Ekwueme, Clark others ask Jega to resign

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 62229

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

We are in full control of Mubi — DHQ

>9

CREATION OF MORE POLLING UNITS:

Ekwueme, Clark others ask Jega to resign

By Okey Ndiribe, Henry Umoru & Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

•Okurounmu, others say his actions'll thwart 2015 polls •South-West leaders berate Jega, back Jonathan •We’ve not created additional polling units —Jega •I'll ensure creation of more states, says David Mark — P.55

BUJA—SOUTH ERN leaders, yesterday, asked the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega to resign, accusing him of plotting to thwart the 2015 general elections by creating additional 30,000 polling units. Jega was accused of allocating 70 per cent of the additional polling units to the North.

Led by former Vice President Alex Ekwueme; one time Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark; Senator Femi Okurounmu and

Continues on Page 5

Fashola justifies N160bn Lagos debt >10 Mr & Mrs DISPLACED—Displaced students of Taraba State from Federal Polytechnic ,and Adamawa State University, both in Mubi, awaiting evacuation to Taraba from the Adamawa NYSC Orientation Camp, Bajabure village in Girei LGA, yesterday. Below: Some children and other displaced persons at the Bajabure camp. Photos: NAN.

COLUMNISTS: Dimgba Igwe and our dysfunctional social spaces •P.17 C M Y K

Dr. John Odigie-Oyegun:

Excellence personified •P.19

Stephen Davies: In whose interest?

•P.19

FG insists on Sept 22 resumption date >8 for schools

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 3

4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

JOBS—President Goodluck Jonathan (M) flanked by Vice President Namadi Sambo (Chairman, Presidential Jobs Board); Mr. Tony Elumelu (Vice-Chairman) and other members of the Presidential Board on Job creation, shortly after it was inaugurated at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Ekwueme, Clark others ask Jega to resign Continues from Page 1

Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, the southern leaders on the banner of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, SNPA , said Jega was promoting an ethnic agenda by favouring the North against the South, with the North getting 21,615 polling booths and the South being allocated 8,412 units.

However, Jega, yesterday, said the additional polling units had not been created.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission has not yet created the additional polling units. It has simply approved the framework and guidelines to facilitate the creation of these additional polling units by the Resident Electoral Commissioners and the state officers of INEC,” he said at a press briefing in Abuja.

This came as SouthWest leaders backed

President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election in 2015 and asked Jega to stop the creation of the additional polling units in the interest of the country.

Southern leaders’ angst

In a communiqué issued at the end of a twoday emergency joint meeting of the Elders Council and Management Committee of the SNPA, held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, southern leaders urged President Jonathan to urgently reorganise the composition and structure of INEC if Nigerians must be provided with the platform for conducting free and fair elections in 2015.

In a six-page statement signed by Dr. Alex Ekwueme (co-chair, South-East); Chief Edwin Clark (Co-ordinating Chairman, South-South) and Senator Femi Okurounmu, (leader,

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Men ought to be disciplined and do things in a consistent way that overtime will make the impossible possible in their lives.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen— Ralph Waldo Emerson

T

HERE is great brilliance and beauty inherent within the mind, because it is capable of understanding the most intricate scientific and mathematical theories and can make complicated corporate decisions. Yet the same mind can get caught up in trivia and nonsense, becoming upset or even unglued over a seemingly harmless remark. It runs your life, pushing and pulling you in all directions, from attraction to repulsion, creating endless dramas in acting out your insecurities and fears, because it is not in touch with your deeper feelings.

Living inside your head all the time is actually not much fun!

While the mind is the content of who you are, your heart is your essence. Your true heart is not subject to chaos or limited by pain, fear and neuroses, but is joyful, creative and loving. It is actually a source of great richness, and this wealth is one that cannot be squandered or lost. It is the core, the essence of your being.

South-West delegation), they said: “The Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly condemns in the strongest terms the creation of additional 30,000 polling units which have been lopsidedly allocated in favour of the North. We do not subscribe to it. We do not see the necessity for it and we stand stoutly opposed to the process of its creation as it lacks any fundamental basis and therefore we do not accept it.

“We have lost confidence in Professor Attahiru Jega as chairman of INEC as we cannot vouch for his neutrality in midwifing the 2015 general elections.

Since he has shown his obvious inclination to ethnic chauvinism and protectionism, Professor Jega does not deserve to remain on the INEC chair a day longer.

“The Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, therefore, demands the immediate resignation of Professor Attahiru Jega as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission. We call on President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to, without further delay, reorganize the composition and structure of INEC to provide Nigerians the platform for free and fair elections.

“We recognize the determination of President Jonathan to leave a legacy for free and fair electoral contest as we have witnessed in the elections conducted under his watch. Since Professor Jega has shown the potential to thwart the noble objective of free and fair elections in 2015 to which Mr. President has shown appreciable commitment, he does not deserve to remain as the electoral umpire a day longer.

“Who does Professor Jega think he is deceiving? As a Professor of Political Science, if this concocted manipulation of polling units is his clever design to give undue political advantage to the

North, having clearly in mind the 2015 presidential election, we wish to remind him without equivocation that he has failed woefully in his decrepit mission. May we hastily remind him that he has lost his credibility, if there was indeed any, and he has lost the trust, confidence and respect of Nigerians. We do not need the lenses of prophets to remind Professor Jega that he is, as a matter of fact, presently doing overtime on the INEC chair having shown his tendencies for ethnic bigotry, partisan parochialism, and primordial chauvinism.”

INEC's shocking announcement

They continued: “Nigerians were rudely awakened to a shocking and indefensible announcement by the electoral umpire, INEC to the effect that additional 30,000 polling units have been created and allocated to states using the parameters of proportional representation and equality.

According to Professor Jega’s INEC, the arbitrary creation of additional polling units to bring the total polling units in the country to 150,000 will purportedly serve the purpose of: a) de-congesting the polling units ahead of the 2015 general elections; and easing the logistics challenges of the Commission during elections.

“As plausible as these reasons may sound to the architects of this voodoo and arbitrary allocation of polling units, the people of Southern Nigeria and indeed the Southern Nigerian Peoples Assembly view this invidious act as a script perfectly crafted for Professor Jega to implement, in continuation of the well-known hegemonic agenda by enemies of our hard won democracy. The people of Southern Nigeria are not only appalled but strongly reject Professor Jega’s claims and averment, whatever persuasions may have motivated this very callous, insensitive, disparate, oppressive, and in-consonant decision to give the North a clear political advantage over the South contrary to the reality on ground.

“Before Professor Attahiru Jega’s sudden and whimsical reconfiguration which had no historical and scientific foundation, the existing 119,973 polling units were delineated on the premise of the about 73 million registered voters.

Despite Prof. Jega’s claim of overcrowded polling units, Nigerians have been witnesses to the conduct of very successful, peaceful, hitch-free elections recently in Ekiti and Osun states. But given

the perennial claims of ghost voters which have been the cause of electoral fraud, INEC introduced what it called the Automated Finger Identification System (AFIS) and the outcome has ostensibly been a reduction of the registered voters to 57 million.

“While Nigerians welcome this enchanting development that is intended to usher in sustainable era of free and fair elections, a fact that has been aided by the distribution of permanent voter’s cards (PVCs), Professor Jega, with one Dr. Yakubu as an accomplice, decided to assail our sensibilities by saying a reduced voter strength of 57 million registered voters need more polling units of 150,000 as against 119,973 polling units when the total registered voters were reportedly 73 million.

“Professor Jega cannot exculpate himself from being a proponent of ethnic agenda; we are the least surprised that he has been recruited to perfect the ploy of some persons from parts of this country to truncate our nascent democracy. With the indefensible employment of proportional representation and equality as parameters, Professor Jega decided not to equilibrate but to marginalize the entire Southern Nigeria by arbitrarily and capriciously allocating 21,615 polling units to the North as against 8,412 polling units to Southern Nigeria.

“Whereas we have clearly argued the lack of need for any additional polling units given the reduced number of registered voters consequent upon the Automated Fingers Identification System (AFIS), creating a phantom 30,000 polling units and whimsically allocating them to favour the North is the height of insult to the people of Southern Nigeria.

“From what Professor Jega and Dr. Yakubu published, the following additional polling units were allocated with impunity: North West - 7,906; North East - 5,291; North Central - 6,318; South East 1,167; South West - 4,160;

South South - 3,087 on the basis of 15% equality and 85% proportional representation. Juxtaposed against the earlier polling units as shown hereunder, we are both perplexed and anxious as to the true import of Professor Jega INEC’s action.

“If with registered voters of 13,188,864 the South West had 24,673 polling units as compared to North West registered voters of 18,607,496 with polling units of 29,961, (and this gives a proportionate variance of 29 per cent for registered voters and 17.7 per cent for number of polling units), what was then responsible for the 47.4 per cent disparity in the number of new polling units allocated between the North West and South West if the claim of proportional representation holds? Or how could FCT that has only 892,628 registered voters with 562 polling units be compared to South East with 7,178,185 registered voters and 15, 529 polling units (giving a proportionate disparity of 87.6% for registered voters and 96% for polling units in favour of the South East) suddenly be allocated only 1,167 polling units compared to 1,200 polling units for FCT? How does this advance Professor Jega’s theory of proportional representation?

“Given the above elucidation, we are constrained to ask the following questions: z Given the reduced number of actual registered voters to 57 million, how can INEC justify increasing the number of polling units, particularly for states like Zamfara which total registered number of voters had been reduced by more than half and yet allocated additional 1,000 polling units?

Is this not an invitation to rigging? zHow can INEC justify that the North-West and FCT put together have more of the additional polling units than the entire Southern zones? zHow can INEC explain that the North-East zone from which people are fleeing in large numbers get more of the addiContinues on Page 52

6—Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Scores injured as Okada riders, policemen clash in Ondo

A

By Dayo Johnson

KURE — SCORES of people in Owo area of Ondo State sustained serious injuries following a clash between policemen and commercial motorcycle riders popularly known as Okada.

The Okada riders in the town have since withdrawn their services in protest of the maltreatment by the Police.

Reports from Owo said an Okada rider with an unregistered number was reportedly knocked down by a Police vehicle while evading arrest .

Vanguard gathered that immediately the Okada man sighted the policemen at Owaluwa area of the town, he refused to stop when flagged down.

Consequently, the policemen, it was learnt, chased him and in the process knocked him down at about noon, Tuesday.

Sources said after he was knocked down some of the policemen descended on him not minding his injuries.

Within five minutes, other Okada riders stormed the place and a bloody clash ensued between them and the Policemen and in the process many were reportedly injured.

Gridlock in Lagos as petrol tanker overturns

By Bose Adelaja

L

AGOS—A 33,000-litre tanker, fully loaded with petrol, fell at Anthony bus-stop on Ikorodu road, spilling its content in the process and causing serious gridlock along the axis.

According to eye witnesses, the tanker was heading for Ikorodu from Apapa when the accident occurred around 5.05 am.

The resultant traffic gridlock lasted for hours although the timely intervention of fire fighters; Lagos State Transport Management Agency, LASTMA, officials and other law enforcement agents prevented a fire outbreak in the area.

The tanker with number plate, XE187KRD, belonging to a major marketer, was said to be heading for Ikorodu when it fell and spilled its content such that street urchins popularly called Area boys took advantage of the situation to scoop fuel.

The driver of the tanker whose name could not be ascertained, was said to have been rescued by sympathisers.

When Vanguard arrived the scene yesterday, the service lane of the road had been condoned off while many road users made frantic calls to their neighbours asking them to avoid the route.

Anthony Zonal Commander of LASTMA, Ayuba Akinpelu, said the gridlock would have been worse if it had occurred

on the inner axis of the road.

"It prevented vehicles on the expressway to link Anthony, so we diverted traffic to the main carriageway. Those from Anthony bridge linking Ikorodu Road to inward Maryland were making use of both lanes on the carriageways of the express road. If the incident had occurred in the evening, we would have found it difficult to control the traffic," he said.

Director, Lagos State Fire Services, Razaq Fadipe, said the situation was put under control at about 7.30 am.

6 injured in another auto crash

In the same vein, no fewer than six people were injured, yesterday, at Maya along Imota, Agbowa road in an auto crash involving a private bus

Scene of the accident and the resultant gridlock, yesterday.

Photos: NAN.

and a Mazda car.

According to eye witnesses, the bus, a Volkswagen Wagon with number plate, BR 872 KSF, which had five occupants, veered off its lane and hit the Mazda 323 salon car with number plate, KRD 558 AW, with the car plunging into the bush

while the bus sommersulted twice.

The incident which occurred in the early hours, did not record any casualty but the injured persons were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Navy arrests five for alleged impersonation •We're Merchant Navy working for Lagos govt —Suspects

L

By Evelyn Usman

AGOS — THE Nigerian Navy, NN, yesterday, in Lagos, arrested five persons alleged to be parading themselves as naval personnel.

However, the suspects said they were personnel of the Nigeria Merchant Navy on duty with the Lagos State Government Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA. The suspects, among who was a lady, were arrested in Obalende area of the state by the Naval Provost Personnel in full naval regalia.

Speaking on the arrest, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Illesanmi Alade, said items recovered from the suspects included photographs of the suspects in Naval uniform, service shoes, berets, rating caps, Nigerian Navy emblem, NN uniforms, and NN officers rank, including Merchant Navy identity cards.

He attributed the inability to adequately checkmate activities of impersonators to lack of a regulatory body to monitor the manufacturing of the service’s uniform.

He said: “The issue is that these

uniforms can be manufactured anywhere. So, it will be very difficult to regulate the importation of this kind of uniform because even here in Nigeria, it is being smuggled in. But what we are saying is that if anybody is found importing any military accoutrement including uniform, he will be arrested.”

He, therefore, appealed to members of the public to be on the look out for persons who masquerade as naval personnel and report same to naval authorities in any of the formations across the country.

We are Merchant Navy not impersonators —Suspects

The suspects identified as Arigo Royal (Commander), Chukwuemeka Ndubuisi (Lieutenant), Emmnuel Jolayemi and Ogundola Oluwasegun (Sub Lieutenants) and Onwuzuruike Jullite (Ordinry Seaman) said they were personnel of the Nigeria Merchant Navy on duty with the Lagos State Government Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA. One o f them, Oluseun, said: “I

The suspects. Photo: EVELYN USMAN am a merchant navy official and we work with the Lagos State Government under the ministry of Special Duties, Search and Rescue Operations.

"We were on our way to a meeting with the Lagos State ferry workers at 32, Lawson Street, Onikan, when we were apprehended by the Navy.

“We did not state that we were naval personnel.

Merchant Navy ranks are registered under the Ministry

of Commerce and Industry, including the uniforms. The ranks were registered for us to have a formal background.

"The rank I am wearing is that of Lieutenant and the difference between us and the Nigerian Navy is clear. For instance, while our rank has a black background, that of the Navy has blue.”

A man who later identified himself as the head of the team, walked into the base shortly before his colleagues were to be

handed over to the Police, apparently to effect their release.

But he was also arrested. When the brown envelop he came with was searched, a wallet containing two identity cards bearing Captain Sunny Oyeyipo and other military accoutrements were discovered.

The suspects were thereafter handed over to the Police for further instigation and prosecution.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014—7

Police parade kidnappers of Akure-based journalist

By Ifeanyi Okolie AGOS — THE Police in Lagos State, yesterday, said it had arrested two members of a notorious gang of kidnappers who were behind the kidnap of an Akurebased journalist with the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Mrs. Bunmi Oke, in March 2013.

Vangaurd gathered that the kidnappers who got N1 million before releasing the victim, were arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Lagos, when they attempted to rob a businessman of a large sum of money at Egbeda roundabout in Lagos.

Police sources, who gave the identities of the suspects as Bashir Raji Ejiniga, 35 and Christian Jacob, 34, relocated to Lagos from Delta State where they moved to when the police in Akure launched a manhunt for them and other members of the gang.

According to the source, “they came from Delta State where they escaped to from Akure after kidnapping the journalist.

"We arrested them on August 16, 2014 around 10am when they came to meet their gang members in Lagos for robbery operation.

"They were arrested after a tip-off. The Akure SARS was on their trail for long. But they were arrested by the Lagos SARS led by Superintendent Abba Kyari."

