration of the ultimatum given to the Nigeria Government to emplace a gen-

uine and transparent process of implementing the UNEP report on Ogoniland, MOSOP has inaugurated an organising committee to execute the planned protest in Abuja, Nigeria.

“The team is to mobilise the Ogoni people and arrange all necessary logistics to ensure that the proposed peaceful march is successful in all ramifications.”

ENIN—A PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, House of Representatives aspirant for Etsako Federal constituency in Edo State, Mr. Garuba Hussein, has given the assurance that a block vote awaits President Goodluck Jonathan if he decides to contest the 2015 presidential election.

Garuba, in Auchi after his consultative visit to political stakeholders in his bid to secure the PDP ticket, said the government of President Jonathan has touched the lives of Etsako people with projects, adding that the people were waiting to pay him back by voting massively for him.

He said the projects undertaken by the PDP have not only impacted positively on the people, but also boosted the local commerce in Etsakoland.

Rep tasks Delta PDP members on unity

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—A MEMBER of the House of Representatives, Mrs Evelyn Oboro, has enjoined members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Uvwie, Okpe and Sapele federal constituency, Delta State, to remain united.

Speaking after a meeting with local government and ward executives of PDP in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state on strategies for possible consensus among the numerous aspirants for the forthcoming council elections in the state, she said PDP was the only party in the area.

Stressing the need for each ward to come up with a consensus candidate for the council election in order to reduce wranglings among party members, she noted that the party needed to work together as one family.

14 —Vanguard , FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Pensioners picket NASS over 53.4% pay rise in emoluments

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—SCORES of pensioners yesterday barricaded the major entry point to the National Assembly complex in protest against the non-provision for the payment of 53.4 percent increment in the 2014 Appropriation Act. The protesters wielded placards with inscriptions displaying their mood and some of them read as follows: “Coordinating minister of the economy, please release funds for pensioners entitlements”; “FGN- hear the cries of senior citizens so that it will be well with the country’; ’53.4% is our rights, pay us”; “Multiple senior citizens are suffering of different ailments, pay our pension arrears to enable us settle medical bills” and “Productive years of pensioners wasted for a country that care less about their welfare, what a pity!”, among others.

NUP President, Abel Afolayan, in the six-page petition dated July 10 2014 and addressed to the Chairman, House Committee on Pension, expressed concern over noncompliance with sections 173(3) and 210(3) of the Nigerian Constitution as amended by the federal and state governments.

He also decried inordinate attitude of Federal Government to honour the agreements reached at various meetings facilitated

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said: “Unfortunately and regrettably, the various meetings and various decisions arrived at by the committee based on the pensioners problems as enumerated before His

Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan have not been fruitful till today.

“Thereafter, we held meetings with the Minister of Labour and Productivity with a view to bringing lasting solutions to our many problems yet nothing came out of the meetings to put smiles on the faces of the civilian pensioners.

“When we heard that the military pensioners were paid

33 per cent increase in pension, it was our genuine expectation that it would be our turn to be paid similar increases. Our expectation has, so far, been futile,” Afolayan stated regrettably.

According to him, military pensioners are legitimately asking for the full 53.4 percent increase due to them and, by extension, civilian pensioners.

LAUNCHING: From left: Group Head, Mass Market Banking, First City Monument Bank, FCMB,Ltd, Mr. Adetunji Lamidi, Divisional Head, Human Resources and Change Management, FCMB, Felicia Obozuwa, Executive Director, Lagos & South-West, Mr. Femi Bakare, a staff of Kuntel Pharmacy, Ota, Mr. Oladipupo Kolawole, Bank's agent and owner of the pharmacy, Mr. Abayomi Tella, and an official of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Peter Olayinka, at the launch of FCMB's agent banking scheme in Ogun State.

Lawyer, client walk out on magistrate in Enugu

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—THERE was a mild drama at an Enugu Magistrate court yesterday as a lawyer and his client walked out of the court room, following the refusal of the presiding magistrate, Mr. F. E Chukwu, to grant their request to hands off the matter he was handling and return same to the registry for reassignment.

Defence Counsel in suit No: MEN/125/2012 - Pinnacle Oil Vs Mr. Bede Agu, Mr. Jacob Egbo, was about to move a motion for stay of proceeding when his client, Mr. Agu (defendant), stood to tell the court that he had lost confidence in the court and had instructed his lawyer to ask for transfer of the matter.

Agu claimed that he overheard the prosecution witness (PW1) in the matter speaking to someone on the phone that the matter was already concluded, that everything was going on as planned.

“I am not interested in this matter, and I have my doubts if I

will get justice here based on the discussion I overheard.

“If it is possible I will like the matter transferred. I am surprised my counsel is going on with this matter because I have instructed him to discontinue that I have lost confidence in the court,” Agu told the court.

Following his client’s interjection, the defense counsel,

Mr. Egbo, applied that the matter be returned to the registry for re-assignment to another court.

Replying to the application, counsel to the plaintiff, Miss N. Aroh, expressed surprise with the application, arguing that there were procedures for such request.

She argued that Order 16 of

the Magistrate Court Rules dealt with transfer, which she said was purely an administrative duty of the Chief Judge or the Registrar.

But the defense counsel insisted that he was not asking the court to usurp the functions of the Chief Judge but to return the matter to the registry since the issue of bias had been raised.

Cripple, 2 others jailed for dealing in drugs

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

O

NITSHA—THE Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has sentenced a cripple, Emmanuel Ozua, to four years imprisonment for dealing in Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp).

Delivering a judgement yesterday, the presiding judge, Justice Isah Gafai, said the accused, in spite of his disability, involved himself in drug trafficking and, therefore, deserved to be punished according to the law.

The National Drug Law

Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said 23-year-old cripple, who hails from Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area of the state, was arrested with 100 grammes of the substance at Nkwo market, Awkuzu, on September 21, 2013.

The prosecution also alleged that the convict had initially been arrested on February 19, 2013, in possession of 300 grammes of the substance but was counseled and pardoned but lamented that he continued with the trafficking until he was arrested for the second time in

September, last year.

The court also sentenced two other traffickers, Udoka Nwodo and David Admenchezo, to three years imprisonment each without an option of fine.

NDLEA prosecutor had told the court that the 21-year-old Nwodo who hails from Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, was arrested on March 31, 2014, with 2.3 grammes of Cannabis, while Admenchezo, 48, who hails from Enuko village, Isiagu in Awka South LocalGovernmentAreaofthestate,was arrested with 200 grammes of Cannabis on May 27, 2014.

Agric Ministry denies involvement in fertiliser scam

BY GABRIEL EWEPU

A

BUJA—THE Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development yesterday denied any involvement in the alleged N2.4 billion fertiliser scam, following recent invitation of the Permanent Secretary, Ibukun Odusote, and three directors by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Addressing journalists in Abuja, Odusote said there was no basis for the claims made to tarnish the image of the ministry as far as transparency was concerned.

She maintained that since the current leadership of the ministry came on board, the fertiliser mess was cleared in less than 90 days, culminating in the electronic registration of 10 million farmers across the country.

Senator hands over water projects to communities

BY OLASUNKANMI

AKONI AGOS—SENATOR Gbenga Ashafa, representing, Lagos East Senatorial District has donated four newlyconverted motorized boreholes to communities in Eredo Local Council Development Area of Epe town in Lagos State.

The project, which aimed to enhance unhindered availability of potable water to members of his constituency, comprises two boreholes at Odo- Egiri; one at Poka and another at Odomola.

The project became expedient, following several complaints by people in the area that the hand pump boreholes initially constructed under the Millennium Development Goals, MGDs, scheme ceased to function almost immediately after completion in 2013.

Speaking at the official commissioning of the project, Ashafa, stated: “We all know the importance of water to life."

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Vanguard, FRIDAY,JULY 11, 2014 — 15

FOREIGN ACCOUNTS: Court to summon EFCC over retired judge's case

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—JUSTICE Ademola Adeniyi of the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday said he would summon the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over its conduct in the ongoing investigation into an allegation that a retired judge of the court, Justice Gladys Olotu, stashed away over N2 billion in a foreign bank account.

Olotu, who was sent on a compulsory retirement by the National Judicial Council, NJC, after she was found guilty of judicial misconduct, went before the court to obtain an order of perpetual injunction to restrain the anti-graft agency from arresting, or inviting her for questioning over the allegation.

In the suit which was adjourned for hearing on October 2, Olotu is asking the court to, among others, restrain the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, the State Security Service, SSS, the Police and Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, from further inviting or quizzing her.

In her supporting affidavit, she accused the NJC and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, of instigating the security agencies against her for daring to challenge her compulsory retirement in court.

She stated that upon the service of processes (in relation to her earlier suit, challenging her compulsory retirement) on them, the AGF and NJC “very unfortunately felt and, indeed, expressed anger against me.”

Justice Olotu stated that “in fulfilment of the threats, the 7th and 8th respondents (AGF and NJC) ganged up with the 9th to the 18th respondents against me, and I was subsequently invited by the 1st respondent, EFCC, to its office on March 18, 2014.

Listed at the 9th to 18th respondents in the suit were the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Salifu Alfa Belgore and Chief Gabriel Igbinedion the Esama of Benin and father of former Edo State governor, Lucky Igbinedion.

Others were corporate entities which included Ponticell Nigeria Limited, Stolt Offshore Services S. A., the Vessel M. V. Theo, the owners of the Vessel M. V. Theo, Elf Nigeria Petroleum Nigeria Limited, A.B.C. Maritime AG, the Vessel M.V.Lara and the Vessel M.V.Krysia.

Justice Olotu told the court that in honouring the invitation by the EFCC, she arrived its office at about 10am on March 18, 2014 and was subsequently “arrested, interrogated and detained until about 4pm before I was released

to go with instructions to come back on April 1, 2014 for another round of humiliation and detention.”

She said her invitation by the EFCC “was orchestrated by the AGF and the NJC along with the named 10 others.

“I felt highly humiliated, tortured, heartbroken by the manner the officers of the 1st respondent ridiculed me in the name of interrogation.”

The embattled judge told the court that after her experience with the EFCC, officers of the

ICPC, SSS, the police and the Code of Conduct Bureau were now on her trail making it difficult for her to move freely and to freely and safely stay in her residence.

“My residence has now turned a rendezvous for all manner of security agents in Nigeria for the single reason that I filed Exhibit A (the suit against her retirement) and have refused to discontinue it,” she added.

She further sought an order directing all the respondents to tender a written apology to her;

an order awarding N5 billion as exemplary damages against the respondents and in her favour and a perpetual injunction restraining the respondent from further arresting, detaining and humiliating her.

Meantime, the judge handling the matter, Justice Adeniyi, threatened to summon the EFCC for publishing on the pages of Newspapers, the counter-affidavit it entered against Justice Olotu, without furnishing her lawyer a copy of the process until yesterday morning.

PRESENTATION: Mr. Tony Okonedo, Manager, Communication and Public Affairs, Nigeria LNG Limited, NLNG (left) presenting 2014 Facts and Figures on NLNG to Ernest Nwapa, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board, NCDMB, in Abuja.

Devt of N/Delta my priority—Minister zAs Shekarau resumes at Education Ministry

BY CHRIS OCHAYI, LAIDE

AKINBOADE & CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA—THE new Minister of Niger Delta Ministry, Dr. Steve Oru, has promised to address problems created by lack of even development in the oil rich region.

This came on a day the new Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, assured Nigerians that he would be part of the history that would see to the development of the education sector in the country.

Oru stated this, yesterday, while taking-over the affairs of the ministry from the Supervising Minister, Mr Dairus Ishaku, in Abuja.

He said the Niger Delta had been an area of peculiar interest for the present administration, adding that government would do all it could to solve their problems.

“The mandate of the ministry is

to promote peace and even development in the Niger Delta Region, and we will all work together to achieve this,” he said.

The minister noted that though his predecessor had done a lot of work to ensure even development of the nine states that made up the region, there were still some areas that needed to be touched.

He said: “The challenges are still there for us to address, there are mandates of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, that have not been touched at all. I pray that you cooperate with me to work as a team.”

Oru maintained that peace in the Niger Delta was germane to national development, noting that achievements of the past should not be seen by staff as victory, as they still had much areas to cover.

“Achievements of the past

should not be seen as victory. We have challenges, the challenges of making the best of all ministries.

“We can achieve it. Peace in the Niger Delta Region will also affect the entire nation,” he said.

Earlier, the Minister of State, Mr Dairus Ishaku, who had been overseeing the ministry, rolled out some of his achievements which include East West road project.

Meanwhile, the new Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, has assured Nigerians that he would be part of the history that would see to the development of the education sector in the country.

The two term former governor of Kano State, stated this when he resumed as Minister of Education at the ministry in Abuja, and solicited the cooperation and support of management and staff.

Nigeria needs N112trn infrastructure by 2020 —PWC

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU & RETNA TOHOMDET

A

BUJA—FOR the country to bridge its infrastructure gap by 2020, Nigeria would require a whopping N112trillion, an equivalent of $630billion investment.

West Africa Territory Advisory Leader of Price Waterhouse Copper, Mr Faruok Gumel, made this known at the opening session of the fourth National Public Private Partnership stakeholders’ forum organized by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, in Abuja yesterday.

Gumel said that despite being the largest economy in Africa, with Gross Domestic Product of $509.9bn, the country was also experiencing huge challenges in the area of infrastructure.

He said: “Nigeria, According to him, “Estimate of about $630bn as infrastructure investment requirement for Nigeria for 2011 to 2020.

Reps task FG on ASUP, COEASU strike

A

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

BUJA—THE House of Representatives has urged the Presidency to urgently resolve the lingering strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, to allow immediate resumption of students of the affected institutions.

The union had called its members to embark on the year old strike, following disagreements with government on welfare and other related issues, and several interventions to resolving the differences had repeatedly hit brick walls.

The call was sequel to a motion sponsored by Ibrahim Shehu-Gusau under matters of urgent public importance yesterday, expressing concerns that the lingering strike had affected over two million Nigerian students of the institutions, who could not graduate.

16— Vanguard , FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

IMPEACHMENT: Probe panel to confront Nyako today

BY SONI DANIEL,

NORTHERN REGION EDITOR

Y

OLA—THE seven-member panel probing Governor Murtala Nyako’s alleged maladministration is expected to return to work today and may raise issues concerning his refusal to honour its invitation.

The panel had pasted the summons asking the governor to appear before it on the walls of the Government House in Yola on Wednesday and fixed today as the return hearing date for the governor, who returned to the state on Thursday morning but shunned the panellists.

The governor had given the indication that he would not appear before the panel, having gone to court to challenge the way and manner the members had violated the laws regarding the process of impeaching him and his deputy, James Ngilari.

The governor is relying on

a Supreme Court ruling which provides that he should be personally served the impeachment notice, since in the eyes of the law, substituted service is not deemed as sufficient.

A copy of the summons, which was pasted on the Government House walls in Yola and obtained by Vanguard yesterday, has been dismissed by the governor as a non-service.

The summons dated July 9 and signed by the Secretary of the Panel, Mr. Binanu Esthon, had ordered the governor to appear before it.

A copy of the notice on the wall of the Government House, Yola read in part; "Upon hearing A.K. Jingi Esq, Counsel to the panel and upon reading the provision of order 6 rule 4(1) (d) of the Adamawa High Court (civil procedure) rule 2013 and order 9 rule 1 of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, the panel of investigation rules procedure, the oral application for substituted service on the respondent with the hearing notice and all other processes of this panel is granted.

"The panel therefore orders

as follows: i)That the hearing notice and all other processes of panel on the respondent Murtala Nyako, GCON, Governor Adamawa State shall be served by pasting on the main entrance of Adamawa Government House. ii)That the photographs of the hearing notice of any other processes on the main gate entrance of the Adamawa Government shall be taken and file in the registry of the panel. iii) That the return date for the matter shall be Friday 11th day of July 2014.

Dated this 9th day of July 2014."

3 soldiers die in Boko Haram ambush

M

AIDUGURI— TROOPS on patrol around Delwa and neighbouring communities in Borno State, yesterday, successfully broke

through insurgents’ ambush, 35kilometres to Maiduguri, as they advanced to dislodge insurgents who were massing up in the area.

The fierce fire fight that ensued as the troops waded through the ambush left scores of insurgents dead, while 3 soldiers died in action.

T h e Defence Twitter said that seven soldiers who incurred v a r i o u s degrees of injuries have

been evacuated for treatment while the troops have continued with their mission.

There were reports early yesterday that the deadly Islamic sect, Boko Haram, had taken over one of the major routes linking Maiduguri, the Borno State capital to the Southern parts of the state, forcing travellers to take other longer routes to their destinations.

Those travelling to the Borno South had to go through Yola and Gombe States before turning Northwards to get home, in what victims were said to have described as tortuous journey.

It was learnt that travellers going to Damboa and Biu were the worst hit by yesterday’s experience

Edo govt disburses N200m to business operators

B

ENIN CITY—THE Edo State Government has disbursed more than N200 million to small and medium scale business operators, under the Edo State Government and Bank of Industry loan Scheme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises since 2009.

This was disclosed yesterday by the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Macdonald Obasuke, while issuing out over N45 million cheques to beneficiaries.

He explained that the scheme which was jointly financed by the state Government who contributed N250 million and the Bank of Industry N250 million, was part of the efforts of the state government to assist small and medium scale entrepreneurs in the state due to the high interest rates in the banks.

His words: “The scheme is for serious and responsible minded business owners across the state whether you are an indigene or not. And we have over two hundred people who have benefited and the good news is that, while few other states who operates the same scheme wants beneficiaries to pay interest, the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, said our own will be interest free.”

I mistakenly impregnated my elder sister—Man, 25, tells court

BY ABDULSALAM

MUHAMMAD

K

ANO—A 25 year old man, Shamsu Isa, yesterday told a magistrate court in Kano State that he impregnanted his elder sister in error.

Isa spoke shortly after appearing before the court, following a report made by the Ward Head of the Takalmawa Quarters, to the police that the accused person was having sexual intercourse with his elder sister, contrary to the law.

The First Information Report by the police stated that a case of

incest was reported to the police following the discovery that Isa’s elder sister, identified as Na’ima was carrying her younger brother’s baby.

“On July 4, 2014, the Ward Head of Takalmawa Quarters reported to the police that, Shamsu Isa was having sexual intercourse with his elder sister.

However, when the charge was read to Isa, he said: ‘’The allegation levelled against me is true. All that had been read against me, is true, it was a mistake, I mistakenly inpregnated her, my elder sister.”

According to the charge, the accused person

committed “incest contrary to section 390 of the Penal Code Law. Naima Isa, 27, is believed to have a weak mind is heavy.’’

The prosecutor, Corporal Ibrahim Abdulrazak applied for the matter to be adjourned to another date, to enable the police conclude investigations into the case.

The Senior Magistrate, Ummi Sani Kurawa, while delivering her ruling, ordered that, Isa be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the matter to August 4, for mention.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 —17

Stalemate?

AST week, I said on this page that Boko Haram’s murderous sprees and heartless kidnappings have made Northern Muslims look bad and have strengthened President Jonathan’s chances of being re-elected next year.

Some Vanguard readers have contacted me to say that while they share my view that Boko Haram has seriously undermined the image and electability of Islamic politicians from its birthplace, they totally disagree with my conclusion.

On reflection, these semi-critics have a point.

It is true that many Southerners (including Yoruba/Edo Muslims) and many Northern Christians - who were once willing to vote for any apparently credible Northern Muslim who presented himself as a presidential candidate - are now determined to vote for Jonathan instead, even if they don’t think that Jonathan is doing a good job, purely because of the Boko Haram factor.

However, it is also true that many Northern Muslims who voted for Jonathan in 2011 now hate him with a burning passion because they say that

future that will persuade Nigerians from ALL walks of life and ALL geopolitical zones to forgive his mistakes and revere/ thank him. *If Jonathan complacently refuses to become the Very Special Man that God intended him to become when he gifted him massive good luck and golden opportunities, the PDP can ditch him and find another flag-bearer who is more

the Nigerian government. But it is also possible that a decent Igbo or Northern Christian will be widely accepted.

Many people have told me that they would love a President like Fashola, the dynamic Lagos State Governor. But most Nigerians are not yet, in my opinion, sophisticated, detribalised or cerebral enough, to enable another Yoruba to sit in the top seat so soon after Olusegun Obasanjo vacated it.

,

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his body language indicates that he is about to break a promise to only serve one term.

In other words, if the public mood doesn’t change much or at all between now and February 2015 - and if the APC presents a Northern Muslim as its flag-bearer and if Jonathan decides to seek a second term - Jonathan will do very well in the South and get plenty of Northern Christian votes as well. BUT he will also be totally shunned by the majority of core Northerners.

In other words, I was wrong to categorically state that Jonathan’s chances of being re-elected have been significantly strengthened by Boko Haram.

It boils down to simple maths. Even if Jonathan wins most of the South, plus a few Christian Middle Belt enclaves, he will still lose most of the North.

Meanwhile, even if a Northern Muslim candidate wins most of the North plus a few Muslim Middle Belt enclaves, he will still lose most of the South.

In other words, if Jonathan winds up running against a Northern Muslim opponent, it will be very difficult for either of them to gain nationwide support; and I’m now convinced that a stalemate scenario is the most likely outcome.

There are a number of ways in which an inconclusive result (that will probably lead to massive disruptions and toxic blood-soaked fights) can be avoided:*Goodluck Jonathan can up his game BIG-TIME and become the satisfactory leader I know he can be if he REALLY tries to fulfil his potential…and stops dithering cluelessly…and stops kowtowing to the lowest common denominator…and makes some thrillingly courageous moves in the near

If Jonathan winds up running against a Northern Muslim opponent, it will be very difficult for either of them to gain nationwide support; and I’m now convinced that a stalemate scenario is the most likely outcome

,

asset than liability and can conclusively win an election. *One or both of the main parties – PDP and APC – can forget about choosing flag-bearers who come from extreme ends of the ethnic/religious spectrum and have lots of negative baggage attached to them…and go for uncontroversial middle-of-the-road candidates who have credible track records and will be acceptable across the board. *If another South-South person is selected to replace Jonathan, Niger Delta militants might quit the temptation to throw tantrums, sabotage oil pipelines and wage war against

OK, so what next?

Frankly, my dears, I don’t have a clue!

I dey siddon look like the rest of you, wondering what the next episode will be. Only God knows where we are heading.

Some of the regular and senior folks who have discussed the status quo with me strongly suspect that Jonathan’s position is untenable…and that the runup to the election will be so violent and anarchical that the army will take over.

Others reckon that there will be no election…or that Jonathan will surprise legions of sceptics and secure another term without any huge hassles.

Whatever the eventual outcome of the upcoming “democratic” exercise may be, I yearn for MUCH better governance that will enable Nigeria to DRASTICALLY improve its global reputation and be dragged into the twenty-first century on every imaginable level, so that every single citizen can prosper and be proud.

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

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

OPINION

BY BASHIR HASSAN

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ITH over 21 years cognate experience in banking, pension, manufacturing and trading, when he found himself in the position of Chairman of the Board of Ashaka Cement, AshakaCem, he knew he is now a global player in an industry with a market size estimated to hit $394,553 million dollars by 2016.

That is 45-year-old Umar Kwairanga from Gombe State, returning home to chair and give leadership to the board of AshakaCem that was incorporated when he was virtually five years old.

Nigeria’s AshakaCem is now a subsidiary of Lafarge, one of the world's leaders in cement production.

Last April the merger of the Swiss company Holcim and Lafarge, a French company was announced.

With capacity of producing some 400 million metric tons of cement per annum, the new company has become the largest producer of cement in the world, beating the combined 345 million metric tons output of Anhui Conch and CNBM, two major Chinese cement producers.

In the same month Kwairanga’s AshakaCem was holding a ground-breaking ceremony in Gombe for its planned capacity expansion from 850 tons to four million tons per annum contributing its quota to the 400 million-ton capacity of its parent company.

Taking Ashak acem tto o great er height Ashakacem greater Cement, which is made from clay and limestone, is a key building material which is used basically as a binder. One of the major drivers for cement market is steady and consistent growth in construction industry not only in Nigeria but globally. There is no doubt that Nigeria is witnessing a boom in the construction industry. There is clearly a huge demand in the country if one looks at the race among many state governments and private developers to close the housing deficit in the country.

Projects such as the Centenary City in Abuja, which President Goodluck Jonathan recently commissioned and other landmark projects in the Federal Capital Territory are a testimony to the kind of positive development the Nigerian construction industry is witnessing.

What does the AshakaCem expansion mean for the economy of Gombe State, the people of the state, the community round the sprawling industrial complex and to Nigeria in general? The answer to that lies in the fact that the company is injecting about N120 billion in this expansion exercise to build a new cement factory with installed capacity of 2.5 million tons per annum and a 64mw power generating plant.

The fund for the project will be sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Industrial

Intervention Fund. This project will throw open employment opportunities to the Nigerian youth as the company operates an equal opportunity policy. It will substantially increase AshakaCem workforce from its current 640 staff level by almost double that figure. It will also boost staff morale and increase motivation because of the huge opportunity for manpower development.

In today’s age of environmental protection advocacy, AshakaCem is treading carefully and is systematically addressing the associated environmental concerns such as relocation of local communities away from its quarries.

Cement occupies a very important position in world economy that today its consumption per head of population is an index for measuring economic development.

This is true when we look at the statistics. As a result of the global financial crisis affecting Europe, most of its cement producing countries, such as Italy and Germany, have lost their ranking, while most of the progressing countries, in terms of ranking, are the emerging markets. For example, in 2013 Brazil moved to the fifth position from 15th; Turkey from 10th to 6th and Vietnam from 17th to 8th position. And China until the

merger of Lafarge and Holcim this year was the leading producer with 230 million tons in 2013 followed by another emerging market, India with 280 million tons.

Asia pacific is the largest consumer of cement in the world followed by North America and Europe. Based on types of cement, white cement is largely used to increase the visual appearance of construction.

Portland cement is used in commercial, residential, industrial, and public infrastructure. Mortar is used in brick works and road surfaces. Blended cement is heavily used in ready-mix concretes.

Some of the major players operating in the global cement market include LaFarge-Holcim (France/Swiss), Anhui Conch (China), Cemex (Mexico), Heidelberecement (Germany), Italcement (Italy), Ultratech (India), Eurocement (Russia).

Although Africa contributes only five percent of the global output of cement, the expansion of cement companies such as AshakaCem is a beacon of hope for Africa.

And it is consistent with the forecast made by the global Portland Cement Association, PCA, that the world cement consumption is expected to record sustained growth during 2013-2016. According to PCA, growth is expected to be

characterised by weaker economic conditions in China and many of the industrialised economies’ cement markets. World cement consumption is expected to grow 3.6% in 2013, 4.0% in 2014, and remain near 4.0% growth during 2015-2016.

With three degrees in Business Administration and Finance, Umar Kwairanga the Sarkin Fulani of Gombe, understands global finance and its dynamics. He has found a way to manage his tight schedule between his various businesses.

Currently the CEO and Managing Director of Finmal Finance Services Limited, he is also a director in many other companies.

His involvement in policy and strategy formation in the public sector through participation in intellectually challenging projects such as the Vision 2020 business support group and technical working group and active membership of the board of Gombe State Investment and Property Development has by no means equipped Kwairanga for his new position at AshakaCem. No doubt the favourable conditions in the construction industry in the emerging markets in sub-Saharan Africa represented by Nigeria’s rising economic boom is fuelling the growth AshakaCem is recording.

Equally contributing to the growth is quality of leadership of its board under Kwairanga in particular and the management of the company in general. *Mr. Hassan, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 AMID mounting criticisms of government policies, some States have commenced schemes that can address basic issues that affect the people. One of them is government-facilitated housing that is accessible to the lower incomes, including the informal sector of the economy.

The Lagos State Government launched the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme, Lagos HOMS, six months ago, for those who meet the 30 per cent down payment requirement. The new policy, which it calls “Rent-to-Own”, is a follow-up programme aimed at accommodating the housing needs of people outside government employment, and those who cannot afford to pay the mortgage equity in the HOMS programme.

It is heartwarming that slowly, but surely, States across the country have started factoring in nongovernment workers in their housing programmes, unlike past efforts where civil servants were the beneficiaries. There is a similar programme in Abia State. The State is working with private estate developers to provide affordable housing for members of the public, not just civil servants, for purchase.

New Housing Template The age-long neglect of non-government workers in government-assisted housing schemes contributed in large measures to the serious under-housing of Nigerians, especially in the urban areas, since a lot of money is required to acquire land and still more money for developing it.

We commend governments that have started seeing the importance of housing as a necessity. We enjoin others to adopt the schemes to ameliorate the nationwide housing deficit. People who have no access to homes of their own often feel dehumanised, particularly in urban settings where the housing deficit is felt more.

The exploitative ways of house owners who rent

their houses, is a study in daily tribulations of tenants.

The gradual evolution of the mortgage system, which is taken for granted in some countries, would not only make life easier for those aspiring to legitimate ownership of their homes, it would open up a whole new sector of the economy that will create high volumes of new jobs.