Oke, while returning from work on the fateful day, was

L

By Daud Olatunji

A

The suspects. waylaid by four gunmen in front of a motherless babies home on Akure-Oba Ile Road. They ordered other occupants out of her vehicle before abducting her and later demanded for N8 million ransom.

Bashiru Raji, one of the suspects, who is from Odigbo, Ondo State told Vanguard that he was a mechanic married to two wives with seven children.

He said: “I was the one who drove the vehicle during the kidnap of Mrs Oke. We were a five-man gang and we collected N1 million as ransom.

"Her kidnap was my first job and I met the gang leader when one of my wives died.

He was in my house during the burial smoking hemp.

"We picked the journalist in

Mrs. Bunmi Oke Akure and took her to our hideout in Odigbo. We later released her after we got N1 million ransom and I was given N200,000 as my share.

"We also kidnapped two other persons before the SARS in Akure declared us wanted and we fled to Delta State.

"A man in Lagos contacted us, saying there was an operation for us. So, we came but we were arrested. He told us on phone that he had a Mallam neighbour who had dollars.”

The other suspect, Jacob, a native of Nkanu, Enugu State, who is also married, said he got only N10,000 from the Akure operation.

He said: "I am a trader who used to sell foodstuff at Oja Oshodi in Akure. I used to sell Indian hemp too. My hemp farm was at Odogbolu in Ogun State.

"I sell the weeds to buyers from the north. I kept the weeds farm for three years. I got N150,000 from the northern buyers. The harvest of weeds is after seven months.”

JTF uncovers stolen crude in shrines, septic tanks

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—THE Joint Task-force codenamed Operation Pulo Shield said it had uncovered the new tactics by oil thieves and illegal oil bunkerers operating in the Niger Delta region.

According to the JTF, they now bury stolen crude oil in traditional grounds, shrines, sitting rooms of a house and in septic tanks to avoid detections by security agencies.

The JTF in a statement signed by the coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre of the task force, Lt. Col. Mustapha Anka, said its illegal oil bunkering squad uncovered the new tactics following the seizure of a 12,000-litre capacity sewage truck loaded with stolen crude.

The sewage truck, according to the JTF, was intercepted along Ibada Amukpe community in Sapele Local

Missing couple found in Ogun DSS detention

Government Area of Delta State.

“The sewage truck was said to be carrying waste and heading to dumpsite by the occupants but was discovered to be carrying illegal crude oil. Both the suspects and the product are in the custody of the JTF for

preliminary investigation before handing them over to prosecuting agency.

Meanwhile, troops attached to the JTF launched an operation against alleged criminals in Bayelsa State and discovered one AK-47 assault rifle with registration number CK28817.

He said: “One foreign

made double barrel gun and a locally fabricated single barrel with 12 live cartridges were also recovered. No arrest was made as the criminals escaped before the arrival of the troops.

“The weapons and the cartridges are in JTF custody while efforts are on to apprehend the criminals."

Bizman arraigned for stealing N18m

L

By Onozure Dania

AGOS—A 35-year-old businessman, Paul Santos, was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere magistrate’s court for allegedly obtaining a water bottling machine worth N18 million from Green Valley Agric Enterprises company with pretence of paying N6 million instalmentally which he failed to do.

The defendant is facing a

three-count charge bordering on obtaining, issuance of dud cheque and stealing preferred against him by the police.

The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police Akin Owanade, told the court that the defendant with intent to defraud did obtain water bottling machine worth N18 million, belonging to the company.

He said the defendant issued a Zenith Bank Plc dud

cheque No. 55130646 for N6 million in favour of Green Valley Agric Enterprises which the company could not cash.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the tcharges.

Magistrate A.M. OlumideFusikat granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2 million with two responsible sureties in like sum.

She further adjourned the case till September 26.

BEOKUTA —SXTYFIVE days after an Islamic cleric, Abdul Ganiyu Jumah and his wife, Muinat, were reportedly abducted by unknown gunmen at their residence, they were found at the detention facility of the Department of State Services, DSS in Ogun State.

The couple, who were residing at 27, Fagbemi Street, Ijoko, in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state, were declared missing after unknown gunmen stormed their residence and reportedly whisked the man and his pregnant wife away at 3:am.

A family source, who spoke with Vanguard on condition of anonymity said he received a call from one Lukman Oketokun on Tuesday instructing him to go to Abeokuta Headquarters of the DSS to see the Deputy Director, Operations at 10:am the following day.

The source further said the witness met with the official who released the wife of the cleric.

The woman told Vanguard shortly after her release that the DSS did not tell them their offence.

According to the woman, "they only released me and are still detaining my husband without telling us what our offence was.

“They only gave me a letter from a gynaecologist who advised me to proceed to the hospital for delivery.”

Attempt to get reaction from the DSS was unsuccessful.

Bauchi police arrest 20-yr-old robbery suspect

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCHI – Policemen from Bauchi Command have arrested a suspected robber at Konkiyel village in Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The state police spokesperson, DSP Haruna Mohammed said policemen attached to Darazo police division arrested the suspect around 3pm on September 8.

Mohammed, who gave the name of the suspect as Ukasha Ibrahim said on September 7, the suspect conspired with some accomplices now at large and robbed one Adam Ibrahim of N100, 000.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

52% candidates make credits in 5 subjects as NECO releases SSCE results

FG insists on Sept 22 resumption date for schools

By Ben Agande

M

INNA—THE N a t i o n a l Examinations Council, NECO has released the June/July 2014 Senior Secondary School Certificate examinations (SSCE) with 52% of the candidates obtaining credits five subjects including English and Mathematics.

The result was a departure from the mass failure of students in the same examination especially in the past three years.

Last year, the percentage of candidates who made credits in five subjects including English and Mathematics was 48%.

Registrar/Chief Executive of the Council, Professor Promise Okpala who announced the result in Minna yesterday said 74% of the candidates made five credits and above generally.

A breakdown of the results showed that out of 989,622 candidates that wrote the examinations, 72.58% scored credit and above in English and 69,49% in Mathematics.

In sciences, 72.86% who sat for Chemistry had credit, 69.38% which sat for Physics also had credit while 67.83% of the candidates who sat for the examination also made credit.

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government said yesterday, that the September 22 resumption date for primary and secondary schools in the country would not be extended because there are no strong reasons for such an extension.

Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, who stated this while briefing State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting insisted that those who have reasons to believe that the schools should not re-open on that date should forward same to the Federal Government.

The Nigerian Medical Association, as well as other professional bodies have called for the extension of the resumption date for primary and secondary schools until the country is free of the the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. But speaking yesterday after the FEC meeting, Professor Chukwu said those calling for the extension of the schools resumption date were being driven by “irrational fears”.

He said unlike other countries where the disease is transmitted through community contact, Nigeria’s case was different and there was no cause for worry.

He said: “The minister of education, after meeting with the

commissioners for education from the 36 states and FCT decided when public schools should open, which is 22nd of September. In taking that decision, they considered the information that was given by the federal ministry of health that there is actually no reason now, with the expert information we have at hand, why schools cannot resume earlier than the original date of Oct. 13.

I think people should just allow us to do the work we have been doing very professionally.

“It was based on advice given by the ministry of health that the minister of education took the original decision that it was going to be in October and nobody quarrelled with the minister. Now the minister, based on expert advice, has come back to say the resumption date will now be Sept 22 and some people are now

FEC MEETING: From right, Labour and Productivity Minister, Chief Emeka Wogu; Interior Minister, Mr. Abba Moro; Information Minister, Labaran Maku and others during the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida.

Politicisation of insurgency, bane of anti-terror war, says Lai Mohammed

By Dapo Akinrefon

L

ONDON—NATIONAL Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has expressed worry over the continued politicisation of the Boko Haram insurgency, saying it remains the bane of Nigeria’s anti-terror fight.

He also argued that the Federal Government had bungled the fight against Boko Haram, noting that “the government’s attempt to make political capital out of the insurgency has backfired.”

He said this while delivering a paper at Portcullis House, House of Commons in London.

The full text of the paper

is published in today’s “Since the formation of our Vanguard (see Page 41). party, the All Progressives The APC spokesperson, however, dismissed insinuations that leaders of the party (APC) were allegedly sponsors of the Boko Haram, describing it as a deliberate political misinformation by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He said: “I am here to share my personal thoughts and those of my party, the APC, on the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. It is certainly apt to say this platform and audience provide auspicious opportunities to correct misinformation, half-truths and endemic political manipulation of the Boko Haram insurgency by our political opponents.

Congress, our political opponents have strenuously tried, but failed to misinform Nigerians and the international community that the APC is linked to Boko Haram, claiming ‘our actions, utterances and body language’ support or sympathise with Boko Haram. ''Of course, this deliberate political misinformation and manipulation continue to flounder and fail spectacularly, not least because successive events proved these claims to be hollow, but also that it is our political opponents who are playing a Boko Haram Poker Game.”

According to him, ''the PDP and anyone for that matter, including

their hired American PR firm, Levick have failed to produce any substantial and even anecdotal evidence linking the APC with Boko Haram.''

On the revelation made by the Australian hostage release negotiator, Dr Stephen Davis, who was hired by the Goodluck Jonathan government over the Chibok saga, that the sponsors of Boko Haram are nestled in the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan's government, he said “the value of this revelation is hardly about its newness, but that it corroborates previous revelations, such as those by the former National Security Adviser, NSA (late General Owoye Azazi) and even by President Goodluck Jonathan himself ”.

quarrelling with it. I think we should allow the authorities to do their job. It is not an ordinary matter to be discussed the way we want to discuss it.

“If you have any evidence why there is need to review it (the resumption date of schools), supply such evidence to the minister of health and we will look at it.

“We have allowed a football match to go on and we screened every fan in Calabar, we screened every player and everybody, even the governor and the wife were screened.

“Unlike other countries, there is no community transmission of the disease in Nigeria; not one yet.

But we have taken precautions.

We may as well have said everybody should just be moving about, but we are taking precautions. There is no scientific basis for school resumption to be postponed. There is no community transmission of the disease in Nigeria. That is what separates Nigeria from other countries. It is what I call irrational fear, we don’t need to be irrational about this.

“You have asked about Nigerian Medical Association, but the only information I had from NMA is that someone informed me that he had been appointed to head a committee being set up by the NMA on Ebola Virus Disease and I replied that person, that as a government and as federal ministry of health, we look forward to collaboration. Now, collaboration doesn’t mean going to media. Collaboration means if they have information they should give it to the federal ministry of health or the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. I have not received any such information.

So, if you are telling me what is in the media, I would investigate.

I’ll probably call them to let me know the basis of what they are saying through the media.

“The most important thing is that we should work together, but let’s be rational in whatever we are doing so that we don’t cause panic. Panic is not welcome in this business, otherwise we will be in trouble,” he said.

On the reported case of a student of Obafemi Awolowo University, who allegedly had contact with the doctor who died of Ebola in Lagos, the Health Minister confirmed that she had been moved to Lagos for a more comprehensive test to determine whether she was really infected with the virus or not.

The minister commended authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, who took precautionary measures and promptly informed the Ministry of Health of their suspicion of the status of the student.

He added that at the moment, there are still 490 people under surveillance in Port Harcourt while those under surveillance in Lagos have reduced to only 16.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 9

EBOLA: Wife of late doctor discharged ...OAU student quarantined

By Chioma Obinna

T

HE Federal Government yesterday announced the successful management and discharge of the wife of Late Dr Iyke Enemuo, who secretly treated a primary contact of an American - Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, who imported the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, into the country, even as it confirmed that a student of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, suspected to have had contact with the late doctor in Port Harcourt has been quarantined.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu said the latest discharge has brought the total number of EVD survivors in Nigeria to 12.

Chukwu further explained that at the moment, there is no single case of confirmed EVD in Nigeria.

He, however, disclosed that a suspected case of EVD from an undergraduate of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, who had contact with the late Port Harcourt doctor at a naming ceremony in Port Harcourt has been quarantined and was being investigated.

Chukwu, in the latest update on the status of EVD in Nigeria put the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria at 19, 15 in Lagos and 4 in Port Harcourt.

“The total number of deaths from EVD in Nigeria stands at seven, Five of these died in Lagos, one in a private hospital, the index (first) case Mr. Sawyer, and the other four in the isolation ward in Lagos State.

“Two of the seven died in Port Harcourt, the medical doctor, who died in a private hospital and the contact, a patient in the hospital at the time the doctor was also on admission, who died in the isolation ward in Rivers State, “ he explained “The total number of patients who have been successfully managed and discharged is now 10.''

We are in full control of Mubi —DHQ ...Local hunters, vigilante kill 70 insurgents

By Kingsley Omonobi, Umar Yusuf & Ndahi Marama

T

HE Defence headquarters declared yesterday that the troops were in full control of Mubi, the second largest city in Adamawa State, even as no fewer than 70 insurgents were said to have been killed by local hunters and vigilante groups.

A Defence Headquarters, DHQ tweet yesterday read, “Mubi has not been attacked. Troops are still in patrol. Deployment positions in and around the town keeping watch. Situation is calm.”

According to DHQ, Nigerian soldiers were in full control of Mubi and any attempt by the terrorists to attack the town would be met with very disastrous consequences on the part of the terror group.

This disclosure came even as a senior officer told Vanguard that the troops were able to reclaim many towns from the terrorists due mainly to the offensive capabilities of the Nigerian Air Force.

Explaining why Mubi was a nogo area for the insurgents, the source said the town has become the centre of troops and equipment mobilisation for a new assault on the remnants of the terrorists, who moved into Adamawa from Gwoza through Madagali.

The source noted that there had been reinforcements of troops from the headquarters of the 3 armoured division, Jos and the 1 Infantry division, Kaduna while Commanders were putting finishing touches to strategies that would enable them wipe out the terrorists from the remaining

ICAN CONFERENCE: From left; Instutute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN Registrar/ Chief Executive, Mr Rotimi Omotoso; ICAN President, Chidi Ajaegbu; Representative of President Goodluck Jonathan and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and ICAN Vice President, Samuel Olufemi Deru at 44th Annual Accountants’ Conference in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan. parts of Adamawa State.

Meanwhile, respite is gradually returning to the northern parts of the state, which had been under terrorists' siege for one week.

According to reports from Madagali, Michika, Bazza, Mubi and other adjoining towns and villages normalcy has now returned to the areas as the Nigerian Soldiers have taken over the local government from the insurgents. This is just as no fewer than 70 of the insurgents were feared killed by local hunters and vigilante groups.

The terrorists were said to have run short of ammunitions, which the local hunters were said to have capitalised upon to gain an upper hand.

Vandi Joseph, a resident of

Michika, who spoke to reporters in Yola said the bandits have run short of ammunitions as they were running out of the city into the bush. “As I am speaking to you our youths and vigilante ambushed and killed over 70 insurgents,” he said.

Also, Military authorities are said to be investigating the source of fuel supplies to the insurgents. The military was said to be wondering how the terrorists could drive long distances with mounted weaponry like Anti-Aircraft weapons and also refuel easily, which enables them to move from one city to another.

A source disclosed that the troops discovered large fuel dumps when they launched an

attack on the terrorists’ camps which were destroyed.

Meanwhile, no fewer than three innocent civilians were killed yesterday leaving several others injured as suspected members of Boko Haram sect attacked Shaffa District, Hawul Local Government area of Borno state.

This is coming barely 24 hours after another set of terrorists attacked Debiro communities in the same council, setting ablaze churches and houses belonging to Christians.

Hawul is south and predominantly Christian community and about 210 kilometres drive from Maiduguri which had witnessed series of attacks, killings and bombings of churches by insurgents.

Taraba Exco moves to determine Suntai’s health status

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

Y

OBE—TARABA State Executive Council yesterday directed the State House of Assembly to raise a medical panel to ascertain the health status of its ailing governor, Danbaba Suntai.

The decision by the Executive Council to investigate the true state of health of the governor followed renewed reports that his political associates were planning to smuggle the recuperating governor into Jalingo to take over from his deputy, Garba Umar, who had been holding fort for him since 2012, when the governor was injured during a solo flight.

A top government official told Vanguard that the decision by the executive arm to probe the health of Suntai was to dispel rumours that the acting governor was hatching a plot to remove Suntai

through the back door.

“As you can see there is no way the acting governor can remove Suntai by any subterranean means since the constitution does not confer on him such powers, the highly-placed official said.

“What is happening is that the council, which believes also in the rights and privileges of the governor wants to follow the process stipulated by law to know whether the governor is fit to return to his seat or not.

That notwithstanding, a group, known as United Tarabans for Suntai, raised the alarm yesterday that Umar had concluded plans to remove Suntai through the House of Assembly’s probe of his health status.

The group in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Ezekiel Gambo, said that the directive by Umar to the lawmakers to probe Suntai and declare him incapacitated was an indication that the acting governor wanted

to oust him at all cost so as to take full charge of the state.

The group said it was sad that the directive was given to the assembly men just as Suntai was returning to the state to resume work, claiming that his health had improved significantly.

“Certain things are very clear: one, Umar has been paying the medical bills of Governor Suntai.

At what point then did his benefactor become incapacitated?

“Secondly, is this not a confirmation of all that we have been saying all along that Umar has all this while been plotting Suntai’s ouster?

“This is an illegal act considering that both the EXCO and even the issue of the governor’s health, are all in court. It is therefore subjudice to discuss or expedite action on such matter.''

But the Taraba State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Musa Tende, told journalists in Jalingo that it is the

House of Assembly and not the acting governor that has the power to investigate the state of health of ailing governor Suntai.

Tende said it was untrue that Garba had concluded plans to impeach the governor and take the reins of power.

Meanwhile, politicians scheming for 2015 have been warned not to destabilise Taraba State by starting another power tussle over the health of GovernorSuntai.

A political pressure group,Taraba Democrats,made the appeal in a statement yesterday following reports that Governor Danbaba Suntai is to be flown back to the country.

The statement signed by Mr Aliyu Usman described the report as discomforting in view of what it called relative peace in the state and the threat the new move to start another power tussle poses to “ongoing push to bring real development to our state.''

10 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Tension in LASU over withheld salaries

T

HE SENIOR Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, SSANU, Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo chapter, yesterday, said it would ground activities in the institution if the management failed to pay withheld salaries of its members.

Mr Saheed Oseni, the Chairman of the union, said his members were restive over the management’s decision to withhold their June and July salaries.

SSANU-LASU had, on May 26, embarked on a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike to press home some demands and suspended it on August 1 after reaching an agreement with the authorities.

The university authorities, however, withheld the June and July salaries of the union members in line with the State Government’s “no work, no pay’’ policy.

Oseni said the union had written several letters to Governor Babatunde Fashola, and had met appropriate authorities on the issue but had not received positive response.

“It is unfortunate that after several deliberations and letters to the State Government and the university management, SSANU members are yet to be paid their salaries.

It is against the labour law for a worker’s salary to be withheld within two months of embarking on strike; it is simply a means of victimisation,” Oseni said.

He said the union was planning to ground activities in the institution soon if the salaries were not paid, as they would not forfeit their entitlements.

Fashola justifies N160bn Lagos debt

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

G

O V E R N O R BABATUNDE Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, justified the decisions of the Lagos State Government to take a bond worth over N160 billion from World Bank, saying strategies had been put in place to ensure repayment of the loan.

He said the economy of the state had recorded exponential growth over the years and had been consistently rated high by international rating agencies,

insisting that criticisms that the state was borrowing too much were unfair.

Fashola spoke while responding to questions from newsmen after an inspection tour of the ongoing construction of the light rail terminus at OrileIganmu, Lagos.

The governor who said he was satisfied with the work done so far on the project, expressed disappointment that the work did not move as smoothly as expected.

He however, expressed optimism that the project would be completed in another 12

months.

Speaking on the rationale behind the debt, Fashola said: “I think it was the debt management office of the Federal Government that published the report that we have a debt of about N160billion.

I don’t know the intent of the publication but if it was to inform the public, I think we have always kept the public informed anytime we borrowed money. If there are other intentions behind that, only those who make the publication would know what the intentions are.

“But you see, when people talk about debt of a state like Lagos,

DRAW: Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2nd right); his Deputy, Hon. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (right); Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje (2nd left), and former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Supo Shasore (left), during the Seventh Draw to pick winners of the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (LAGOS HOMS), at the Blue Roof, LTV 8 Complex, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday.

57 chairmen advocate inclusion of LGAs, LCDAs in security framework

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

C

HAIRMEN OF 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDA, in Lagos, yesterday, advocated the inclusion of state and local governments in the country’s security framework.

The chairmen under the umbrella of Conference 57, lamented what it described as the growing incapacity of the Nigeria Police to contain diverse security challenges,

which it said, had constituted threats to Nigeria’s indivisibility and unity.

The Chairman of the Conference, Mr. Hakeem Suleiman, spoke on behalf of his colleagues, at a workshop on security strategies, grassroots awareness and information management for functionaries and stakeholders in the state.

The workshop had in attendance Governor Babatunde Fashola, who was represented by the Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi, his local government counterpart, Mr. Ademorin Kuye

and the state’s Attorney-General, Mr. Adeola Ipaye among others.

According to the chairman, “Is a problem of insecurity which needs urgent attention and restrategising. One of the most increasingly worrisome issues in Nigeria today is the issue of

they forget that after Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt and one other country, we have the fifth largest economy in Africa. When you are talking of about a billion naira debt to a population of over 21 million people; because if you are measuring the debt, you also have to measure the responsibility.

Those are the things people keep in isolation.”

According to Fashola, the Lagos State government already had put in place strategies for the repayment of the loan, insisting that the Federal Government was in the know of the state’s decision to take the bond and it approved it.

He said “The truth is that what they don’t also say is that no state in Nigeria can borrow money outside, from any multilateral agencies without the approval of the Federal Government. So, what they did not say is that they approved it. No state can raise money by bond the way we have done without the FG’s approval.

"Securities and Exchange Commission is one of Federal Government`s regulatory agencies through which we must pass.If they say okay, it means there must be something good about the debt." `Our rating as a state is the same as that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, BB MinusStable with a positive outlook. We are the only state in Nigeria that has that rating.

"The first bond that was taken during my first tenure has been paid, the first tranche. I think the second tranche will be due around 2016 or 2017 and we are already making provisions. The provisions that will be there will be in excess of what is needed,`` Speaking on the ongoing construction, Fashola expressed satisfaction on the job but decried the petty delay that was encountered as a result of inadequate funding, but expressed hope for the job to be completed in th next 12 months.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 —11

12 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014—13

Retired soldiers threaten ‘guerilla warfare’ over non-payment of pension increment B

By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY—RETIRED soldiers numbering over 100 yesterday protested round the streets of Benin City, Edo State over alleged non-payment of the 2010, 53 per cent increase in their pension by the Federal Government, warning that they may resort to guerrilla warfare to press home their demands.

The protest led by the National Secretary of Association of Military Pensioners, Patrick Okpaiyo, regretted that after they fought for the survival and unity of the country, they were neglected by government, adding that if the implementation of the consolidated military salary of the ex-service men was not urgently paid, their action would be worse than that of Boko Haram.

The ex-service men, said: “We are here to call the attention of the Federal Government to our plight. We have been deprived of our rights, we fought the civil war at our youthful age but today, this administration has forgotten us, our people are dying, so we have been pushed to the wall.

“In 2010, we were given 53 per cent of pension increment and it was not until we protested last year in Abuja that we were given the salary and the arrears have not been paid till date and this

year, we are sure that the arrears is budgeted for but we have not been paid and the year is running out. We need the money except they want us to

go to the bush and begin a guerrilla war but we believe in the Nigeria project but if they push us to the wall, we may have to do that.”

SIGNING: From left: Delta State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Charles Ajuya, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, and Speaker, State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Onwusanya, during the signing of Delta State Judiciary Financial Autonomy Law and Delta State Model Primary Schools Law 2014 by the governor in Asaba, yesterday. Photo: Henry Unini.

U

GHELLI—THE people of Uzere in Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State have issued a 21-day ultimatum to Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC over alleged breach of terms of an existing Interim Memorandum of Understanding, IMoU entered with the company.

The people in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of the company, asked the company to address the issues in the IMoU which was signed on November 19, 2013 “to avoid dire consequences.”

The community listed the areas where the company failed in the IMoU to include alleged; “delay/refusal of NPDC to connect power from the Uzere flow station to the community hospital and water scheme thereby denying the community access to potable water supply and light even when the project has been completed.

“Incomplete scoping and award of legacy projects which excluded the hospital road, x-ray machine and mortuary crates for the hospital; renovation of the hospital and staff quarters as well as water and gate for the Eni Primary School.”

The community in the letter

by its lawyer, Mr P. Oboreh, accused NPDC of “ refusing community contractors to execute three running contracts which had been duly awarded by deliberately denying the contractors and their workers entry into the

Uzere Flow Station.”

Alleging that the company has also “failed or refused to review upwards the IMoU payment accruable to the community since the assumed average daily production of 2,000 barrels

per day from Uzere West Field is actually 14,000 barrels per day since the commencement of production in December, 2013,” the community expressed worry that the company has remained undaunted despite series of letters and meetings.

Warri South LG boss warns against frustrating MDGs' projects

W

ARRI—TRANSITION Committee Chairman of Warri South Local Government, Delta State, Dr. Augustine Uroye has sued for the cooperation of community leaders towards the successful execution of Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, projects in the council, warning that any benefiting community that frustrate the projects will lose same to another community.

Uroye spoke yesterday at the Warri South council’s secretariat in Warri, while addressing community leaders on the next phase of MDGs’ projects soon to be awarded in council.

He explained that the choice of projects to be executed by the MDGs in the council from January 2015 was arrived at after a survey and due consultation with leaders of the benefiting communities.

According to Uroye, projects

By Egufe Yafugborhi

W

Delta community gives NPDC 21-day ultimatum over amenities

By Festus Ahon

5 allegedly missing in Ijaw, Itsekiri face-off

cut across healthcare, education, procurement of power plants as well as perimeter fencing and will be executed by the MDGs in riverine and Urban communities of Obodo, Ukpokiti, Aja-Solo, OrereOluba, Omadino, OdeItsekiri, Ugbodede, Ugbuwangue, Alders Town School of the Deaf and Dumb, Ajamimogha, Edjeba and

Eboh with a view to address the urgent basic needs of people of the area."

He solicited the corporation of leaders of the benefiting communities once the project execution kicks off and appealed to communities that are not beneficiaries of the next phase of MDGs projects to be patient as all communities can not benefit simultaneously.

ARRI—OGBE-Ijoh in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, has alleged five youths of the community are missing following a clash with their Itsekiri counterparts in Warri.

Addressing newsmen in Ogbe-Ijoh, yesterday, the community’s Governing Council, Ogbe-Ijoh Youths Council and the Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, charged the state government and security agencies to prevail on perceived abductors of the youths to release them and return valuables carted away from them without delay.

Chairman, Ogbe-Ijoh Governing Council, Mr. Lucky Oromoni, PresidentGeneral, Ogbe-Ijoh Youths Council, Mr. Christmas James and Chairman, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom chapter of the IYC, Mr Liberty Arerebo condemned the said attack.

According to the community representatives, the youths of the community were returning from a Monday meeting with an oil servicing firm, Saipem in the Warri Ports premises when they were allegedly attacked by their Itsekiri neighbours.

“We cannot find Boma Ebiarede, Daubiri Wuruakpo, Zitangbei Doutimi, Ditorusin Lawyerwei and Krokongha Biniebi since then. We have reported the matter and up till now, we are yet to see the youths."

Reacting to the development, Mr Celestina Kalu, the state Police Public Relations Officer, said: “The Warri Area Commander has invited the two communities for dialogue.

It is a small issue. About 30 people entered the place and 30 people left. Nobody is missing.”

2015: Edeyibo seeks return to DTHA

W

ARRI—THE Political Assistant to the former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochie and former member of Delta State House of Assembly representing Warri South Constituency I, Mr. Winford Edeyibo has shown interest in contesting his former seat at the House of Assembly.

Speaking in Warri at a meeting of Bowen Ward 6 stakeholders, Warri South Local Government Area, he said: “I have been tested and proven. Most of you here will no doubt bear witness of my quality representation between 1999 and 2003.”

He appealed to the people to work and vote for him from

their heart.

Stakeholders, who spoke at the meeting, include Dr. Meyiwa Erewa, Hope George and the Ward Chairman, Mr. Tosan Ebiyon, and they acknowledged the fact that Edeyibo brought dividends of democracy to the Ward during his tenure in the House.

14 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014—15

Onitsha GRA residents, contractor differ on job specifications N

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

NEWI—RESIDENTS of Alex Offodile Street, GRA, Onitsha, are at daggers drawn with the contractor handling construction of the street for deviating from specifications of the project as given by Anambra State government, which awarded the contract.

The aggrieved residents, led by Chief Pat Okpalaeke, expressed anger that the contractor destroyed the walk ways on the road after allegedly reaching a compromise with some landlords to allow them extend their perimeter walls to the drainage channel on the street.

Addressing newsmen after inspecting the level of destruction on their wall, Chief Okpalaeke, who is also the Chairman and Chief Executive of Jim Pat Aluminum Company, said the contractor left the house walls obstructing the project because the owners settled them and pulled down their own in an attempt to get back the seven feet lost from the offending landlords.

“I want Governor Willie

Obiano to come for inspection on this road to see things for himself.

How can any reasonable contractor leave untouched the fences that are obstructing the project, to come over to the side where the landlords built according to specification to pull down

fences to get what he lost to the terms of space.?

“I have written a petition to the state government through the office of the Commissioner for Works. We want Governor Willie Obiano to come and look at this type of corruption exhibited by the

contractor because we cannot take it, more so when they said they are working according to government specification,” he said.

Project engineer, Mr. Chika Nwatu, denied allegation of bribe and said the walls fell as a result of bad soil on which they were built.

OPENING: Managing Director, Samsung Electronics, West Africa, Mr Brovo Kim, MD, MGS Ltd, Mr. Hassan Mehdi, Head, Corporate and Consumer Electronics Marketing, Samsung Electronics ,West Africa, Mr. Koye Sowemimo, and Chief Strategy Officer, MStore, Mr. Puneet Malhotra, at the official opening of Samsung’s brand shops in Abuja.

Don't cede any inch of Nigerian territory to Boko Haram, regent urges FG

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

N I T S H A — WORRIED by the alleged capture of some communities in the northern part of the country by Islamic religious sect, Boko Haram, the traditional regent of Mbosi in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Okey–Joe Onuakalusi, yesterday warned that no part of the nation’s land should be ceded to the insurgents.

Sounding the note of warning, Onuakalusi recalled that the sect, which had since been declared a terror organization because of the havoc it wreaked on innocent people of the country, was now talking of taking over some parts

of northern Nigeria as its own territory. . His words: “The sovereignty of the Nigerian Nation can neither be negotiated with a terrorist group that has no regard for sanctity of human life nor entrust to rascals who neither have respect nor regard for life.

“Nobody should expect a compromise of an inch of the

O

N I T S H A — MEMBERS of Nigerian Civil War Veterans of (1967–1970), under the aegis of Carefirst for the Aged Welfare Development Association of Nigeria, CAWDAN, have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently declare his

Muslim world especially in Nigeria.

“Often times we are being told that Islam is a religion of peace, but a group of the same adherent takes gun without any provocation, to kill and slaughter their prospective converts in the name of the same religion and their leaders turn blind eyes and remain indifferent in the face of cruelty.”

Okorocha's wife tasks women on husband's agenda Life.”

Governor Rochas Okorocha to

O

By Clifford Ndujihe

WERRI—IMO State First Lady, Mrs Nkechi Okorocha, has urged women in the state to be committed to the “Rescue Mission Agenda” of

War veterans ask Jonathan to declare for 2nd term

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

territorial integrity of the nation.”

Blaming Muslim leaders and their politicians for not playing their role as respected faithful, the regent said: “Sadly, let us examine this unfortunate scenario in three different fronts, firstly it is an indictment on the leadership and ideological failure in the

intention to run for a second term in the 2015 presidential election in the country.

The veterans said they had already concluded arrangements to engage their over 65,000 members living in different parts of the country to give their total support to the President to ensure he won the election.

develop the state.

Speaking at the first Lagos August Meeting of Imo women, organised by Imo State Liaison Office, Lagos, and Imo State Towns Development Association Lagos, ISTDAL, Women’s wing at the National Stadium, Lagos, Mrs Okorocha described the women as partners in progress and true believers in good leadership.