Inclusion of the informal sector in the housing programmes of governments would increase the public’s interest and participation in governance, as citizens will always look forward to voting for political parties that will make access to housing easier for all.

We encourage the various informal trade groups and unions to demand their right of inclusion in government policies. Every group in society has the right to the dividends of governance. When people do not demand their rights, they slip increasingly to the fringes of society, where they are neglected. They also miss the opportunity of holding governments accountable.

OPINION

BY AIYEVBEKPEN OSAKUE

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HE recent victory of the PDP in Ekiti State gubernatorial election has raised puzzles about the psychology of the behaviour of the Nigerian electorate. For the PDP, it is good omen and undoubtedly a confidence booster, particularly for the South West geo-political zone of the party ahead of the 2015 general election. To them, it is needless to dig deep on the seeming conundrum but truly, it has the trappings of an isolated incident. Curiously, Edo State branch of the PDP pray and hope for a replication of similar scenario in the State.

Why not? After all, optimism is the basis for political contestation. However, there are facts on ground that admits no debate to the effect that the optimism of the PDP in Edo State is tantamount to the reverie of a convulsive sleeper. The dynamics of Edo politics and the sensibility of the electorate are less volatile and more predictable than the South West. Without mincing words, the odds against the PDP in Edo State are deeplyrooted in the configuration of its leadership and the oozing stench of her past mortal transgressions.

Apparently, it is puerile political calculus for the PDP leadership to continue to bask in the euphoria of Ekiti victory in the hope that it will serve as spring board for her in Edo State.

First, the endogenous political wind that often blows through the South West has never influenced Edo State politics. Even within the context of the South-South, Edo State dared to vote the then AC, now APC while the other states voted PDP. Edo State has thus

Ekiti

election

demonstrated rare political sophistication and independence irrespective of what happens in the South-South or South West. Therefore, the prime pre-occupation of the PDP in the immediate and indeed, all the other parties, including the ruling APC, should be to dispassionately assess their standing with the people. The PDP must begin by asking herself why Edo State electorate massively rejected the party in 2007. In 2012 gubernatorial election, the APC recorded landslide victory in all the 18 local government areas of the State!

As a reminder, some of the reasons why Edo State rejected the PDP include the lack of capacity to manage her affairs. This resulted in seemingly intractable factional fight that led to the emergence of parallel state executives of the party and the maintenance of two state secretariats. Secondly, the party was dominated and controlled by powerful godfathers who were also torn apart fighting over control of power and the resources of the State to the amazement of the people whose welfare and social conditions were never attended to. Thirdly, the PDP ran a campaign to install a government that repudiated all the campaign promises and turned its back arrogantly against the people when it got to power. Edo people were constantly impressed upon to make do with dilapidated roads and potholes laid with hard core stones, the infamous lucky stones, awaiting reconstruction during the dry season that never came. At the end of the first tenure, the PDP openly admitted that their

and

Edo

politics

government had failed and pleaded for an opportunity to repeat (govern again) the class in apparent reference to the usual practice in the school system. Again, the campaign was flowery and re-assuring. The people reluctantly gave them another opportunity by allowing their rigging machine to vote on their behalf. Again they failed, this time in a more disastrous manner.

There is no gainsaying the fact the PDP left behind a legacy of executive abandonment of responsibilities and a state of tatterdemalion.

At the end of their first eight years, public infrastructures and the broad ancient roads and streets of the state capital, Benin City, were dusty, rusty and decadent, only comparable to a war-ravaged zone. That was the state of affairs in Edo State that prepared ground for an inevitable change of the ruling party in 2007. That also, explains why the self-anointed successor and brain behind the failed government could not pursue his ambition further and had to desperately seek cover behind a heroic national figure in order to remain politically relevant. Naturally government changed hands, not after a gruesome fight though. Their strategy of hiding behind a man with immense reputation and pedigree as a passionate fighter for the common man proved to be a master stroke!

Six years down the road, the government of APC under the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has achieved the unimaginable.

Benin City can now boast of a modern six lanes road in an area where such development

was thought impossible. Not less than eight major arterial roads stretching into hundreds of kilometres have been reconstructed and dualised. Iheya – Third Cemetery environs is made up of about 25 roads. Government reclaimed the area from flood and returned landlords who had been sacked by flood back to their homes. The residential district has become a model. The joy of landlords whose properties have suddenly appreciated in value knows no bound in each of the districts so turned around. The story is the same across the three senatorial districts. Flood water control in five junction, Upper Lawani, Upper Mission, Teachers House are mere marvels to residents, not to talk of the star project – the Storm Water Project which only conscientious men with lion’s heart and foresight could dare, is progressing according to plan. In addition to similar feats in Education and Health, can anyone still recall what Kings Square use to look like? Where are the makeshift shops, the ramshackle saloons and the sprawling bushes that provided secured hideout for thieves and pocket pickers? The fact that this APC government is avuncular and has eked on ground a legacy of infrastructural monuments makes all the difference!

* Mr. Osakue, a political strategist, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 — 19

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AST week, a friend was travelling from Oturkpo in Benue State to Lagos, in a Toyota Haice bus of a popular transport company.

At about 10 am, after the Lokoja bridge, along the Ajaokuta Road, at a place they call ‘Bus Stop’ in Okene, two armed men in army camouflage uniforms flagged down the bus to join others already parked by the road side. The men flagged down two other buses, and suddenly hell was let loose. Six other men came out of the bush, all carrying AK47 rifles. They shot randomly both into the air and in every direction. Two of the gun totting men boarded the buses, and led the four buses into a track road near a stream and stopped. They robbed every person and raped most of the women! They took money, phones, and anything that caught their fancy.

It lasted for two hours after which they folded their guns into their pack bags, changed clothes and walked away.

This I understand is the story along that road daily. Commuters are robbed at least three times daily along this Ajaokuta- Okene Road.

Other inter-state roads where commuters are daily robbed in this manner include Lokoja - Abaji Road, Lokoja-Okene Road, Ibilo-

Akungba Road, Enugu-OboloAforOturpka Road, to name a few.

There always are few police men lurking around these roads, carrying inferior fire power to that of the robbers, and the robbers know this. It will be suicidal therefore for the police to attempt to challenge this type of robbers.

They are ruthless, well trained in their weapons handling, and despise our police; and we can’t just blame the police.

When a police man dies on active service his family gets a paltry sum of about N60,000, and that money never come ! So, why should a police man risk his life in a country like Nigeria? They buy their own uniforms, their barracks are not well maintained, and housing is grossly inadequate, they are poorly equipped and paid. They cramp up in offices like school children. The police officers themselves have not helped matters. Those who should know are so arrogant that one wonders where they came from. One must ‘mobilise’ them for results, thereby mortgaging their integrity seriously.

High way robberies and crime therefore continue to increase, exacerbated by policies that do not consider security implications before implementation.

The cashless policy of the CBN, which kicked off this month, means

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that we carry less cash. A good policy in itself, but about to be messed up by poorly thought out implementation plans.

First, Nigerians are not ready technologically to curtail the cyber crime that will follow this policy. It is not certain whether banks and the law enforcement planners have put adequate procedure and systems to cope with the volume of plastic frauds that will follow the cashless policy, which the developed world still struggle with. In order to cope, the police will need to recruit and train more persons for this specialised sector.

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econd, the cashless policy means that people will not keep bulk money at home any more. Robbers would not want to gain access into a mansion, only to be confronted with ATM cards.

The implications are two fold:

The Church: Sanctuary to moral mortuary

BY CHUKWUDI ENEKWECHI

“Of all religions, Christianity is the most materialistic And religion is the greatest predator on man”. (Pope St. Malachys)

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HE Church is not just a superstructure or building for Christian public worship. It is the Body of Christ- a universal ecumenical collectivity of Salvation Armies dedicated to professing, evangelising and possessing the “Spirit of the Word” of God through Jesus Christ. The élan and verve of the Church is hallmarked by the move of the Holy Spirit and Divine afflatus with Christ as its primus interpares.

The Church has come along way. After the ascension of Christ, the disciples and other converts formed the Christian groupfollowers of Christ. There were other religious groups, but Christians were particularly hand-picked for persecution and oppression by the Roman authorities.

This culminated in the dispersal of Christians.

The Sanguinary proclivities of Roman Emperors was visited upon the Christians.

In 64 A.D. a great fire burnt Rome and Emperor Nero attributed the fire to Christian heresies, thereby justifying his wanton persecution. The persecution gained ascendancy under Nero’s successors, Emperor Domitian who reigned from 81 A.D. to 180 A.D. and Emperor Diocletian.

A profoundly historic decision was taken in 47 A.D. by the Christian Council of Jerusalem. It was that non- Jews (gentiles) who were Christians need not to practise Jewish mores, customs and traditions. It was explicitly articulated that Christianity is not a Jewish religion and that the basic condition for the Christian’s faith is a belief in Jesus Christ” as the author and finisher

of our faith. This singular decision cosmopolitanised Christianity.

In 306 A.D. “Constantine” was made Emperor of Rome. He fought many wars, notably the war against Emperor Maxentus. He won the war after he had received an apocalyptic afflatus, visions of the cross and a divine call to fight in the name of Jesus Christ. He subserviently kow-towed and they stopped Christians persecution in 325 A.D. He called all Christians groups together in 330 A.D. under the auspices of the Christians Council of Jerusalem (The Conference of Nicae). This ultimately gave birth to the Roman Catholic Church. Arguably, in fulfillment of the prophecy of Jesus Christ in Matthew Chapter 16:18, “Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it”.

The Roman Catholic Church was universalised and its doctrine’s of the infallibility of the Pope became prevalent.

The Catholic Church compromised monarchical absolutism, state terrorism and oppression in return for its own protection and growth. The despotism of the papacy, its unscriptural heathenistic practices, its being used by the Roman government to carry out the persecution of the faithful, papal dogmas and its surrogacy in the perpetuation of yahoo-like weird practices stimulated pockets of dissenters.

The Bible scholar and staunch advocate of religious puritanism, E.G. White, said in his book: The Great Controversy that “Amidst the gloom that settled upon the earth during the long period of papal supremacy the light of the truth could not wholly be extinguished.

In every age there were witnesses for God. Men who cherished faith in Christ as the only mediator between God and man, who held the Bible as the only rule of life, and who hallowed the true Sabbath. How much the Earth owes to these men posterity will

They will shift attention and emphasis to the high ways and target traders, who usually carry cash because most ATMs don't work.

Some traders carry cash for numerous reasons, including the fact that the CBN failed to educate various traders associations and groups on the meaning of the cashless policy.

Yes, some banks sent sms and emails on the policy and how it will run, but how many women in the markets read sms?

Our market women and traders are majorly not as educated as the Minister of Agriculture’s farmers who use cell phones to receive information on improved farming techniques and all that!

Most ATMs do not work, so people must carry cash and use same in transactions, thereby becoming more vulnerable on the roads or in transit from one point to another. The security demands of this new policy entail an increase in the man power and equipment at the disposal of our law enforcement agents.

Third, robbers will also start targeting businesses, bullion vans, and cash moving organisations, like super markets, big electronic marts, and gas stations, etc.

Area Commanders and their DPOs must also focus more on covering all such business premises in every town of this nation.

The security demands and challenges are enormous, the cost gargantuan, but that is what Nigeria must pay to be safe and for rushing into the cashless policy at a time like this.

If Nigeria is to be adequately protected from robberies, the government must have to make

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BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

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Cashless society policy and security challenges

To be adequately protected from robberies, government must have to make some hard choices: pay the high cost of security with necessary changes in the security delivery system

The gains of reformation Protestantism has graduated into Pentecostalism, and through it, the great commission of taking the gospel through evangelism to the ends of the world

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never know. They were branded as heretics, their motives impugned, their characters maligned, their writings suppressed, misinterpreted, or mutilated. Yet, they stood firm in its purity, as a sacred heritage for the generations to come”.

The Waldeneses were one of the first known religious groups to resist papal dominion and its popish apostasy. They resisted even under torrents of persecution and the fiercest tempest of opposition. Many later joined in The Great Declaration “that the church of Rome is the apostate Babylon of the apocalypse. The efforts of the Waldeneses watered the seed of the Reformation to its luxurious growth. It produced John Wycliffe, Martins Luther, Jerome and others who suffered all things for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

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ycliffe heralded the commencement of the reformation, not only in England, but for all Christendom. He remains the morning-star of the reformation.

He stood up against the monks and taught the distinctive doctrines of ProtestantismSalvation through faith in Christ and the sole infallibility of the scriptures and not the Pope.

This flame of Protestantism gained conflagrational accentuation and its tentacles engulfed virtually all nations of the earth. The foundation of Catholicism was inveterately shaken. God raised men

some hard choices: pay the high cost of security with necessary changes in the security delivery system, or allow the people carry guns!

Nothing can be more dehumanising to lie faced down on a wet green grass, while some gun-carrying nonentities hold sway, or even worse, to watch helplessly while they rob and rape members of a man's family!

While politicians, political office holders and even the corrupt among them get special police cover, others remain on their own. If Nigerians will not get protection, they should be allowed to own guns, at least pistols.

Our governments have so far failed to control the proliferation of small arms in the country. Niger Delta militants and Islamic jihadists have opened channels to bring in arms and military uniforms. Only last year a large consignment of military uniforms was intercepted by Customs, but nothing happened. If the rich and powerful sponsor violence, terrorism and robberies, Nigerians must be allowed to protect themselves.

Government should endeavour to apply the same zeal in security provision that we see during elections, on a continuous basis along all roads and cities of Nigeria.

Our citizens deserve round-theclock security at their homes, offices/ places of business and while they are on the move. The Federal Government should find the money to fund adequate security from the bloated security votes of governors.

*Mr. Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

who were monumentally instrumental to spreading the reformation Protestantism.

Huss and Jerome in Bohemia, Luther in Germany’s Withemberg and Augsburg, Uric Zwingle in Swiss Basel, Eck, Zurich, Baden and Oecolampadia, the French Lefevre in Meux, Netherlands Menno Simons, Sweden, Olaf and Laurentius Perri. Farel in Switzerland and many others around the world.

But its aftermath was the dynamic liberalisation of Christianity and formation of other sects, notably the Lutherans, Wesleyans, Methodists, Anglicans, the Baptist and the Adventists. In more recent times, the gains of reformation Protestantism has graduated into Pentecostalism, and through it, the great commission of taking the gospel through evangelism to the ends of the world is being fulfilled.

Today, the church has virtually won the battle against papal dominance and state persecution, but it has fallen into a self-induced spiritual asphyxiation, doctrinal imbroglio, ecumenical stultification, sensationalism, ungodly proliferation and mammonism. The church is in its darkest hour of growth reminiscent of the Babylonish era and hypocritical wantonness of Sodom and Gomorra.

Without slips of prolixity, Jesus Christ spelt out archetypal formats which church men or clerics must keep to enable them be worthy of the “Divine Call” and to remain as vessels of light and honour unto salvation. He prophetically said: “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon”. This didactic message, amongst others, has been consigned to the oubliette of immorality, greed, quest for material abundance by any means, covetousness, adultery, fornication and lack of fear of God amongst the royal priesthood.

*Mr.Gbinije, a social critic, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Lorry drivers to Imo govt: Call extortionists to order or...

•Imo Commissioner: The extortionists are cabals and we’ll soon clamp down on them

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HE trustees of three transport groups which identified themselves as General Goods Transporters Association of Nigeria, GGTAN, Nigeria Lorry Drivers Association, NILODA and Heavy Duty Truck Drivers Association, HDTDA have threatened to embark on a violent demonstration and withdraw their transport services from all the routes in various parts of Imo State as a result of what they termed as illegal extortion of money from their members.

Specifically, they gave Governor Rochas Okorocha a seven-day ultimatum within which to call his various agencies, contractors and commissioners to order and stop the illegal road blocks or else they would embark on a protest as well as stop all trucks and lorries from entering or carrying goods to any part of Imo State.

However, the Imo State government has described the extortionists as cabals who have continued to deviate from the government policy on single revenue generation formula.

The State Commissioner for Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, Nick Oparandudu who spoke to newsmen in his office at the state government secretariat, Owerri, lamented that almost every ministry and parastatal in the state are bent on creating their own revenue window, for selfish aggrandizement, without minding the embarrassment their actions could cause the government.

Okparandudu who noted that both Governor Rochas Okorocha and himself had received the petition from the lorry drivers, promised that government would soon begin a clamp down on the cabals.

The lorry drivers had in a strongly worded petition to Okorocha, written on their behalf, by their legal counsel, Chief Joe Onuoha, shortly after their emergency meeting at their national headquarters in Onitsha, Anambra State, said the high level of extortion of their members plying Onitsha/

Owerri/Port-Harcourt highway, by various Imo State Government Ministries is becoming unbearable to them.

In the petition, entitled: “Illegal extortion of money from trucks and lorry drivers in the federal highways in Imo State and seven days notice of withdrawal of trucks and lorries from Imo State routes”, the petitioners said they had already issued a notice of strike to their members if by the end of the seven-day ultimatum, the extortion did not stop.

The petitioners informed Okorocha that the illegal levies/taxes being forcefully extorted from their members included Imo State Economic Commission fee of N1,000; Imo State Ministry of Commerce-Agriculture-Forest and Haulage fee of N2,500 and Imo State Daily Ticket on Infrastructure Development fee of N5,000.

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BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha

*Skyline of Owerri, Imo State. INSET: Nick Oparandudu, State Commissioner for Internally Generated Revenue, IGR Levy of N2,500; Imo State fee of N1,000; Imo State Min- State.

Ministry of Community Gov- istry of Agriculture, Petroleum They also referred to a letter ernment, CGC Haulage Levy and Environment fee of 2,500, written to a one-time Acting of N2,000; Imo State Environ- among other unreceipted lev- Inspector-General of Police, mental Transformation Com- ies/taxes. from the office of the Permamission, ENTRACO for daily They lamented that these nent Secretary, National Planheavy duty haulage fee permit levies/taxes are collected at ning Commission, Abuja, N1,000. the federal highways of the signed by Paul Fatoki, PermaFederal Republic of Nigeria nent Secretary/Secretary to by touts and agents of the the Commission which directstate government, with the ed the Acting IGP to enforce full support and backing of the ban on illegal extortion on Okorocha’s commissioners, highways with renewed viadding that some of their re- gour. ceipts are hereby attached to In the letter, the Commission this petition for his perusal. expressed displeasure over They contended that such an the continued illegal collection extortion run contrary to Tax- of taxes and levies from moes and Levies Approved Lists torists on highways, despite The rest are Keep Imo Clean for Collection Act (T.2) No. 21 the commission’s decision to daily ticket on infrastructure of 1998 which does not allow place a total embargo on the development for entry and exit his agents to be collecting mulpractice and subsequent directax of N5,000; Imo State Min- tiple illegal levies/taxes in the tive to his office to enforce the istry of Transport and Aviation federal highways within Imo ban.

They lamented that these levies/ taxes are collected at the federal highways by touts and agents of the state government, with the full support and backing of Okorocha’s commissioners

Others, they mentioned were Imo State Ministry of Transport, MOT fee of N2,500; Imo State Ministry of Commerce and Industrial Goods

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TIEMS urges safety measures against bomb explosion

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GAINST the backdrop of the prevailing state of insecurity on account of the murderous activities of the Boko Haram Islamic sect, the Chairman of the International Emergency Management Society, TIEMS, Nigeria/West Africa Chapter, retired Air Vice Marshall Muhammed Audu-Bida has advocated proactive approaches and basic knowledge on security consciousness against bomb explosion.

While commiserating with family members of those who lost their lives or injured in the various bomb blasts that have occurred in the country in recent times, he urged massive awareness campaign on prevention measures and actions to be taking during and after an explosion.

Audu-Bida who commended government’s efforts being made at combating the insurgency, however, appealed to members of the public to be security conscious always and try as much as possible to avoid crowded areas.

“We especially give kudos to men of the security services who battle tirelessly day and night to ensure that our country becomes safe once again.

We note that many of them have paid the supreme sacrifice in this effort but an average citizen too should be educated on basic safety tips.”

According to him, it is unfortunate that what began like a joke on Christmas Day inside an American bound airliner just a few years ago “is fast becoming a daily

occurrence in our land manifesting in both suicide and non-suicide bombing”, adding “it has therefore become imperative as part of our mandate to sensitize members of the public on simple but important tips that could save lives during emergencies.

Giving some valuable tips on how to preserve one’s life and that of others whenever there is a bomb attack, the Search and Rescue expert noted that “although there is no magic formula to protect you from acts of terrorism, some common sense steps could be taken to reduce the risks.

“Based on experts’ analyses, interviews, and basic science of blast waves and explosions TIEMS Nigeria recommends actions to be taken during and after an explosion to make the

horrible event less painful for you and for others around you”.

He explained that TIEMS, which is a global forum for education, training, certification and policy in emergency and disaster management, is dedicated to developing and bringing the benefits of modern emergency management tools, techniques and good industry practices to society for a safer world.

“We hope to accomplish this through the exchange of information, methodology innovations and new technologies, to improve society ’s ability to avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from natural and manmade disasters”, he stated.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 — 21

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

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ndustrial Training Fund (ITF) has announced plans to set up three automotive and parts training centres, with the aim of training two million youths in the country.

The centres, according to ITF, is expected to help drive the Federal Government’s policy on automobile industry.

Meanwhile, it said 35,000 young Nigerian men and women have been trained across the various states of the federation under the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP). They have been equipped with skills in various trade areas including: Welding and Fabrication, Plaster of Paris (POP), Autotronics, Garments Making, Poultry, Information and Communication Technology ICT Cell Phone Repairs, Rice Milling, among others.

Director General/Chief Executive, ITF, Mrs. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, disclosed these at a media briefing in Lagos. She said that ITF carried out tracking exercises after the training to ascertain the usefulness of the skills acquired by the trainees as well as inculcate in them the spirit of entrepreneurship and cooperative formation.

According to her, “the tracking exercise revealed that

ITF plans 3 automotive training centres a number of cooperatives were formed while 1,647 trainees gained employment with both the public and private sectors of the economy. In addition 1,002 of the trainees

became employers of labour. ” Chukkas-Onaeko stated that the Fund has entered into collaboration with state governments to key into this

programme, especially in the area of provision of tools and equipment to trainees in their various states. She further said that the Fund, in conjunction with United

Nigeria’s cocoa mid-crop signals more production

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From left: Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission, Mr. Rotimi Hussain; Managing Director, First Pension Custodian Limited, Kunle Jinadu and Managing Director and Head of FBN Capital Asset, Mr. Michael Oyebola during the World Pension Summit Africa Special, in Abuja.

Microfinance operators seek inclusion in Bankers’ Committee T

Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) is conducting a study titled, “National Skill Gap Assessment.”

he National Association of Micro Finance Banks (NAMB) has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to include its members in the Bankers Committee.

According to a statement signed by the association’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Mohammed Abdulrahman, the immediate past president of NAMB, Mr Jethro Akun, made the call at the association’s 4th Annual General Meeting in Lagos. It quoted Akun as saying that the inclusion of NAMB members in the Bankers Committee would provide synergy between microfinance banks and their correspondence banks.

“The CBN should also continue to subsidise the Microfinance Certification Programme for the next two years. Microfinance banks should also be allowed to purchase treasury bills directly from the CBN to help them function better,” he said.

According to the statement, the President-elect, Mr Valentine Whensu, at the Federal executive Council meeting pledged commitment of the officials to the progress of NAMB. “In articulating a vision for NAMB as a whole, I will focus on four areas using the four pillars of Advocacy, Capacity Building, Networking and Selfregulation upon which NAMB has a strong base to build. The NAMB must strive to be a family that achieves leadership

in opportunity, impact, responsibility and vitality. Our members should feel surrounded by leaders and colleagues who are committed, enthusiastic and among the best in their respective role.

“I enjoin my colleagues to work as a

team in order to take the Association into the brighter future, where members will have value.” Also Mr Olufemi Fabanwo, CBN Director, called on the newly elected officers of the association to create the needed awareness for the smooth operations of MFBs.

World Bank, FG, states partner on public finance management

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he World Bank says it will partner with the Federal and State Governments to improve Public Finance Management and ensure effective delivery of government’s policies and projects.

The disclosure was contained in the World Bank Group Nigeria’s Country Partnership Strategy 2014 to 2017 report released on Wednesday in Abuja. It said the partnership would help government to tackle the challenge of translating wealth into tangible welfare for the benefit of the population. “While Nigeria has made notable progress over the last decade in building institutions for more effective and transparent management of public resources, major weakness still remain at all level of governments. Limitation in the quality and availability of statistics and other information constrain the efficacy of economic policies and the

degree to which public officials can be held accountable. Corruption increases the costs of procurement and other areas of public policy,” the report said.

It said the World Bank would partner with the Federal and State Governments in areas of investment, loan, development, policy, operations, communities’ practice and technical assistance. According to the report, the bank in partnership with civil society would scale up monitoring and demand for the timely disclosure of quality information on public finance and policy. “Supporting improvement in the quality and availability of statistics in core areas for economic policy, public finance and service delivery at the federal and state levels.

“Engaging with the government and National Assembly with the goal of

igeria’s cocoa mid-crop is taking longer to complete and boosting prospects for production from the world’s fourth-largest grower of the beans. The smaller of two annual harvests is still progressing with few signs of damage from disease or bad weather, says Wale Owofemi of Olatunde International Ltd., a cocoa buying company based in Akure. The mid-crop usually ends in June with the larger main crop starting in October.

Nigeria’s production for 2013-14 will grow to 300,000 metric tons from 295,000 tons a year earlier, according to the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, which groups farmers, traders and processors. Cocoa exports in May jumped 38 percent to 4,461 tons from the previous month as favorable weather bolstered crop performance, according to the Federal Produce Inspective Service.

The mid-crop will climb to 66,000 tons from 35,000 tons, the Akure-based Cocoa Development Intiative, a nongovernment organization that provides advice to farmers.

166.85

-2.55

3,112.00

-12.00

17.55

-0.26

110.25 -0.39 103.49

-0.57

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING DOLLAR 154.73 STERLING 264.8978 EURO 210.4173 FRANC 173.0954 YEN 1.5192 1.5241 CFA 0.3029 0.3129 WAUA 238.5186 RENMINBI 24.9395 RIYAL 41.2558 KRONA 28.2179 SDR 238.8876

155.23 265.7538 211.0973 173.6548 1.529 0.3229 239.2893 25.0205 41.3891 28.3091 239.6596

155.73 266.6098 211.7772 174.2141 240.0601 25.1015 41.5225 28.4003 240.4315

CBN Exchange rate as at 10/07/2014

22—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Mainstreet Bank automates banking operations

By PETER EG WU ATU EGWU WUA

M

ainstreet Bank Limited has successfully completed the implementation of the first phase of its Group Shared Services (GSS) project, its Executive Director, Operations and Technology, Mr. Anogwi Anyanwu, has said.

This project, according to a statement made available to Vanguard, has led to the automation of about 80 per cent of the lender’s banking operations across its over 200 branches in the country.

Speaking on the progress recorded by the bank on the project, Mr. Anyanwu noted that the first phase of the shared services project has significantly improved the bank’s ability to respond to various customer needs in a prompt and efficient manner.

He cited some of the benefits recorded so far to include: consolidation of 41 MICR centers and 34 clearing centers into one centre thereby ensuring prompt processing and delivery of service.

The project has also led to an end-to-end processing of many hitherto branch functions from the Group Shared Service Centre.

Other benefits of the first phase of the project include: standardisation of services across the bank, centralised processing of basic customer requests, prompt and seamless funds transfers, instant advice to customers on various types of transactions, and card issuance on the electronic card request management (e-CRM) platform, which facilitates processing of all card requests under 24 hours.

The Executive Director noted that the second phase of the project, which has already commenced will ensure the automation of Trade and Credit related functions such as Form ‘M’, Letter of Credit issuance, Bills for Collection payment, Trade Finance, Procurement, Loan Origination and Expense processes.

Lafarge WAPCO shareholders approve acquisition of South Africa’s shares … Okay N9.9bn dividend

By PETER EGWUATU

S

hareholders of Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc have unanimously endorsed its Board of Directors’ proposed special resolutions as well as N9.9 billion dividend payment for the financial year

ended December 31, 2013.

The shareholders also commended the Board and Management of Lafarge Cement for the impressive performance recorded during the period under review.

Speaking at the Lafarge Cement WAPCO’s 55 th Annual General Meeting

(AGM) held in Lagos, the shareholders’ associations leaders, such as Sir Sunny Nwosu, Chief Sola Abodurin , Goodluck Akporie, Taiwo Oderinde and Nonah Awoh, who spoke the minds of their members said “We are solidly behind the company ’s plan to expand through the acquisitions of shares

From left: Arunma Oteh, Director General, Securities & Exchange Commission, SEC; Dr. Suleyman Ndanusa, Chairman (SEC Nigeria) and Ms. Clairette Ah-hen, CEO, Financial Services Commission (FSC), Mauritius) during her courtesy visit on SEC Nigeria in Abuja.

Investors to boost Afrik Pharmaceuticals operations

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

I

ndigenous producer of Intravenous solutions, AFRIK pharmaceuticals Plc has said investors are rallying resources to ensure that the firm takes leading spot in local production of the pharmaceuticals.