“For us to have a better tomorrow, we must consolidate on our efforts by being truly committed to the Rescue Mission Agenda... I am totally conscious of the fact that no government can make sustainable development without strong and supportive womenfolk,” she said in a speech titled: “Equipping Women for the Challenges of

“August Meeting tends to unify the womenfolk and make us active participants in the development of our society... To this effect, let us remain focussed and shun all activities that will mar the progress of our families, communities, local government areas, state and the nation at large and at all times echo and re-echo the saying that ‘united we stand, divided we fall,’” she added.

Speaking at the event, Mr Ononugbo Alfred Okwudilichukwu, Special Assistant to the Governor and Lagos liaison officer, listed Governor Okorocha’s achievements in the areas of security, healthcare, employment and urbanisation, among others.

Ebonyi govt berates LGs over poor IGR

A

By Peter Okutu

BAKALIKI— EBONYI State government yesterday lamented that the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, emanating from the 13 local government areas of the state on regular bases was too poor, in spite of the revenue outlets available in different sectors of the economy.

Commissioner for Local government and Chieftaincy Matters, Celestine Nwali, expressed government’s lamentation at Onueke Motor Park in Ezza South local government Area while commissioning 10 brand new buses procured by the council for its Mass Transit scheme..

Nwali called on council chairmen in the state to find out ways of increasing their Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, instead of solely depending on allocations from the Federation Account for the execution of their projects.

2015: Monarch urges Ashafa to vie for higher office

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

AGOS—ONE of Lagos first class monarch, the Alara of Ilara, Oba Akeem Adesanya, has commended Senator Gbenga Ashafa for his frequent philanthropic gestures towards the people of the senatorial district, urging him to vie for greater responsibilities in 2015 general polls.

Senator Ashafa represents Lagos East senatorial district in the Senate.

The monarch made this known during another Mega Empowerment Programme sponsored by the lawmaker at Epe Local Government secretariat recently.

The monarch, who described Ashafa as the true son of the soil from the Epe axis, showered encomiums on him as one of the outstanding leaders the district had ever produced in the political history of the area.

16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 17

I

T was late afternoon on Saturday last week that I heard of the tragic killing of THE SUN newspaper columnist, Dimgba Igwe. I put through a call to THE SUN MD and President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Femi Adesina. He somberly confirmed that Igwe was killed that morning as he jogged in the neighbourhood where he resided. I was never close to Dimgba Igwe; in fact, we never ever had a conversation. But I recall that he was an active presence at the Katsina conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors two weeks ago. He made a contribution on a paper which Ray Ekpu presented, for which I sat on the high table as a discussant. Then on Saturday morning, he animatedly followed the presentation and discussion about the health profile for Nigerian Editors. That he was to be killed just two weeks later as he kept fit was indeed a tragic irony and a sad moment for his family, friends and colleagues and Nigerian

Dimgba Igwe and our dysfunctional social spaces dangerously and taxi drivers and motorcyclists hooted their horns persistently. I spent so much effort trying to keep safe from the chaos all around me that the walk ended as a nightmare, not the exercise I meant it to be.

Much later the following evening, my friend Nurudeen Abdulrahim, expressed surprise that I deliberately

Parliament of the old Northern Region and is today the House of Assembly of Kaduna state. It is a remarkable architectural piece and the grounds had a lot of trees which kept the haloed precinct particularly green, lush and beautiful. But a few years ago, someone decided that most of the trees should be cut and they were,

,

The greatest tribute we can pay to Dimgba Igwe is to hold those in power in our society to account on how they husband our resources, especially in improving the quality of lives of all citizens

journalism. It spoke volumes about the near-total erosion of social values in our country, that a driver would hit another citizen and run away, unconscionably. From all that I have read so far about the tragic incident, no one had the presence of mind to even record the car’s plate number.

We live in a very insecure country and within very dysfunctional social spaces, and each day that we survive the Hobbesian jungle that Nigeria has evolved into, we are merely lucky to be alive!

I do an hour’s walk each day as part of a regime of healthy living, and because I live in the Wuse II neighbourhood of Abuja, there is a pedestrian walkway that makes it easy to walk each evening.

But last Thursday I was back in Ilorin and as is my wont, I changed into the walking gear and snickers to do my evening walk. I live in the GRA area in Ilorin which is supposed to be the elitist section of the city. I noticed immediately that these were roads that were not friendly to pedestrians; there are no walkways (except on Ahmadu Bello Way); the road edges were very uneven, which meant that I suffered very serious pain to my broken leg which is held together with plate and screws. And because the cars on the roads were older, there was a greater level of carbon monoxide pollution along with that emitted by the motorcycle taxis. The drivers were unruly; they drove

chose to risk my own life, by walking on the road the previous evening. I didn’t bother the following days, till I returned to Abuja at the beginning of this week.

My description of the situation in Ilorin would fit into the pattern in most of our cities around Nigeria today.

It is certainly the same in the third city that I reside in, Kaduna. We have constructed and gradually distorted urban cities without the nuances associated with modern city living in many other parts of the world. Our cities were not planned with the needs of the pedestrian in mind and because there are no walkways on the roads of our cities, pedestrians are permanently endangered. As more and more people adapt to a middle class livelihood, there has also developed a very healthy demand for gyms; walkways and city open spaces and parks.

C

olonial authorities in many parts of Nigeria created open spaces but a succession of military and civilian regimes with a most philistine disrespect for the importance of those spaces, parceled them out as shopping complexes or residential plots for the elite.

In a place like Kaduna, old GRA plots were repartitioned and allocated, so newer houses then spring up, without a visual relationship with the old colonial architectural pieces from the 1950s. In the same Kaduna, the Lugard Hall was the

,

without any respect for the history associated with the compound and the trees.

W

e were living on Ahmadu Bello Way in the GRA Ilorin from the late 1960s. And up to the early eighties it was in fact an avenue of trees; loads of them. One could walk from one end to the other, without seeing the sun. Most of the houses were architectural pieces from late colonialism, from the 1950s. But as they began expanding the road, it stopped being an avenue; trees were felled; but most unacceptable of all, was the gradual pulling down of the houses. The residence that the late Alhaji Liman Umaru occupied from about 1967 till the creation of Kogi state was the first to go. The late Governor Muhammad Lawal tore it down to build what he called a Presidential Lodge.

But it was Bukola Saraki that was the most philistine of them all. He tore down the old colonial Government House; the former residence of the Chief Judge opposite the Government House and the former residences of the Icha family and the Aje family. He brought an architect from Lagos to create tasteless architectural pieces that had no relationship with the culture of our community; and in doing injury to our memory, even some old colonial graves opposite the Government House (within the former Press Centre) were torn down. The place became a car park for his new Banquet

Hall, which is as tasteless and incongruent with the culture of the community as all the other buildings that now occupy most of the area around the Government House on Ahmadu Bello Way. The only remaining representation of the late colonial architecture I have spoken about is the HQ of the Kwara State Fire Service adjacent to the Kwara Hotels.

In Sokoto, a former governor even parceled out the Sokoto Race Course to his cronies and they built up pronto! During the 1990s, I made a package for the BBC’s NETWORK AFRICA on the increasing alienation of the open spaces in Kano. Spaces where young people played sports in the evenings and which brought hundreds of people to watch were being gradually alienated and built up as shopping complexes. It took Governor Kwankwaso to revoke the allocations of open land on the BUK Road, around the Kofar Dan Agundi area; they had been parceled out to the very rich of Kano. For most of the 1980s, I lived in the Adewole Housing Estate in Ilorin. It was constructed by the late Governor George Innih and had many open spaces where young people also played sports in the evenings.

A

few years ago, one of the military regimes closed up the main space and turned it into what they called a Baseball Park. The only thing is that no baseball is played there and the space was lost to the young people who would have creatively burned their energies there.

As I indicated earlier, this is a situation that will resonate with Nigerians all over our country. Our cities and towns are not organized with the interest of the Nigerian people at heart. Unfortunately, there is no serious development control in many of our cities, while a little amount of bribes can make planning officials look the other way as individuals choose to indulge themselves, to the detriment of the collective good. Most of the buildings in the centre of the great cities around the world are protected and cannot be torn down. But that is not the

situation in our country. A lot of the philistine and uncultured disrespect for architecture; green areas or open spaces are driven by the effort to steal. When they pull down old colonial residences to build monstrosities, the reason is often because they will steal billions from contracts for such new constructions! And in pursuit of their personal greed, they wipe away many aspects of our history. And because cities are not treated as living spaces, there are no short and long term plans for controlled growth, which will look at the use of roads; the need for walkways; open spaces; green areas and protected buildings! But these things matter!

W

hen we allow our fraudulent rulers to tear down old buildings and do not protest, we acquiesce in the wiping away of aspects of our history. Where we allow them to alienate old parks and green areas to build shopping complexes or partake in sharing such spaces (as they were trying to do with the Ilorin Eid Praying Ground before the Ilorin people strongly protested last year!), we help to kill the habitability of our cities and ensure that our children will not inherit functional communities. We must as citizens and cultured members of our communities become proactive in the protection of historical buildings as well as our open and green spaces. We should also build nationwide movements demanding that our urban spaces be made conducive to the pedestrian.

It was in fact the dysfunctional nature of our environment that made it easy for a “hit and run” driver to kill Dimgba Igwe as he jogged last Saturday morning. While we hope that the police will redeem the pledge to track down the irresponsible driver, it is clear that many more citizens face the same danger, for as long as our urban spaces continue to be as dysfunctional as they have become in recent decades. The greatest tribute we can pay to Dimgba Igwe is to hold those in power in our society to account on how they husband our resources, especially in improving the quality of lives of all citizens.

One of the easiest to track is how they work to make our urban spaces safe for pedestrians; sports lovers; and how they respect open spaces and green areas. When citizens can jog in our urban cities without becoming prey to “hit and run” drivers; or families can relax in well kept urban parks and open spaces are available for young people to play sports, we would have made a strong case for civilized living in our country! When we open these apertures of functional and civilized living, then Dimgba Igwe would not have died in vain.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 IT came as cheering news when the Minister of Environment, Mrs Laurentia Mallam, announced the Federal Government’s N19 billion funding for the control of erosion under the Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

The programme is aimed at attacking the ugly menace of gully erosion in 21 sites across seven states, some of which include Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Cross River.

Coming shortly after a similar gesture, in which the federal government also set aside the sum of N16 billion for the creation of the Great Green Wall Sahara project, Nigeria appears to be getting a little more serious in engaging its daunting environmental challenges which assail the coast, desert fringes and the heartland.

In the north, the Sahara Desert is claiming vast amounts of territories as a result of unhealthy environmental practices, such as indiscriminate wood felling, bush burning and unwillingness by the people to plant trees. In the coast, the Atlantic, following global warming, has increased in volume and taken over many communities while sweeping away low-lying coastal lands. In the hinterland, especially the South Eastern

The N19 billion Anti-erosion F unding Funding areas, gully erosion has taken away huge parcels of land, making it difficult for people to farm. In all instances, this environmental monster has sent many communities packing without a place to call their ancestral homelands.

Even though the federal government has, for decades, provided huge sums of money in its annual budget for states to deploy against environmental degradation, little was achieved because of massive corruption.

This time, the federal government is working together with the World Bank to source a loan totaling more than 500 million dollars to map out an eight-plan of action to tackle

erosion, especially in the South East. Happily, most states involved in the project have paid their counterpart funds.

According to the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Marie-Francoise MarieNelly, it will be an integrated project, with the federal and state governments working closely with the affected local communities to meliorate the erosion sites and deploy environmental management techniques to forestall its spread in other areas.

It is high time we mobilised the youth as agents of environmental reclamation and management. The large number of unemployed youth can be formed into volunteer corps, taught such skills as tree and flower planting and deployed to manage the environment. Environmental awareness and management skills are necessary if we are to keep erosion and deforestation in check long after the fund has been spent.

The people must be involved in salvaging their own land and managing their environments by being equipped with the basic skills. The era of leaving the spending of funds meant for the environment in the hands of politicians and their contractor collaborators must end.

OPINION

By Eric Teniola

Continued from viewpoint pg

A

yesterday's

DMIRAL Murtala Nyako is not alone. At 72 regrettably he is in exile. He may likely face treason charges for the satanic letter he wrote to the President on April 16 this year if he returns from exile.

Military officers elected between 1999 but who have lost out include, Lt. Col. (rtd.) Joseph Iorshnghar Akaagerger (58) Military Governor of Katsina State between August 1988 to May 1989. He represented Benue North in the Senate between 2004 and 2007. In the 2011 election having joined the AD, Action for Democracy, he was defeated by Chief Barnabas Andyar Iyorchia Germade (66) by 229682 to 143978 votes.

Major General Muhammed Chris Alli (rtd.) was Military Governor of Plateau State from 1985-1985 and was Chief of Staff of Nigeria Army from 19931994. President Obasanjo appointed him Administrator of Plateau state and served between May 18 2004 and November 18 2004.

Major General Olatunji Idowu Ishola Olurin(rtd.) (69) was Military Govrnor

An epoch is about to close (2) of Old Oyo state between September 1985 to July 1988. President Obasanjo appointed him Administrator Ekiti state between October 19 2006 and April 27 2007.

Rear Admiral Alabi Muhhamed Lawal (rtd.) (1946-2006) was appointed Military of Ogun state and served between December 1987 till August 1990. He was elected Governor Kwara state and served from May 1999 to May 2003. He died in London on November 6 2006 Major General Jonathan Babatunde Ogbeha (rtd.) (67) was the pioneer Military governor of Akwa Ibom State from September 1987 to July 30 1988.

He later became the Military governor of old Bendel State between 1988 to 1990. He was elected Senator Kogi West between 1999 and 2007.

Brigadier General Olagunsoye Oyinlola (rtd.) (63) was appointed the Military governor of Lagos State between December 1993 to August 1996. He was elected governor of Osun State in 2007 and served till 2010 when the court of Appeal nullified his election on November 26 2010.

Major General John Nanzip Shagaya

(rtd.) (71) was the former Minister of Internal Affairs. He was a member of Armed Forces Ruling from 1985 to 1989 before he became the ECOMOG field Commander and handed over to Major General Tunji Olurin (rtd) in September 1993. He was elected Senator Plateau North in May 2007 and served till 2011.

Major General Abubakar Tanko Ayuba (rtd.) (68) Served as Minister of Communications between 1985 and 1987 after which he became the Military Governor of Kaduna State between August 1990 and January 1992. He was elected Senator Kebbi South between 2007 and 2011.

Squadron leader Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyesigha (62) was elected governor of Bayelsa State in May1999 and served till December 2005 before he was impeached.

General Olusegun Obasanjo was elected President from May 1999 and served in that post till May 2007. On April 2 2012, out of frustration, he resigned as Chairman of the board of Trustees of the ruling PDP. He is gallant abroad but in Nigeria his long years in the service of the nation and his party

are hardly mentioned these days.

General Olusegun Obasanjo has been turned to a non-persona gratia, unacknowledged by the government that he made.

Please don’t count out the Generals yet, as we all know Generals are fighters and a fighter knows many ways. He who fights and runs away, live to fight another day. We may not see the last duel of the Generals yet in the political scene.

Past experience has taught us all never to underestimate the power and influence of the military and their spirit de-corps.

No doubt a passage is unfolding in our political system. Either it is for good or bad, only time will tell.

For years now our vocation was to blame most of our problems on the Military. Now the civilians are gradually taking complete control of the Political system. If the adventure fails the civilian political class will have no other body to blame except of course themselves. The nation will not forgive or forget them. We can see developments taking place in other parts of the world. Why should Nigeria be an exception?

Concluded Mr. Teniola, a former director in the presidency, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014— 19

, R. STEPHEN DAVIS is an original case of loose cannon.

He is both a muckraker and fisher in troubled waters; a man whose real mission to Nigeria can only be understood through proper investigation. He came dressed in the borrowed robes of “federal government negotiator” with Boko Haram. This was what the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its loudmouths, such as Nasir El Rufai, latched on to justify their allegation that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Federal Government is sponsoring the Boko Haram insurgents through elements in the army, such as retired Army chief, Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika.

Since then, Davis has unravelled.

The federal government has denied hiring him, and the man himself has admitted the government did not hire him. So, who hired him? Who brought this mercenary and soldier of fortune to Nigeria? Who started dubbing him “negotiator for the federal government”? And for what specific ends? Whose interest is Davis advancing with his

activities and utterances about the insurgency in Nigeria? Clearly, he has hobnobbed with Boko Haram, if the stories we read and the photos we see are anything to go by. And an angry Boko Haram, according to news, has promised to respond comprehensively to the charges that former Governor Nmodu Sheriff of Borno State and General Ihejirika are sponsors of their war machine. When we hear from them the picture will be clearer.

I see Davis as a hired agent provocateur, someone’s cat’s paw being used to carry out a disguised agenda of confusing the Nigerian public as to what Boko Haram is all about and what they really want to achieve. Those who seek to sow this confusion have two objectives behind it: (a) to mask the real mission of the insurgents, and (b) to put the blame for their activities at the doorstep of President Goodluck Jonathan, with a view to getting him voted out in 2015 so that a northern president will come through the back door and go all out for Boko Haram, thus stopping it from dethroning the northern establishment.

Dr. John Odigie-Oyegun: Excellence personified T

HIS column is today taking time off from the murky waters of politics to bring you the profile of a purist; a true democrat of our time; and one man in whom there is hope that Nigeria is still possible – Chief (Dr.) John Odigie-Oyegun.

This is one man who, in all respects and by all known standards, has distinguished himself in several ways and is already on top of history.

Chief (Dr.) John Odigie-Oyegun, you were born in Warri, in the present Delta State, on 12 August 1939 to late Daniel Osagiede Odigie-Oyegun, MBE, and Mrs. Shaka Odigie-Oyegun (nee Amurun). You hail from Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.

This past weekend, you celebrated your 75th birthday in the process of which Benin City, the Edo State capital, was painted red as your friends and well-wishers, across political divides, came from all over the country and beyond. This column joins in rejoicing with you on the attainment of the age of 75 years. We are confident that you feel self-assured that you have worked hard enough to enjoy the happiness, honour and privileges, which this age confers on you.

Clearly, you have for long been preparing yourself for a respectable leadership role in the affairs of your community and the larger society. There is no better way of appreciating the fact that you have spent a good part of your life for self-development through education and management training in Nigeria and abroad.

You are indeed a man of great vision and determination. Against all the vicissitudes of life, you had the iron determination to succeed and you were not to be deterred by any obstacle on your way.

Going by the standard of that time, when children were required to stretch their hand over their head to touch the opposite ear as a

,

What is Boko Haram’s real mission? It is all too obvious, even though some Nigerians prefer to remain dumb about it. Boko Haram is part of a worldwide Islamic uprising or chains of revolutions aimed at overthrowing the incumbent order established by the West and protected by the statutes and protocols of the United Nations. Boko Haram is part of the campaign for a new Islamic world order. The conflicts in northeast Nigeria, Northern Mali, Somalia, the Islamic Maghreb, Yemen, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Pakistan, Syria and Iraq are initial seeds to plant localised caliphates. If they succeed they will link up and move to the second phase. The US and the West understand this and are trying to build regional coalitions to provide the men while they supply the technology to burn off these Islamists.

M

ore specifically, Boko Haram wants to overthrow the Sokoto Caliphate, which, they believe, has become decadent and no longer fit to serve the needs of Muslims. They want to replace the

mark of eligibility for school enrollment, you went to the Sacred Heart Catholic School, Warri, at a tender age. You later proceeded to Holy Cross Catholic School, Benin City. In 1952, you went to St. Patrick’s College, Asaba for your secondary education. Thereafter, you attended the University College, Ibadan, where you graduated in 1963 with B.Sc. honours in Economics.

Before venturing into career politics, you held several important positions of responsibility in which you distinguished yourself as a prodigy, a man of excellence and an extremely humane individual.

During your working career, you found yourself in positions requiring superior intelligence and judgment. You rendered service to humanity without counting the cost. All these gave your experience a richness that further prepared you for greater responsibilities and service to human kind.

After your University education, you were in the employ of the Federal Government of Nigeria where after 13 years, you were appointed Permanent Secretary at the age of 36 years, thus making you the youngest in your generation. In 1985, you retired voluntarily from the Civil Service.

You had a short sojourn in the business world, where after two years, you became the National Chairman of the Nigerian Trawler Owners Association. The huge successes you recorded in the Civil Service and the business world were foreshadowing for your foray into politics. In 1991, you became the first Executive Governor of Edo State, having been elected on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP. Your involvement in the activities of humanity has been of immense benefit not only to Nigeria but also to the entire human race. You have faithfully served a wide and varied constituency, always ensuring that

justice is applied with universal equality.

O d i g i e Oyegun, we salute you. We salute your courage; and we salute your democratic credentials. We are not in a hurry to forget that at the collapse of the ill-fated Third Republic, you went into the trenches. As a patriot, you

,

Stephen Davis: in whose interest?

D

Boko Haram wants to overthrow the Sokoto Caliphate, which, they believe, has become decadent and no longer fit to serve the needs of Muslims

Sokoto Caliphate and its adjoining territories with a new Islamic dispensation that will not cohabit with the Western model. They blame the current Islamic order in the north, in cahoots with Westernism, for what they see as the degradation of Islamic values, corruption, and lack of regard for the welfare of the downtrodden. It is the same urge to eliminate Western-inspired systems that is driving the Islamists of Mali, especially the Tuareg rebels to fight for their dream new Muslim caliphate known as Azawad.

There is firmly concerted effort on the side of the northern leaders to divert universal attention from Boko Haram’s agenda to overthrow a dispensation that made them what they are today; a system they are hoping will remain their stepping stone towards recapturing the presidency of Nigeria and relaunching their interrupted dominance of its oilrich economy. The northern establishment, with the Sokoto Caliphate as its foundation and bulwark, will do everything possible to divert the attention of especially the talakawa (hoi polloi Islamic grassroots) from tuning into the Boko Haram frequency.

Boko Haram is making their own revolution unpopular through their acts of murderous brutality, which is typical of the methods of today’s al Qaedainspired Jihadists. They are looking for every opportunity, through intense propaganda, to misinform, demonise and point fingers at other people to create distractions.

This has been prosecuted through the activities of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), former Governor Murtala Nyako, Nasir el Rufai and many other

As a patriot, you sacrificed all to fight and accost the military government in Nigeria

,

sacrificed all to fight and accost the military government in Nigeria on the platform of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, where, you were the Secretary in the Diaspora. Essentially, you were in the vanguard, fighting relentlessly to save the nation from the shackles of military oligarchy and dictatorship. You kept vigil so that the rest of Nigeria could sleep.

W

e salute your uncompromising stance as an advocate of the total emancipation of man. In all this, you have always refused to be intimidated by the aggressive media campaigns of your opponents.

We admire your style. The recent struggle for the National chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress, APC, provided a litmus test for your smooth operation. While

northern opinion leaders.

Sometimes they deny there is such a thing as Boko Haram.

Sometimes, they accuse the armed forces of using elements within its ranks to “depopulate” the Muslim North. I have read some laughable opinions blaming the Igbos for the insurgency! The direct accusation of Ihejirika first came from the NEF and Nyako, before Davis came with his unsubstantiated claims.

NEF had actually threatened to sue Ihejirika at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Sometimes, they try to equate the Boko Haram with the former Niger Delta militants, the objective being to create another amnesty programme and funding as it was done for the Niger Delta militants.

Davis walked into the scene with wild allegations without providing a single shred of evidence, especially against Ihejirika. Whose interest is he fronting, I ask again?

He is not a known stakeholder in the Nigerian project. His utterances only resonate with the people whose interests are best served through diverting attention and hoping to weaken the president to enable them climb into his exalted seat. He is a front for those who will like to paint the president and his known supporters black for their own political gains.

While the confusionists are at work, Boko Haram is growing wilder, and the nation is gradually sliding into a second civil war that might eventually destroy it. If this eventually happens, the things the confusionists seek to achieve – the preservation of their Sokoto caliphate dispensation, and reclamation of the presidency – will also be lost. Davis will simply go somewhere else with his portfolio.

some of your opponents were, as usual, busy climbing the tree from the top, you were quietly engaging the grassroots throughout the country. You spread your dragnet from Calabar to Maiduguri; and from Lagos to Sokoto. Your tactical maneuver paid off and in the end, you emerged winner.

It is instructive that although you are a devout Roman Catholic, your greatest support came from the predominantly Northern Muslim population. To that extent, you are also a unifying factor in this country.

Your Excellency, Sir, you are a man of stoic discipline. There is never a dull moment in your life. You have a Christian life that is worth emulating. Among other things, you are an active member of St. Vincent De Paul, a Roman Catholic Church Organization for the upliftment of the poor and the downtrodden.

Morning shows the day. If this is the solid figure that is leading the progressives to the 2015 elections, then, there is hope. Victory is assured!

Chief (Dr.) John Odigie-Oyegun, Administrator per excellence; humanist; politician extraordinaire; strategist; tactician; adept in political engineering; exponent of human kindness; symbol of political honour, confidence and hope: In recognition of your immense contribution as well as your total immersion in the service of humanity, this column is pleased to confer on you, THE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, with all the honours, privileges and immunities thereto appertaining, this Eleventh day of September in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Fourteen.

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Outcry over repairs of Abakaliki-Afikpo expressway

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI- Although both state and federal roads in Ebonyi State have been receiving attention since the coming on board of the Governor Martin Elechi-led administration since 2007, much still have to be done to upgrade these roads.

However, one of the most critical roads still requiring the attention of the Federal Ministry of Works is the AbakalikiAfikpo Expressway which is presently undergoing reconstruction and rehabilitation but at a very slow pace.

Despite the efforts of contractors like CCECC, UNI GLOBE, among others who have contributed their quota towards the upgrade of the road, a section of the road is still in a deplorable state and this development had instigated lots of complaints from both road users and communities residing within the road network.

The section of Abomege in Onicha Local Lovernment Area to Onueke in Ezza South Local Government Area of the state is causing lots of pains, hardship and discomfort to road users who ply the trans-Africa Mombazzer Highway.

The road is very strategic as it leads to Cameroon, Cross

,

Each time I drive through that spot at night, I have my heart in my mouth because armed robbers can easily attack and rob any vehicle without any restriction from security operatives in the area

,

River, Lagos, South-East states among other parts of the country.

A bus driver with Imo State Transport Company, ITC, who gave his name as Okey Emmanuel complained bitterly on the deplorable state of the road.

“My brother, that portion is very bad; it slows us down each time we are driving to our destination. The Federal Government should quickly award that road if they have not done so because it is posing serious threat to road users.

“Each time I drive through that spot at night, I have my heart in my mouth because armed robbers can easily attack and rob any vehicle without any restriction from security operatives in the area. That spot

A bad portion of Abakaliki-Afikpo expressway is very bad.”

A community member who lives within the axis of the road, complained how commuters would leave the bad spot and navigate through family com-

pounds because of the state of the road. Speaking with Vanguard Metro, the Chairman, Ezza South Local Government Area, Chief Laz Ogbee called on the Federal Government to

expedite action on the road, adding that the completion of the road would add aesthetic value to it and further give commuters confidence to ply the road.

Meanwhile, the Federal Controller of Works in the state who did want his name in print said the road was still awaiting procurement and will soon be awarded to a notable contractor.

FRSC records 513 accidents in three weeks ...set to enforce speed limit devices on vehicles

F

EDERAL Road Safety Corps FRSC, has disclosed that it recorded a number of 513 road accidents which occurred within August 11 and 31, this year, out of which it said, 224 was as a result of over speeding.

Worried by this development, the organisation has said it would introduce speed limiting devices in vehicles plying Nigerian roads.

Corps Commander, Corps

Public Education Officer, Stella Uchegbu, who disclosed this at a media parley organised for the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies FOSSRA, by I-Nigerian Initiative, which took place in Abuja, also said planning for the device had entered its final stage.

According to her, “This enforcement will be focused on commercial vehicles due to our

Mrs Stella Uchegbu (middle) addressing the press at an FRSC organised event

findings that more casualties are usually recorded in road crashes involving commercial vehicles which also accounts for 30% of road crashes in the country”, Uchegbu said consultations on this decision commenced last year with an engagement plan drawn with stakeholders such as the Standards Organization of Nigeria, SON, fleet operators and the Nigerian media through two fora in Abuja and Lagos, in addition to other forms of advocacy programmes to attract the buy-in and involvement of all and sundry.

She explained that the Governing Council of the Standards Organization of Nigeria recently granted approval for specifications for the speed limiting devices in the country.

To promptly respond to road crashes and other traffic-related emergencies, Uchegbu said a Call Centre was established to enhance the Corps’ closeness to the general public.

“This initiative was further

strengthened through the establishment of a Toll-free emergency line 122 to expand the horizon of our interface with the motoring public in the event of a road crash.

“Furthermore, the Corps established 14 emergency ambulance rescue points code named Zebra, along some critical corridors across the country. Since the commissioning, the ambulance scheme has improved on our response time and rescued over 5,000 road crash casualties.

On the scourge of ebola virus disease (EVD), the FRSC Spokesperson said the Corps distributed protective items for staff two weeks ago.

“It is not only to protect us in the head office. It was shared countrywide to all the commands to tell us that whosoever is to protect others needs must first protect himself. We are giving gloves, face masks, hand sanitizers. We now want to expand it to protecting our stakeholders; those who come to visit our offices by providing hand sanitizers in the office.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 21

‘Nigeria’s N1.3bn online monthly transactions driven by middle class’

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

M

anaging Director of Niger ia’s online marketplace, Kaymu.com.ng, Evangeline Wiles, has said that the enormous growth rate being recorded on the ecommerce sector, about N1.3 billion per month, is driven by the middle class.

She stated this while reacting to a survey on the growth of e-commerce in Nigeria conducted by business management and consulting firm, Philip Consulting.

The survey revealed that the growth of online based transaction in Nigeria records over $2million, about N320 million worth of transactions per week and about N1.3 billion a month from the 38 percent of Nigerians who prefer to buy products through the internet.

According to Wiles “These figures can be attributed to the middle class as economic growth has led to a strong increase in the middle class, and this powerful group of consumers are demanding quality goods and services.

They are becoming the foundation of a maret-oriented economy and contributing to continued economic growth and social development.”

She noted that as Nigeria continues its movement towards a digital economy, online transactions in the country are expected to reach N1 trillion by the end of 2014, boosting the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN aimed at reducing cash-based transactions.

It could be recalled that recent statis-

190.80

1.15

3,080.00 -2.00 14.88

-0.06

99.2 1 -0.99 92.71

0.05

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

154.74 155.24 249.3171 250.1227 199.4908 200.1354 165.3912 165.9256 1.4572 1.4819 0.2864 0.2964 231.5875 232.3358 25.2146 25.2965 41.2574 41.3907 26.7878 26.8744 231.8315 232.5806

155.74 250.9283 200.78 166.46 1.4666 0.3064 233.0841 25.3785 41.524 26.8744 233.3297

CBN Exchange Rate as 10 /09 / 2014

tics from the African Development Bank put the middle class in Nigeria at 23 percent. This new middle class are well educated, with 92 percent having completed a post-secondary

school education.

Wiles said, “Online marketing offers a level playing ground for large businesses as well as small and medium scale businesses to operate in the global market place and for regional busi-

nesses and communities to participate in social economic and cultural networks across the globe. With the growing successes recorded in the country’s e-commerce space contributed largely to the middle class of the economy, the low income group is also a potential target for business investors and mass products.”

She noted that the middle class is the key to sustaining economic and social development in any region and country, arguing that, “An economy without a mass group of consumers as its foundation cannot be sustained in the long run.”

From left: Otunba Debola Osibogun, President, Chartered Institute of Bankers Nigeria (CIBN); Mr. Herbert Wigwe, GMD/CEO, Access Bank Plc and Chizoba Mojekwu, Director, Human Resources, Central Bank of Nigeria, during the 2nd Annual Seminar on Promoting Gender Economic Inclusion sponsored by Access Bank in Lagos.

May & Baker seeks protection of local manufacturers

By PROVIDENCE OBUH

M

ay and Baker Nigeria Plc has called on the Federal Government to ensure protection of local manufacturers in areas such as patronage and importation of drugs Also to commemorate its 70th anniversary, the company has mapped out plans to give back to the society by donating sickbays to public schools across the country, starting with Central Primary School Ikeja and United African Methodist Primary School, Oyingbo, both in Lagos.