With an installed capacity of 396,000 litres annually, it has proposed a 300 per cent increase within the next 12 months, equivalent to 1.2 million litres of Intravenous products yearly.

The firm’s Chairman, Board of Directors, Chief Emeka Onyema, who disclosed this at the extra-ordinary general meeting in Lagos said with this the company is set to achieve its potentials which according to him includes, increase in production of high value products, aggressive marketing plans geared towards increasing the company’s market share and opening of a whole new range of medical products.

According to Onyema, a consortium of investors have positioned to put AFRIK Pharmaceuticals Plc back on track, increase the net worth of the company, as well as

increase the wealth of its stakeholders.

He confirmed that AFRIK Pharmaceuticals Plc which specialises in the production of large volume of parenteral solutions commonly called drips packaged in non-toxic soft medical grade bags is one of the most important and

basic medical products.

The demand for made-in Nigeria infusions currently stands at over 60 million liters per annum within Nigeria and other African countries, which Onyema said puts pressure on the few existing infusion producing plants to meet the demands.

in Lafarge South Africa Holding (PTY) Limited and every other acquisitions from other organisations as stated in the special business. We also appreciate the proposed dividend of 330 kobo per share for the year under review. We also recognized the contribution of the company in the nation’s building sector, but we implore our management to enhance its marketing drive in order to educate the young Nigerians that might not know our flagship product, Elephant Cement. Our company spent less than one per cent of the turnover recorded for year, 2013 in advertising. This is not good if we must compete effectively with our competitors.”

Addressing shareholders at the meeting, Chairman of Lafarge Cement WAPCO, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye commended the shareholders for the support and loyalty in the company.

On the company ’s operations for the year 2013, the Lafarge Cement Chairman said “Total cement dispatched for the year closed at 3.4 million metric tonnes; up by 17 per cent on 2012 due to significant improvement in performance across all plants supported by stable supply of natural gas.

Consequently, turnover for the year increased by 12 per cent to N98.8 billion, with a contribution of N1.62 billion from the Ready Mix Concrete business. The profit before taxation for the year increased to N27.7 billion from N21.3 billion recorded for 2012 on the back of increased turnover and implementation of cost containment measures. Profit after tax closed at N28.3 billion, representing 82 per cent increase over 2012 figure.”: Continuing, Osunkeye, noted that the company’ s tax credit for 2013 stood at N0.6 billion

Skye Bank, Nasarawa partner on biometric capture, electronic payroll

I

n its quest for an efficient and robust pay roll management system in the State, the Nasarawa State Government has partnered with Skye Bank Plc on the deployment of pay roll solutions as well as the execution of a biometrics data capture of all the civil servants in the state.

This is to eliminate fraud and ensure that salaries are centrally co-ordinated for efficiency. The staff biometrics data capture would enable the state to have a reliable and current data base of the civil servants in the state to prevent fraud and block loopholes that currently exist.

Flagging off the exercise in Lafia, the Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Tanko Umaru Al-Makura, said the data capture exercise had become necessary in view of the alarming increase in wage bill of the state following the implementation of the minimum wage. Al Makura clarified that the exercise was not aimed at retrenching civil servants

but targeted at ensuring that salaries were centrally co-ordinated for efficiency in salary payment and disbursement. He said his government was keen in putting in place an efficient payroll system that would eliminate inefficiency, loopholes for fraud and abuse through which the state loses money.

He noted that the choice of Skye Bank as a partner in making the idea a reality was borne out of the bank’s experience and track record in developing effective payroll systems for states and local governments. “Government is committed to bringing on board a platform for improved integrity in the payment of salaries. It is our duty and responsibility as government to know the actual number of staff working in the state”, he said, and directed the civil servants to make themselves available for the exercise in their own interest.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014—23

Customs, FRSC collaborate to checkmate registration of smuggled vehicles

BY GODWIN ORITSE

T

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced moves to collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) with a view to checkmating the registration of smuggled vehicles.

Disclosing this to newsmen yesterday, the Public Relation of the service Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, a Deputy Comptroller, said the programme has reached an advanced stage, adding that the aim was to eliminate the smuggling of vehicles into the country.

Adeniyi, who disclosed this at a training programme orgainsed for maritime journalists by the Apapa Customs Command said that its partnering with the commission was part of the global network initia-

From right: Senators Saidu Alkali, Gyang Pwajok, Zaynab Kure; Chairman of the committee, HRH, Alhaji Umaru Bago Tafida, Emir of Lapai; Lami Tumaka representing the DG of NIMASA; Mrs Irene Mcfoy, Coordinator NSDP NIMASA, Isichei Osamgbi; Head of Public Relations NIMASA and Dr. James Galadima, Director NIMASA Institute for Maritime Studies, IBBU Lapai when the delegation paid homage on the Emir during the oversight visit of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport to Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai.

tive with other stakeholders.

He explained that once

a smuggled vehicle get the commission’s office for registration, it will trig-

ger off the commission’s alarm, an indication that the vehicle did not pass

through Customs’ clearing process.

The system, according to Adeniyi, is that such that there is an inter-connectivity between the Customs service and Commission with a view to reducing or eliminating the issue of smuggling particular vehicles.

He said, “An on-line platform is being developed to ensure that smuggled vehicles are not registered in the country.

“Once duty is paid on any vehicle, it will sail through the registration process but the system will trigger off itself if that vehicle does not pass through Customs clearing process.

“This is part of the Customs collaborative effort in bringing about orderliness in the system so as to grow the economy.”

TIN-CAN-MILE2 TRAFFIC: Stakeholders want contractors changed

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

S

TAKEHOLDERS in the maritime industry have called on the Federal Government to change the contractors handling the construction of the highway leading to the ports.

This call came following failed portions of the road resulting in heavy traffic on the route.

The stakeholders noted that the two contractors, Julius Berger and Boroni Prono Nigeria Limited, are very slow and are contributing to the traffic situation on the route.

Chairman of the Presidential Monitoring Taskforce of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Dom Obi, said none of the two contractors are performing but however noted that Julius Berger is a bit better than Boroni Prono.

Obi said while Julius Berger is slow in its reconstruction of the Sun Rise to Mile2 end of the road, Boroni Prono’s presence at the Trinity to 2nd gate Tin-can Island end is no longer being felt. He said unless government took urgent

steps to address the situation, the reconstruction work “will not be ready till the next generation. I do not see anything coming out of the contract.”

Honorary Secretary of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), Engr. Alex Peters who spoke to Vanguard said that the two companies are too slow and that they are part of the problem of the road.

Peters noted that the right thing for them to do should have been provi-

sion of alternative routes to easy the traffic congestion. He also pointed out that working at night like Julius Berger used to do would have helped a great deal in curbing the traffic congestion.

Similarly, new Deputy National President of the National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA, Uchu Block, also said that there is no difference between the two companies but noted that the Julius Berger is slightly better.

Block pointed out that Boroni Prono has left the site resulting in the big pot-holes at the Cocoanut, Tin-can first gate and Trinity bus stops respectively. He explained that even before the company’s workers disappeared from site, they were not very regular and even when they were around, they close before workers start leaving their officers.

According to him, “Both companies should be working at night.

Julius Berger used to do

it but they no longer do so. That Boroni people get to site later and close before workers, they are no longer on ground for the contract.

Public Relations Officer of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, Femi Williams, blamed the bad roads for the traffic situation in Apapa. William called on all stakeholders to work together to finding lasting solution to the traffic congestion in Apapa.

NIMASA to re-jig Cabotage guidelines for increased indigenous participation

BY GODWIN ORITSE

T

HE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said that it will amend the guideline of the Coastal and Shipping Act otherwise known as the Cabotage law with a view to getting Nigerians involved in the nation’s coastal trade.

Disclosing this in Lagos weekend, Barrister Calistus Nwabueze

Obi, NIMASA’s executive Director in charge of shipping development and Cabotage said that the reason why the law has not met its objectives, could be as a result of the guidelines.

Obi who represented the Director General, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, at a shareholders’ interactive workshop on Cabotage in Nigeria called on industry players to look at the guideline as they currently are and recom-

mended changes that will enhance the implementation of the law.

He said that there are areas where the agency must have to thinker with the Act The Executive Director explained that the agency will; address inefficiency of the Cabotage Act while still carrying out its enforcement.

When the issue of waivers raised, a lot of stakeholders expressed

angst and disappointment at the way and manner waivers were being granted to foreign seafarers without recourse to their Nigerian counterpart.

While some stakeholders called for a total removal of the waiver clause, other were of the opinion that NIMASA should be more stringent with granting of waivers.

BRIEFS Apapa bomb blast: Car wreck still on the road two weeks after STORIES BY GODFREY BIVBERE

T

WO weeks after the bomb blast which rocked the port city of Apapa, the remains of the Serena Car used in the act is still lying on the spot where the blast occurred, obstructing traffic flow.

When Vanguard visited the spot Tuesday, the wreckage was still there while the specailised pressurized tanker beside it has been removed. Offices and businesses around the area have resumed while there was free flow of traffic at both sides of the road unlike in the past when vehicles battled to drive through Creek Road because of the activities of tankers and trailer drivers.

Efforts by Vanguard to speak with the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, was unsuccessful as she could not be reached on phone.

Senate calls for speedy completion of maritime institute

C

HAIRMAN of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Zaynab Abdulkadir Kure, has called for the speedy completion of the Maritime Institute at Ibrahim Badamosi Babagida University, Lapai in Niger State.

Kure charged the contractors to ensure that the project is completed at the designated time, also called on the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to ensure steady release of funds to prevent delay in the construction work.

Kure said that the visit was part of the committee’s oversight function, adding that the committee has earlier visited other maritime institutes located in other part of the country.

At the palace of the Emir of Lapai earlier, the committee chairperson explained that the delegation decided to visit the traditional ruler to show respect to him before proceeding to the site of the project.

24— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

World Bank withdrawal affected extension services in agriculture — Kassim Extension service is one area of agriculture development in the country that is being relegated to the background due to lack of fund. But Dr. Abdulkadir Kassim, the Programme Manager, Kaduna state Agriculture Development Programme, says for the country to be food sufficient there is need to pay attention to extension service.

In this interview with JIMOH BABATUNDE in his office in Kaduna, Dr. Kassim talks about how the agency takes research results to farmers, leading led to increase in food production.

Here is an excerpt Background The agricultural development programme is the extension arm of the ministry of agriculture in all the states of the federation. The histories of the Agriculture Development programmes (ADPs) date back to the early ‘70s and the essence of the organisation is to ensure that you educate and enlighten farmers and also guide them on where and how to get relevant production inputs that will make agriculture business rather than the subsistence system that our parents are involved in.

Dr. Abdulkadir Kassim culture productivity to the farmers in the various locations.

In doing that you know the world is dynamic, we don’t stay static. We make sure the extension workers themselves get trained so as to be equipped with new technologies which we shopped from the research institutes, especially Institute of Agriculture

We start by ensuring we have extension staff all over the fields in the state. Here in Kaduna we have four zones and we have 23 local governments. These zones are compartmentalised based on the number of local governments

,

On the contribution of the agency to ensure food security Actually, when we say extension services, it encompasses virtually everything relating to educating people on the means and ways of better production that will lead to productivity.

So, as an ADP, what we do is try to see that we articulate programmes and projects that will ultimately lead to those things that will contribute to the productivities of the farmers.

So we start by ensuring that we have extension staff all over the fields in the state.

Here in Kaduna, we have four zones and we have 23 local governments. These zones are compartmentalised based on the number of local governments.

We try to see that we send extension workers and enumerators into the fields that give new information on agri-

,

Research Institute in Zaria; IITA, Ibadan; and other research bodies.

We worked closely with the research people and developed programs of training. Whenever there are new things that we believe will help the farmers, we collaborate with the research institutes who come to establish field researcher on the farmers’ fields for the farmers to appreciate rather than just throwing it at them.

We make them participate in the research at the various locations. If the farmers see the value of what we are doing, they adopt. Where there are problems in the fields and where such problems are more technical than the knowledge of our extension staff, they carry such complains to the subject matter- specialist in the ADP, either at the zonal level or the headquarters.

And if such things are beyond the knowledge of our

people we convey that to the research institute to remedy the situation. So that is the kind of back forward linkage work we do.

Essentially, extension is a bridge between the farmers and the research institutes. So we also try to educate the farmers on where and how to source for highly improved inputs, in terms of seeds, in terms of agrochemicals, in terms of fertilisers, that is in addition to the knowledge we pass at our own level.

We tried to link them up as government can’t provide everything here. But our state government has always sup-

ported the extension network, to make sure we don’t fail in this responsibility either by way of conducting trainings or production of leaflets or using media outfits like the radio and TV because our people listen more to the radio and so we translate the messages into local languages so as to let the farmers know new things that will improve their productivity in agriculture.

On the programmes taken to the farmers by the ADP You see hitherto the production of rice in Kaduna state is always very low and traditionally known to be in

swampy areas. But we have developed in conjunction with the research institutes varieties of seeds that you can plant all year round.

Kaduna state is now the highest producers of upland rice in the country. We produce massively in thousands of hectares.

Maize that we used to harvest one or one and half tons per hectares. But with the introduction of new varieties farmers now harvest five tons per hectare with an average of three tons per hectares.

Kaduna is now also the highest producer of maize. If you look at soya beans, it used not to be a crop for Nigeria per ser, but now it is an industrial crop that we produce in large quantity in the state due to the ADP programmes fully supported by the government.

If you look at the quantum of the other traditional crops like sorghum and vegetable, you will see that many people have now gone into agriculture.

In the area of livestock what we have been trying to advocate which is gradually taking shape is transforming the breeds of the livestock. Our local breeds are not very productive, either due to genetic factors or due to poor management structure and feeding.

So what we do is try to cross breed our local breeds with foreign breeds so that we can get high breeds that are much more resistant to diseases and higher in productivity and quick to grow.

NACCIMA tasks Nigeria on global trend

BY NAOMI UZOR

T

HE Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), has called on Nigeria to align with current global trend to enhance her competitiveness by re-focusing and restrategising through diversification of her economic base away from oil to non-oil export products.

Speaking at the official opening ceremony of the 54th annual conference, tagged “Improving Nigeria’s Competitiveness in the Global Market: Panacea for Growth and Development of the NonOil Export”, the National President of NACCIMA, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, said, indeed, there is need for Nigeria to align with current global trend to enhance her competitiveness by re-focusing and restrategising through

diversification of her economic base away from oil to non-oil export products, adding that this is what we need as a nation for ensuring the successful growth and development of the Nigerian economy so as to continue to be competitive and relevant in the global market place.

“To achieve this feat of boosting non-oil exports in the country, with a view to making the sector vibrant and competitive in terms of exportable products and revenue generation, Government must be ready to demonstrate the Political Will by ensuring the provision of the desired enabling environment, including of course adequate infrastructure and incentives to encourage the production of quality goods and services in Nigeria to facilitate a competitive export oriented manufacturing sector ” he said.

According to him, in today’s

global markets, every business is pitted against worldwide competitors with consistently improving productivity, better performance, and shrinking prices.

“The significant, long-term problems we are facing in the new Century require major shifts in mindset and consistent adaptation to new societal shifts that will serve as panacea to boost non-oil export growth. Indeed, to continue to remain competitive in the global markets, it is important to keep investing in capacity building of local manufacturing jobs. This does not mean replacement of the old-style, labour-intensive factory jobs; those have already disappeared in the last century. The prevailing wisdom of lower-cost, highervolume manufacturing is clearly wrong. It is not just a question of “manufacturing” jobs,” he stated.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014—25

AFRH decries high infertility in Nigeria

What you must know about Ebola

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

E

BOLA Virus Disease is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.

Outbreaks occur primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.

The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.

Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus.

A

Transmission

Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. In Africa, infection has been documented through the handling of infected chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest.

The disease spreads in the community through human-to-human transmission, with infection resulting from direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids.

Signs and symptoms

EVD is a severe acute viral illness often characterised by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in

•The fruit bat, one of the natural reservoirs of the Ebola virus. some cases, both internal and external bleeding. Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes.

People are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus. Ebola virus was isolated from semen 61 days after onset of illness in a man who was infected in a laboratory.

The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms, is 2 to 21 days.

Diagnosis

Ebola virus infections can be diagnosed definitively in a laboratory through sev-

eral types of tests: antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antigen detection tests serum neutralization test reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay electron microscopy virus isolation by cell culture. Samples from patients are an extreme biohazard risk; testing should be conducted under maximum biological containment conditions.

Vaccine and treatment

Several vaccines are being tested, but none are available for clinical use. No specific treatment is available. New drug therapies are being evaluated.

SSOCIATION for Fertility and Reproduc tive Health, AFRH says about 12 million persons in Nigeria are infertile. The figure according to the group represents almost 10 percent of the total population of the country.

According to them, any form of access to effective treatment of infertility should be a priority to every Nigeria, saying that it is the legitimate right of every Nigerian in a democratic society like ours to have the right to life’s treatment.

Poised to add value to the Nigerian health sector, the Association is holding an international conference September 24- 26, 2014 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Riding on this year’s theme, “Improving Pregnancy Rates of IVF in AFRICA”, the Conference will articulate Ethics in IVF, New Technologies in IVF, Low Cost IVF in Nigeria, Role of Reproductive Surgery and Quality Control, among others, the conference, according to AFRH, will host all fertility clinics in Nigeria and foreign professionals Expected dignitaries Include Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Wife of the Lagos state Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola and Commissioner of Health, Dr. Jide Idris.

An estimated 500 fertility experts and specialists will be in attendance from Africa and all over the world. Delegates includes obstetricians/gynaecologists, medical doctors, embryologists, ultrasonographers, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists/ technicians, Nurses among others.

National drug control masterplan coming —ORHII BYVICTORIAOJEME

T

•L-R: Dr. Tola Olatosi, Secretary Genera, West African College of Physicians, WACS, Prof Kofi Herve Yangni-Angate, President WACS; Prof. Akinyinka Omigbodun,1st Vice President and Architect Gbeke Oshunkoya, Project Manager with the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu at the foundation laying ceremony of the WACS Permanent Secretariat building in Lagos.

HE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, are planning a draft implementation of a National Drug Control Masterplan that will span four years.

The draft masterplan is designed to ensure strict control of the proliferation, trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs as well as drug demand and reduction.

In a statement, NAFDAC said it had has recorded success in control of drug abuse and illicit

drugs.

The Director General, Dr Paul Orhii said, the re –categorisation of codeine-containing syrup widely abused from overcounter drug to a prescription only drug, has drastically reduced.

Orhii said increased inspections, monitoring and surveillance of narcotics from importation, through distributionbyNAFDAChashelped icurbed diversion and abuse.

NAFDAC is currently working towards collaborating with WHO on capacity building for pharmacists and doctors on storage, prescription and dispensing of pain relief narcotics in the country.

Free malaria treatment centres for Lagos, 2 others

BY GABRIEL OLAWALE

I

N line with Federal Govenment efforts to eradicate malaria, Westfield Development Initiative, WDI, is building three malaria centres in Lagos, Abuja and Osun States The Centres, according to the Initiators , will serve as a walk in centre for free access to ma-

laria treatments free of charge.

Disclosing this during his 60th birthday anniversary, Mr. Gboyega Fatimilehin, who is the Founder of WDI, decried the harm done by malaria on the overall well being of Nigerians.

Fatimilehin who said the challenges of malaria infection cannot be over emphasised, lamented the burden of the disease which con-

tinues to be a common reason for absenteeism from work and reduction of the Gross Domestic Product annually.

Fatimilehin noted that the burden of malaria can be reduced if everybody participates in the eliminating process which will in turn improve productivity in the country. He said WDI was building the Centres as part of

commitment to the Roll Back Malaria programme in Nigeria.

“We are building three centres in Lagos where people can walk in freely and access malaria care without cost. Two other Centre will be built in Abuja, and Osun State. Eventually we will extend our Centres across the nationfor free malaria treat-

ment and education on how to stay protected against the deadly disease.”

WDI also covers education and social life. In the area of education, it gives scholarships to motivate our youth to be more focused. Also distributes books and in on some occasions build a learning room,” Fatimilehin added.

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

I N S I D E

Rivers Lawmakers: Truce continues Page 28

2015: Yuguda torn between Senate and Presidency Page 28

•Governor Aregbesola

How I am changing lives — Aregbesola A Osun 2014:

N engagement with Governor Rauf Aregbesola is as enlivening as the eccentricity of the man on the saddle in the piece of Nigerian territory he has redefined as the State of Osun. His path to the Government House was laced with much intrigues just as his actions as governor have been laced with equally unusual display and delivery among the people of the state. At one point in the engagement with a group of journalists in the wee hours of the night early on Sunday, the governor in his very simple attire got up and asked, do I really look like a governor? His unusual policies, including the landmark tablet, Opo Imo, the feeding programme, the welfare scheme and many others mark him out as an unusual governor in Nigeria. His bold steps have equally been matched with controversy such as the education reforms that have drawn much flaks from critics.

Ahead of the August 9 gubernatorial election in which Aregbesola is standing as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he gave a narration of how he is touching lives in the state.

Excerpts:

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

T

HE governorship election in Osun State is just some few weeks away, how prepared are you to ensure that there won’t be a repeat of what happened in Ekiti?

Firstly, I want you to know that I don’t

even think about it and that is the interesting part of it. I set about this being cautious of democratic norms. In the statement I made after the Ekiti election, I reflected that a genuine democrat must be willing and ready to embrace defeat as he or she will embrace victory provided the election is transparent, credible, free and fair. The real issue is not about you as a candidate but

the quality of the electoral process. Once the quality is good and high, it is whatever the people say because they are the ultimate decider of who represents or governs them. Democratic choices are expected to be correct, good and right but it is not always that the choice is good, correct and right.

To answer the question, long before I

Glimpses of hope in a dark environment Page 29 assumed this office, I prepared so well for the office in a way that going by the normal run, I should not be working as hard as I’m working now for re-election. A commentator said something to the effect that I am one of the politicians that from day one began my campaign. From the day I entered this office, I started my campaign.

How many governors walk the streets with their citizens? I have been doing that since the first month in office. How many governors created interactive fora in Nigeria before me? There is none. I was the first governor to devote close to ten hours of continuous engagement on a quarterly basis with the citizens. The people ask any question in a no hold barred atmosphere.

The Ogbeni Till Day Break is a worldwide engagement because we take feedbacks from social media..

In what ways have your administration been able to make the people feel the impact of government?

Hardly is there any community in this state that we have not touched in terms of physical and social services. This is the first government that will say that there is no household; be it PDP, be it APC and others that our programmes have not reached.

There is none! I feed 300,000 pupils every school day at the cost of N3.6 billion a year.

I have been doing it since 2012 and I have spent N7.2 billion on that. You can go to the schools by yourself and assess what the children are eating to be sure whether it is worth what we are saying or not.

I can tell you that nobody touches the money except those in charge. Long before we commenced the feeding arrangement, we empowered poultry farmers to produce poultry products so that the chicken and eggs the children consume are all sourced from them and that is the way they paid back to us because we are going to buy from them. The students consume 15,000 whole chickens every week and it is served twice.

They consume 300,000 eggs every week, one egg a week. They consume 400 tons of fish every week. They consume 35 cattle every week. We gave close to N600 million to the poultry farmers and also the fish farmers. The only people we buy from now are the cattle rearers. We had challenge with eggs supply because the totality of the eggs produced in Osun cannot cope with our demands, so we go to Kwara and Oyo States to make it up and we pick the real foods in the markets. The women, 3,007 of them who cook the meals to serve the students take money from the bank. We gave the women a seed capital to set up themselves and start.

The bank pays them for the numbers of pupils they feed and the bank comes to us for settlement. With that we have been getting a value to a large extent for the money we spend. They are fed that way every school day.

Also, tens of thousands are equally engaged in providing different items. From this alone, close to one million people are

Continues on page 27

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014—27

I came from the streets — Aregbesola Continues from page 26 directly impacted from just one program, O’meal.

We have the second batch of O’YES cadets, the first batch of 20,000 have gone, the second batch of 20,000 is on and they are from homes. They work two or three days a week and they have the entire days of the week left for them to see what they can do with their hands and earn a living because they are taught entrepreneurial training, but they earn N10,000 monthly as cadets.

On this scheme alone, this administration has spent N9 billion. I tell people what this type of scheme means for national government. You can’t say I don’t have 18 friends who I can give half a billion naira contract to, whether they do it or not, I would have still given it.

But the maximum amount of that investment that will stay here will be less than 50 per cent. Yes, you will have the project here but there would still be capital flight because we are talking about direct impact on the economy.

O’YES has changed the paradigm; 100 per cent of that N9 billion is in this economy. The programme has huge economic benefit to the state. You have in that scheme a directly injected N9 billion to the economy that has no means of going out because a man earning N10,000, unless you promised to double his investment, he has no business travelling to Ibadan with that N10,000 if it is not going to yield anything more, he won't go to Ibadan. Every bit of the money is

•Governor Aregbesola: We are making the State of Osun a hub people who are aged and have nobody to care for them.

If we did not discover them, nobody would have known such people existed in Nigeria because they are waiting to die because they lack everything. We identified 1,800 of such people statewide. The selection was purely based on their conditions, no primodial sentiment. We didn't do the selection anyway, Professor Ogunbameru of OAU

,

We now have special roads which when we complete some of them, they will be tourism attraction on their own

better spent here.

Employment of O'YES cadet

Every O'YES cadet has a smart card and the issue of anyone handling or tampering with their money does not arise. We are one of the few governments that developed a meaningful programme for elderly citizens’ care. We are not into a blanket social welfare scheme for the elderly, we have a package that did an extensive survey of citizens that are 65 years and above - we have them in our database. We identified those among them that are without any support. That is the first time any government will so do in Nigeria. We engaged a consultant, who is a professor of gerontology in OAU, Ife. He developed the programme they used and without sentiment or parochialism, they got elderly citizens that lack support, we called them critically vulnerable

,

administered everything, gave us the list and the addresses and we have been giving them N10, 000 monthly since 2012.

Is your administration in good terms with four critical sectors, namely, Teachers, Civil Servants, Okada Riders and Students who can vote?

What we are doing is to ensure that each of these critical sectors don't have any basis at all to be opposed to us? Let us start with the students. We met a condition when we came in that students were given a bursary of N3, 000 and they would not even get the bursary on time and it was full of scam. They brought it to me to sign and I said why do I have to sign N3, 000 for anybody? It is best if we don't give this bursary or we give it meaningfully. We raised the bursary to N10, 000 flat.

For medical and law students it is N20, 000 while our indigenes in Law school get N100, 000.

The school authorities give the money to our students in their system. I don't see how such students will hate us in the majority, I can't see it. Whoever now hates us has something else against us not for the fact that we have not done the needful. The increase wasn't solicited; we did it out of our own understanding of the reality of what the students were going through.

When I get to campaign grounds, I say our roads have tribal marks. We now have special roads which when we complete some of them, they will be tourism attraction on their own. The road we are building in Gbogan, people will be coming to look at it because it is not an ordinary road.

It is a road that took me time to conceive and design and we are taking our time to develop it. So, when people talk about the cost of our roads, I just laugh because it is not good to be talking to people who don't know what they are saying.

Road construction

Now ask me how was I able to pay up until December 2013? My people are called ‘Osomalo’ - they

are very deft in the management of money and I took this from them. I had been saving through the Omoluabi Conservation Fund in which 10 per cent of all allocations must just go and rest, so I had money in and this was a build up of money that we used to augment payment of salaries till the over N5 billion was finished.

So, I had money in reserve, which was a build-up for my refusal to form cabinet for 10 months, I had the money.

Whereas my income fell to N2.6billion at the lowest and N3.4billion at the highest for a month, my statutory expenditures which are expenditures that I have no control on once we have agreed on it, for instance salary, pension and they are N3.6 billion every month, I have no power over it. I can't say no, am not paying.

Teachers

Our teachers in the state are now very well motivated such that you cannot distinguish between them and bank workers. Our teachers now appear corporate and well-motivated. It is not that there won't be some of them who

AREGBESOLA'S CLAIMS •Teachers in Osun are so well kept and cannot be distinguished from bankers.

•School feeding programme has impacted the economy of the state through providing outlets for farmers.

•Welfare scheme for indigents elders.

•Claims to be a man of the streets in tandem with the feelings of the people.

for whatever reason don't like us but they are in the minority. Don't buy the talk that you hear that teachers don't like him, I don't believe that. You need to see how people respond to us everywhere, people just swarm around me. I have never been in a place where my presence does not generate euphoria. You don't get such reception if people have problem with you. I don't really believe I have any problem with any critical sector. There is nothing that they have done to deride us. There is no household in this state that does not feel our impact.

We are the first government in Nigeria to give free uniform to all students. The first government that will say that you don't need to buy textbooks for your children in the high school, Opon Imo, and it’s targeted at 150,000 students.

One of the attractions is that it reduces the cost of book. With that number and with what it cost us to procure the e-book, N200m for 53 books.

If you divide N200 million by 53, you will get the cost of per book on that basis. If you now divide the outcome with 150,000, do you know that the cost of the book will be N2? Opon Imo should be celebrated by all because it reduces the capital outlay on books.

Tell me any government anywhere in the world that can provide eight textbooks free of charge to students. How many parents can buy all books required by their children, but we have changed this by putting into the hands of all our students in high school a library of 53 textbooks.

Our students here keep it with them, go home with them, and sleep with them for as long as they are in school. That was why I said that we have saved our state N8 billion to procure these books for the students. Immediately they heard that I said we have saved the state of N8 billion naira, they said Aregbesola has stolen N8 billion. That was the genesis of the money they said my son took from Opon Imo. Let's ask them where the N8 billion is?

Are you prepared for a possible lockdown of the state few days to the election, are you prepared?

You see, I came here from the streets and it is easy for me to go back to the streets. My real home is in the streets. I laugh when they talk about me because they don’t know I am from the street.

What is your perception about the term stomach infrastructure?

To those who people who are elites and are therefore separated from the people, this term may make a new meaning to them.

I am a product of the popular forces, the people, and I am part

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Rivers Lawmakers: Truce continues IT was a year ago last Wednesday that the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly turned into a combined ring for amateur boxers, wrestlers and nay hooligans imported from outside and others garbed in the attire of lawmakers. One year after, the division in the House is sharp as ever.

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT: It was a year ago last Wednesday that the Rivers state House of Assembly complex was put under lock and key. On that day, July 9, 2013 a group of five lawmakers led by Hon. Evans Bipi, a former aide of First Lady Patience Jonathan, had led his group of five to ‘impeach’ the speaker of the House, Hon Otelemaba Amachree.

As they arreived with all manner of men, brutes and official brawn in the form of policemen seconded by the then commissioner of police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, the lawmakers in the majority of 27 fled for their dear lives to the Government House.

Empowered with loyal policemen from the Government House, the Amachree group returned to retaliate the acts of savagery that they earlier received from the Bipi group leading to a

draw.

With nationwide outrage over the desecration of the chamber, and interventions by the National Assembly, Mbu was forced to put the chamber under lock and key with stern looking Policemen mounting security within the premises.

Today, a Police Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC barricades the gate leading to the complex.

From the road it is easy for any observer to see that the complex needs attention as the flowers have been largely unkempt losing their beauty.

Grasses are also taking over some good portion of the complex. Just as the lawmakers, staff of the legislature are not allowed into the complex.

The pro Amaechi lawmakers have continued to hold regular sittings at the auditorium in the old Government House, Port Harcourt but the anti Amaechi lawmakers have not held any session to legislate on state

•Rivers State House of Assembly shut matters since the fracas that resulted in the sealing of the complex by the Police.

The pro Amaechi lawmakers sat to pass the 2014 appropriation bill which was later signed into law by the governor. They also sat to approve a request by the state government to approach a bank for one hundred billion naira bond. Among other issues they have also sat to screen nominees for appointment into Caretaker committees for twenty one local government areas in the state.

At its most recent sitting in the auditorium of the Old Government House, the Deputy Speaker, Hon Leyii Kwanee who presided urged the anti Amaechi lawmakers to come and resume their functions in the House, stressing that their constituencies were missing out in the legislative business of the House.

“For we, as a House, shall continue to function for peace and good governance as captured in line with the 1999 Constitution (as amended). I hereby call on our colleagues

that seemed to have abandoned their legislative duties, to please, come back.

The House needs them; the people of Rivers State need them.", Kwanee said.

On their part, the anti Amaechi lawmakers have consistently argued that the proceedings of the pro Amaechi lawmakers in the auditorium of the Old Government House, were acts of nullity, insisting that no formal legislative business of the House can take place outside the chambers of the House of Assembly complex.

2015: Yuguda torn between Senate and Presidency

BY SUSAN EDEH BAUCHI State Governor, Isa Yuguda has a tough decision to take and it is urgent. Will he go for the presidency or the Senate after his eight-year stint at the Government House?

Now, his supporters have been divided into two. While a wing wants him to go for the presidency the other wants him to be in the Senate representing Bauchi South Senatorial District.

Indeed, many political groups are currently agitating for Yuguda to be in the Senate in 2015 about seven months to the end of his tenure. He has also been endorsed for the Senate by many stakeholders.

Campaign posters announcing his senatorial ambition have been pasted on strategic locations of the Bauchi metropolis and other local councils of the state.

In spite of this flurry of activities Yuguda is yet to publicly declare his intention as the Governor is still consulting with party leaders and stakeholders in the district.

Presently, the political atmosphere of the state is already saturated with subtle

•Governor Yuguda campaigns by his loyalists and political associates, moves that suggest that the tenure of Senator Adamu Ibrahim Gumba, the current occupier of the seat, will be over in a matter of months.

Already, it has been alleged in many political discourse that there was an agreement between Gumba and Yuguda that makes it obligatory for the senator to vacate the seat for the governor next year.

The Bauchi South seat became vacant in 2009 following the appointment of Senator Bala Mohammed as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territor y (FCT).

Many indigenes of the zone, including Gumba and Mr. Ali Wakili, a retired Custom officer, contested for the ticket under the PDP, but Gumba emerged victorious.

Before his election as senator, Gumba was not a popular and influential politician like his counterpart, Wakili, because he lacked financial backing and a formidable network.

However, Gumba was said to have won the polls because he was regarded Yuguda’s anointed candidate and the governor reportedly provided him with human and material

support to defeat his opponents.

Ahead of the 2015 general election, Wakili and other cocontestants defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the hope of clinching the party’s ticket for the Senate. As it stands now, they have already deployed campaign materials across the zone in readiness for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s official nod for the commencement of campaigns.

Having tasted power, Gumba is expected to recontest the seat. Sources close to Gumba have refuted claims that he was sponsored by Yuguda and that he is obliged to step down for the governor in 2015.

Feelers in the state have it that Senator Gumba has been watering the ground for his re-nomination. Between January and March, he h organised empowerment programmes for the people. A source close to him said that he has expended over N140 million on projects across the seven local councils that make up the zone.

Yuguda’s influence and campaign strategies seem to

be yielding positive results as many political groups have started mobilizing for his candidature and are appealing to him to run for the Senate.

However, there is a twist to the governor ’s speculated senatorial ambition. His posters for presidency have also flooded the streets of Bauchi metropolis fueling speculations that Yuguda may join the presidential race in 2015.

A group known as National Concerned Professionals has claimed responsibility for the Yuguda’s presidential posters.

The Chairman of the group, Dr Mohammed Chindo, told reporters that they are canvassing for Yuguda to go for the Presidency because they believed that with his track record in the public and private sector, he is the best person for the post.

On reports that Yuguda is eyeing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Chindo said that as professionals they believe that it was better for the governor to contest and lose the Presidency than to run for the Senate and win, adding that the senatorial bid was a local agenda that is too small for Yuguda.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014—29

T

HIS week seems to be full of many interesting events – the usual carnage of Boko Haram killers and the assuring forecast that the reign of terror might, sooner than later, come to an end. It might be that the end of the month of July (month of fasting and sacrifice) could signify the start of the period of peace in the country.

It has been noticed that contrary to the expectation of pessimists, the debates in the National Conference have been robust, interesting and friendly in spite of theatrical displays of some members. The National Conference is a pleasant discovery (thanks to President Jonathan who set it up) full of wise, intelligent and patriotic Nigerians who are toiling to see that the country meets the expectations of many. Every Nigerian looks forward to reap the dividends of democracy in an atmosphere of peace and prosperity.

An interesting aspect of Nigeria‘s many problems has been handled at the National Conference through its Power Devolution Committee – its report is being intelligently debated. It has been agreed by many delegates that the Federal Government should transfer some of its heavy duties to the States by re-adjusting the Executive and Concurrent Lists to agree with the concept of true federalism.

Many delegates seem to favour a new revenue sharing formula which would give about 40 per cent to the Federal government and 60 per cent to the States and Local governments, as against the present formula which favours the federal government with over 52 per cent of total revenue. Since the states would have more responsibilities, they seem to be entitled to more funds.

What is baffling me, and perhaps many others of similar minds, is the effrontery of sharing revenue collected by the federal government (presumably on behalf of the people for the people) from the investments made only by the federal government. This is presumably so because the OIL MONEY which would be shared accordingly has its operations being funded only by the federal

Glimpses of hope in a dark environment government. The receipts of oil operations are shared between foreign partners and the federal government – the Joint Ventures Owners.

It is a common belief that the present method of sharing revenue – monthly trip to Abuja by States Officials - does not agree with the practice of true federalism which requires its federating units to have its own source of revenue to take care of its activities.

It would be anomalous for states to dictate the sharing formula for an income for which it has contributed nothing to the operations that generate the income. That is one of the reasons why I have stated several times in this column that the notion of ‘OUR OIL‘ is vague. The ownership of ‘OUR OIL‘ should be in proportion of 60 per cent to the oil producing areas, 20 per cent to other states and 20 per cent to the federal government (for security of oil operations). The Owners (shareholders) would be responsible for the total cost of its operations and receipts. The foreign oil operators in Nigeria are responsible only to their share-holders in respect of income and to their home governments for tax liability.

It is an act of great magnamity for the oil producing states to be negotiating on the

principle of 13 per cent derivation. In many democratic societies, companies (individuals or partnership) would prospect, discover and produce oil and keep the proceeds after paying due taxes to the concerned governments. It is recognized as the legitimate right of oil producing areas to be partners in prospecting, producing and sale of oil (crude or refined) and partners in sharing of the proceeds – from which they take care of consequences of oil production.

Our foreign partners keep earning from oil to themselves and not to their home governments. This is why some of these companies could afford to sell dollars in our domestic foreign exchange market at the greatly depreciated value of the naira.

There is also a great deal of misconception about 50 per cent derivation principle of the pre-oil days. The 50 per cent is paid on royalty, rents, etc and not on the total receipts from sales of products - groundnuts, cocoa and palm-oil.

Individual farmers planted and produced cocoa, groundnuts and palm-oil, and they were paid accordingly by the Produce Marketing Boards of each Region. Before the government scholarships, sons and daughters of cocoa farmers in the old Western Regions were trained as Doctors

Birthday cheers to Akwa Ibom's SSG

BY EKERETE UDOH

T

HAT Honourable Udom Gabriel Emmanuel – the Secretary to the State Government of Akwa Ibom State has risen to top positions both in corporate Nigeria and in public service is not a surprise to those of us, who were privileged to have seen those sterling and leadership qualities manifest way back in the 70s.

That, he is a leader and a great manager of human impulses and passions, activating those impulses to engender the spirit of common good and the improvement of the human condition again is no surprise- those elements had found expression back then in our formative years.

I remember vividly, having been privileged to be Mr. Emmanuel•fs primary school classmate in the 70s. We were young men, precocious, daring, purpose-driven and hopeful for a future we knew God had laid before us. We had every reason to be hopeful, because the kind of education we received even at the primary school level was intensive both in its intellectual flourishes on moral platforms. It couldn•ft have been otherwise, because the Headmaster of the primary school had zero- tolerance for indolence or tardiness. He expected his students to see the endless possibilities that God had thrown our way, and had thus endeavored to imbue and inculcate

in us those values of hard work, probity and a deep sense of responsibility.

I can recall back then the novel idea of asking students or pupils as we were then called, to come prepared because you may be called upon to conduct the mandatory morning devotional service. Even though we were scared of facing a humongous crowd of students and teachers, it helped prepare us to become unfazed with the art of public speaking. The Headmaster of our primary school, in Afaha area of Awa clan in Onna Local Government of Akwa Ibom state was the father of the SSG, Mr. Nkanang (God bless him, for instilling in us those virtues that have stood us out today and presented a platform for self discovery and advancement.)

Udom was a math•fs whiz-kid and his sense of altruism and brotherliness manifested back then when he offered to mentor and teach some of us who were mathematically challenged. I remember getting scared going to our math•fs class because of my manifest deficiencies in that subject, and having been blessed to have my seat next to the SSG, he would always reassure me that everything would be fine, that mathematics was not that confounding, all I needed to do was to understand the concepts and apply them.

Through his encouragement, I was able to pass the dreaded mathematics and went on to graduate from primary school

•Udom: Remains true to his principles and on to other academic pursuits. I have never stopped telling this story to our school mates, most of who today are doing well in their chosen careers, and they will always chorus •gthat•fs Udom for youcaring, dependable and unselfish.•h I am not surprised that Udom went on to pursue a course of training in Accounting, which obviously is heavy in maths, and went ahead to have a fulfilled and impactful career in banking. With degrees in accounting earned from the University of Lagos, masters in Corporate Governance earned from Leeds Metropolitan University, UK, to several professional certificates garnered from

and Lawyers – elites of 1940s, 1950s and mid 1960s.

My argument is that if less emphasis is put on the sharing of OIL MONEY; and oil is properly structured as to its ownership, the less would be the craze for new non-economically viable entities and the argument on derivation would become merely academic. Perhaps the wise delegates have innocently forgotten that fiscal federalism would require that mineral resources in the states should be tapped by the concern states to reduce the unjust reliability of oil and gas which are narrowly located in swampy areas. The federating units should be able to harness their human and mineral resources to the best of their abilities.

If the National Conference is able to have a consensus on relationship between the federating units and the centre, the next crucial question will be, who controls the centre? Many believe that with the bitter and divisive nature of domestic politics, a form of coalition of parties would be ideal. This is more so because there is not much difference in political and economic ideology of the contending parties in the country.

The argument so far is on the ability of the members of the National Conference to come up with a peace agenda that would solve many problems and erase stumbling blocks to political unity and economic prosperity of the country. It will also depend on how President Jonathan could be statesman-like enough to prevent the National Conference becoming at the end, an “expensive talking shop” There is no reason why the National Assembly and the Federal Executive Council should not find a way to see why the many important decisions as proposed in the National Conference should not find space in the present Constitution.

Or as some would agree, that a case has been made for a new Constitution to be drafted. Also, the improvement in the supply of electricity could brighten our dark alleys of a new Nigeria.

Ivy League colleges like the Columbia Business School, New York, Udom is one tested technocrat who has excelled in every task or assignment given to him.

That he rose to become an Executive Director in one of the most consequential banks in Nigeria-Zenith, attests to his profound knowledge and the breadth and scope of his skills-set.

Udom has remained true to his foundational principles and values by exalting God and contributing greatly to the development of HIS VINEYARD. We were raised under the strict diet of biblical injunctions and moral ethos as practiced by the Qua Iboe Church. His father like mine, are elders of that church , and Udom has not veered off-course. He has remained a rock -solid member of the Qua Iboe Church, and is also an elder in the church. He has watered the seed of Christianity both in Lagos, where he was domiciled before his appointment as the SSG, in my community and indeed all over the country. He is not afraid to celebrate God and hold Him aloft as the loadstar of his life.

Udom has been actively involved in the developmental efforts of his community and the state at large. He has empowered hundreds of people of Akwa Ibom extraction and encouraged them to put in the hard work and to expect the accompanying success and appreciation.

A great husband and a wonderful father to his kids, he, indeed is an example of what the Americans will call a •"total package".

•Ekerete Udoh is the Vice Chairman of News of the World, and Publisher of The Diasporan Star, New York.

30 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014—31

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

T

not told and carried along.

So, when we got back to Lagos we confronted the marketer, who explained to us that it was our record label who gave the goahead. We felt cheated and angry, and we decided to break our contract with them.

Now, we are coming up with our own record label to be known as ‘Danfo Drivers records’ and hopefully, it will be launched in the next two months or thereabout.

he duo of Mountain Black and Mad Melon of Danfo Drivers (real names Jimoh Olotu and Omeofa Oghene respectively), better known by hit single ‘I am a Danfo Driver, Suo’ are back after a long absence from the music scene.

The youmgsters who sing Ajegunle’s Galala brand of music have been chequered by many challenges and they tell all in this chat with Weekend Groove: Is it true that two of you have parted ways?

No, we didn’t split, we only quarrelled, but we are still together. And we are still alive, so, no shaking. What actually happened was that we went to school to further our education because we believe education is the key to ultimate success.

Also, we’ve been going round for musical tour; first one was in Mali, followed by another one in Portharcourt. We also performed during the Portharcourt carnival.

Presently, we are fully back to the music scene and very soon we will be dropping our new album and that will be in two months’ time as we are still working on it.

Fans have been worried over your absence on the music scene. What has been happening to you two?

Yeah, what happened was that we had a

Concerning your misunderstanding with the marketer, what was your conclusion with him?

Of course it was a breach of contract and piracy and we took them to court but later we had to drop the case because we got tired of the case being adjourned every time.

But could this misunderstanding with your record label be another reason why you were away from the music scene?

Yes, it affected us a lot. We were supposed to be paid our royalty but we weren’t getting paid. They were just cheating on us.

Another reason we decided to stop recording was because our record label, Cornerstone Entertainment, which was supposed to be promoting us were not doing so at all. They were not promoting our works and we were not getting any measurable exposure. This made some of our songs not to be released. The only song we did that made it was the ‘Danfo Driver’. Apart from ‘Danfo Driver’, none of our other songs was

n e e b e v a Why we h g n o l o s r o f away s r e v i r D o —Danf

BY IYABO AINA

contract with Cornerstone, our record label and we agreed on a certain percentage as part of the

Kefee for burial today in Okpara Inland

deal. But when we were away in Mali for a Peace concert and in Portharcourt for another show during the last election, someone

notified us that our marketter was printing our songs and selling it.

That’s piracy, and we weren’t happy about it because we were

Jude Okoye, fiancee, Ifeoma pick Your webcam July 17 could be spying wedding on you! date

promoted. This got our fans thinking we have quit music.

So now that you are on your own , what should fans expect from you , aside from the usual Continues on page 36

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 — 33

C M Y K

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 — 35

36 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Synopsis

Why we have been away for so long — Danfo Drivers Continues from Page 32 ‘Danfo Drivers’ we know with Cornerstone Entertainment ?

Presently, we are working on a new song which is coming out in two months’ time and we know we are going to give our fans the best as we have always been doing. It wasn’t as if we purposely went away , if you can remember in our song we said ‘I want to go to UNIBEN’, UNILAG for more education and that was what we did . Our staying away was to acquire education- nothing more.

Now, we are back to give the best of what we know how to do.

When did you discover your musical talents?

Actually, our musical talent is from God and ever since we were young we’ve always loved music , we knew that music was part of us, so we decided to follow it up. Some people say that the sky is their limit but to us the sky is not our limit, it is heaven that is our limit.

Which musician inspired you while growing up ?

The musician who inspired us is Don Carlos of Jamaica. While we were growing up we fell in love with some of his songs and along the line we felt the guy had stuff we could imitate. So, we started imitating and infused some of our own style to have what you know as ‘Danfo Drivers’. It was him that inspired us. His music is deep in sound and meaning. Not like the kind being sung in the country today. Most of today’s musicians don’t have message in their songs.

The only thing artistes of today do is to sing about women , love and drink . So we are back to give our fans the best.

Base on your kind of music, a lot of people believe that you take something before going on stage, how true is that?

People should understand that it is a different scenerio when one is meditating from when one goes on

stage. We don’t know what they mean by we take something. Even if we do it is best known to us.

Although we take alcohol but other things we take or not is best known to us.

How do you make your music?

You know a lot of artistes write their songs before singing them out, but Danfo Drivers don’t write out their songs, it’s what we see that we play.

Your most embarrassing moment?

That must be our experience at the airport when we came back from the Peace concept in Mali.

Following the rumour that we were

The movie

‘’THINK LIKE A MAN TOO is still fresh

in the cinemas, attached is the art work.

Synopsis for Think Like A Man: All the couples are back for a wedding in Las Vegas, but plans for a romantic weekend go awry when their various misadventures get them into some compromising situations that threaten to derail the big event.

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Exhibition Schedule from July 11th-17th

You know a lot of artistes write their songs before singing them out, but Danfo Drivers don’t write out their songs, it’s what we see that we play. dead, that we were shot by the police, we came back to the country to find people running away when they saw us. It was really embarrassing at the airport, because as people spotted us they started running, perhaps, thinking they were seeing ghosts.

Then, a couple of robbers were caught by the police who went with the name ‘Danfo Drivers’.

One of them was even using a black head-tie like us and so people confused them to be us.

Those armed robbers were eventually shot and people thought it was us.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND Think like a Man too : 3:25pm,5:30pm,7:35pm,9:40pm Number one fan : 2:00pm,6:00pm,8:00pm Transformer 4 : 11:00am,6:10pm,9:00pm Devil in dress : 12:00pm,3:50pm The Amazing Spider Man 2 : 12:30pm,3:10pm,6:00pm,8:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Think like a Man too : 11:15am,1:35pm,4:05pm,6:30pm,8:15pm, Number one fan : 11:15am,1:40pm, Transformer 4 : 11:15am,6:00pm,9:00pm A million ways to die in the West : 3:45pm, Devil in a dress : 3:35pm, SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC Think like a Man too : 12:30pm,2:40pm,3:40pm,7:10pm,9:20pm Number one fan : 1:30pm,3:00pm,4:50pm, 6:40pm,8:30pm Transformers 4 : 12:40pm,5:50pm,9:00pm A million ways to die in the West : 4:50pm Devil in a dress : 12:00pm,4:00pm, Make A Move : 2:00pm Amazing Spider Man 2 : 12:10pm,2:50pm,5:30pm,8:10pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Think like a Man too : 5:00pm,9:30pm Number one fan : 2:40pm,6:30pm,8:20pm Transformers 4 : 2:00pm Devil in a dress : 12:40pm,4:30pm The Amazing Spider Man 2 : 12:50pm,3:30pm,6:10pm,8:50pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Think like a Man too : 1: 50pm,7:00pm Nnmber one fan : 1:00pm,2:50pm,4:40pm,6:35pm,8:30pm Transformers 4 : 10:50am,3:55pm,9:00pm Devil in a dress : 12:20pm,4:30pm,4:30pm,8:30pm Devil in the detail : 2:30pm,6:35pm The Amazing Spider Man 2 : 11:00am,4:00pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, WARRI Think like A Man too : 1:15pm,4:30pm,6:00pm Transformers 4 : 11:15am,8:10pm A Million ways to die in the west : 11:00am,6:35pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO Number one fan : 12:30pm,2:40pm,4:30pm,6:30pm Jump And Pass : 1:50pm,5:25pm,7:00pm Devil in the detail : 11:40am,3:20pm The Amazing Spider Man 2 : 6:10pm OZONE CINEMAS LAGOS Think like A Man Too : 2:55pm,5:00pm,7:05pm,9:10pm Transformer 4 : 2:30pm,7:45pm A million ways to die in the West : 3:05pm,6:05pm The Amazing Spider Man 2 : 10:00am GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOS Think like A Man too : 3:00pm,4:00pm,6:15pm,7:15pm,8:20pm,9:30pm,10:45pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Think like A Man too: 12:45pm,5:00pm,10:15pm Devil in a dress : 10:05am The Amazing Spider Man 2 : 11:00am,1:45pm,4:40pm,7:25pm

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 — 37

Censors Board okays Half of a Yellow Sun, 76 others for viewing

Tracy Obonna, Mama G go head to head in new movie

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oronto, Canada-based Nigerian model and actress, Tracy Obonna, known worldwide as the Nigerian Bombshell on account of her voluptuous curves has made another imprint in Nollywood as she recently featured in a new movie made up of mostly Nigerian cast and crew.

The film Dance in the Storm was shot in Miami, Florida, with a rich cast that includes Nollywood’s Patience Ozokwor, aka Mama G, Ghanaian Van Vicker, Tracy Obonna, Montel Sawray and a host of others. Murphy Folorunsho produced and directed the flick.

Tracy played a very unique, sassy and upbeat character named Jessica, an American-born rebel, who has a friend called Destiny.

“The scenes I acted with Mama G are real funny. It pushes so many boundaries and pokes fun at certain stereotypes.

And that’s all I’m saying you’ll have to see the film to know the rest” she told Weekend Groove.

Dance in the Storm is the fourth Nollywood film Tracy has featured after The Lost, X-Class and Temperamental.

“However this is my first time working with such iconic and talented Nollywood veteran. Growing up, my family and I loved watching Mama G films especially my father. And now to get to work with her is a true honor” she added.

Apart from Daniella who stars as the neglected child, other popular stars like Oma Iyasara, Richard Nwosu, Emmanuel Ilembayo featured in the 35minute short film produced for DSTv. According to the producer, the movie is about young parents and their lack of care for their children and how women insecurity affect the child. “ The movie tells the story of Elisa, a ten years old girl, who has workaholic parents who put her in the care of a wicked house-help who eventually ruins her life” said Amara

Amara Nnachi produces first film ‘Elisa’

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udding Nollywood producer, Veronica Amara Nnachi has released footages of her first film titled ‘Elisa’ featuring ten-year old, Daniella Okoye, Little Princess of the Universe 2012/2013 as the principal character in the film.

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he National Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, has approved 77 movies for June 2014.Among the films okayed for public viewing is the highly anticipated Half of a Yellow Sun which was earlier presumed banned by the Board.

According to a release issued by the head of corporate affairs of the Board, Kagho Ceasar, all approved movies fulfilled regualtory conditions stipulated

by NFVCB. Half of a Yellow Sun was rated ‘18’ alongside 14 others which have been designated as in the theartre exhibition category.

For those classified or rated ‘18’ NFVCB issued the consumer advice onb ritual, strong language, horrific visuals and imitable technique.

In another development, the NFVCB is set to burn N10M (Ten Million Naira) worth of pornographic and unwholesome movies seized within FCT and environs during targeted operation between January to June 2014.

In the operations which covered Gwagwalada, Karu, Kubwa, Wuse market and Airport Road, over 2 million films were seized, of which sixty percent were pornographic while forty percent were uncensored, unwholesome and pirated.

Kefee for burial today in Okpara Inland The remains of gospel singer, Kefee, who passed away on June 13th 2014 after having been in a coma for Fifteen days in the United States of America would be laid to rest today, July 11th, at her hometown in Akpevweoghene Educational Centre , Okpara Inland, Ethiope East, Delta state/ The burial ceremony started in earnest yesterday, with a candlelight service of songs at Oba Akenzua Cultural Center, Benin City, Edo state. The home service and interment is billed to hold today at Okpara Inland followed by another event in the evening to celebrate Keefe’s life at the Events Galleria, Sapele, Delta State.

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Jude Okoye, fiancee, Ifeoma pick July 17 wedding date

Kcee gives 100 thousand to best ‘Pull Over’ dancer

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ude, the eldest brother in the Okoye family and Ifeoma, a former MBGN contestant and Miss Tourism 2012 will hold their traditional wedding in the bride’s compound in Nnewi, Anambra State on July 17, 2014.

BY IYABO AINA

After his younger brothers, Peter and Paul wedded their fiancées, the Okoye’s eldest brother got engaged to his heartthrob on his birthday , April 24th this year after dating for a few months. Their white wedding will hold after Ifeoma, who is said to be pregnant, gives birth. ee, is no impopo crooner, Kc t cash gifts ou g stranger to givin to his fans. ic crooner storm As recently, the mus7.0 All Stars MTN Project Fameheld in Lagos on concert which was 2014, where he Friday, June 27th, announcing that surprised fans after d label cohis elder brother anhad instructed founder, E-Money, 0,000 in cash to him to give out N10 d dance best to the person who coul ” the song, “Pull Over. made the he But no sooner had some sharp at th t, en m announce y to the stage. guys made their wa uple of tracks, After dancing to a coence to vote by Kcee asked the audi ey wanted the shouting ‘Away’ if ththe stage. contestant to leavethe dudes Eventually, one of 00,000 richer as instantly became N1 er. he emerged the winnthe first runner However, Kcee gaveconsolation up 100 thousand asthe ladies was price, while one of ansport fare.’ given N2,000 as ‘tr

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, Ifeoma Jude Okoye

2FACE debuts new single “Let Somebody Love You” features Bridget Kelly

BY IYABO AINA

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Bovi, Funke Akindele others to host 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards

n a bid to entertain and thrill the audience,Nigerian top comedian Bovi Ugboma, Funke Akindele, and Gbemi OlateruOlagbegi has been unveiled as host for the 2014 edition of Nigerian Entertainment Awards.

The NEA Awards is an annual entertainment event held in the United States, with the sole purpose of celebrating and recognizing the numerous contributions of entertainers to the African entertainment industry, while at the same time promoting the image and rich culture of Nigeria.

The Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) is proud to announce the hosts of this year’s award show scheduled for Sunday 31st August 2014 at the NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts, New York City, USA.

BY IYABO AINA

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Tuface

igeria”s finest and arguably the number one artiste in African urban contemporary music, 2Face Idibia, has finally dropped the first single of his sixth studio album ‘The Ascension’.

The single ‘”Let Somebody Love You”’ was recorded and produced by ace music producer cum songwriter Femi Femdouble’Ojetunde, and It features Roc Nation’s artiste, Bridget Kelly.

According to the multiple-award winner, this song is about giving room for more love like a Diamond in the rough, we need to let our light shine through. The healthiest way to do that is by Loving and being Loved”, he adds, borrowing a line from the second verse of the single.”

The duo performed the single for the first time at the #MakurdiRocks date of the Star Trek concert series to a wild and appreciative audience earlier this year.