At a press, briefing, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor, Managing Director, M&B, emphasised the assistance of government in the areas of patronage, protection through restriction of unbridled massive importation of basic essential medicines and promoting private sector capacity building and technology development in

critical areas like vaccines production.

“What we are asking government to do is to give us domestic preference, for those of us who are manufacturing locally because we know that we have to get our materials from outside of Nigeria and that it is going to be difficult for us to compete with the same people who are giving us the actives and because we know that we cannot develop capacity if we are not protected.

“There is no country in the world that just wakes up and builds capacity.

India and China at some time in their development had to protect the local manufacturers so that they can build capacity, so we are asking government to give us some level of preference which was approved on paper. There is a 15 percent domestic preference if you are bidding for a contract and you have to compete

with companies from overseas.

“We are actually asking for that 15 percent to be increased because we feel that it is not sufficient to cover for the cost advantage. When we struggle with 15 percent we found that we don’t make profit and some of the people you are struggling with for this contract are ready to even sell at cost because they want to get you out.

“Like Oliver Twist, we are saying 15 percent is good but government must ensure it is applied in all competitive tenders. The law also says that if you do not put it in the publication or in your advert for the tender, you cannot apply it, so we are saying that this must be applied in all competitive tenders that we are going to pay for with the Nigeria money. When the donor agencies bring their funding they are not bound to that policy of government,” he said.

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

,

Be inspired to ask yourself questions every day so that you keep yourself on track and striving to reach your potential

,

Ask yourself questions every day L

eaders who never take time to ask what they are doing, and why they doing it are unlikely to stay on track, lead at their best, and reach their potential.

That is why we need to keep asking ourselves tough questions. Be inspired to ask yourself questions every day so that you keep yourself on track and striving to reach your potential.

The first question to ask is: Am I investing in myself?

This is a question of personal growth. The most important investment you will ever make is in yourself. That investment will determine the return that you get out of life. As Jim Rohn once pointed out, “The book you don’t read

are not. You will never be able to bet on yourself unless you believe in yourself.

Your dream: How you see your future The size of your dream determines the size of your investment. If your dream is large, you will invest in yourself to achieve it. If you have no dream, you may not invest in yourself at all.

Your friends: How others see you Motivational speaker Joe Larson once said, “My friends didn’t believe I could become a successful speaker, so I did something about it. I went out and found some new friends.”

It's not what you are that keeps you from investing in yourself; it's what you think you are - or are not

,

can’t help you; the seminar you won’t attend can’t change your life. The business gets better when you get better. Never wish it were easier, wish you were better.

Three main factors will determine if or how you will invest in yourself: Your self-image: How you see yourself How do you feel about yourself as a person? Are you positive? Are you negative? On a scale of one to ten, what number would you use to describe how you feel about yourself? Take a moment and rate yourself.

Whatever number you picked to describe your selfimage also describes your willingness to invest in yourself. That’s why people with low self-images do not make great investments in themselves. It’s not what you are that keeps you from investing in yourself; it’s what you think you are - or

,

That may sound harsh, but that is what’s needed for anyone who is surrounded by people who don’t believe in them.

People need others to help them stay inspired and growing. Missionary doctor Albert Schweitzer asserted, “In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” If you have friends who light your inner fire, you are very fortunate; they will make you want to keep investing in yourself and growing. If you don’t, find some, because nothing is more important for your potential as a leader than your personal daily growth.

Culled from JohnMaxwell.com

BUSINESS NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES Date 09/8/14

Currency DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

Buying(N) 154.74 249.3171 199.4908 165.3912 1.4572 0.2864 231.5875 25.2146 41.2574 26.7878 231.8315

Central(N) 155.24 250.1227 200.1354 165.9256 1.4619 0.2964 232.3358 25.2965 41.3907 26.8744 232.5806

Selling(N) 155.74 250.9283 200.78 166.46 1.4666 0.3064 233.0841 25.3785 41.524 26.961 233.3297

BY JOHN PAUL

A business plan is not just a fundraising tool or that boring document that only big businesses write. It’s for everybody. A dream is still a dream until it leaves your head and becomes a Specific, Measurable and Time-bound plan. Following is the concluding part of the things a business plan will do for you, whether you’re still at the idea stage or have an existing business you want to grow and expand.

Keeps you and your business accountable You are very likely to be the biggest risk to your business.

Because you’re answerable to no one in your business, there’s usually that temptation to take the business for granted. It’s your idea and your business.

Everybody answers to you because you’re the boss. But who do you answer to? Unlike your employees who can be fired, there’s no punishment and nothing to hold you accountable if you procrastinate, backslide or fail to meet targets and deadlines.

A business plan allows you to set goals and track your progress and levels of achievement over time.

Without this accountability, your business will always be subject to guesses and impulsive actions and will definitely perform below its best potentials.

People who set Specific, Measurable and Time-bound (SMT) targets for themselves usually perform much better than others. If I plan to lose 5 kilograms of weight in one week, that’s an SMT target.

Importance of having a business plan (II) If I start on Sunday and by Wednesday, I notice I’ve lost only one kilogram, I would be moved to increase my efforts because I know it would be impossible to achieve my target if I continued at my current pace. Because I know my target is time-bound (1 week), there will be more urgency in my attitude to meet this target. And when I meet my targets, I make progress; which is exactly the result I want.

A business plan is the only way for entrepreneurs and businesses to hold themselves accountable using SMT targets. It’s the best way to eliminate procrastination, reduce the fear of failure and inspire you to take quick and bold actions that will make your dream business come true.

Increases your chances of raising capital Nobody can read your mind.

This includes potential

business partners, bank loan officers, investors and other people who can provide the capital you need to start or expand your business. How can you bring out that brilliant business idea from your mind and present it to these people in a way that convinces them to invest in and support your business?

A plan is the most effective way to communicate your business idea to other people in a clear, complete and convincing manner. It’s no longer that odd idea you had in your head. It’s now on paper. It’s concrete proof to anyone who sees it. Partners, investors and bankers are more likely to take you seriously if you have a wellwritten and professional business plan. Banks and investors actually take business plans very seriously.

Why? Because the information it provides helps them to properly measure the risk of investing in your business.

Banks and investors take

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014—23

,

& YOU

You don't need to spend time on a brand new strategic plan each year, but you do need a refresher or annual update of the plan

,

COMMODITIES (10/9/14) Commodity Light Crude

Last 91.57

Natural Gas

3.95

-0.03

-0.73

Sugar

14.60

-0.28

-1.88

Coffee

185.85

-2.25

-1.20

Cocoa

3,080.00

-2.00

-0.06

,

calculated risks; they’re not gamblers. It’s highly unlikely that they will give you their money and hope that your business is successful and turns a profit.

Anybody who’s interested in your business idea wants to see that you have taken the time to do a proper and detailed planning. They want to see your Profit Forecasts.

They are interested in your Competitive Analysis and the quality of experience you have to successfully run the business.

The more information they have, the more convincing your business dream becomes to them.

Whether you’re applying for a bank loan, looking for a partner or venture capitalist to invest in your business, applying for a government loan or grant, or entering for a fundraising competition, you stand a better chance of winning and raising the capital you need if you have a well-written and professional looking business plan.

Here are three easy methods of writing a businesses plan.

Use a template or sample business plan: By using a template or sample of a business plan that looks like something you want, you’ll end up saving a lot of time and energy compared to starting from scratch. The only problem about templates is that your plan ends up looking like somebody else’s.

It’s not for people who want a business plan that stands out and is completely unique.

Use business plan software: Software makes business plans so easy to write. The right business plan software can be a huge blessing for those of who don’t have the creative skills to design attractive plans, or the financial skills to prepare all the financial reports that make business plans a nightmare.

It’s an option for those want to create a plan that is convincing, attractive and unique.

Hire a business plan writer: This is the easiest option. For those who can afford it, this option will save you a lot of time and effort. All you have to do is give the writer an idea of the kind of business you’re trying to create and all the information he/she needs to develop a professional business plan for you. If you’re too busy, don’t have time to write a business plan by yourself or just want a professional touch, this option would definitely work best for you.

No matter the option you choose to create your business plan, always remember that you must understand and be able to defend everything it contains.

Easy ways to write a business plan

John-Paul is the founder, Smallstarter Africa

People who set Specific, Measurable and Timebound (SMT) targets for themselves usually perform much better than others

,

% Change -1.27

How effective is your organisation's annual strategic review, update?

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

“What’s the use of running if you are not on the right road”…German proverb

T

owards the end of the year, most organisations see it as a necessity to audit their financials. This practice helps organisations to ascertain their financial commitments and growth within a particular period of time. But, studies have shown that large numbers of organisations have ignored one key area that will drive their financial performances.

They have failed to carry out independent strategic audit/ review of the year’s activities based on the organisationwide strategic plan.

Surprisingly, a yearly independent Strategic audit/ review is usually not even on the radar screens of the collective management or board of directors, much less present in the organisation’s literature and practice. Your organisation’s annual strategic review and update should include a review, assessment and feedback report with recommendations from an external, unbiased perspective on the status of your organisation’s strategy implementation.

This Strategic Assessment process concerns itself with two overall purposes or goals: Assess the collective management’s attention to the development and implementation of the Strategic Management System; Assess the collective management’s attention to actual results and achievements accomplished under the strategic plan.

It’s one thing to have an organisation-wide strategic plan or a three-year business

plan for your strategic business units and major functional areas. It is another to keep them from becoming a one-year, one-hit wonder.

When left alone, strategic plans become subject to the ‘SPOTS’ Syndrome, which is your “Strategic Plan on the Top Shelf” gathering dust. To persist in implementing your strategic plan and keep it running successfully as a Strategic Management System— even after the newness has worn off — you need to conduct a yearly follow-up to diagnose the

,

Change ($) -1.18

A key question that has been asked is: whose role is it to lead the strategic review or update in organisations?

,

overall success of your implementation. At this time, you can also recycle and update your strategic plan and its annual priorities, continuing to improve towards your ideal vision as you go. By conducting strategic reviews annually, you will continue to cycle through your strategic plan implementation, becoming a high performing organisation and ultimately creating customer value year after year.

We are often asked how often organisations should completely redo their strategic plans. Realistically, in today’s changing world, we believe that a plan can last two to three years before it needs to be completely retooled. On the other hand, you should expect to draft a new plan— or revise the existing one— whenever your organisation experiences a major change

in its direction (new or changed goals), its environment (marketplace) or its senior leadership. You don’t need to spend time on a brand new strategic plan each year, but you do need a refresher or annual update of the plan. This is much quicker than the actual planning process, but it is a must. A key question that has been asked is: whose role is it to lead the strategic review or update in organisations?

The CEO should lead the update, with all senior management making up the majority of the Strategic Planning Team. There are eight steps to updating your strategic plan: Complete a brief Executive Briefing/ Plan-to-Plan as necessary.

Start with a two-day off -site meeting that includes the following tasks: Conduct a Future Environmental Scan using the SKEPTIC Model and going out a minimum of three years.

Briefly recheck the vision, mission, values and Key Success Measures of your strategic plan to see if they are still relevant. Conduct the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis, preceded by feedback of your independent Strategic Management System audit and assessment (Strategic IQ Audit). Refine your core strategies.

While core strategies pretty much stay the same each year, one or two may have changed or fallen off, while one or two others may have been added.

Reset your annual Strategic Action priorities and accountability. This task will represent the bulk of this off - site meeting’s work.

Following the off -site meeting, conduct a Parallel Involvement Process for feedback from all key stakeholders (especially middle management and supervisors).

*To be continued C M Y K

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

ATM: CeBIH urges bank customers to explore alternative transaction channels

By JONAH NWOKPOKU

C

From left : Mr. Dele Adeyinka, Vice Chairman, Committee of E-Banking Industry Heads (CEBIH); Mr. Tunde Kuponiyi, Chairman and Mrs. Juliet Nwanguma, financial Secretary during a press conference on CBN new directives on Automated Teller Machine, ATM charges, in Lagos.

ommittee of e-Banking Industry Heads, CeBIH, has charged bank customers in the country to explore other channels available for transaction using their debit cards. CeBIH noted that cards could be employed for several uses besides cash withdrawals from the Automated Teller Machines, ATMs. Chairman of CeBIH, Tunde

AfDB okays N40.9bn to finance infrastructure in Nigeria, Ethiopia

By TOCHUKWU EZE & EKOEMEYE ISAAC

A

FRICAN Development Bank, AfDB, has approved $256 million (N40.9 billion) investments in infrastructure, water, sanitation and health in Nigeria and Ethiopia.

The Board of Directors of AfDB disclosed this after its first regular meeting since the Bank returned to its statutory headquarters in Abidjan on Monday, September 8.

According to information from its website, the approvals comprise a US $150-million senior loan to Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise for the con-

struction of a Greenfield seaport in the Lagos Free Trade Zone, 60 kilometres east of Lagos.

The project follows a 45-year concession granted to Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise (LPLE), the Special Purpose Vehicle, by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) under a build, own, operate and transfer scheme.

It involves construction of port infrastructure such as breakwaters, quays, approach channels, dredging of the basin as well as captive utilities such as water and power. On completion, the port would handle 2.5 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), 16.7 million tonnes (MT) of liquid

cargo and 4.5 MT of dry bulk.

Construction is expected to start in January 2015 with the container terminal operations expected to start in December 2018.

The AfDB noted that the project, estimated at $1.675 billion, will be financed through a 54/46 debt to equity ratio. It is aligned with the Bank’s Nigeria Country Strategy Paper 2012-2016 which stresses infrastructure development in the non-oil and transport sector as well as the country’s Vision 2020, which emphasizes modernizing infrastructure. The project is also in line with the Bank’s Regional Integration Strategy

Diamond Bank unveils model electronic branch

By NKIRUKA NNOROM & JONAH NWOKPOKU

I

n a strategic move to fulfill the need for digital and terrestrial banking, Diamond Bank Plc has unveiled a flagship of its electronic banking branch equipped to meet both online and offline banking needs of its customers.

The bank located at Ajose Adeogun, area of Victoria Island, Lagos, is equipped with ATM gallery, telephone banking, and tablets among other features to help customers conduct their banking transactions with ease.

Speaking at the branch opening ceremony in Lagos, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Bank Plc,

Mr. Alex Otti, described the bank as new generation Diamond Bank, saying that any other bank that would be opened by the bank will be a resemblance of the flagship branch.

He noted that the bank has been on this for some years, while expressing delight that it has finally come to fruition.

“This is what to expect in the future; this is a flagship branch for Diamond Bank. We have opened a couple of them, but we decided to showcase this to the world.

“As you enter here, you see the experience center, it is actually the electronic banking center. You have an ATM gallery, you have the touch screen center,you have telephone banking and then you have the tablet all around.the

place. It is actually a banking of the future,” Otti said.

Paper (RISP) for West Africa which emphasizes linking regional markets through regional transport infrastructure.

AfDB, further stated that it will contribute a US $5-million equity investment to the establishment of Kukuza Project Development Company (KPDC), a new firm that would focus on early-stage design and preparation of African infrastructure projects.

“KPDC will assume turnkey responsibility for preparing the contractual, technical and financial arrangements of its projects, and marketing such projects to a range of potential private and public-private investors for onward implementation. The company expects to process between two and four new infrastructure projects per year. Thus, in 10 years the company aims to develop 30-40 projects for a combined possible investment of over US $5 billion” AfDB stated.

Kuponiyi gave the charge in Lagos at a press briefing with Finance Correspondents on the recent re-introduction of charges for Remote-On-us transactions on ATMs. He said it was pertinent that members of the public be educated on how to use the ATMs for other services outside cash withdrawals.

He said, “The cards being issued by the banks are not only meant for ATM cash withdrawal but are activated for a wide range of services on ATM and other alternative channels.

Such services include bills payment like DSTV, PHCN etc, Intra & Inter-bank transfers, airtime purchase, donations, embassy payments, dealer payments, utility bills, school fees amongst others.

Kuponiyi who decried that the banks were losing so much money to facilitate free cash withdrawals from ATMs said the trend did not help the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He said reversing the decision was wise as it will help to drive other alterative channels available for transaction using debit cards.