Recall that the most accomplished artiste of his generation, 2Face Idibia released his first recording ‘Body & Soul’ as a member of the trio Plantashun Boiz in 1999.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014—39 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

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few years ago, having a webcam on your computer was proof of tech affluence. It seemed like an amazing out-of-this-world invention to have a laptop with its own camera. Now, the webcam is as ubiquitous as technology itself. So why should it be making the news?

Spies-that’s why.

Some individual or organization could be intruding into your private life via your webcam! A recent lawsuit in the United States accused a school district of using webcams on school-issued laptops to spy on students and their families.

And in China, a sophisticated network of hackers known as GhostNet has cracked 1,295 webcams in 103 countries.

Experts say that most hackers utilize so-called Trojan horse attacks. In other words, you click on an attachment or download a piece of music or video infected with malware, and a hacker is able to remotely control your PC’s functions.

So how can you avoid this?

Experts offer these simple tips: Avoid suspicious attachments Everyone on the internet is looking for something for free.

Hackers know that, and sometimes break into your webcam by offering you malware disguised as free music, videos, etc. So don’t be in a hurry to download suspicious attachments.

Technology that makes life easier Unwelcome Big Brother:

Your webcam could be spying on you!

Use a firewall This may sound strange, but your computer comes with a firewall.

Your job is to make sure that it’s turned on. If you use a Windows operating system, click on the Windows symbol in the lower-left corner of your screen, search for Windows Firewall, and you’ll be able to check the firewall settings.

If you use a Mac OS, open System Preferences, click on the Sharing icon, select the Firewall tab and click Start.

Use strong anti-virus software Stop ignoring constant alerts that

your computer is at risk. Use strong antivirus software on your computer, and for your own sake, update regularly.

Don’t keep PCs with webcams in bedrooms.

When you’ve done all the above, go the extra mile; don’t keep personal computers in your bedroom, and make sure that you don’t do anything in front of your computer that you would be embarrassed to do in public.

Watch out for the red light.

Watch for the light that indicates that the camera is on—literally. On external webcams, you’ll usually see a red light while laptops with internal webcams usually have a blue LED indicator.

Samsung unveils Galaxy K Zoom Ssmartp hone

amsung Electronics West Africa, has unveiled its new Galaxy K Zoom smartphone, a single device that fulfills the role of both a top notch smartphone and a high-end smart camera.

Boasting the very latest Android operating system, alongside a large and vivid 4.8” high-definition super AMOLED screen, the Galaxy K Zoom smartphone has an advanced camera system that offers consumers the control and functionality of a professional camera. The device features a 20.7 megapixel sensor, which is capable of capturing high-quality images with sharp, lifelike colours that are clear in all lighting conditions. It also comes equipped with an Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS), which reduces blurring caused by movement during photography, a 10x optical zoom and a new retracting lens technology.

The new smartphone integrates advanced camera usability features and functions, including Auto Focus and Auto Exposure Separation, which ensures a precise balance of light and clarity, and a Selfie Alarm that al-

lows users to take perfectly timed selfies w i t h e a s e .

According to S a m sung, each feat u r e comes

with a simple user interface that allows consumers to easily capture photographs and videos with superb image quality at all times.

Director of Information Technology and Mobile at Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, described the Galaxy K Zoom as a portal to a new communication era that shifts accepted standards in mobile telephony. “With the growth of social networking and the pervasiveness of instant messaging and communication, people today communicate faster than words can manage. There is an increasing need to articulate our experiences through pictures and videos and the Galaxy K Zoom has

been created to lead the way in this era of visual and voice communication. Our consumers can now take professional-quality photographs from a device that they can also use as their primary mobile phone,” he s a i d .

The Galaxy K zoom is compatible with the latest devices in Samsung’s line of wearable technology, including the Gear Fit and Gear 2. Samsung is offering users of the Galaxy K Zoom free gifts via its new Galaxy Gifts application. The Galaxy Gifts package is available for all Galaxy K Zoom smartphones and offers a collection of mobile services and tools designed to make consumer experience more enjoyable and more productive.

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tatistics have shown that consumers spend more time with their smart phones than with any other device.

However, complexity and constant connectivity can lead to burnout, and this has given rise to what experts call a desire for ‘casual connectivity.’

The concept behind wearable devices is rooted in simplicity. The fact that one can just wear a device and not have to worry about dropping or losing the device is the very definition of casual connectivity.

However, the ideal wearable technology should be able to operate for months or years without having to be charged or repaired. The movement to make home appliances “smart” however, has not been without its challenges.

The goal of making man-machine interactions both seamless and efficient has proved trickier for many leading manufacturers than anticipated. One product that does help bring great expectations into a simpler focus however is LG’s HomeChat interface. Allowing users to give commands to their machines via their smartphones, HomeChat also unlocks the ability to hold two-way conversations with appliances by using the popular LINE messaging app to receive recommendations and feedback from devices as per their current status.

Moreover, standing at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, the Smart TV is one of the last devices that even tech-savvy consumers have trouble fully exploiting.

While there are many Smart TVs on the market, LG’s built- in webOS is designed to streamline the process and bring the full power of the Smart TV to the consumer.

LG’s webOS allows for users to search the internet or their own personal media library to find exactly what they want to watch.

40— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Global Forum calls for urgent action to curb maternal, child mortality * As Mandela’s widow, Graca Machel, makes first public appearance

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ore than 800 leaders and public health experts from around the world opened a landmark two-day meeting in Johannesburg last week to review new data and call for accelerated action to improve maternal, newborn and child health. The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) 2014 Partners’ Forum was opened by Graça Machel, Chair of PMNCH and African Ambassador for Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed, who is making her first public appearance since the end of her mourning period after the death of her husband, Nelson Mandela. ”The world has made remarkable progress to improve health and expand opportunities over the past 14 years.

Despite all efforts, there is still much more to be done,” said Graça Machel.

“Women and children have not been covered adequately. We must ensure that all women, adolescent girls, children and newborns, no matter where they live, are able to fulfil their rights to health and education, and realize their full potential.”

In support of the UN SecretaryGeneral’s Every Woman Every Child movement, the Partners’ Forum builds on two months of high-level meetings in Toronto, Prague, and Washington, DC, where global leaders and health experts met to discuss strategies to promote the health of women and children. At this Forum, leaders discussed steps to assist countries that have lagged behind in efforts to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, and made specific recommendations for how to maintain the focus on women and children within the post-2015 development agenda.

Notably, participants also pledged their financial and policy support and a range of new resources to support the implementation of the new Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP), a roadmap to improve newborn health and prevent stillbirths by 2035.

“We are privileged as a country to host this important meeting about the urgent need to improve women’s and children’s health. This global gathering gives us the opportunity to learn from each other’s successes and challenges, and to identify new approaches,” said Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, South African Health Minister . The Government of South Africa is a Forum co-host, together with

*Graca Machel PMNCH, Countdown to 2015, A Promise Renewed and the independent Expert Review Group.

Despite improvements, 289,000 women still die every year from complications at birth and 6.6 million children do not live to see their fifth birthday, including nearly 3 million newborns. At least 200 million women and girls are unable to access family planning services that would allow them to control when they have children.

The world has been especially slow in improving health outcomes for newborns. Globally, each year, 2.9

We have affordable interventions that we know work.

There’s no excuse for not bringing them to the women and children who need them million newborns (first 28 days of life) die and 2.6 million are stillborn (die in the last three months of pregnancy

or during childbirth).

Recent data published in The Lancet Every Newborn Series indicate that 15,000 babies are born and die every day without ever receiving a birth or death certificate. The accompanying analysis found that 3 million maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths in 75 high burden countries could be prevented each year with proven interventions that can be implemented for an annual cost of only US$1.15 per person.

Responding to this crisis, partners at the Forum launched the ENAP, endorsed by the World Health Assembly in May 2014. The action plan is based on concrete evidence to further reduce preventable newborn deaths and stillbirths.

Signalling their support for the full and prompt implementation of the plan, Forum attendees announced 40 new commitments. These commitments are in support of the UN Secretary-General’s Every Woman Every Child movement and come from a diverse group of stakeholders, including governments, civil society organizations and the private sector.

“There is absolutely no reason for so many newborns to die every year when their lives can be saved with simple, cost-effective solutions,” said Dr. Flavia Bustreo, Assistant Director- General for Family, Women’s and Community Health at the World Health Organization.

“The WHO remains committed to support countries and work with partners as the plan gets implemented, and to the accountability agenda, which includes reporting on progress achieved every year until 2030.”

Partners at the Forum released the

Countdown to 2015 Report for 2014, which presents the latest assessment of progress in the 75 countries that account for 95 percent of all maternal and child deaths each year.

The report finds that in several countries, more than half of the mothers and children in the poorest 20 percent of the population still receive two or fewer of the eight interventions deemed essential for preventing or treating common causes of maternal and child death, including vaccinations, skilled birth attendance, pneumonia and diarrhoea treatment, and access to family planning. The analysis shows that, in these 75 countries, a median of 39 percent of deaths of children under age five occur during the first month of life, underscoring a need for improved access to quality skilled delivery care for mother and baby around the time of birth.

“We have affordable interventions that we know work. There’s no excuse for not bringing them to the women and children who need them,” said Dr. Mickey Chopra, Chief of Health at UNICEF and coChair of Countdown to 2015. “The health and well-being of our next generation, and the right of millions of children to live happy, productive lives, is at stake.”

One other report was also launched at the 2014 PMNCH Partners’ Forum: Success Factors for Women’s and Children’s Health Report spotlights 10 “fast track” countries making considerable progress in reducing maternal and child deaths, showing that rapid progress is possible despite significant social and economic challenges. The report showed the benefits of investing in high-impact interventions such as skilled care at birth, immunization, and family planning.

Delegates at the Forum emphasized the importance of ensuring that future efforts focus on countries that are making slow

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 —

progress, and on poor and marginalized populations, including newborns and adolescents. Delegates also urged political leaders to work across different sectors—including education, skills and employment, water supply and sanitation, nutrition, energy, roads, and women’s empowerment—to ensure an integrated approach to improving the health of women and children.

PMNCH

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he Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) is a partnership of 625 organizations from across seven constituencies: governments, multilateral organizations, donors and foundations, nongovernmental organizations, healthcare professional associations, academic, research and training institutions, and the private sector.

Hosted by the World Health Organization and launched in 2005, the vision of the Partnership is the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, with women and children enabled to realize their right to the highest attainable standard of health in the years to 2015.

Countdown to 2015

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ountdown to 2015 is a global movement to track, stimulate and support country progress towards the health-related Millennium Development Goals, particularly goals 4 (reduce child mortality) and 5 (improve maternal health). Established in 2003, Countdown is supra-institutional and includes academics, governments, international agencies, professional associations, donors, nongovernmental organizations and other members of civil society, with The Lancet as a key partner.

Countdown focuses specifically on tracking coverage of evidencebased interventions proven to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality in the 75 countries where more than 95% of maternal and child deaths occur. Countdown produces periodic publications, reports and other materials on key aspects of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, using data to hold stakeholders to account for global and national action.

A Promise Renewed

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ommitting to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed is a global movement to end preventable child deaths. Under the leadership of participating governments and in support of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Every Woman Every Child strategy, A Promise Renewed brings together public, private and civil society actors committed to advocacy and action for maternal, newborn and child survival.

A Promise Renewed emerged from the Child Survival Call to Action, convened in June 2012 by the Governments of Ethiopia, India and the United States, in collaboration with UNICEF.

Nigerian fashion industry still yet to develop

— Familusi Akin Babajide

By KEHINDE AJOSE

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elebrated fashion designer and entrepreneur Familusi Akin Babajide(FAB)who recently launched his flagship store tagged The Fab Shop located at the heart of Ikeja GRA Lagos , reveals reasons why the Nigerian fashion industry is still yet to develop. According to him,: ‘I was recently ask to rate the Nigerian fashion industry on a scale of one to ten and I put it on three .I feel there are certain elements that needs to come together to make it a true industry. The Nigerian fashion industry is still yet to develop. It’s true that we have a lot of raw talents, we have close to zero production capacity, and we have close to zero retail. So you can’t consider it as an industry, until all these are actually developed to that level

where you can call it a true industry.

On what inspired the creation of The Fab Shop he says:’ The Fab Shop is created to guarantee a retail solution for Africans brands .There are a lots of designers out there with raw talents that we have been able to promote through our media channels .We discovered that this designers are not able to create demand for their designs because they don’t have the location to showcase their wares .People call us when they see the designs they want to buy, because they can’t reach them. We decided to create a hub where these designers can sell their wares and hopefully this will be a first of many.’

Bank rallies support for women entrepreneurs

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

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ore than ever before, women’s participation in the growth of the Nigerian economy has increased tremendously as a result of entrepreneurial re-awakening and awareness. Yet that entrepreneurial spirit is not without its challenges, including continued discrimination, poor network, access to education and finance.

It is against this backdrop that Access Bank Plc has risen up for women in business in Nigeria.

The bank which has in the past established a number of gender empowerment programmes that seek to provide financial, technical and consulting opportunities for female entrepreneurs, according to its Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe, is in the coming weeks launching a new programme aimed at supporting women “This includes new products, a new women-focused online community and a philanthropic effort aimed at educating and bringing into the business world women who might otherwise be left behind. Called “The W”, the new online community will be one of the largest women

platforms in Africa. The platform is set to support a network of women from around the world, who want to be inspired, connected and empowered.

“The W” is designed to be an interactive online community designed to inspire, promote and connect women; in ways you won’t find in the mainstream, no matter what you do, where you are and who you bank with. Through our Gender Empowerment-GEM programme, the bank has also extended N2billion in financing to women-owned businesses to promote gender equality and empowerment”, Herbert told Lipstick.

“We recognise that empowering women means empowering the whole nation. The future that all of us at Access Bank are committed to, is a society where men or women are not judged by their gender but talents; where both men and women have equal access to bank accounts, loans, mortgages or businesses”, Herbert added.

Pointing out that the growing use of social media by business professionals had necessitated the need for networking sites that are focused on women entrepreneurs,

business users, owners and professionals, Ope Wemi-Jones, Head, Women Banking, Access Bank Plc., while discussing how Nigerian banks can help propel the businesses of women in Nigeria, said women accounted for onethird of small- and medium-sized enterprises but were granted only a fraction of banks’ available credit.

“This discrepancy exists even though women have proven themselves to be profitable bank customers and have a strong track record when repaying loans and a higher savings ratio. Women have the potential, as well as right, to contribute meaningfully to the development of the economy.

Therefore, the Nigerian government should work towards achieving gender equality in democratic governance, increase participation and access to the economy for women and support their education. We’re setting the pace at Access Bank Plc. As a matter of fact, women make up 30% of our board, which is impressive by international standards. We want to lead from the front in seeing that change”, Wemi-Jones said.

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— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

TAURUS; Monetary Venus makes an ingress into your Star sign with good luck to you. Financial success is closer to you than you can imagine. Give it a big push.

GEMINI; Here is a good day when influential personalities around you will be willing to assist you but you will need to take the initiative. Take good advice.

CANCER; This is your day. The more ambitious you are along your career line the better for you.

And friends are willing to give the needed supports.

LEO; Your mind is truly active and if you’re more practical about it success’ll crown your efforts.

Reason with your tried and trusted friends.

VIRGO; Coming of monetary and loving into a positive angle to your Star sign is a big plus. On a day like this the more ambitious you are the better.

It’s good to be loving

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

Speak Your Expectation

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HAT is the situ ation with you now? Have you allowed your present situation to consume you? Have you given up on your situation? As you stand now, what is the na-

ture of the words that comes out of your mouth? Are the words coming out of your mouth capable of lifting your spirit?

TERROR MUDA

Are you speaking of your present situation or you are projecting more what you expect to happen to your life?

in “Never say goodbye”

Do not allow what is happening to you now drain you of your hope. No matter what you are going through now, speak your expectation. Even in pain, dwell on paean.

By Lanre Kehinde

LIBRA; The more willing you are to listen to your partners and/or spouse the better for you today.

Friends are trying to convince you that the are reliable.

SCORPIO; The more push-full you are along your career/business lines the better. Embrace new method at work. Don’t neglect your love life.

SAGITTARIUS; Here is a day you are not meant to ignore new ideas that come suddenly. It’s good to take matters of the heart more seriously. Listen to your spouse please.

CAPRICORN; Monetary and romantic Venus is joining mighty Sun at positive angle to your Star and bringing you good influence. Be more ambitious.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

AQUARIUS; Although your being co-operative can enhance your scope, your personal ideas and initiative are guarantee for a bigger do.

PISCES; Those of you who are more consistent will have more to gain. Good ideas on monetary issues will enhance your finances. Be more family minded.

ARIES; Entrance of monetary and romantic Venus into a positive angle is meant to enhance your finances. The more willing you are to take good advice the better. Be loving.

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,

The date that important for you

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua, I am a regular reader of your work since you were with The Punch Newspapers. I want you to please tell me my lucky dates and dates to beware this year (2014). More ink to your pen.

Cyril, Asaba.

Dear Cyril, On your lucky dates try to maximise your gains on one hand and or the other hand, try your best possible to avoid trouble and/or loss during those dates to beware of. But take note that there is nothing to worry about concerning dates to beware of because, they are mere warnings. However the lucky dates are for real.

Important days for you till December 2014 YOUR LUCKY DATES August– 1***, 10, 14, 23 & 28.

Sept. – 2*, 7*, 16* 20, 25 & 30.

Oct. – 4, 11, 13***, 17, 21** & 26.

DATES TO BEWARE OF Oct – 18 Nov – 1 Dec – 6

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014—43

MASSOB REPLIES UMEH: Face your politics

BY CHINENYEH OZOR

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SUKKA— MOVEMENT for the ActualiSation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has lambasted the national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, for “meddling in its affairs.”

MASSOB leader in Enugu North senatorial zone, Chief

Benjamin Ekwenugo, who stated this in a statement at Nsukka yesterday, asked Umeh to face his politics and leave MASSOB to its cause.

Ekwenugo noted that the APGA chairman had never been a member of MASOB so could not say Chief Raph Uwazulike lacked focus in the leadership and

organisation of MASSOB. He said: “Chief Umeh should not join issues with MASSOB; we are freedom fighters, agitating for the creation of the State of Biafra.

What could be Chief Umeh’s interest in MASSOB than his political interest?”

Ekwenugo said MASSOB was in support of President Goodluck Jonathan

administration’s and wants a second term for him, explaining that the President had handled MASSOB issues with passion.

He said MASSOB never suspended any of its members as claimed by Chief Umeh, adding that MASSOB remained focussed to its peaceful struggle.

FLAG OFF: From left— HRH Igwe Linus Eze, the Igwe of Abba; Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State; Lolo Maureen Eze, wife of the Abba monarch, and HRH Igwe Emeka Ilunoh, Igwe of Ifitedunu, at the flag off of construction work on Abba-Ifitedunu Road project in Njikoka Local Government Area, Anambra State.

Cleric decries state of Ohaji/ Egbema roads

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—THE Anglican Bishop of Ohaji/Egbema Diocese, Rt. Rev. Chidi Oparaojiaku, has decried the dilapidated nature of roads at Ohaji/Egbema, describing them as death traps.

Bishop Oparaojiaku, who made the lamentation while delivering his address during the first session of the second synod of the Diocese at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Mgbirichi, also said that Umuokanne had been without light for about four years.

The cleric also kicked against what he described as undue government interference in the affairs of the only institution or government presence at Ohaji/ Egbema, Imo State Polytechnic.

Anambra indigenes in US to build cancer centre in Awka

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA— ANAMBRA indigenes residing in the United States of America, USA, have

concluded plans to establish a multi-million naira Cancer Treatment Centre in Awka.

Leader of Anambra State Association in USA, ASAUSA, Dr. Nwachukwu

UNIZIK's new VC appoints officers, aides

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WKA—THE new Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Joseph, has made new appointments.

Those whose appointments had been made public are Professor Charles Esimone, who becomes the acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic).

Two other members of the governing council, Dr. Carol Umeobi, who represents the Senate and Dr. Godson Okafor, who represents the congregation, were appointed Director of Conficius Institute (Nigeria) and Director of Infrastructure Development, respectively.

In addition, Umeobi is to represent the Vice Chancellor on the TETFund Implementation Committee

Reconstitution.

Another member of the council representing the congregation, Dr. I. H. Isidienu, was named the Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, while Rev Fr. Chika Okpalike was appointed Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, Academic Matters.

Anakwenze, who spoke during the health summit organised by the women wing of the association after its medical mission in seven communities in Anambra State, said there was no reason for Nigerians to travel to Asia for the treatment of cancer and other diseases when there were world class Nigerians in all medical fields.

The medical summit discussed the need to kick out cancer in the country and provided an overview of the different aspects of cancer.

It also educated the people on the importance of screening and testing for early detection of cancer.

UNN's Agric Faculty needs N1bn —DEAN

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SUKKA—THE Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, Enugu State, needs about N1 billion to replace broken down equipment in the six departments which make up the Faculty of Agriculture, an official has said.

Professor Simeon Ugwu, the faculty ’s Dean, said in an interview in Nsukka: “I believe in practicals. It is good to also demonstrate the practical aspects when you teach your students.

“That is why the faculty recently organised a homecoming for the alumni of the faculty, so as to interact with them and to see the ways they can assist the faculty.

“The faculty needs about N1 billion to replace broken down equipment in the six departments which make up the faculty and bring the faculty to standard.

“With adequate funding, we will rebuild and replace our poultry, hatchery and feed mills and farm equipment which have worn out, because some of them have been there since 1980.”

Ugwu explained that arrangements had been concluded for the faculty to produce six million fingerlings and 10,000 egg-laying birds before the end of the year.

According to him, the faculty now has 10 hectares of land planted with quality cassava which, when harvested, will boost the revenue base of the faculty.

Ohanaeze youths to immortalise Okadigbo

BY ENYIM ENYIM

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NITSHA—THE youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is to institute a memorial lecture in honour of the late icon, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo.

Chairman of the organisation in Anambra State, Chief Tony Uche, dropped the hint during a

courtesy visit on the wife of the late icon, Senator Margery Okadigbo, at the Ogbunike country home of the former Senate President.

Uche, a former member of Anambra State House of Assembly, said Ohanaeze youths would also move for the immortalisation of late Okadigbo by naming one of the institutions in the South-

East after him.

He said: “Our late icon, our father, contributed a lot to the development of our great country. For that, we must institute a memorial lecture in his honour.

“The lecture would be held annually and the Okadigbo family would partner with Ohanaeze to achieve this objective.”

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Suspected oil thieves arrested, sue over ‘unwarranted detention'

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

W

ARRI— MEN of the Nigeria Navy Ship, NNS Delta, yesterday, handed over to the Interpol three suspects and a ship, MV Gare, alleged to be involved in oil theft and had been in Navy custody since March.

The suspects, who were received by Interpol Officer, Soji Idowu at the NNS Base in Warri, Delta State, include Takorade Doghor, Captain of the Ship; Williams Aseghiecwhen, Engineer and Oakporaye Osagada, Seaman.

The Commander, NNS Delta, Navy Capt Musa Gemu, while handing the suspects over, said “The ship was used to hijack a very bigger ship, MV Karela to siphon about 75 metric tons of Automated Gas Oil, AGO, from the ship, about 200 nautical miles off the coast of Angola.”

Meanwhile, the suspects have sued the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief of Naval Staff and Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, Delta for N100 million over alleged unwarranted detention without trial.

Counsel to the suspects, Mackson Oruma, said: “We filed the suit before the Federal High Court, Warri. My clients are a boat captain and a crew member of a marine vessel, MV Gare owned

by Bernard Edewor detailed to supply food to another ocean going vessel in January within Nigeria waters.

“They were hijacked by armed men, driven into high sea with all seven crew members seized and their communication gadgets confiscated by the hijackers later discovered to be illegal bunkerers.”

DECORATION: From left— President Goodluck Jonathan (middle) and, from left: Chairman, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Felix Chukwu; Vice President Namadi Sambo; Corp Marshal, FRSC, Osita Chidoka and National Coordinator, Special Marshal FRSC, Sini Kwabe, during the decoration of President Jonathan as the Grand Patron Special Marshal, FRSC, in Abuja. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.

DELTA LG POLLS: Ashubu advocates zoning, as women root for Clark

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—AHEAD of the forthcoming local government elections in Delta State, the state Organising Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party,

PDP, Chief Willie Ashubu, has stressed the need for the Uvwie council chairmanship position to be zoned to Ekpan.

Ashubu said it was time the Ekpan people were allowed to govern the local

FG tasked on Local Content Law

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HE new Chairman of Izon-Ibe Welders and Fitters Association, Delta State Chapter, Mr. George Timiyan, has appealed to the Federal and state governments to prevail on multi-national oil companies not to undermine the Nigerian Local Content Law. In his inaugural speech in Warri, Delta State, Timiyan said qualified welders and fitters were not being patronised by the multinational oil companies,

thereby undermining the Nigerian Local Content Law. The new chairman blamed the prevailing poverty in the oil-rich region on multinational oil companies, which failed to engage qualified local artisans in their operations.

He said: “Izon-Ibe Welders and Fitters Association, Delta State chapter, is appealing to the state and Federal governments to call on all the multinational oil companies to carry our members along as the local content law demands.”

COPEM matriculates 857

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HE College of Physical Education Mosogar, COPEM, in Delta State matriculated 857 new intakes for its 2014/2015 academic session, with the Provost of the Institution, Mr. Moses Omayuli, calling on new students to be of good behaviour, and not to breach their oath of the matriculation.

Omayuli informed the students that the College’s first convocation ceremony, coming up shortly, will be another avenue for them to relate freely with older students and staff of the college.

He advised the students to

shun examination malpractices and association with any secret cult, society or organisation throughout the period of their studentship in the institution.

government area.

He said every part of the local government area should be given the opportunity to administer the area, adding that the PDP umbrella was big enough to accommodate all stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Burutu women, under the auspices of Burutu Progressive Ladies Forum, BPLF, a social political organisation led by Mrs Timi Arekumor and Mrs Timotubo Gesi-Ere, yesterday, promised to mobilise support for Chief Ebikeme Clark, a local government chairmanship hopeful in Burutu council.

Addressing newsmen, Mrs Timi Arekumor said Burutu women were resolute in their resolve to support Chief Ebikeme Clark, son of Chief Edwin Clark because “of his vigour, passion for his people as he has shown readiness to transform Burutu.

“As mothers, we will mobilise our fellow women from all the communities in the council, and equally our husbands and our children to massively vote for Ebikeme Clark in the forthcoming local government elections because we need a change for the better.”

Activist makes case for public schools

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HE public schools in Nigeria are on the part of progress and development. Although it might take some time, they will get to the stage where international students will take up schooling in Nigeria.

These are the convictions of Mr. Adetola Okanlawon, Managing Director of First Line Nigeria Limited, a non-profit organisation. He spoke at an event the group organised for children in Lagos.

According to Okanlawon, one way of meeting those targets is to believe in school children and their ability to become leaders by giving them the right attention and guidance.

He said since 2009, when they relocated from the United Kingdom, First Line has organised similar events in collaboration with Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board and Mr. Adeyemi Egbeoluwa of Triple X Entertainment & Events Management Ltd.

200 students emerge for Read to Lead reality show selection

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BOUT 200 students have emerged from over 10,000 Senior Secondary School 2 students drawn from some states of the federation to participate in the Read to Lead Africa Reality TV show, Season 3.

They were selected for the

final examination, which will produce 20 finalists, who will go into the Read to Lead House between July and August to compete for the star prize of N2 million scholarship; the 1st runner, N500,000, while the 2nd runner up will win N250,000.

According to the founder Reading Awareness Society for Development in Africa, RASDA, Mrs Bukola Ladoja, the competition was organised to encourage reading culture among students and youths through motivation.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 — 45

Uduaghan urges support for new N-Delta Affairs Minister

Okaba guns for Bomadi LG Chair

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BY FESTUS AHON

A

BUJA—GOVER NOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, has urged the people of the state to be united in their support for the newly appointed Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Steve Oru. Speaking at a civic reception organised in Abuja shortly after Oru's swearing-in, Uduaghan said the minister needed the support of all Deltans to succeed in office.

Congratulating Dr Oru on his appointment and swearing-in, Uduaghan said that the swearing-in was significant, adding; “Dr Oru’s governor was the only governor present during the swearing-in ceremony of the four new ministers.”

He said his attendance spoke volume of the unity existing in the state, adding “even Mr President acknowledged the unity amongst us and I thank God for the success of the ceremony.”

Noting that Oru was appointed few months to the end of the administration, Uduaghan, said; “Oru needs all of our support to hit the ground running."

Strategise for best guber candidate, Edevbie tasks Urhobo leaders

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LOROGUN David Edevbie, one of the governorship aspirants in Delta State in next year's elections, has called on the Urhobo leadership in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to strategise and present the best candidate that will match opponents from other tribes in the polls.

He made the call during a visit to the leadership of PDP in Delta Central, in continuation of his consultation with interest groups and the PDP hierarchy in the state.

He assured that in the selection process, if he does not emerge among the aspirants from Delta Central, he will be the first to embrace and support whoever was elected.

DISTRIBUTION OF TRICYCLES: Chief Executive of BAR-NET Initiative, Pastor Miebi Bribena and wife, Deaconess Bribena (middle); flanked from the left by Comrade Andrew Elijah of Ijaw Monitoring Group; Serg. Ejemi Inaga; Fiyebo Eperetei, President of Ijaw Youth Development Association; Braye Femowei and Brown Asawei, during the distribution of free tricycles by Bribena to Bayelsa communities recently.

How NCS raked N196m in six months —CAC Egbudin

BY IFEYINWA OBI

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HE Seme Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service generated over N196 million in the last six months. The Customs Area Controller in charge of Seme area, Mr. Willy Egbudin, who disclosed this, said that the Command was able to achieve the feat because of its zeal to sustain and increase service to the nation without compromise.

In a 2014 Midyear report, Egbudin said that the command achieved a higher level of suppression of smuggling and related offences through increased enforcement activities and enlightenment of border communities and the trading public about the dangers of smuggling.

He said: “The year 2014, for us as customs operatives in Nigeria’s busiest land frontier, is a year with unique challenges as novel innovations and trade improving techniques aimed at achieving government objec-

tives were brought to the fore..

“To our officers and men, I have consistently stressed the need for them to sustain and increase their service to the nation as compromise would not be tolerated. I am glad to state that we are very much on track, fully implementing the agenda introduced by our Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko Inde, among which are Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, PAAR, the intuitive/interactive web portal nigeriatradehub, the fixed and mobile scanners and the recently flagged off Vehicle Import Transit Regime. These trade friendly innovations have greatly improved the business environment and the organised business sectors are invited to take advantage of them.

“The Seme Area Command is mainly an enforcement oriented Command,

surrounded by the Atlantic to the South, Ogun State to the North, Republic of Benin to the West and Lagos to the East and a terrain that poses a lot of challenges because of its aquatic, marshy and swampy nature. Despite the challenges, the Command has achieved a lot.

“We made a total of 467 seizures with a Duty Paid Value of N196.2 million within the period under review. The seized items include, rice, frozen poultry products, motor vehicles, vegetable oil, second hand clothes, soap, narcotics among others.

Whereas the seized narcotics had been transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, the seized frozen products had been destroyed in accordance with the extant law because of its perishable nature. We are thankful to the CGC for the logistic support, capacity building, encouragement and motivation of the customs workforce.”

Reps urged to reject Civil Society Bill

BY EMMA UNA

U

YO—POLICY Alert, a non-governmental organisation based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has called on the House of Representatives to reject the bill seeking to stifle the voice of Nigerian civil society through limiting access of NGOs to foreign funding and other citizens’ associations.

Policy Alert, in a statement yesterday, in Uyo, by Idorenyin Ukpe, the Communications and Advocacy Officer, condemned

the proposed legislation, seeking to make it mandatory for voluntary organisations to first register and get approval from the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, before they could obtain financial assistance from abroad.

According to Ukpe, “The proposed law is redundant as there is no legislative gap it seeks to fill. It is a wasteful attempt to duplicate functions already being discharged by existing

agencies under the Companies and Allied Matters Act and other extant legislations.

“It will create an unnecessary bureaucracy which could prevent time-bound development assistance from getting to vulnerable citizens and communities in Nigeria, a scenario that is inimical to our country’s efforts at achieving the Millennium Development Goals.”

HE entry of Mr. Preye Okaba into the chairmanship race of Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been described as “a welcome development for the area.”

Bomadi Excellent Youth Movement, BEYOM, in a statement by its President, Mr. Royal Ozidi, said that they were confident that Okaba would enhance peace, human capital and physical development of the area in line with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s three-point agenda.

He said: “Our optimism for a brighter future is heightened by the fact that Okaba, as chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Western Zone, for many years attended to the needs of youths at great personal sacrifice.

We believe that with the benefit of available resources, the youths would be empowered in his transformation pursuits.”

Bayelsa most peaceful state in Nigeria —SSG

BY EMEM IDIO

Y

ENAGOA—SECRETARY to Bayelsa State Government, SSG, Professor Edmund Allison-Oguru, has said that Bayelsa State has been reckoned as the most peaceful state, not only in Nigeria but in Africa as evidenced in the recent award to the state governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, as the governor with the best record on security.

Allison-Oguru, who spoke yesterday in Yenagoa while declaring open a one-day security summit organised by the Bayelsa State command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, described security as an issue that was on the frontline of local, national and international discourse due to the challenges posed by Boko Haram insurgency, oil theft, kidnapping and other similar crimes.

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Group condemns disqualification of 15 guber aspirants in Benue

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI—THE Movement for Transparency and Good Governance, MTGG, has condemned the alleged disqualification of 15 governorship aspirants in Benue State by the Tiv Traditional Council, saying that the action smacked of a complete politicisation of the traditional institution.

National President of the MTGG, Mr Joe Yange made this known in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi, the Benue State capital yesterday.

Yange cautioned that as the 2015 general elections drew nearer, “the political class in the state should desist from dragging the traditional institution into the murky waters of politics.’’ His words, “We are sounding this warning in view of the disturbing information emanating from the Tiv Traditional Council, which purportedly disqualified 15 governorship aspirants from Masev, Ihiarev and Nongovclans from contesting the 2015 governorship election in the state.''''

Pa Araoye dies at 115

P

A Yusufu Araoye, a community leader in Igosun near Offa, Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State is dead at the age of 115.

He died after a brief illness at his Esha's compound on Sunday.

He is survived by many children, grand children and great grandchildren, among whom are Madam Sabitiyu Oyewopo, Chief Bisi Balogun, a veteran journalist, Dr. Kunle Araoyo, mr. Lateef Araoye, Rafiu Araoye and Nasir Araoye, a naval officer.

Fidau prayer holds this Saturday (tomorrow) at Muslim Community School, Igosun.

.Late Pa Araoye

Nigeria under global media conspiracy — DUKE

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

A

BUJA—THE Minister of Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, has said that there was a global media conspiracy against Nigeria with a view to vilifying her and Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.

He spoke, in Abuja, yesterday, while launching “Nigeria Our Heritage”, an initiative aimed at the restoration of a positive perception for Nigeria as an emerging international business hub.

His words, “Nigeria is under a global media conspiracy. The objective of this conspiracy is to bring indignity to our leadership and humiliation to our country and Nigerians. We can’t allow the world to see us through the eyes of a few people who are bent on destroying our nation and Nigerians.

“There is need to tell the global community a new story of Nigeria by Nigerians. We can’t allow a population of over 160 million people to be cowed by the perceptions of a few people who have chosen to give us a negative outlook. Why should 160 million people lose their voices?”

The minister said that the challenges in South Africa and Rwanda had been forgotten because the people chose to concentrate on the positive developments in their countries.

“We must find people who can tell positive stories about Nigeria. Let us change the story of Nigeria. Let us raise our voices in the interests of the rest of Nigerians and Nigerian generations yet unborn.”, he appealed to the

PRESENTATION OF RELIEF MATERIALS: Cross section of internally displaced persons from the Wukari crisis waiting to receive relief materials in Jalingo yesterday. Photo: NAN. Nigerian media.

Chief Duke stated that changing the negative perception of Nigeria was the responsibility of all well- meaning Nigerians and that the Nigerian media, especially, must lead the way for what he described as “Nigeria global image overhaul”, through commitment to a re- invigorated hope in the nation.

“If we are not pleased with the way Nigeria has been in the last century, what are we doing, what is our plan for the next century

to ensure that it is better and become the nation of our pride?”, the minister queried.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board of “Nigeria Our Heritage” initiative and former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Prof George Obiozor, said there was urgent need for all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to raise to the occasion of changing the current global negative perception of Nigerians.

According to him, “if anybody

disrespects your country, he can’t respect you. When your country is down, you are down; when your country is up, you are up.

We all must resist the negatives about the future of Nigeria”.

He advised that as a nation, Nigeria must develop policies on good image, adding that “no country has a permanent good image and that image was relative but that it was a serious issue in international relations, because, “in international relations, perception is taken as reality”.

Germany, Nigeria hold talks to fight terrorism

A

BUJA—NIGERIA and German officials are holding talks in Abuja on modalities for security cooperation in the fight against insurgency.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that a one-day discussion on the issue is holding

under the political consultations working group of the NigeriaGerman Bi-national Commission.

The Nigerian delegation is led

by Dr Martin Uhomoihbi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the Dr

Kogi LG Chairman suspended

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

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OKOJA—DEKINA Lo cal government Council in Kogi State has suspended its Chairman, Muhammed Ali over alleged misconduct.

A statement signed by 10 out of the 11 councillors in the council’s legislature on the issue stated that, “Consequent upon the resolution of the council of Dekina Local government passed on July 8, 2014, the chairman is hereby suspended pending the conclusion of an investigation’’ into the issue.

There was a free for all fight on Tuesday at the local government secretariat in Dekina when armed thugs suspected to have been sponsored by the executive arm invaded the council’s chambers while the councillors were holding their legislative proceedings.

Some of the councillors were said to have sustained injuries while others escaped from the vicinity for their safety.

Efforts to speak with Ali failed as all his telephone lines were switched off.

Markus Ederer, Secretary of State, Foreign Affairs, is leading the German side.

Both parties are discussing further possibilities for cooperation in the police and armed forces sector. The meeting will also consider intensifying cooperation in crisis and border management.

Further, NAN reports that on the agenda of the the Bi-national commission meeting are regional security issues in Mali, Chad and Central African Republic.

The German government, which promotes inter-religious relations in its foreign policy, also listed that as a key issue for discussion. The 2015 general election is also on the agenda of the meeting.

In his opening remarks at the meeting, Uhomoihbi said Nigeria required the support of friends and international partners to make the 2015 general election a success.

He stressed that the commitment of Nigeria government to free, fair and credible elec-

tions has been demonstrated by the recent successes of INEC in Ekiti State.

Victory Group of Schools hold valedictory ceremony

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HE Victory Group of Schools, Victory College, Victory High School and Victory Grammar School, Ikeja will hold their valedictory graduation ceremony in honour of 20th, 20th and 41st set of students on Tuesday, 22nd July 2014.

According to the proprietor, Chief Christian I. Olaniyan, the ceremony will hold at the Victory Hall.

Also speaking, Mr. Paimo, Chairman of the planning committee, said prominent Nigerians in educational sector and former students of the schools have been invited to grace the ceremony.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014—47

Duke, Ojukwu, Falana, others endorse Adesina for NBA Presidency

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AGOS — AS the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, prepares for its delegate conference in Abuja next week, more lawyers in the country have endorsed the candidature of Mr Dele Adesina, SAN as the next president of the association.

Former governor of Cross River State and lawyer, Mr Donald Duke; human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana SAN; former President, International Federation of Women lawyers, FIDA; former governor general of the Eastern Bar Forum, Professor Ernest Ojukwu, and former president of the association, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN have publicly endorsed the candidature of Adesina, who served as secretary of the association under Olanipekun.

The race is among Adesina; Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN; Mr Austin Alegeh, SAN and Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN. Already, 15 of the 23 branches in the South-West have endorsed Adesina while he also enjoys a comfortable lead in the branches of the Eastern Bar Forum. The Arewa Forum, the umbrella association of the Northern lawyers, is expected to decide who to give their block votes this weekend.

Falana in a video cast said: “I have known Dele Adesina since our youthful days. He is a committed bar activist who has served the NBA in various capacities in the last 30 years. He is the man needed at this point in time to bring about change in the bar. His is passionately committed to good governance and the rule of law."

Donald Duke said: “The NBA, like most Nigerian institutions, requires able and a tested leadership, particularly in these times that various Nigerian institutions are threatened for want of good leadership. This is not the time to try new ones. This is because the NBA plays a very critical role in our democracy and rule of law. Adesina has the personality to galvanise Nigerian lawyers together to work together as a team."

Also MrsUgomma, in a goodwill message, said: “I have just gone through your campaign materials and I must say that I am quite impressed by your formidable profile. I have therefore, come to the irresistible conclusion that you are the candidate to beat in this election. I wish you best of luck.”

Plateau govt uncovers security threats, takes measures for safety

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

J

OS — THE Plateau State Government, yesterday, alerted residents of the state over alleged threats which could lead to security breaches in the state and called on the citizens to be vigilant and supportive as it has put measures to ensure public safety, sanity and general well-being of the people.

Briefing journalists in Jos, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs Olivia Dazyam, said to checkmate the threat, government had empowered the task force set up to enforce the ban earlier imposed on street trading, operation of illegal motor parks and indiscrimi-

nate parking of vehicles along major streets in the Jos city centre.

Dazyam noted that the state had gone through series of security challenges and would not want to encounter such nightmares especially a repeat of the recent twin blasts which rocked Jos city.

She said: ”In the aftermath of the last bomb blasts in Jos and other security challenges, the Plateau State Government came up with measures aimed at ensuring safety and promoting peace and security within the Jos city centre. ”Since then, security chiefs have been monitoring closely the security situation in the state and as there have been threats of security breach, the strengthening

of the task force to enforce the ban on illegal trading, hawking, illegal motor parks, indiscriminate parking of vehicles has become urgent and necessary.”

Dazyam further stressed that the task force would also enforce the ban on commercial motorcyclists in the city and urged everyone to appreciate the gravity of the security challenges and comply with directives just as she urged shop owners to relocate to alternative shops at Kwararafa and Kabong satellite markets.

She advised occupants of shops in the areas where the blasts affected to contact their respective landlords as plans were on ground to settle them in alternative shops as their former shops were unsafe due to the impact of the May 20, bomb blasts.

From left: Prof. K Bhaskar Readdy, Sri Venkateswara College, India; Mr. Ajetak Singh, Sharda Univeristy, India; Mr Varrier Devesh, Director, Training, Edusoft Associates and Mr. Vijay Anand,SRM University, India at the two-day universities expo organised by Edusoft Associates in Lagos.

Four sentenced to death by hanging for robbery in Ilorin

BY DEMOLAAKINYEMI

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LORIN — FOUR persons, who had been standing trial for alleged criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, yesterday, wept uncontrollably when they were sentenced to death by hanging by an Ilorin High Court, in Kwara State, yesterday.

The convicts are Ibrahim Olayiwola, AbdulWaheed Aliyu, Tunde Kareem and Omotayo Isah.

They were charged for robbing petroleum attendants of Rockfield Petroleum filling station, Odota, Ilorin in February 2011 contrary to the provisions of Section 97 of the Penal Code and Section 1 (2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, CAP R11 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Justice S. T. Umar, who presided over the case, said the convicts were guilty of the offences for

which they were charged, adding that the lead prosecution counsel, M. A. I. Akande had proved his case beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge said: "There is sufficient evidence to establish that the four convicts conspired among themselves and robbed the petroleum attendants of Rockfield Petroleum filling station, Odota, Ilorin on February 18, 2011 while armed with guns

contrary to the provisions of Section 97 of the Penal Code and Section 1 (2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special provisions) Act, CAP R11 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004. The convicts are according sentenced to death by hanging.”

However, counsel to the first suspect, Rapheal Ashaolu argued that Olayiwola was not at the scene of the incident but was arrested as one of the suspects.

Kebbi youths flay state govt over attacks on Bagudu

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

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IRNIN KEBBI — CON CERNED Kebbi State Youths and Students’ Forum has accused the Kebbi State government of allegedly sponsoring media attacks against the Senator representing Kebbi Central Senatorial Zone, Senator Abubakar Baguda.

The forum, however, said no amount of sponsored criticisms would distract the lawmaker from contributing to the development of the state.

Briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, coordinator of the group, Comrade Suleiman Ahmad said “it was really disgusting to read every distortion of fact by the critics of Senator Bagudu all in a desperate bid to satisfy their paymaster.

"What defence were they always trying to give to their sponsor, when the very issues surrounding the mismanagement of the resources of Kebbi State by the Dakingari administration are all visible to the blind and understandable to the least intelligent? Their entire assumption is that putrid and putrefying with tissue of lies, fabrications and falsehood manufactured from mischievously fertile imagination.”

“But no one is fooled or deceived by the effort of the Dakingari-led administration and his goons in their failed attempt to tarnish the image of a well-respected Senator Atiku Bagudu or bring it into disrepute the heard earned political profile of Senator Bagudu which had continued to earn him the love and support of his constituents.

"Even his blatant attempt at blackmail falls flat on its face.

The critics of Senator Bagudu may need to do a more thorough research on his family background of and his hard work and record of integrity that has kept increasing his political profile.”

NYAKO: Muslim Council calls for amicable resolution of crisis

Y

OLA— THE Muslim Coun cil of Nigeria in Adamawa has called for dialogue in resolving the dispute between the state legislature and executive arms in the interest of peace, unity and development in the state.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria,NAN, on the outcome of the council’s meeting in Yola,

yesterday, one of the members of the council and National Chairman of Jama’atul Izalatul Bidiah Wa Iquamatus Sunna (JIBWIS), Shiekh Bala Lau, said the group was concerned about the development and called for an amicable resolution of the matter.

“Our state is under state of

emergency and this face-off between the Legislature and Executive is further heating the system and creating tension in the state.

“We are against the removal of the Governor; we are against the removal of the Deputy Governor, as such action could lead to more crisis in the state,” Lau said.

48— Vanguard , FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

UNVEILING: From left: Mr Abdallah H. Khamis, MD, Philips West Africa Hub, Mr Juan van Dongen, CEO, Philips Africa, Senior Vice President, Mr Peter van de Ven, General Manager, Africa, Vice President, Market Group, RALLY: From left: Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial aspirant in Oyo EMEA and Mrs Sharon Karuga, Marketing Director, Healthcare Africa, State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, PDP South West Mobilisation Committee Chairman, Chief during the briefing/unveiling of Philips’ new ultra-mobile ultrasound system Buruji Kasamu, former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin and Ekiti State GovernorVISIQ to the Nigerian Market, at the annual Pan-African- Cairo to Cape elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose at the PDP rally in Ibadan, yesterday.

Town roadshow in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

RAMADAN: From left: Alhaji Wasiu Anifowoshe, the Mogaji, Chief Lamoriyu Edu, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr. Tajudeen Edu, and former Chairman, Island Club, Alhaji Akeem Awe, at the Ramadan Tafsir organised by the Epe Muslim Community in Lagos.

From left: Analytical Lead (South Africa), Irvin Montshiwa, Analytical Lead (Nigeria), Tolu Akinyele, and Business Development Association, Lanre Aina, all of Google, during the Google Digital Excellent training, organised for advertising and digital executives in Lagos.

SEMINAR: From left: Chairman, Nihilent Nigeria Ltd., Mr Oti Ikomi; Principal Manager, Shared Services, CBN, Mr. Aaron A. Yaduma, Regional Manager, Nihilent West Africa, Mr. Shohel Noor; and Assistant Director, Banking and Payment, CBN, Mr. Shola Agboola at the seminar on "Optimizing IT Standards Implementation and Compliance", with Nihilent Nigeria Ltd, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

From left: Executive Director, Fate Foundation, Mrs. Elizabeth Olofin, Chairman, Small and Medium Industries Trade Group, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Mr Adeniyi Ogunsanya, and Chairman, Export Group, NACCIMA, Mr. Olu Olabisi, during NACCIMA's visit to the Foundation in Lagos.

WORKSHOP: From left: Mrs Adepeju Agoi, Director, Brookline Consult; Mrs Abosede Ogunlari, MD, Showers Kiddies Publishers Ltd, Ms Dawn Savage, Brooke College, Leicestershire, UK and Mrs Tosin Oloye-Oyewole, MD, Joyworld Communications, during a workshop organised by Showers Kiddies Publishers and Brookline Consult in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele.

PRESENTATION: From left: Manager, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Idiare Etimomo, Director, Brands and Communication, Enitan Denloye, International award winning girl-child education advocate, Zuriel Oduwole, and Director, Consumer Segment, Oluwole Rawa, during the presentation of the Etisalat Cliqlite tablet to Zuriel, in Lagos.

SEMINAR: From left: Head, Relationship Management, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Ltd, Mrs. Anita Dele-Dickson, Principal Partner, StarBright Consulting Ltd, Mr. Emmanuel Olu-Ayeni, Medical Director, Tabita Medical Centre, Abuja, Dr Chito Nwana, and CEO, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Ltd, Dr. Demola Sogunle, at a pre-retirement seminar in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014—49

OSUN 2014: APC reviews preparations with Aregbesola •Party stakeholders doubt fairness of Ekiti poll

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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From left: Mr Femi Collins, GM, Human Resources, Bristow Helicopter; Mr Tolu Olubanjo, Legal Adviser presenting the key to the helicopter to Capt.

Sam Caulcrick, Rector/CEO, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, NCAT; Henry Toluhi, Head of Engineering School and Mrs Folake St. Matthew Daniel, Legal Adviser during the donation of helicopter for training by Bristow Helicopter to NCAT management in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

AGOS— The top hierarchy of the All Progressives Congress, APC, may have moved to stave off any threat to the party’s hold on Osun State in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in the state.

Party leaders, including governors, senators and major stakeholders, who met with Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, in Osogbo into the wee hours of yesterday also used the opportunity to dissect the circumstances that led to the party’s loss of Ekiti State in the gubernatorial election last month.

The meeting was attended by, among others, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Governor B a b a t u n d e Fashola of Lagos State, Senators Chris Ngige, Femi Ojudu and O l u b u n m i Adetunmbi.

Also present at the meeting were Mallam Nasir elRufai, Director General of the Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Rep. Bimbo Daramola; National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Alhaji Kawu Baraje, former member of the House of Representatives, Ms Temi Harriman among others.

The meeting which took place behind closed doors, according to sources, was couched as a soli-

darity meeting with Aregbesola and was used as an opportunity to ponder preparations by the governor for the election.

Those at the meeting, it was learnt, went away with the impression that Governor Aregbesola is strongly on ground and would provide strong resistance to any attempt to outwit him in the election.

“They would have to virtually use tanks to stop the man from winning,” a source privy to the discussions said yesterday.

On Ekiti election Party stakeholders, it was learnt, went away after the examination of the Ekiti election with the conclusion that subterfuges were employed to undermine the party in the state.”

The party stakeholders also used the opportunity to review the controversy over the allegedly specialised ballot paper.

“Some of us went away with the belief that the ballot papers were programmed to undermine our party and it is not surprising that the ink did not stay long after thumb printing,” one source reviewed.

Another theory also put forward was the intimidation of APC party leaders. The meeting was told that almost all the mobilisers for the party in Ekiti were picked up hours to the election leaving party followers stranded.

Nearly all the party officials with the funds for mobilisation, it was learnt, were also picked up by the security agents once they picked up the money from the leaders, a source said.

“They released the leaders with the money after the election, but it was all done to thwart mobilisation of party members,” the source said.

NIPR to induct 101 new members

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HE Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) will next Friday induct the first batch of the 2014 new members.

In a release signed by the Special Assistant to the President of NIPR on Media, Dr Grace Achum, 101 members will be inducted at the event which will hold at the Lagos Television compound, Rooftop, Agidingbi, Lagos from 11 am.

The guest speaker during the event will be Dr Isah Momoh of Lagos Business School, with the theme,”Identifying Opportunities in Public Relations for Self Reliance and National Development.”

Other dignitaries expected at the event are Dr Lizzy Ikem, Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, among others.

New members comprised some practitioners already in the profession, who will be formally admitted as well as those with great passion to succeed in the practice.

50—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

INSPECTION: From left— Mrs. Morenike AdesinaWilliams, Chairman of Igando/Ikotun Local Council Development Area, LCDA; Mr. Femi Wahab, Project Cordinator; Mr. Jimoh Ajao, Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Mr. Tajudeen Oladeji, MD, Fowus Nigeria Ltd, during the governor's inspection of ongoing EganIgando Housing Estate, yesterday.

PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

INSPECTION: From left— Project Engineer, Comfax Engineering, Engr.

Ahmed Comfax; Board Chairman, Delta Broadcasting Service, Theodora Azingeh; Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah, and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, when the governor inspected rehabilitation works at the TV and radio studio in Asaba, yesterday. Photo: Henry Unini.

Youths group lauds Jonathan's policies

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coalition of youths, under the aegis of The Ambassadors, has commended the President Goodluck J o n a t h a n - l e d administration for its efforts towards repositioning the country. The group made the commendation at its annual lecture on the theme Harnessing the Transformation Agenda and Impact on Nigerian youths.

The guest speaker, Mr. Demola Olarewaju, said it was time for youths to key into the g o v e r n m e n t ’ s transformation agenda.

The National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Opeyemi Ahmed, also commended President Jonathan for involving youths in his administration’s agenda.

Other dignitaries at the event were Mrs Abiola Folami, President Lagos Women Vanguard; Mr. Kunle Odebiyi, Deputy National Coordinator.

Mr. Onome Egbiri, National Secretary; Mr. Taiwo Salami, Publicity Secretary; Miss Titilayo Anume, Director of Programme; Mrs Joy Suleiman, Director of Women Affairs; Mr. Abiodun Adeboje, Director of Logistics among others.

Nigeria, UK economies under threat from pirates zBoth countries lose N2.8trn annually

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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IRACY in Nigeria’s territorial waters and off the coast of West Africa is threatening the economy of the United Kingdom, UK, putting at risk £6.3 billion of the country’s trade, including 12 percent of the countries’ oil imports.

According to a report by the UK Chamber of Shipping, pirates and lawlessness off the coast of Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea is costing Nigeria about £7.2 billion a year, about N1.51 trillion.

The report further noted that insecurity in waterways in the territory is negatively affecting the economy of countries in the region, stating that the countries will remain poor until their waterways are secured.

The UK Chamber of Shipping said there is at least one attack per week on a ship operating in the region, but up to two thirds of attacks are believed to go unreported.

The report noted that in 2013, 60 percent of attacks on shipping in the area took place in Nigerian territorial waters, adding that there is a trend for increasing violence within attacks.

The Chamber is the trade association for the UK shipping industry. With around 140 members from across the maritime sector, the UK Chamber represents over 925 ships of about 30 million gross tons.

Chief Executive Officer, UK Chamber of Shipping, Guy Platten also warned that the UK economy is heavily exposed to lawlessness off the coast of Nigeria.

He said: “Most people are aware of pirate activities off Somalia, but lawlessness in the Gulf of Guinea is a major threat to our seafarers, the UK’s energy and trade security, and to the economic development of the region.

“Nigeria and other states in the region have known for 30 years that piracy was a problem, but too little has been done and enough is enough.

Trade traffic

“About 12 percent of the UK’s crude oil is imported from Nigeria, and by 2050 the region will hold 25 percent of the world’s oil production.

“About 5,000 vessels, of all nationalities, call at Nigerian ports every year. Nigeria’s

own statistics show that 300,000 barrels of oil are stolen every day.”

The report called on the British government to step up efforts towards building maritime governance in the region, using UK-based expertise to help train local law enforcement judicial services and making sure criminals are brought to justice.

This, the Chamber said has become necessary, especially after the country has identified and linked activities in the region to its economic development.

Continuing, Platten said: “The lack of security in the region costs Nigeria £7.2 billion a year in oil theft alone, which shows criminal

activity is severely hampering the region’s potential for prosperity.

“Put simply, these countries will remain poor until their maritime security issues are tackled.

“Ghana and Togo have recently acknowledged the economic benefits of improved maritime security, and have seen additional economic activity result from improvements they have put in place.

“Their maritime security has improved by investing in additional security patrols, and is now seen as more secure economies for maritime trade. Nigeria, however, lags behind and has done very little— and it is costing them and us dear.”

Police beat up protesting poly students

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

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EMBERS of the Nigeria Police Force, yesterday, beat up protesting polytechnic students in front of the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja, leaving three hospitalised as a result of injuries.

The over 100 students were bemoaning the protracted strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, which is in its 353 day.

Speaking to Vanguard, the President of the National Association of Polytechnic Students, Mr. Adeyemi Lukman, who was one of the students manhandled by the Police, said: “We had issued an ultimatum saying that if the strike was not called off within a stipulated time, we would resume our classes at the

Federal Ministry of Education every day.

“We began our protests here on Monday; we were also there on Tuesday, but decided not to protest yesterday because of the swearing in of the new minister.

“Shortly after we got there, a large number of police officers arrived at the scene and asked us to leave. But we said that we would not leave until a high ranking official in the ministry addressed us.

“We got news that the new minister, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, was around as well as the minister of state for education, Nyesom Wike.

All of a sudden, policemen started beating us with their batons and the iron which we used to barricade the gate of the ministry and the butts of

their guns.”

By the time the beatings were over, four students had to be rushed to the Area One Police clinic, Garki for immediate medical attention.

Idiyode Michael, a NAPS official from the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, was hit in the ribs with the butt of a gun.

Abdulmojeed Oyeniyi, the Public Relations Officer of NAPS was stripped naked in the ruckus.

Prince Olowu, a student of Kaduna State Polytechnic had his face smashed on the ground and had to be treated for cuts.

In spite of these, “no matter what happens,” said Adeyemi, “ we will be here tomorrow, and every other day until the strike is called off. It is entering 353 days and nothing has been done.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 — 51

C M Y K

52—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

80TH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY OF PRINCE HENRY ODUKOMAIYA IN LAGOS. PHOTOS BY DIRAN OSHE.