According to him, “Industry statistics show that inter-bank cash withdrawals rose from 33.4 million transactions with a value of N91 billion in January 2013 to 66.8 million transactions with a value of N168 billion in December 2013.

During this period, it was discovered that members of the public engaged in uncontrolled use of their debit cards on other bank ATMs such that customers engaged in as many as 160 transactions in a month.”

He said as a result, “A huge burden was placed on the banks to pay for the cost of transactions their customers carry out on other banks’ ATM.

Grenada eyes mutual trade ties with Nigeria

By PRISCA SAM-DURU & VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

S

pecial Advisor to Ambassador Peter De Savary of Inward Investment, Grenada, Richard Hallam has disclosed his country’s readiness to establish a mutual trade ties with Nigeria noting that the relationship would give both countries the opportunity to share and benefit from trade and commerce agreement. Richard Hallam who was in Nigeria, spoke at the Grenada Citizenship by Investment summit organised by Monarch & Co which held weekend, at the Wheat Baker Hotel Ikoyi Lagos, said “The whole idea of a chamber of commerce is to share business interest between Grenada and Nigeria. I don’t

know what they are right now, they could be many, its something we’re exploring, its something that’s currently being set up and I’m hoping it’s something very productive.”

Hallam further disclosed that “As a very small Caribbean country, the Grenada government is always looking to other countries to help benefit from trade and commerce agreement.”

Explaining why it took this long to show interest to do business with Nigeria, Hallam stated that “There are 4oo countries in the world where Grenada has not gone. Its just a small Caribbean country so, its not so very easy for our ministers to be everywhere all the time.

Grenada has long been having excellent relationship with some Asia countries, UK, USA so, I think things will change.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 25

*From left: Mrs. Adeleke Deborah; Mr. Oti Christopher, MD/CEO of Notics Communication Services; Mr. Adeleke Olaitan, Deputy Registrar, Federal Polytechnic, Ede; Prof. Mordi Chinedum, Provost, Delta State University (Oleh Campus); Mr Adefisoye Olumide, Deputy Registrar, Federal Polytechnic, Ede; Prof. Akinrinade Olusola, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Mrs. Ogunsan Ajoke, MD/CEO, Executive Trainers Ltd; Mr. John Morris, Director, Global Access, University of California; Mrs. Ige Aderonke, Registrar, Lagos State Polytechnic; Prof. Igbigbi Sunday, Provost, Delta State University (Asaba Campus); Mr. Ebereghwa Paul, Bursar, Delta State University, Abraka at the just-concluded international executives' training organised by Executive Trainers Limited and University of California, Los Angeles, USA.

EBOLA SCARE:

Sept 22 resumption date not in children’s interest — Parents, teachers

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI, LAJU ARENYEKA, TARE YOUDEOWEI & PAUL IKUFORIJI

S

ince the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, came into Nigeria, it has had an adverse effect on every sector in the nation. This is not

just a health issue; its effects on business, transportation, religion and even education are unfathomable.

Ebola’s fingerprints, especially on education, can be seen on the Federal Government’s efforts to extend the holidays of

primary and secondary school students to October 13 to protect them from contracting the virus. Government’s decision was, however, met with displeasure especially from private school proprietors. As a result, the

date was moved to September 22, 2014.

The September 22 decision is not without its own controversies; teachers, parents and stakeholders differ on whether or not schools will be free from EVD by then.

The President, Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Mr. Michael Alogba, says that the

Don slams teachers, parents for students’ failure ...as Mike Okonkwo Essay competition winners emerge

By DAYO ADESULU

P

rofessor Akachi Ezeigbo from the Department of English, University of Lagos, a Chief Examiner at the 15th Mike Okonkwo

National Essay Competition has faulted parents, teachers and educational managers for students’ failure, urging them to put in more effort at guiding their children to develop their own skills. She frowned at parents helping

students with tasks and assignments that would give false impressions of their skills describing it as misleading.

She stated this at the 15th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture and presentation of

World Bank partners Ibadan Business School on How to choose the capacity-building Pg. 27 university to attend (3)

gifts to winners of the Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition held at MUSON Centre, Lagos.

As the chief examiner of the competition, she said: “The submissions for this year’s competition show a further slide down the curve of suitability.” According

Continues on page 26

decision "is not a good idea at all and students should not resume until there is no single case of Ebola in the country."

He told Vanguard Learning: "The Federal Government has done really well in combating the scourge but I would have expected them to stick to the October 13 resumption date because we are still at a point where we are worried about the outbreak in Rivers State and the spread to other states.

“I believe that government should have remained more combative in dealing with this issue instead of succumbing to the pressure of powerful school proprietors. For our children to go back to school while EVD cases are still being recorded in different states, government should post health officers to different states to keep the states under surveillance.”

Continues on page 26

SUCCESS RECIPE Pg. 28

Staying positive in a negative world Pg. 31

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Don slams teachers, parents for students’ failure

LECTURE: From left: Bishop Peace Okonkwo, her husband, Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr Mike Okonkwo; Mrs Grace Obiozor, Guest Lecturer; Professor Akin Oyebode, Chairman of the occasion; former Ambassador to United State of America and Professor George Obiozor at the 15th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture on’ 'Power of your vote’ as part of activities to celebrate 69th birthday of Dr Mike Okonkwo in Lagos.

Sept 22 resumption date not in children’s interest Continues from page 25 Recall that the Federal Government had called on stakeholders in the education sector to put measures in place to create an Ebola-free school environment for children. Each state ministry of education is expected to train, at least two officials from every school on how to handle any suspected case of Ebola as well as embark on immediate sensitisation of all teaching and non-teaching staff on preventive measures.

The Education Minister, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, who made this known, said “All primary and secondary schools, both public and private, should be provided with a minimum of two blood pressure measuring equipment by the states’ ministries of education.

These ministries should determine the number of such equipment required and forward same to the Federal Ministry of Education. The Federal Ministry of Education will liaise with the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that appropriate equipment is procured.

“Regular washing of hands is part of the preventive measures and there must be steady supply of water in schools. All states should ensure that this is put in place as the schools reopen.”

In compliance with the Minister's instructions, the Lagos State Government has directed the Lagos State Water Corporation to supply pipeborne water to no fewer than 600 public schools, and this would be ready before the September 22 resumption date.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, at a recent sensitisation exercise on the Ebola Virus for Principals and Head Teachers of public primary and secondary schools as well as proprietors of private

schools in the state, tasked education stakeholders to inculcate in the students the basic universal precaution of frequently washing their hands in the fight against the virus.

But despite this preventive measure, educationists and parents are still skeptical about allowing students to resume as more still need to be done to ensure the safety of these children.

Barely two weeks to resumption, the NUT boss is worried that there isn’t enough time to put these preventive measures in place.

He said: “How many schools have complied with the measures which are supposed to be in place before resumption? How many have the adequate number of equipment or trained personnel?’

Worried that some parents will not be willing to allow their children remain in boarding houses as many of them have refused to pay boarding fees, the Principal, Hope Waddell Training Institution Calabar, Cross River State, Mr. Edet Inyang, called on government to ensure that adequate preventive measures are put in place before reopening schools.

“We have sent the name of the two teachers to the training as requested by government but we are worried that the number of days is not enough. The best thing is to wait for government to finish work before resuming as the time before resumption is short for us to prepare.

“It is better students stay at home till everything is ready and the virus is under control because it is a very painful experience to lose a child.

Also, if a child is affected, the whole school is likely to close down, so government should really think this one through.”

Parents are also not at ease.

Stressing that it is better safe

In agreement is Mrs. Chinyere Adi who says schools’ remaining closed is the best option until the virus is contained to an extent because kids will not understand when you tell them to be careful and you’ll However, not all stakeholders are apprehensive about the newly scheduled resumption date.

On the level of compliance with government’s directive that all schools must encourage proper handwashing by installing functional taps by school gates for anyone coming into the schools to wash their hands and regularly check the temperature of all students, among other things, the Principal, Caro Favour Schools, Mr. Mark Okoh, said his school is ready for resumption as it already has running taps by the gate and has purchased hand sanitisers.

“We are ready to resume schools as we already have taps by the gate and have placed hand sanitisers in strategic locations in the school. The only thing remaining is to organise a training session for the teaching and non-teaching staff on how to handle any suspected case of Ebola.”

Mr. Jimoh Alli, Principal, Rockville College in Lagos, says that his school is ready and fully prepared for resumption on the 22 nd of September, "though there are some issues that we need to take care of.

“Two of our staff representatives were present at the recent seminar organised by the Ministry of Education but we haven’t received the blood pressure measuring equipment from the ministry. On our part, we have two tap points inside of the compound, but are planning on getting bowls, dettol and probably sanitizers.”

Continues from page 25 to her, the test is more than a test of brilliance, it is also a test of how much students have learned to follow scholarly procedures in their analysis of issues. “This is what education is virtually all about, from primary through secondary to the tertiary level,” she said.

Ezeigbo, who lamented the decline in students’ written and spoken English said: “We detected brazen collaboration among students from the same school. We suspect that they received help from their teachers. In some cases, about five to 10 students of the same school submitted verbatim entries.”

According to her, some entries show obvious cases of parents helping their children because the language use did not reflect the capacities of children of secondary school age. “In other cases, we found evidence of students hacking sections of their entries from the internet, textbooks, newspapers and other sources.

Because many went to the same sites or sources, it was easy to detect this brazen form of cheating, she added.

The Professor, however, noted that the four candidates who scaled through the first stage proved their intellectual promise in the second by satisfying the criteria. Thus, Miss Patience Brown of Apapa Senior High School, Apapa who scored 68 per cent during the first stage repeated her performance again scoring 68 per cent to emerge first in the competition.

Also, Miss Precious Amarachi Nwaigwe of St. Francis Catholic Secondary School, Idimu, Lagos scored 66 per cent to emerge second even when she came fourth, scoring 60 per cent at the earlier stage.

Besides, Master A k i n w a n d e Akinboluwarin of Greater Tomorrow International School, Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State scored 63 per cent at the first stage and 65 per cent at the second to emerge third.

Closely allied to the above is the fourth candidate, Master David

Oluwasoromidayo of Rashalo International Secondary School who scored 65 per cent in the first entry but dropped to 64 per cent in the second.

The close correlations in the marks scored by the students at both stages validate their efforts. Unlike previous years, the marks for this year were particularly low, with none of the students scoring 70 per cent which is the A grade.

"Students’ failure in this year's competition further confirms the decadence in our education sector. In order for students to pass examination, many of them depend absolutely on their teachers, parents or guardians. They are not willing to do any serious had work for themselves," she said.

Speaking in tandem, Governor Babatunde Fashola who was elated that a public school student emerged first said that it does not come as a surprise that a product of one of the public schools is the winner of this event.

“This has been the case year after year and it is testament to the work of public servants; teachers, principals, vice-principals, tutors-general and all members of our community who have decided to invest in Lagos public education.

“The annual Bishop Mike Okonkwo Lecture is a very strong feature in the Lagos State calender. It is so because, for me, it is about many things; first it is about children, and that is very important. Secondly, it is about education, which is also very important. Thirdly, it comes from a well respected source, and indeed that is very important.

"As such, every year, I make an effort to be here in person, not only to come and celebrate a man who deserves to be honoured but also to see the outcome of the investment we have made on the children you have entrusted in our care in public schools do in these annual competitions."

On his part, the Chairman of the occasion, Ambassador (Prof.) George Obiozor stressed the importance of ideas development adding that ideas rule the world.

He said, “Of all the major indices of power identified by the world’s leading philosophers, from Plato to Bertrand Russell, idea constantly emerged as number one. Ideas create events and events make history."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 27

World Bank partners Ibadan Business School on capacitybuilding

BY DAYO ADESULU

H

aving examined what Ibadan Business School stands for over the years, the World Bank has partnered with it to boost the public sector and respond to capacity-building to strengthen requirements of micro, small and medium enterprises in Nigeria.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of Ibadan Business School, Professor Oladapo Afolabi, during a press conference held at the Airport Hotel, Lagos.

Afolabi said: “The key solution to our national growing unemployment crisis strategically lies in the public sector which currently drives the economy. IB S has designed, through its Entrepreneurship Education and Training programmes, market-driven programmes to lend critical capacity support to this sector.”

Recognising the World Bank as the most virile global institution that has continued to champion the development agenda of developing nations across the world, he said: “This informed the decision of the management of IBS to formally write the World Bank for partnership in pursuit of similar goals of the two institutions.”

The chairman explained that the primary aim of the request is to enable IBS leverage on the global acclaimed superior practice of

the World Bank in the delivery of development programmes in Nigeria over the years.

“Our request led to official visitation of the World Bank team to our institution to appraise the adequacy of our facilities and capacities for the delivery of proposed professional certificate programme (classroombased), regular certificate programmes in entrepreneurship education and training (classroombased) and regular certificate programme in e-learning courses (online-based),” he said.

Afolabi said: “The World Bank team led by the Lead Procurement Specialist Africa Region, Chief Bayo

to inform you that the World Bank is willing to partner with your institution and to introduce your programme to World Bank-supported project teams in Nigeria.”

Afolabi noted that IBS, with this partnership, would benefit from the experiences of the World Bank in delivering its training programme to the three tiers of government, and also micro, small, and medium enterprises in the Nigerian economy.

His words: “The Ibadan Business School prides itself as the only Business Education Institution in Nigeria that focuses its training programmes on the two most important sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The Ibadan Business School prides itself as the only Business Education Institution in Nigeria that focuses its training programmes on the two most important sectors of the Nigerian economy Awosemusi, at the end of the visit, remarked in IBS official visitors’ record thus, “This is an incredibly excellent training institution, the first private institution of its type in Nigeria. The facility and location is extremely convenient for learning. The Bank as an institution will like to partner with the management to ensure that the programme is introduced to other African countries.”

In response to IBS' request, the World Bank via a letter said, “We have since visited your facilities and I am happy

One is the public sector which currently drives the economy. Two is capacitybuilding and strengthening requirement of micro, small, and medium enterprises in Nigeria.”

IBS Board include; Prof.

Oladapo Afolabi, Chairman Board of Advisors, Mr Yinka Fasuyi, President, IBS, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Dr (Mrs) Sally Adukwu-Bolujoko, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, Dr Bayo Jimoh, Prof Taoheed Adedoja, Prof Pikay Richardson and Mr Yinka Fasuyi.

Etisalat Cliqlite promotes learning with summer Camp HYPE

By AMAKA ABAYOMI

W

ith the successful launch of Cliqlite, the fun and learning product for kids and teenagers, Etisalat Nigeria recently sponsored children to the 2014 edition of Camp HYPE, Nigeria’s first indigenous residential and highly sought after summer camp.

Cliqlite from Etisalat is the first ever child-friendly telecommunications package in Nigeria designed to make learning fun and assist children between the age of 8 and 15 in their education.

It offers a 7-inch android tablet which comes pre-loaded with school curriculum text books, JAMB, SSCE and

IGCSE past questions as well as educational apps and games and comes with a Norton parental control app which enables parents to monitor online activities of their children.

Reiterating Etisalat’s interest in collaborating with and facilitating sustainable and enjoyable learning experience for the growing Nigerian youths, Manager, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Idiareno Atimomo, said Etisalat decided to sponsor this edition of the summer camp because it provided an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the values of the Cliqlite brand.

“Camp HYPE is designed to

engage children during the holiday and help them develop life skills. The program shares the same objectives with Cliqlite which is to nurture, educate, and motivate children through exciting and memorable initiatives,” Atimomo said.

Held in a highly secured location in Lagos, the Camp, which lasted for two weeks, engaged the children in various activities including a four-day boot camp, indoor and outdoor adventures, arts and crafts, photography lessons, horse riding lessons, life skills programs, treasure hunt and a musical performance by hip hop artiste, Reminisce.

*Hon. Mohammed Onawo (middle), Chairman, Committee on Industries, Federal House of Representatives and Special Guest of Honour at the event receiving his fellowship award from the President of NITAD, Dr Ogungbuyi while Mr Oguntuyi looks on.

Entrepreneur education the way out of poverty —LASTVEB scribe TARE YOUDEOWEI

E

xecutive Secretary,Lagos State Vocational and Technical Education Board (LASTVEB), Engr. Olawumi Gasper has maintained that entrepreneur education is the way out of poverty.