From left: Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku; Chairman of the ceremony, Mazi Ohuabunwa; the celebrant, Prince Henry Odukomaiya, his wife Lydia, and Mr Yusuf Olaniyonu, Commissioner for Information, Ogun State.

Prince Henry Odukomaiya and his wife Lydia, in a group photograph with their children.

From left: Rt. Rev Ayo Awosoga; Rt. Rev. BFR Ogunbanwo; Prince Henry Odukomaiya; his wife Lydia; and Rt. Rev. James Odedeji, Bishop of Lagos West.

From left: Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, Vanguard Editor-in-Chief and Mr. Feyi Smith. In the middle is an unamed guest.

Alleged mutiny: Army court martials 18 soldiers T

HE Nigerian Army has court–martialled 18 soldiers for alleged mutiny in May, in which some soldiers opened fire at a car conveying the General Officer Commanding, GOC, of the army’s 7 Division, Major-General Ahmadu Mohammed, in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The troops were said to have targeted the GOC blaming him for the deaths of some of their colleagues. According to an online medium, the soldiers were charged for attempted murder and mutiny.

The Commander, Army Headquarter Garrison, B.T. Ndiomu, in an internal memo, ordered the constitution of a General Court Martial, to be presided over by Brigadier General C.C Okonkwo, seven members, two waiting members, a judge advocate and two prosecuting officers.

Others members include: a liaison officer, a contact officer, two officers authorized to sign any amendment convening of-

ficer and eight other soldiers who form a court secretariat.

Attempt to kill GOC

The army accused the soldiers of attempting to kill the GOC, Mr. Mohammed.

The accused soldiers were said to have been ambushed by insurgents while they were on a special operation in Kalabalge Local Government Area where 150 insurgents were killed and 10 others arrested.

After the operation, the soldiers pleaded to be allowed to return to Maiduguri the next morning, as the night trip would be too risky but their request was allegedly turned down and the troop had to drive to Maiduguri at night. Halfway through their journey in the night, they ran into a Boko Haram ambush and 12 of the soldiers were killed while others were injured.

The survivors, in what seemed a vengeance mission, launched an attack on their commander while he was addressing them on arrived in Maiduguri

The Major General was immediately redeployed to another command which the military did not reveal.

After the attack in Maiduguri, the Nigerian Army arrested the soldiers and instituted a military board of inquiry into the circumstances surrounding their conduct.

The army then charged 11 of the 18 soldiers with criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny, among others.

The soldiers face a sixcount charge of committing mutiny, criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny, attempted murder, disobedience to particular orders, insubordinate behaviour contrary to and punishable under the law, and false accusation.

Charges against the accused: Count 1: Statement of Offence: Criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny triable by court mar-

tial by virtue of Section 114 of AFA and punishable under Section 97(1) of the penal code CAP P89, laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Particulars of offence: In that you, on or about 14 May14, at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, conspired to incite other personnel of 101 Bn to commit mutiny.

Count 2: Statement of Offence: Mutiny punishable under Section 52(1) (b) of AFA CAP A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Particulars of Offence: In that you, between 13 and 14 May 14 at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri fired sporadically with intent to incite other personnel of 101 Bn against the authority of 7 Div. Count 3: Statement of offence: Attempt to commit offences (murder) contrary to Section 95 and punishable under Section 106 of AFA CAP A20, laws of the Federation of Nigeria,

2004.

Particulars of Offence: In that you on or about 14 May 14 at7 DMSH Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri without justification attempted to kill Maj. Gen. A Mohammed (N/ 7915), the GOC 7 div( as he then was) by firing shots on his official vehicle (Command Jeep) which hit the right door where he sat.

Count 4: Statement of offence: Disobedience to particular orders punishable under Section 56(1) of AFA CAP A20, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Particulars of Offence: In that you on or about 14 May 14 at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri wilfully disobeyed an order by LT Col E Azenda (N/ 10517), 2i/c 101 Bn to allow the corpses of 101 Bn personnel killed in action on 13 May 14 to be moved to UMTH mortuary by preventing the movement insisting on the arrival of the GOC before such movement could take place.

Vanguard, FRIDAY,JULY 11, 2014 — 53

Bamidele Aturu for burial July 25 zGovernors, Editors' Guild, Labour, others mourn

BY INNOCENT ANABA, VICTORAHIUMA-YOUNG, ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, GBENGA, ONOZURE DANIA & BARTHLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS—LEADING labour lawyer and rights activist, Bamidele Aturu, who died Wednesday after a brief illness, will be buried July 25, at Attan Cemetery, Lagos.

The date was arrived at after a meeting of family members and friends including activists at the deceased’s residence, yesterday.

According to the burial programme, July 23 would be Service of Songs, and a Day of Tributes and Solidarity on July 24.

Only few visitors were allowed access to the widow.

No official statement has also been made about the cause of his death.

In the mean time, more Nigerians and groups have continued to react to Aturu’s demise

Another loss to the nation, legal profession —Aregbesola

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, in a statement said: “All his life, he staunchly upheld fundamental human rights, lived and fought for what he believed not minding whose ox was gored.

"He lived a life committed to the enthronement and defence of justice and fought tooth and nail in defence of what is right and just.

“On behalf of myself, government and people of the State of Osun, I sincerely condole with the immediate and extended families of the deceased and send our heartfelt sympathy to the Nigerian Bar Association and human rights communities. We pray to God to grant him eternal rest.”

last election in Ekiti State and House of Representatives member, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, said: “I am deeply shocked and saddened on the news of the death of Bamidele Aturu. He was indeed a bright learned friend, humane brother and someone passionate about the socio-economic development of our nation.”

Uwensuyi-Edosomwan, SAN, said: “The sudden death of Bamidele Aturu is shocking to say the least. He was a good lawyer that should have been an SAN. His was a credible voice that never primed for self vending."

Akeredolu

Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, said: “The news, yet again, of the sudden passing on of one of the few genuine voices in the fight for the emancipation of the downtrodden."

TUC Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, in a statement by its President and Secretary General, Bala Kaigama and Musa Lawal, said the late legal luminary shot into national prominence in 1988 during his passing-out parade from the National Youth

Service Corps, NYSC, when he refused to shake hands with the then military governor of Niger State, Col. Lawan Gwadabe.

His reason was that the military had caused great harm to the democratic aspiration of Nigerians."

Textile union

On its part, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, in a condolence letter to the family through its President and General Secretary, Oladele Hunsu and Issa Aremu, said: “We wish to place on record the commendable effort of late Barrister Aturu during the battle against Nigeria’s Military dictatorship and his contribution to the promotion and sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy and defence of human rights. As one of the founding members of Democratic Alternative, he was committed to pursuing deeprooted democratic principles and holding those in power accountable to the governed.

Adeyeye

Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, in a statement said: “It never for once occurred to me that we will lose

Bamidele this soon. Bamidele will be sorely missed as a great lawyer and human rights activist, who contributed immensely to the pro-democracy struggle in Nigeria.

An activist par excellence —NGE

Also, Nigerian Guild of Editors, described him as a human rights activist worthy to be trusted.

Commiserating with the members of the legal profession, the Aturu family and the human rights community over the untimely demise of the lawyer, NGE President, Mr. Femi Adesina said Aturu sacrificed his all for justice to the oppressed an downtrodden in the society.

The body also said the late lawyer will be remembered as a fearless activist who stood against military dictatorship and fought for the restoration of good governance and corrupt free society in the country.

Adesina said: “He was an activist par excellence.

Somebody who has been in the public glare since his university days and who kept faith in what he believed in to have just passed on like that is quite sad.

It is even very sad because he passed on at the age of 49."

Gov. Amosun

Similarly, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State in a statement said: “This is so sad, the law profession has lost another bright star. Bamidele Aturu was passionately committed to the enthronement of democratic principles and the emancipation of the marginalised and oppressed. He has done his bit and certainly left his footprints on the sands of time.”

Amosun commiserated with the family of the deceased, the Nigerian legal profession, the human rights community as well as his friends and political associates.

Bamidele

Also, governorship candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the

DECORATION: From left: Mr Mohammed Indabawa, Oyo State Commisisioner of Police, Mrs Olubunmi Oluwole, new Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr. Sam Okaula, Deputy Commisisioner of Police, Oyo State, and Mr John Oluwole, former DPO, Ogere Remo Division, Ogun State, during the decorating of the new ASP in Ibadan.

CDGA boss counsels Jonathan on Adamawa crisis hilodays.

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BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

AGOS—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to stay clear of the two former presidents allegedly pleading with him to intervene in the face-off between Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State and members of the House of Assembly.

The Director General, Centre for Democratic Governance in Africa, Dr. Dafe Akpocha gave the advice yesterday in an interview with Vanguard noting that Nyako should clear himself before the impeachment panel set up by the House instead of delaying the proceedings with public

He said: “I feel too sad for Nigeria. It is nauseating to see two ex- heads of state going to plead on behalf of Nyako before the president, when the issues involved border on corruption. Mr president should not involve himself in this issue. Nyako has not offended Mr President; he has offended Nigeria as a nation.

Don't rubbish our judiciary, Ogienwonyi tells Edo lawmakers

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY— FORMER Minister of State for Works, Mr. Chris Ogienwonyi, yesterday, warned that attempts to rubbish the judiciary in Edo State, by the warring members of the State House of Assembly may lead to anarchy if the actors failed to retrace their steps.

The former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant stated this when he was hosted by members of the Chris O g i e n w o n y i Movement, who called on him to declare his interest for the 2016 governorship election in the state due to what they described as his laudable pedigree.

His words: “It took me two hours to get to the bank yesterday because Benin City is now a field where people of the state or the city are locked inside their homes because ring road is now in problem. We have to pray seriously for our state because peace is synonymous with development.

"The governor is doing well in the development of the state but he needs a peaceful environment to work."

On his part, the National Coordinator of the Movement, Mr. Osbert Agho, said the group is a political lobby group in search of a credible and trusted candidate as the next governor of Edo State.

He said: “We are a lobby group. Our ultimate goal is to lobby and prevail on him to bring his vast experience to help us manage the resources of the state. You will agree with me that we need a very competent hand to steer the ship of the state, to continue the good work of the Comrade Governor.”

54—VANGUARD,

FRIDAY, JULY 11,, 2014

Ramadan: A training for Muslims BYABDULATEEFAL-MULHIM

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Don't render your fast worthless T

HE entire idea of fasting is definitely not to starve oneself but to be on a different spiritual plane altogether. In doing this, it must be a period of total rededication to Allah with increase in activities that are in consonance with the dictates of Allah while also shunning the ways of shaytan (devil). The fasting Muslim must ensure that the exercise goes far beyond abstinence from eating and drinking. It includes a change of habits that will put you on the track of righteousness. Some of them are as follow.

See, speak and hear no evil Five things break a man’s fast, these are lying, backbiting, scandal, perjury and a lustful gaze.

Guarding one’s tongue from lying, backbiting, scandal, obscenity, rudeness, wrangling and controversy; rather observe silence and occupy yourself with remembrance of Allah and with recitation of the Quran. This is otherwise termed the fasting of the tongue. The Prophet said: ‘ Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is fasting he should not use foul or vain talk. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say:”I am fasting, I am fasting!”

Closing one’s ears to everything reprehensible. It has been said that listening to evil talks is as bad as uttering it.

That is why Allah equated the eavesdropper with the profiteer “ (They like to) listen to falsehood, to devour anything forbidden” (Quran 5: 42).

Do no evil: Keeping all organs and parts of the body away from sin: the hands and feet from reprehensible deeds, and the stomach from questionable food at the time for breaking fast.

It is meaningless to fast, to abstain from lawful food, only to break one’s fast with what is unlawful. How many of those who Fast, get nothing from it but hunger and thirst as a result of not being able to keep away from all unlawful things that have been spelt out as capable of vitiating fast.

Avoid overeating and concentrate on worship of Allah Many spend most time in eating during the time of breaking fast (iftar) to make up for all what have been missed during the day to the detriment of giving enough time for the worship and remembering of Allah. The month of Ramadan should rather be used as an opportunity of getting closer to Allah, seeking His forgiveness and attracting His blessings at any time of the day in the month. Concentration on food throughout the evening is not a good use of time and ibadah in the month. Of what use is the

Shun usury, gambling, uncertainty— Salaudeen BYADERONKE ADEYERI

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USLIM faithful have been advised to work more towards Islamic empowerment which forbids interest on loans, gambling, and uncertainty.

This was the message of Dr. Jubril Salaudeen, at an annual lecture tagged “Islamisation of Financial Empowerment and its Sustainability” organised by the Olabisi Onabanjo University Muslim Alumni OOUMA held at the school main campus in Ago Iwoye, Ogun State recently. The speaker during his lecture outlined that Ribba (interest), gambling (maysir), and uncertainty(gharar) are the reasons while most financial institutions have failed to achieve the purpose for its creation.

He advised all Muslims to be a change agent in Islam and join hands to bring Islam to every household. “Muslims constitutes only 20% of the total work force in Nigeria

and this figure will not bring the empowerment needed to promote Islam”.

The vice chancellor, Prof.

Saburi A. Adesanya also enjoined all Alumni of the school especially the Muslim faithfuls to be of good behaviour as ambassadors of the school and also do more to the development of Islam and the society.

President of the association, Barrister Adekola Kareem, in his remarks assured the public that his administration will constitute a solid source of moral, financial and spiritual inspiration to OOU branch of Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, MSSN. His words, “this Muslim association has been a sold support and work rigorously to the growth of Islam since its creation and I also want to use this medium to reassure the public that my administration will remain a a solid source of moral, financial and spiritual inspiration to OOU branch of MSSN and other organs of the society in Nigeria”.

fast, if at the time of breaking it not only make up for all one has missed during the day, but perhaps also indulges in a variety of extra foods?

It has even become the custom to stock up for Ramadan with all kinds of foodstuffs, so that more is consumed during that time than in the course of several other months put together.

It is well known that the object of fasting is to experience hunger and to check desire, in order to reinforce the soul with piety. If you have more food, give to those who do not have, make extra effort by locating them and make them happy for having something to break their fast.

If the stomach is starved from early morning till evening, so that it’s appetite is aroused and it’s craving intensified, and it is then offered delicacies and allowed to eat its fill, its taste for pleasure is increased and its force exaggerated; passions are activated which would have laid dormant under normal conditions.

It is therefore essential to cut down one’s intake of what one would consume on a normal night, when not Fasting. Look up to Allah with fear (taqwa) After the fast has been broken, the heart should swing to Allah, in supplication on forgiveness and rahma. Embark on supererogatory prayers, tahjud and recitation of the Holy Quran.

May Allah accept it as acts of Ibaadah, forgive us and bless us abundantly.

AMADAN is the ninth month in the Muslim calendar.

Fasting, during this blessed month, is the fourth pillar of Islam. During this holy month, Muslims all over the world observe strict fast from dawn till dusk. Muslim calendar follows the lunar cycle, due to which Ramadan falls at different times each year.

Since the early days of Islam when fasting of this month was made compulsory, it has been observed with simplicity. It is a month that teaches Muslims to think of the hungry and the destitute. It is not only about food and water. It is about giving charity to the needy and to undergo a process of selfaccountability in every aspect of one’s daily life. Ramadan is very simple in the way the month starts and ends.

Prior to the modern technologies and scientific advancements, Muslims used to start the month — for that matter every month — by seeing the waxing crescent of the new month with naked eyes. Upon failing to sight the crescent due to bad weathers such as cloud or haze, then Muslims would consider the preceding month of Shaaban as a 30-day month and would fast the following day. It is as simple as that even until today.

In other words, before scientific inventions, people would see the crescent crystal clear in one city and observe Ramadan. Those who could not sight the crescent in a city even 100 km away from the other would not fast the following day.

Islam is a simple religion and all of its teachings are as such that don’t overburden the follower. Ironically, after 1,400 years in the presence of modern communication systems and observatories, Muslims are still having the same questions and doubts about sighting of the moon. In addition to that this issue has even been politicized.

Islam is a complete code of life and in this religion solution to all our problems can be found. Muslims can eradicate poverty from the entire Muslim world by strictly abiding by the third pillar of Islam, which is called Zakat.

It is 2.5 percent of what extra wealth you had during the past year. But most important is that during Ramadan, Muslims should realize that the teachings of Islam don’t put burden on individuals. And there are many verses in the Qur’an that says Allah (SWT) doesn’t burden a soul with things he or she can’t bear. Islam also wants the followers to, “Obey Allah (SWT) according to your capability.” Observing fasts during Ramadan is easy and healthy for the body. It is worship and a nutrition program.

Nowadays, advanced technologies can determine the start and end of Ramadan, but since Muslims have been commanded to start Ramadan by sighting the moon, it is an indication to all Muslims that Islam is a religion without complications and they can simply be used as a reference to the accuracy of the sighting. This way, all doubts can be eliminated and starting Ramadan all at the same time without any doubt will strengthen Muslim unity. Every year, we see some differences among Muslims over this issue. This should be ended in the greater good of Muslims. That is what our religion wants from us. We should not complicate things unnecessarily when Islam provides us ease and comfort.

Culled from Arab news

From left: Dr. Salaudeen Jubril Abdullah(guest speaker, Prof. Sherifdeen Tella (Director, Centre of Continuing Education, OOU, Ago -Iwoye), and Prof. Saburi A. Adesanya (Vice Chancellor, OOU Ago-Iwoye) during an annual lecture organised by the OOUMA held in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state, recently.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 —55

MSSN set to hold Qur’an competition

T

ension mounts o Seven days after: TTension ovver abduction of Islamic cleric, wife •Police keep mum •Capt. Joji calls for immediate release of cleric •No clue yet on Gawat after 24 months

When Vanguard visited Fagsuch night invasion since there is no state of emergency in the bemi Street, Ntabo, Ijoko, the EVEN days after Ogun region. We demand the residence of the Islamic cleric State-based Islamic immediate release of the recently, an eye witness who cleric, Ustadh Abdul Ganiyy Muslim couple or their gave account of the abduction Jumah and his wife, Muinat, arraignment in court within 48 said: “It was about 3am on Satwere abducted at gunpoint, the hours of arrest according to the urday at a time we were offercouple are yet to be found. provisions of the 1999 As at press time, no official constitution of the Federal statement has been made by Republic of Nigeria. the Police on the issue.

“We suspect that this may be Meanwhile, a Northern the beginning of a crackdown Muslim leader and Arewa on Islamic clerics in the South Consultative Forum chieftain, as part of the silent war on Captain Muhammad Joji, in a Islam. Our suspicion is chat with Vanguard in Kaduna, informed by the allegation that expressed fear that what had another Lagos-based Islamic for a long time been the lot of scholar also disappeared last the Northern Muslims was now week. The puzzle surrounding being transfered to bear on the disappearance of Razaq Muslims in the South West. He Gawat, a very popular Lagoshowever noted that Muslims in based Islamic socialite and TV the South-west kept quiet while personality is yet to be their brothers in the North explained 24 months after,” he were either being railroad to said. jail or killed in the name of Boko MURIC’s Director, Professor Gawat, still alive?

Haram.

Akintola, had also posted on However, a family source his facebook, Tuesday, that a ing our midnight prayers, told Vanguard yesterday that all check at the Zone 2 Command Tahjud, that we heard continuchecks at some police division- of the Nigerian Police by his ous knocks on our main door. al headquarters, SARS offices in security liaison officer, Alhaji We asked who was that? and Lagos and Ogun states proved Ibrahim Jomoh proved they replied, ‘we are police.’ It abortive. was because we heard they negative.

Muslim Rights Concern, Vanguard further gathered were police that we opened the MURIC, in a press statement, that efforts had been intensified door by ourselves. recently, kicked against what it to locate the abducted Muslim “As we opened the door, described as unfortunate way couple. they rushed in and started of treating people for being According the family source, harrassing us, ‘come out, lie devouted Muslims.

“This matter was widely down flat on the ground, if you Director of the organisation, publicised on Monday, in some raise up your head, you are Professor Ishaq Lakin major newspapers and dead.’ They collected all our Akintola, charged Nigerian broadcast on the electronic phones and compared certain security agencies to produce media. Since then, there has numbers in the different the Islamic cleric and his wife not been any reaction from the phones and asked us certain whose abduction was already security agencies and even the questions which we answered. creating tension amongst government to say whether or They then asked for our Muslims in the South West. not they know anything about names.

“We remind the security the whereabouts of our brother “They then picked Ustadh agents that nothing warrants and his wife.”

Abdul Ganiyy Jumah and asked him to raise up his head and use a camera which they brought to take shots of him after which they matched him to a waiting vehicle. Then his wife asked where they were taking her husband to but instead of providing an answer, they angrily matched the woman too into the same vehicle. The couple asked me to take care of their children while they drove away.

“They did not tell us what the offence was or why they stormed our house. The whole operation lasted not more Sympathisers, including a community leader in than 10 minutes,” he said.

Olorunda, Ijoko, Mr. Badmus, in a pensive mood at the home of the abducted couple

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

S

HE Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit is set to stage the Grand-Finale of the Annual Qur’an Memorisation Competition on 16th Ramadan, 1435AH (Sunday 13th July, 2014) at the Main Auditorium of the University of Lagos, Akoka Lagos by 10.00am.

The programme which will feature Lecture, Qur’an Competitions for various levels including Tafsir, Qur’an Galore, Reflections, and so on; is organised to orientate and motivate members and Muslims in general to study and memorise the Qur’an.

This year’s event is a continuation of last year’s edition which was themed “Let the Qur’an Intervene”.

This years’ theme is “Reviving the Study of the Qu’ran in Southern Nigeria”.

Sheikh AbdurRahman Animashaun, an erudite scholar from the Islamic University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has been invited to discuss the topic.

The event will also have as guests - Sheikh AbdulHafeez Abou, (Baba Adeen of Lagos), Sheikh Musa Yahya Agboola (Mudir, Darul-Falah, Amukoko), amongst others.

Commissioning of FFestac estac Town Central Mosque

The newly commissioned Mosque at Festac Town

From left: Alhaja Chief I. Ilori; Alhaji D. Rufai; Alhaji M. Ayoade and Alhaja N. Fadimiluyi all members of the Mosque Commisioning Committee during the event.

From left: President of Festac Town Muslim Community, FTMC, Alhaji M Yussuf, ex-President Alhaji Mayegun and Chairman Building Committee, Alhaji T. Ajomagberin during the event.

56 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Illegal — Osuoka When they reconvened at about 12 noon, a delegate on the platform of CSOs, Dr. Isaac Osuoka raised a point of Order citing Order 9, Rule 13 which reads, “the principal officers of the Conference shall propose the number of Committees that shall be necessary for the effective discharge of the mandate of the Conference”.

Osuoka, who described the Elder Statesmen Committee as illegal and not recognised in the Procedure Rules, stressed that they were not aware that the leadership appointed any Committee, just as he called on other delegates to ignore the Committee and any recommendation from the members adding, “it is an illegal Committee.”

•CONFAB: From left, Prof. Akin Oyebode , Mr Femi Falana (SAN), Pastor Tunde Bakare and Chief Mike Ozekhome discussing at the Confab in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

Insurgency: Conference in

disarray over revenue formula Continues from page 5

T

HE report was endorsed by 33 out of the 37 members of the elders’ committee. Those who did not sign were Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu and Hon. Mohammed Kumalia and Senator Iyorchia Ayu who was said to have traveled.

Following protest by delegates Wednesday, the matter was adjourned till yesterday.

However, delegates failed to reach a compromise yesterday.

Bickering over 5% intervention fund There was a sharp disagreement over the five per cent intervention fund for the stabilization, rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas affected by terrorism and insurgency, in the first instance in the NorthEast, North-Central, North-West and any other part of the country.

The controversial report The Proposed amendments to the report of the Committee on Devolution of Power by the Elder Statesmen Committee known as the National Conference Consensus group read “Amend recommendation (a) on page 39 of the report of the committee by the substituting with the following:1(a) Provided that the principle of derivation shall be constantly reflected in any approved formula as being not less than eighteen percent (18%) of the

revenue accruing to the Federation Account directly from any natural resources. “(b) That not less than 50% of the total derivation fund accruable to a mineral bearing state shall be due and payable to the host communities within the state where the resources are derived in accordance with the production quota contributed by such communities.

“There shall be established a Solid Mineral Development Fund which is currently 3% of the Federal Government Account referred to by the committee on page 40 of its report, it shall be increased to 5% and will be applied to Solid Minerals Development in the states.

“There shall be a National Intervention Fund, which will be 5% of the annual revenue accruing to the account of the Federal Government for stabilization, rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas affected by terrorism and insurgency, in the first instance in the North East of Nigeria and any other part of the country affected.

Southern delegates protest Delegates from the South made up South-South, South-East; South-West protested that if there must be a fund of that nature, it must be for the entire country and not for a section of the country and not for the North alone.

started To start the business of the day after the adoption of votes and proceedings, Deputy Conference Chairman, Prof.

Bolaji Akinyemi who told delegates that Prof. Gambari had on Wednesday presented a verbal report, said that they were now with the written report. He added once the derivation amendment was resolved, other recommendations would follow.

Trouble then started shortly after Akinyemi’s comment. A member of the Elder Statesmen Committee and a delegate representing Jigawa State, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu said he never signed the document against the backdrop that he was talking to Chief Raymond Dokpesi to find a way of harmonising the one he had with the one that Dokpesi presented.

He pleaded for more time to reconcile with Dokpesi, adding, “there is another document prepared by Dokpesi because the one we have is not the same; we need to see him and say at the end of the day harmonise.”

Apparently sighting Dokpesi in the hall, Akinyemi said that the document Dokpesi presented had been challenged and said that after consultation with the chairman that Dokpesi, Dalhatu and other members of the Elder statesmen group were given one hour to go and come up with an agreeable compromise for the house to reconvene at 11.30am.

How trouble

Elder statesmen committee is

Long wait for compromise However, when the conference leadership noticed delay in the intervention of the group, Prof.

Akinyemi said: “We have tried our best to be accommodating but we can no longer wait again, we shall now go to the committee report.”

We reached consensus — Falae At this point, Chief Olu Falae, who said he had expected Prof.

Gambari to present the resolutions of the consensus group, disclosed that his group had reached a consensus, adding that they agreed that the “Principle of derivation shall be constantly reflected in any approved formula as being not less than eighteen percent (18%) of the revenue accruing to the federation account directly from any natural resources.

“That not less than 50% of total derivation fund accruable to a mineral bearing state shall be due and payable to the host communities within the state where the resources are derived in accordance with the production quota contributed by such communities.”

Other agreements according to him, were that there shall be established a Solid Mineral Development Fund which, he said is currently 3 percent of federal government account, but it will be increased to 5 percent and will be applied to Solid Minerals Development in the states, adding, “there shall be a National Intervention Fund, which will be 5 percent of the annual revenue accruing to the account of the federal government for the stabilisation, rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas affected by terrorism and insurgency, in the first instance in the North-east of Nigeria and any other part of the country.”

Eruption of chaos At this point, a delegate representing Yobe State, Engr.

Buba Galadima started

shouting, saying, ‘No document!’

‘We must vote!!’ No wuruwuru!’

Replying Galadima, an angry Akinyemi said that his utterances did not show respect for the chairman and asked him to be mindful of what he was saying.

He stated that they had tried to be accommodating on this issue and was left with no alternative than to go back to the committee’s original recommendation, adding, “We have to proceed with the original committee recommendation.”

Another delegate representing Borno State, Dr. Haruna Yerima also shouted saying that there was not going to be any voice vote, adding that delegates will use the ballot boxes to vote on every item.

At this point, a delegate representing the North-Central, Senator Musa Adede told the leadership and delegates that they were deviating from where they started, even as he stressed that the leadership has been given the confidence and that no one could intimidate Kutigi.

Report does not have our support — Coomasie In his comment, Ibrahim Coomasie, said: “I am one of the delegates from the North and a member of the Arewa Consultative Forum involved in the discussion on derivation and I want to say that we had discussions, but ended in a stalemate, there was no conclusion and so any report submitted to you here regarding the meeting does not have our support.”

Some people never wanted the conference to work— Dokpesi Speaking with Journalists after the adjournment, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who noted that all their recommendations were agreed upon on principle, alleged that there were people who were determined to disrupt and ensure that the conference does not come to a proper end. He said that the bone of contention was whether they should include the Northwest and North central in the area affected by the insurgency adding: “It is totally untrue that what we submitted is not what we agreed on.

Everything has been agreed and on the issue of the five per cent intervention fund, what we agreed was that for the stabilization, rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas affected by insurgency and terrorism should be created and should be used first in the North-East.

But some northern delegates refused to sign the agreement. So the issue is that they want the North -West and North-Central to be added to it.

But we said that the area where you have the greatest amount of crisis right now is the North East.

“All the Southern leaders, North central leaders, made sacrifices but there are people who never wanted this conference to succeed and these people were the people that were shouting today.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014—57

Debate: Aregbesola,

BY GBENGA OLARINLOYE

T

HE two major candidates in the election, Rauf Aregbesola of APC and Iyiola Omisore of the PDP are to clash in a live debate being organized by the state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ Osun state chairman of the NUJ, Mr. Abiodun Olalere declared that the programme which would be transmitted live is expected to give all the candidates an opportunity to unveil their programmes for the state.

The NUJ boss disclosed the plans when a delegation from

Omisore to clash

the SDP candidate, Segun Akinwusi paid a working visit to the NUJ chairman in Oshogbo.

Noting the strides of the SDP candidate during the visit, the NUJ boss said: •”The former Head of Service has brought a

•Gov. Aregbesola

new dimension into the politics of this state. For instance, for the past six months, he has been sending SMS to many residents of this state telling them about his ambition”.

“On our part, we will ensure that journalists in the state do

•Senator Omisore

what they should do and just recently we organized seminar on election for about 240 of them•h, he added.

The team led by the state SDP Director of Publicity, Hon Yemi Edundokun, had earlier explained that the visit to the Press Centre was of a tremendous importance to the party based on the roles of the media in the nation•fs building.

According to him, the SDP has put in place an agenda different from other political parties because its governorship candidate, Mr. Olusegun Akinwusi has in plan to form an inclusive government if voted into power.

Additional polling units for Osun — REC

BY GBENGA OLARINLOYE

T

HE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has created additional polling units in largely populated areas of the state.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr Olusegun Agbaje made this known at a stakeholders meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.

Mr Agbaje said all necessary steps had been taken to ensure that the election improved the credibility of the commission but appealed to stakeholders to support the commission towards achieving its goals.

According to him, those that

registered their names during the continuous voter registration exercise in March would get their Permanent Voter Cards immediately the cards are received from the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

While stressing the readiness of the commission to ensure electoral offenders are duly punished, the REC urged political party leaders to change their do-or-die attitudes.

In his remarks, the state director of the National Orientation Agency NOA, Dr Martins Lawrence advocated the cooperation of all stakeholders to achieve violence free election.

Also, the Deputy Country

Director, International Foundation for Electoral System IFFES, Mrs Uloma Osuala expressed optimism that their achievement would surpass that of Ekiti State in terms of voters’ education with the support of the people.

While noting that IFFES had

been collaborating with INEC for over 15 years towards ensuring more participation of people in the electoral processes, she also sought the cooperation of all and sundry in the coming exercise.

On his part, the State Director, Department of State Security, Mr Andrew Iyoha said the agency would not to condone any act of lawlessness especially on election day.

Mr Iyoha warned those parading themselves as body guards to be cautious as anybody caught would be made to face the full weight of the law.

He also promised to ensure safety of INEC and adhoc staff on the day of the election.

•Prof Jega

PDP to I-G: Disband, prosecute Aregbesola’s state boys

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HE PDP has asked the Inspector General of Police IGP, to turn his searchlight in his continuing efforts to eradicate crime in the state towards unofficial security guards around Governor Rauf Aregbesola popularly known as “state boys”.

The head of the party’s legal unit in the state, Barrister Ojo Williams said this while speaking with newsmen at the PDP secretariat in Osogbo yesterday. He also charged the law enforcement agencies to arrest the boys without further delay “before people resort to self help and acts of self defence”.

The PDP also specifically accused the APC members of act of terrorism and gun running and tasked security opperatives and the Presidential Task Force against terrorism to beam their searchlight on the state and investigate fully the activities of the “State Boys” and their source of arms and ammunition.

According to Ojo Williams,” it becomes important to draw the

attention of peace loving citizens to the existence of this unawful gathering of thugs.

“It is also important for security chiefs to swing into action as members of the governor’s state boys have been going about killing, maiming and destroying public property”.

“This assemblage of miscreants is a creation of Aregbesola as it is their stock in trade to leave blood

in their trails”, Ojo Williams said.

The PDP chieftain alleged that “state boys” were responsible for attacks across the State, especially during and after APC rallies.

“These attacks targeted at PDP members have resulted in the killing and maiming of many across the State. The numerous attacks have been reported and documented at various police stations across the State.

“It is against this backdrop that we are calling on the Inspector General of Police to look into this issue and promptly determine the propriety of this gang unknown to the nation’s constitution.

“We have counselled PDP members against reacting with violence, but there is the need to disband and prosecute this illegality being perpetrated by Mr Aregbesola”, Ojo Williams said.

Aregbesola’s mentor ‘ll destroy him — Monarch tells Omisore

BY DAPO AKINREFON

T

HE Olufon of Ifon Orolu, Oba Abdul-Moruf Adekunle Magbagbeola, Olumoyero 11, has advised the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Iyiola Omisore not to see Governor Rauf Aregbesola as his enemy.

Speaking when the Omisore campaign team visited his palace, the monarch explained to the PDP flag bearer that his APC rival, Aregbesola was not the problem of the people, but a •’powerful mentor ’ of the Osun governor who the monarch claimed had caused disaffection among traditional rulers in Yoruba land.

•”It is embarrassing that an individual would make an inflammatory statement that could cause disaffection among the traditional Obas in the name of desperate politicking,” the monarch said even as he gave his blessings to Omisore.

He reiterated the respect both the Awujale of Ijebu land and Oba of Lagos accord the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade as their father and custodian of Oduduwa heritage.

While he noted that the vilification will eventually hasten the fulfillment of Senator Omisore’s political aspiration, he assured him of unalloyed support of his people and the traditional council in the state.

Senator Omisore, while thanking the Olufon, pledged that his administration on assumption of office would through his eight point agenda provide gainful employment and create wealth in order to reduce to its barest minimum the poverty he said is starring people in the state.

LP candidate pledges support for local businesses

A

LHAJI Fatai Akinbade, the Labour Party, LP, flagbearer in the coming governorship election in Osun state, has promised that his government in the State will support local entrepreneurs to expand their businesses with a view to fast tracking the state’s economy.

To this end, Akinbade said loans would be provided for all categories of entrepreneurs so as to buoy up the economy which he lamented was already in the

woods.

Speaking through his media aide, Mr. Kayode Oladeji, the former SSG gave the assurance in Iwo while meeting hundreds of artisans and trade groups.

“God willing by the time we assume power, our administration shall empower local investors so as to further improve the economic base of the state”.

The governorship candidate noted that by so doing,jobs opportunities would equally be created through them for

thousands of unemployed graduates as well as the unskilled ones.

To further make this for the entrepreneurs to achieve, Akinbade posited that bearable loans would be made available to them.

He said “loan schemes with very low interest rate,will be made available to artisans,trade groups and farmers to boost production and strengthen economic base of the state”.

•Akinbade

58 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

BRIEFS

Malaysian MP apologizes for Hitler tweet

A

Germany expels CIA chief G

ERMANY has taken the unusual step of asking the CIA station chief in Berlin to leave the country, following two reported cases of suspected US spying.

Thursday ’s move reflects growing impatience in Germany at what is perceived as US nonchalance about

being caught spying on a close ally, a m i d a yearlong row over eavesdropping by the National Security Agency.

“The representative of the US intelligence services at the United States embassy has been asked to leave Germany,” Steffen Seibert, a German government

spokesman, said in a statement.

“The request occurred against the backdrop of the ongoing investigation by federal prosecutors as well as the questions that were posed months ago about the activities of US intelligence agencies in Germany.

Members of a Catholic Diocese in Southern Italy during a procession that caused mafia row.

“The government takes the matter very seriously.”

Seibert said Germany continues to seek “close and trusting” cooperation with its Western partners, “especially the United States”. Shortly before the decision was announced, Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, said Germany and the US had “ very different approaches” to the role of intelligence agencies.

Merkel stressed the need for greater trust between allies, a position she has repeatedly voiced since reports last year that the National Security Agency eavesdropped on her mobile phone.

In separate cases over the past 10 days, one man has been arrested and an investigation against another has been launched on suspicion that they worked for foreign intelligence.

Death toll climbs as Israel bombards Gaza

T

HE death toll in a three-day Israeli offensive in Gaza has climbed to at least 88, including a number of children, as officials continue to talk of a lengthy campaign and a possible ground invasion.

An Israeli air strike killed seven Palestinian civilians on Thursday, including five children, in the largest death toll from a single attack since the start of the three-day offensive, the health ministry said.

Residents and medical officials said an Israeli air strike bombed at least two houses in a densely populated area near Khan Younis while residents were asleep, according to a Reuters news agency report.

Bodies were pulled out of rubble from at least three homes and neighbouring structures.

The bombing brings the number of children killed this week to at least 18.

On Wednesday night, a Palestinian journalist was killed in central Gaza when Israeli jets bombed his car, which was marked as a TV vehicle.

By midday on Thursday the air force had dropped 800 tonnes of explosives on 750 targets across the strip, a military official said, more than during the entire eight-day war in 2012.

Palestinian health officials said that more than 600 people had been injured. Hospitals in Gaza have been overwhelmed, with

supplies of basic items like latex gloves running low.

Egypt temporarily reopened the Rafah crossing with Gaza on Thursday to allow medical supplies to enter, and injured Palestinians to receive treatment in Egypt.

An army official told reporters on Thursday morning that the offensive would remain

an aerial campaign, “at least for the next 24 hours.” The security cabinet is due to meet in the afternoon in Tel Aviv to discuss further steps.

Ministers have hinted at a ground offensive, with intelligence minister, Yuval Steinitz, telling Israel Radio that Israel “ will have to take over Gaza temporarily, for a few weeks.”

UN removes dozens of staff from Libya

T

HE United Nations has removed dozens of staff from Libya amid deteriorating security conditions in the strife-torn country.

Samir Ghattas, a spokesperson for the UN Support Mission in Libya, told Al Jazeera that “several dozen” of the mission’s more than 200 personnel were being temporarily relocated, although he would not provide a specific number.

“The mission will continue to operate with a reduced number,” Ghattas said, noting the removal, ordered this week, was continuing to take effect yesterday.

“The reduction in presence is due to the prevailing security conditions in the country,” he said. “It was taken solely out of concerns for the safety and security of the staff and after a careful consideration of the security situation on the ground in the past few months.”

Libya has been gripped by instability since the toppling of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, but the security situation has sharply deteriorated in recent months.

Former Prime Minister Ali Zeidan was ousted in March after a no-

confidence vote, and fierce fighting has flared in the eastern city of Benghazi between Libyan armed groups and forces loyal to a rogue army general.

The murder last month of prominent humanrights activist Salwa Bugaighis drew i n t e r n a t i o n a l condemnation and further inflamed tensions in the North African country.

Magda Mughrabi, a Libya researcher with Amnesty International, also pointed to a recent escalation in attacks against foreign nationals in Libya, including assassinations, arbitrary detentions and abductions.

Malaysian politician who drew gasps by evoking Hitler in a congratulatory tweet to the German World Cup team has apologized, in his own inimitable style.

“When Germany whacked Brazil, I unintentionally said something that hurt the feeling of the people in Germany.MY SINCEREST APOLOGY.LONG LIVE BUNG.” A member of the United Malays National Organization, Bung Moktar Radin posted his initial tweet on Tuesday after Germany knocked Brazil out of the World Cup with an impressive 7-1 win.

“WELL DONE..BRAVO...LONG LIVE HITLER...”, he tweeted to around 20,000 followers.

Predictably, a flurry of tweets followed, with many questioning Bung’s sanity and how he came to be in politics.

Russia wins backing for Ukraine truce

T

HE leaders of France and Germany have backed Russia by calling for a new ceasefire in eastern Ukraine but told Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, to prevent separatist fighters and arms from crossing the border into Ukraine.

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Putin on Thursday that it was important to reach a political solution quickly in the three-month-old conflict between government forces and separatists in the country’s east.

In a three-way telephone conversation, they asked Putin to “exert all necessary pressure” on the separatists and to take “the concrete measures required to control the Russia-Ukraine border ”, Hollande’s office said in a statement.

Russia denies accusations by Ukraine and Western governments that it has worsened the conflict by allowing fighters and weaponry to move freely into eastern Ukraine from Russia.

Italian religious procession sparks mafia row

T

HE Catholic bishop of a small diocese in southern Italy has suspended all church processions after a parade took a detour to salute a mafia boss who was under house arrest.

The mayor, police and priests had been among those following a statue of the Virgin Mary through the streets of Oppido Mamertina.

When the procession changed course, two policemen left and lodged a complaint.

It comes two weeks after Pope Francis condemned the mafia and its members.

The BBC’s Alan Johnston in Rome says the incident in Oppido Mamertina seemed to fly in the face of Francis’s powerful message.

Italy’s interior minister described the episode as “deplorable and repulsive”.

Oppido Mamertina is in Calabria which is the stronghold of the ‘Ndrangheta crime syndicate.

The local archbishop said it was a pity the priests present did not have the courage to walk away from the procession - as the police officers had done when it became clear what was going on.

Public sector strikes hit schools, services around the UK

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UNDREDS of thousands of people have taken part in rallies and marches across the UK as part of a day of strike action by public service unions.

Teachers, firefighters and council workers joined the strike, which follows disputes with the government over pay, pensions and cuts.

Thousands of pupils were affected as some 6,000 schools in England closed, the Department for Education said.

The Cabinet Office described the action as “irresponsible”.

But Trades Union Congress (TUC) general secretary Frances O’Grady said workers had gone on strike “to say enough is enough”.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014—59

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60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

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Stoke boss thumbs-up Odemwingie

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TOKE City chair man Peter Coates believes Osaze Odemwingie should be proud of his performance for Nigeria in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The 32-year-old represented the African Champions when Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi offered him a chance to return to international football, after a lengthy absence from the national team.

Coates believes that Odemwingie who has hinted at international retirement distinguished himself.

“I think he did his job competently enough,” Coates told The Sentinel, “but I’m not sure he was ever in a position to really catch the eye.

“He did perfectly well and didn’t put a foot wrong in my opinion, but it was always going to be tough for his team to reach the last 16, and I think you have to get there to really start making an impression.”

Messi on target to match Maradona

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IONEL Messi says Argentina have “one little step left” to climb against Germany in the World Cup final on Sunday where he has the chance to emulate Diego Maradona.

If Messi can match Maradona and captain Argentina to World Cup glory this will be remembered as his tournament.

Success will be even sweeter with the title coming in arch-rival Brazil’s own backyard.

Wednesday’s tense 42 semi-final penalty shoot-out win over the Netherlands kept Messi on track to emulate the Maradona-inspired 1986 title win.

After the game the Barcelona legend was unable to celebrate with his team-mates in the dressing room after being dragged away for a doping test by FIFA, before he was marshalled out of the stadium without talking to the waiting media.

But via a posting on the photo-sharing website Instagram he said: “I am proud to be part of this squad."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 — 61

Germany v Argentina:

It’s Pope against Pope W

ILL the World Cup final become a “Holy War”?

At the very least, Sunday’s match could put millions of Catholics - not to mention Vatican employees - in a bit of a bind.

Will they root for Argentina, the homeland of Pope Francis, who is known to be an ardent soccer aficionado? Or will they back Germany, the native country of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, also a big football fan?

And what about the Big Referee Upstairs? Whose prayers will he heed when the game is on the line?

Germany reached the final match on Tuesday by blowing out Brazil, the host country. Argentina beat the Netherlands on Wednesday afternoon.

Of course, both Popes (not to mention God) have more important things on their minds. But the pontiffs have also said that sports can be more than fun and games.

“The sport of football can be a vehicle of education for the values of honesty, solidarity and fraternity, especially for the younger generation,” Benedict told Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper back in 2008.

His successor, Francis has echoed those remarks,

and even promised not to pray for Argentina.

But a Catholic who met Pope Francis this week to discuss more serious matters said that the pontiff seemed to be secretly pulling for his home team.

“He absolutely wants for Argentina to win,” Peter Saunders, a victim of sexual abuse from England who met Francis on Monday, told the Boston Globe. “He didn’t say it out loud, but you could see it in his eyes, he’s a closet fan.”

And earlier this month, before Argentina played Switzerland, Francis jokingly told his Swiss Guards, “It’s going to be war!”

It will be interesting to see what the Vatican says about the ArgentinaGermany matchup. The men are known to be close, with Francis saying he and Benedict “are brothers.”

Maybe the “brothers” will put a little wager on the high-stakes soccer match, or maybe this just means that God has a really good sense of humor.

Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi said the popes didn’t have plans to watch Sunday’s final together, but left often the possibility that something could be, ah, afoot.

H

•Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Higuain: We’ll go toe-to-toe with Germany ONZALO Higuain

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says Argentina are not intimidated by Germany despite seeing them tear Brazil to shreds in the semi-finals.

“There’s no intimidation, not at all.

There is respect. They will also be worried that Argentina are in the final.

“We’re in the final and the other stuff doesn’t matter. It is clear that everyone who plays struggles and fights to the death.”

•Robben

Warri refinery boss boosts Unity tourney

Two players refused to take penalty — van Gaal

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N

C M Y K

OLLAND’S Arjen Robben believes Argentina have no chance of defeating Germany in Sunday’s World Cup final.

“Germany are going to win the World Cup,” Robben is quoted as saying by Kicker. “No doubt about that. The Argentines will not stand a chance.

“Penalties are not only a game of pure chance, we showed that against Costa Rica. We did a very good job there, and were really successful.

“It didn’t work out [this time] during the penalties. We also had some bad luck but, sadly, that’s part of football.”

•Higuain

ETHERLANDS coach Louis van Gaal has revealed two of his players refused to step up to take the first penalty in Wednesday’s 4-2 World Cup semifinal shoot-out loss to Argentina.

Toni Kroos of Germany and Paul Pogba of France

Robben: Germany will rout Argentina

•Van Gaal

“I asked two players ahead of Vlaar to take the first penalty.

“They refused. Vlaar in my view was our best player. Unfortunately he didn’t score,” the Manchester Unitedbound coach added.

•Van Persie

HE Managing Director of Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited, Mr. Paul Obelley, has donated items worth millions of naira to the organisers of the Nigerian Unity Football Tournament.

Items presented to the organisers include footballs, jerseys, boots and trophies as part of the company ’s contributions to promote peace and youth in the 25 Local Government Areas of the state.

Speaking during the unveiling of the Unity Cup and investiture of patrons and matrons in Asaba, Delta State, Obelley said the project was laudable.

The unveiling of the

football tournament was done by Mrs. Chinwe Monu Olarewaju, Chairman ALGON, Delta State.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of Award of National Patrons to Obelley and Mr. Joel Onowakpo Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue.

Mrs Olarewaju received an award as matron while several other top dignitaries were also honoured.

TheNational Project Director of the tourney, Moses Ebahor, thanked the Delta State Government and prominent citizens of the state for their contributions to the success of the event.

62 — Vanguard,FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

Maigari’s NFF board denies allegations Brazil: The morning after the rout of Corruption T

HE Aminu Maigariled Executive Board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said that all the allegations leveled against it are false, unfounded and a planned plot to destroy all the remarkable successes it recorded in the past four years by forces opposed to the leadership of the football house.

A prominent member of the NFF Executive Board who pleaded

Continues from B/P Commission has claimed that the suspension order was not a reflection of the event that led to the removal of the Aminu Maigari led board of the Nigeria Football Federation.

The NSC said in press statement yesterday, that government did not in anyway interfere in the process that brought down the NFF board and thus it was wrong for FIFA to assume such.

anonymity has risen in strong defense of the federation in the face of an avalanche of financial impropriety leveled against it by the so called ‘’NFF Emergency Congress”.

He vehemently denied the allegations that board members partook in the sharing of the Super Eagles’ Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup largesse of $3.6 million from the Federal Government.

are the mighty ‘’HOW fallen! Tell it not in

•Maigari

FIFA “The NSC has received the news of the suspension of the NFF by FIFA on the grounds of an alleged court order which the world football body has interpreted as government interference in the affairs of the football house.

“The said court action brought against the NFF followed an internal crisis within the football family and has nothing to do with government.

“While FIFA has stated

that unless the court action is withdrawn, the suspension of the NFF will not be lifted, it is pertinent to state that neither the NSC nor government is involved in the court process.”

The NSC added that it believes the ban is “a procedural practice by FIFA each time it feels that there is an alleged interference by government”.

According to the release

the NFF has sent documents to show that the general assembly was held according to FIFA statutes and so the vote to remove the board at that meeting should stand. “ Nigerians should remain calm as efforts are being made to ensure that the suspension is lifted as soon as possible; as appropriate represen-tation has been made to FIFA to present the true situation of the crisis within the football family.

Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Ashekelon lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice…”. This Biblical quotation of David when Jonathan died somehow describes the agony, pain, national loss of a nation to Germany on Tuesday.

The deluge of tears from old and young gave way to fear for the visitors. Knockouts that sounded like bombs boomed the streets of Sao Paulo and the oncethickly populated streets became as empty as graveyards.

Mourning, grieving and sobs could be heard from within. Even the closest person to you became a recluse of sorts. I have never seen anything like this before. Even the Germans became conscious of their celebrations. Celebration gave way to caution.

Brazil, a country that produced such great footballers of yore – Pele who is now a paragon of football, Socrates, Ronaldo, Romario, Bebeto, Ronaldinho, Cafu, Neymar, a country so revered in football could not believe what happened to them.

The weather, in a twinkle, turned cold with showers of rain springing, apparently to wash away the tears of the nation. Somewhere, a shrill voice pierced the loneliness of the night shouting ‘Brazillllllllll’. It was like a lonely voice

calling in the wilderness.

In the early hours of Wednesday, sporadic knockouts boomed in what my Nigerian friend described as ‘anger shooting’. He said that they had bought it in anticipation of victory and are condemned to using it angrily”.

At the sprawling Santana hotel where I stay, usually bright faces were dull and jokes disappeared from the very friendly workers. Many shops were shut as an atmosphere of uneasiness enveloped a usualy bright and bubbly city. Periodic checks through telephones happened with Paul Ogazi of NTA calling to check if all was well with me. He reported that his area was unusually calm but warned that I should not take my rascality too far by moving to town. The fear that their exit could ignite violent protests or pour petrol on anti-World feelings is still there.

What about the prostitutes who hitherto enjoyed each victory of the Brazilian team, with opened legs in celebration? Like they say ‘’what affects the eyes, equally affects the nose.

Brazilian Newspapers are also not left out in the national mourning with such banner headlines ‘’The disgrace of all disgraces”. ‘’A historic humiliation”. ‘’The biggest shame in history”

Neymar’s agent hits out at Scolari Neymar’s agent Wagner Ribeiro has unleashed a tirade against Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari following their humiliating World Cup exit on home soil.

Brazil suffered one of their worst defeats in history when Germany secured an emphatic 7-1 victory in Belo Horizonte last Tuesday night to send themselves into the final on Sunday. Neymar was unable to play a role in the match after fracturing a vertebra in his back during Brazil’s quarter-final win over Colombia, which ruled him out of the tournament.

After Brazil’s exit, Ribeiro took to social media to sarcastically list the criteria

needed to be manager of the national side.

According to The Mirror, he wrote: “One - being Portugal coach and winning nothing. Two - going to Chelsea and being sacked the following day.

“Three - going to coach in Uzbekistan. Four - returning to Brazil, taking over a big team (Palmeiras) and getting them relegated to the second division.

“Five - leaving the club 56 days before the end of the Brasileirao (season) to ‘escape’ relegation. Six being an old jerk, arrogant, repulsive, conceited and ridiculous.”

Scolari is preparing his side for Saturday’s thirdplace playoff.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014 — 63

Germany are favourites — Sabella A

RGENTINA coach Alejandro Sabella believes a well-rested Germany will have the advantage against the weary South Americans in Sunday’s World Cup final.

Sabella’s players advanced to the Maracana showpiece in a gruelling extra-time and penalty shoot-out battle with the Netherlands that the Argentina coach described as like a “ war.”

The fact that Germany have had an extra day’s

rest and effectively had their 7-1 win over Brazil wrapped up inside half an hour could be crucial, Sabella said.

“Some of our players are sore, beaten, tired – the results of a war, so to speak,” said Sabella.

“We have a final to play, with one day less to prepare and against a team like Germany, but with work, humility and seriousness, we’ll do all we can to make it all the way to the top.

Sabella spoke admiring-

ly of German football, saying they often produced players with a “South American touch.”

“Germany throughout their entire history have always shown physical might, tactical, mental prowess, and have always had players with a certain South American touch,” he said.

“The match is extremely difficult and I repeat the fact they haven’t played extra time and we’ve played two, and played one day after Germany.

“Germany is always a very difficult hurdle to overcome.

“We’ll see if it’s a minor issue, the fact we played after and the Germany game was decided in the first 45 minutes, so they could ease off in the second half, whereas we had to spend all the effort, and every last drop of sweat to reach the World Cup final.”

TUSSLE . . . Brazil’s forward Fred (L) vies with Germany’s defender Mats Hummels during their semi-final match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup at The Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte. Photo: AFP

Germany bank on Brazil support

•Sabella

G

ERMANY are hoping for the support of Brazilian fans at the FIFA World Cup final, according to assistant coach Hansi Flick.

Joachim Low’s men are set to meet Argentina at the Maracana in Sunday’s final, having thumped Brazil 7-1 in the semi-

It's only luck — Argentine keeper A

RGENTINE goal keeper Sergio Romero said he had luck on his side when he blocked two Dutch penalties on Wednesday to take his country into the World Cup final.

“Penalties are all about luck, that is the reality. I had confidence and thanks to God it turned out well,” he said after the 42 penalty shootout triumph over the Netherlands that decided the semi-final.

The 27-year-old Romero blocked shots by Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder to Argentina to victory after a goalless 120 minutes at the Corinthians Arena. Argentina now clash with Germany in Sunday’s final in Rio de Janeiro.

“We go away happy and now we will prepare for the final from tomorrow.

The moment should be enjoyed and we are going step by step.”

Romero’s place in the team was the subject of debate going into the tournament after he spent almost all of the last season on the substitutes’ bench at French Ligue 1 club Monaco.

However, he has proved his critics wrong throughout the tournament. Argentina have won every match played in Brazil.

“Let’s enjoy it. I am immensely happy. I dedicate this to my Mum and my wife,” said Romero.

“We have hoped for this since the first day. These lads never give away anything.”

Striker Sergio Aguero, who came off the bench and scored one of his side’s penalties, was equally ecstatic at reach-

finals.

Despite inflicting that humiliating defeat on the hosts, Flick wants their support in Rio de Janeiro as Germany chase a first World Cup crown since 1990, against Brazil’s bitter rivals Argentina.

“We’re hoping for the support of the Brazilians,” he said. “The reaction we

have got from them since the game has been amazing.

“We’re looking forward to the game, against another South American team. I think the players are really fired up for it."

“Everyone has been able to train, whether on the bikes recovering or working on the pitch.”

Netherlands deserve better — Sneijder

T

•Romero

HE Netherlands’ penalty shootout loss to Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday was an unjust way for them to exit the tournament, according to playmaker Wesley Sneijder.

“We deserve much better,” said the Galatasaray midfielder, one of two Dutch players to see a penalty saved by Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero at Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena.

“Argentina were playing for penalties, which wasn’t the case with us.

We tried to play.

“I missed my penalty.

It’s a shame. But it’s particularly frustrating not to have capitalised on the chances we created over the 120 minutes.”

•Sneijder

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

J

UST as the reality of the world wide ban slammed on Nigeria by FIFA is sinking in, the National Sports

Continues on Page 62

•Danagogo

ECSTATIC.....Argentina’s players run to celebrate their semifinal victory over Holland in the semifinal of the World Cup in Sao Paulo on July 9. Argentina won 4-2 on penalties. PHOTO: AFP

Maigari’s board denies corruption allegations — Page 62

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 4 Begin (5) 7 Assimilate (6) 9 Equality (3) 10 Cot (3) 12 Error (5) 13 Press (4) 15 Pointed (5) 17 Decline (6) 19 Border (4) 20 Inn (5) 22 Faucet (3) 24 Erased (7) 27 Noise (3) 28 Assessed (5) 31 Increase (4) 33 Strangeness (6) 35 Interior (5) 37 Cupid (4) 38 Boulder (5) 39 Father (3) 41 Taxi (3) 42 Alloy (6) 43 Salute (5)

DOWN 1 Exile (6) 2 Guard (6) 3 Sphere (3) 4 Secure (4) 5 Deal (5) 6 Demote (8) 8 Lover (4) 11 Swelled (9) 14 Require (4) 16 Food (4) 18 Ran off (4) 21 Telephonist (8) 23 Fairy (4) 25 Animal (4) 26 Appointment (4) 29 Despot (6) 30 Disperse (6) 32 Flinch (5) 34 Dingy (4) 36 Tidy (4) 40 Parched (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

How to Play Sudoku

ACROSS: 1, Pass 4, Cup 6, Love 9, Awe 10, Beginner 11, Rear 14, Cut 16, Petty 19, Deceased 21, Renew 23, Donation 24, Trend 27, Rod 31, Drab 33, Abnormal 34, All 35, Glee 36, Hue 37, Till.

DOWN: 2, Aged 3, Said 4, Confused 5, Part 6, Large 7, Owe 8, React 12, Admit 13, Score 14, Car 15, Tenor 17, Timid 18, Young 20, Denounced 22, Wad 25, Rural 26, Noble 28, Rash 29, Grit 30, Pail 32, Ale.

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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