Speaking at the 22nd annual trainers’ conference, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Training and Development (NITAD)in Abuja, he said: "Enterprise is the way out of being poor and unproductive; a person who cannot create wealth will be hungry."

Presenting the lead paper at the event, Engr. Gasper stated that the great economies of the world recognised this a long time ago and built their economies around the acquisition of vocational skills, which became the catalyst for industrialisation.

He said, “In our clime for so long we did not focus enough on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship education, as we valued and still value formal education. Today those with vocational skills and those possessing required skill sets are in high demand and those who are imbued with entrepreneurship education are current game changers.'"

Gasper pointed out that skills acquisition with doses of enterprise education are relevant and important cornerstones in the nation’s education policy as he added that acquiring the desired vocational skills training infused with entrepreneurship education will produce for the country men and women of talent and skills who can create wealth and value.

Meanwhile, in his opening remark, Chairman, Conference Planning Committee, Mr Laolu Oguntuyi said the impact of entrepreneurship education and training on individual attitudes, actions and ambitions is of particular interest to policy makers, educators and practitioners.

He said entrepreneurship development and innovation in Nigeria, is at the peak of awareness, creation and participation by the people, the organised private sector and government at all levels.

“Learning and development is seen as one of the preconditions for entrepreneurship development, particularly in a place where the spirit and culture is minimal. There is no gainsaying the fact that learning and development is key and that it plays a strong role in forming the borgeoning entrepreneur”, he said.

Besides, in his welcome address, Dr Kayode Ogungbuyi , President and Chairman of Council, NITAD, said the theme of the conference aims at addressing and proffering solutions to the issue of unemployment through skills acquisition programmes for the youth and other unemployed persons.

Dr Ogungbuyi stressed that in the context of the reality of the nation today where many companies are complaining about lack of skills in many areas, there is an urgent need to focus on the issue os skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.

The theme of this year ’s conference; Learning and Development : Pre-requisite to Skills and Entrepreneurial Growth, delivered by Engr. Olawumi Gasper, Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Vocational and Technical Education Board (LASTVEB), Digital Digital Fluency for Entrepreneurial Success in the 21st Century by Dr Niran Oyekale, Managing Director of Commit Technology and Consult Ltd while Dr Rotimi Oladele, a lecturer at the Lagos State University spoke on Professional and Practical Viewpoint for Building Entrepreneurship, among others.

The presenters affirmed that education is continuous and should be developmental while trainers must keep on educating themselves as training will bring about change of attitude, improved skills and performance.

They noted that technical and vocational skills create jobs and wealth which is acceptable standard at the national and international levels.

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

How to choose the university to attend (3) Continues from last week

2015: KCOBA tasks PDP, APC on education vision

BY DAYO ADESULU

A

s the 2015 general elections approach, King’s College Old Boys Association while outlining the programme for its 105th Founder ’s Day anniversary, has invited the chairmen of the two leading political parties (PDP and APC ) to speak on their party’s vision for education in Nigeria, Speaking on activities designed by the Old Boys to mark the event, the Chairman, Kingsweek Committee, Mr Albert Okumagba said: “On Thursday, September 18, the 2014 Founder ’s Day Lecture will hold at the Shell Hall MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Chairman of All Progressives Congress and Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party will speak on their party’s vision for education in Nigeria.”

According to him, apart from

the lecture offering a formidable platform for the leading parties to showcase their vision for education, it is also in consonance with the Old Boys' commitment to the unity of Nigeria and desire to raise the quality of public discourse around key issues as we approach 2015.

Okumagba who noted that the King’s College Old Boys' Association is one of the leading alumni associations in Nigeria stated that it has for many years been in the vanguard of the quest for educational reform and transformation. He said: “Working closely with the school authority and the Federal Ministry of Education, we have contributed substantially to the upgrade of learning infrastructure in the school.

The activities will commence on Wednesday September 17, with a novelty football match between King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) and Queens’s College Old

Girls’ Association (QCOGA) at the Queen’s College Sport Complex.

This will be followed by the anniversary Jumat service schedule for 1pm on Friday, 19th September.

The grand finale of the 2014 Kingsweek will be the 105th Founder's Day Dinner/ Exhibition which will hold at 5pm on Saturday, 20th September at the Dorchester, Zion Centre, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru Estate, Lagos.

More over, Okunmagba noted that the present Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II who is an aluminous will be guest of honour at the Founders Day Dinner. Just as N1 billion Endowment Fund raised intended to secure the future of their Alma mater.

The activities will be wrap up with the anniversary thanksgiving service which will hold at the King’s College, Lagos Hall on 21 September at 9am and the AGM at 2pm.

Israeli Envoy calls for proper harness of young talents in Nigeria

By LAIDE AKINBOADE and RAPHAEL IZOKPU

A

BUJAIsraeli A m b a s s a d o r

to Nigeria, Uriel Palti, said there is urgent need for the country to harness the potential and talents of young Nigerians.

Ambassador Palti made this call during a recent media outreach and interactive forum on Gifted and Talented people organised by the Ada Chenge Divine Foundation.

The Ada Chenge Divine Foundation is non-political/ religious organisation founded by Mrs Roseline Ada

Chenge with the aim of supporting, contributing and positioning gifted and talented children and people in Nigeria and beyond.

The chairman of the Transitional Board of Patrons for the foundation on media outreach/interaction, Engr.

Edward Ujege, in his address, said: "the Foundation’s mission and vision which is to create a voice, platform and framework for gifted and talented people to realise their divine purpose, incorporating process and procedure to harness and mobilise resources through contact, cooperation and

collaboration, for the empowerment of the gifted and talented people for the enhancement of the society."

According to him, “Ada Chenge Divine Foundation is the concept of few Nigerians who believe that the face of the world can be transformed by enhancing the potentials of talented persons in the society.

"Our operational methodology is to create and develop integrated advocacy, sensitisation and mobilisation programmes so as to create the needed and necessary awareness towards identifying, managing, promoting and projecting the issues of gifted and talented children.

I

,

*From left: Phillip Isakpa, chairman, Media committee, King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA); Rotimi Aladesanmi, vice-president, KCOBA; Albert Okumagba, chairman, Kingsweek committee; Leke Oshunniyi, vice-president, KCOBA, and Lucky Idike, general secretary, at the KCOBA 105th Founder’s Day anniversary press conference in Lagos.

n some universities, especially federal and state universities, where the VC is very close to the Visitor, President or Governor, or Proprietor (in case of private universities) then the VC turns from being a mere semi-autocrat to a monster; wielding so much power which if abused, as they frequently are, can cripple the university for decades.

“An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man.”

That was the gospel according to Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882. Universities had, since the first one was established in Morocco, become the primary institutions of society – expanding the frontiers of knowledge and creating the leaders of the future. Several things, too numerous to list seriatim, have changed between the time the first university was established at Fez and today’s universities worldwide. But, one element had remained unchanged – one person, male or female,

An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man

,

sitting in one office, as VC or President, had cast the shadow which reflects the character of the university at any point in time. Sometimes, to them is given the opportunity to determine the fate of nations. Anyone who fails to recognise the impact of the education received by Ghandi, Mandela, Reverend Martin Luther King, Obama and our own Jonathan in the governance of their countries has not looked closely enough.

Let me close this article by reminding all of us, old enough to dimly recollect what happened to one of our own universities here in Nigeria – or more to the point Lagos State University.

LASU, at one point, had the unenviable reputation of having no VC who lasted a full tenure. Struggles for the VC’s chair among the top professors, political intrigues, students’ unrest, cultism etc, all combined to ensure that no full academic year was completed without a crisis necessitating the closure of the university for months at a stretch. One of my nephews, who started at LASU, was quickly transferred to OAU – when he received direct admission, finished two full years ahead of his colleagues who stayed behind at LASU. Still the problems continued until a man, who had all the attributes of Napoleon Bonaparte, 1769-1821, was appointed VC. He was (and still is) short; not muscular; a chorister since his youth and grew up in a thoroughly Christian home in Lagos. But, he had the heart of a Giant Alakuku. The strange fellow we used to go and see, at the Biney Zoo, at Yaba, in the 1950s.

Enter Professor Abisogun Leigh, OFR – Game Change.

Given his stature, his soft and gentle manner of speaking, a perfect gentleman and scholar, appointing Professor Leigh to head LASU in the midst of one of its worst crisis was like throwing Daniel into the lion’s den.

Nobody gave him a chance to succeed. But, the world is always full of surprises. The small man, with the big heart proceeded to master the situation at LASU, as he recollects with “blood, sweat, tears, prayers, fasting and the determination to make a difference." It was during Professor Leigh’s tenure that LASU had its first full academic year without a closure. That is the kind of difference a good VC can make…

Visit: www.delesobowale.com www.facebook.com/biolasobowale

or

Visit:

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 29

Researchers advocate community-driven agric devt model ...Say waste-to-wealth is panacea to rural poverty Stories By EBELE ORAKPO

T

he Federal Government and other development stakeholders had consistently implemented the classical model of development— a top-down strategy that trickles down from a central policymaking body to the rural communities which has not helped in poverty alleviation as envisaged. This was the submission of two researchers from the American University of Nigeria at the Fifth International Sustainable Development Summit, held at Ibadan recently.

In their paper entitled: Circling into the future – finding the best approach to agricultural development in rural Nigeria, the duo of Mr. Fardeen Dodo of the School of Business & Entrepreneurship, and Mr. Olurotimi Ogundijo, Farm Research Manager, Office of Sustainability Initiatives, both of AUN, have advocated a community-driven development model that actively engages rural farmers to foster sustainable agricultural development as a prerequisite to drastic poverty reduction. They proposed the new model because “…it is designed to be less dependent on officialdom and optimizing the ability of community actors to determine their own problems and solutions while reaching very large numbers of poor people.”

Their recommendation was based on the inability of earlier post-colonial agricultural development models to generate continuous citizen participation

*Professor John Leonard

*Professor Charles Reith of 2003 all failed as they could not generate sustenance.

"To a large extent, these programs are considered to have failed despite their presence in many states and their laudable objectives that centre on increasing food production, poverty eradication, and provision of low-cost and improved technologies.”

They, however, pointed out that the National Fadama Development Project (NFDP-2), which utilised the CDD model, targeting the development of small-scale irrigation, especially in the lowlying alluvial floodplains, was successful. Fadama 2 increased the productivity, living standards and capacity development of the economically active rural communities, while boosting their efficiency in delivering implementation services to an estimated four million rural beneficiary households, raising their real incomes by 45 per cent.

The CDD, being implemented in

*Mr. Fardeen Dodo

Postgraduate School, Professor John Leonard and Mr. Fardeen Dodo.

In their paper entitled: Industrial Ecology as an approach for Sustainable Development in a West African Rural Economy, they recommended forward and backward integration of waste recycling and input manufacturing, to maximize economic and environmental savings, while boosting community wellbeing.

The research results, presented at the Fifth annual seminar of the Center for Sustainable Development held at the University of Ibadan, noted that implementing industrial ecology in rural communities that have a preponderance of micro-scale enterprises, will result in job expansion, increased employment and greater community peace.

Using Yola and Jimeta as research samples, they found that most businesses in the area are heavily dependent on foreign inputs, while the overwhelming majority of the wastes and byproducts they generate, are recyclable. A workable and sustainable solution therefore lies in

Education, cornerstone of national growth and devt

The Community-Driven Development (CDD) model would put food on the table, yield surplus for export and secure the commitment of the people for lasting growth, development and progress

,

and foster the level of entrepreneurship required to address the nation’s agricultural crisis.

After critically appraising the pre-colonial, colonial, and postcolonial strategies, they contended that the communitydriven development (CDD) model would put food on the table, yield surplus for export and secure the commitment of the people for lasting growth, development and progress.

They noted that projects like the National Accelerated Food Production Program (NAFPP) 1972, Agricultural Development Projects (ADP) of 1974 and 1989, Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) of 1976,Green Revolution (GR) of 1980; Directorate for Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) program of 1986; Better Life Program (BLP) For Rural Women of 1987; National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) of 1992; National Special Program on Food Security (NSPFS) 2002; and the Root and Tuber Expansion Program (RTEP)

,

80 countries, is reminiscent of the pre-colonial, people-driven development strategy and has put the people in the driver ’s seat, adequately encouraging the requisite level of entrepreneurship needed to empower rural agriculture. The role of the government,they argued, should be supportive, helping farmers go about their own activities and lives. n a related development, a n o t h e r team of researchers from the same institution have advised that instead of training unemployed youth to join the industry under the Local Apprenticeship Scheme, government should rather promote “the setting up and development of waste recycling and input manufacturing businesses, while companies explore integrating backwards and forwards into input manufacturing and waste recycling respectively, to maximize their economic and environmental savings. This, they noted, will improve local economies.

The team comprises the Provost, Professor Charles Reith, Dean,

I

organising groups of enterprises to support, rather than compete, with one another, in better resource management.

These two towns, like many other communities of the Northeast and other parts of Nigeria, have long been associated with poverty, illiteracy, poor industrialisation and general underdevelopment.

Rising insecurity in the region has further accentuated these social problems, underscoring the need for proactive measures towards social development, peace, and security.

Chambers of commerce are also advised to incorporate the documentation of local economies to assist with continued research and development in this area.

Further research is also needed to quantify the inputs needed by the economy and the outputs produced, in addition to statistics on the extent of reusability or recyclability of wastes and byproducts.

From left: GOC 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major Gen. Timothy Dibi, Commander, Nigerian Army Education Corp, Major Gen. Dapo Adebayo, Director Ngerian Army Library Services Colonel Adisa Bosma and former Commandant NAECS Major Gen. Kayode Oni.

C

hief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah has commended the Nigerian Army Education Corps for its vision of rejuvenating the Corps towards effective discharge of its statutory responsibilities in line with the Army Transformation Agenda.

He made this commendation at the maiden edition of the Nigerian Army book fair organised by the Nigerian Army Library Services recently in Lagos.

While addressing participants, Minimah who was represented by the General Officer Commanding 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major Gen. Timothy Dibi noted that most of the problems facing Nigeria, can ultimately be solved by "a roundly educated populace as education is the cornerstone of national growth and development.

It is heart-warming that the Nigerian Army Education Corps whose motto, Strength through knowledge, is at the vanguard of the task," he said.

Reminding all stakeholders on the current security challenges in the country which he said requires collective and extra efforts by all, Gen. Minimah urged everyone to always feel free to

offer useful suggestions that could assist in dealing with the present security challenges, assuring Nigerians of the Army's determination to protect lives and properties of everyone despite obvious challenges posed by the terrorists in the country. The Army boss implored participants to be more securityconscious by being extra vigilant and mindful of all happenings around them.

In his own remark, the Commander, Nigerian Army Education Corps, Major-Gen. Dapo Adebayo noted that the secret of governance, amazing discoveries, development, progressive management principles and every other desire of any nation are hidden in books. He commended the Directorate of Nigerian Army Library Services for putting up the laudable programme noting that the book fair will "help to inculcate in the younger generations of Nigerians necessary readership and authorship skills and it will go a long way towards improving the reading culture in Nigeria.”

He stressed that the Army will continue to support Federal Government's education initiatives through massive investment in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

Coordinator of the programme, Colonel Adisa Bosma thanked the Chief of Army Staff for his support which he said contributed to the success of the event, the first of its kind in the history of the Nigerian Army.

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

QUADLIFE

Students of St. Judes Private Secondary School, 5th Avenue Festac Town, Lagos, who represented Nigeria and won this year’s International Maramba and Still Pan Musical Competition in Johannesburg, South Africa where over 90 international schools participated. The band also won a giant trophy of Best Still Band Performance and another medium seized trophy from the High Commission of Trinidad &Tobago and a cash of 3,000 Rands.

*Oko Poly Rag Day celebration

Be self-reliant after graduation, Yabatech Rector tells freshmen

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

T

he Rector, Yaba College of T e c h n o l o g y (YABATECH), Lagos, Dr. Kudi Ladipo has urged new students of the college to embrace the compulsory Entrepreneurial Studies, as well as the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) studies offered by all students during their study year.

According to him, it is the college’s resolve to produce self-reliant entrepreneurs and employers of labour, rather than job seekers.

Speaking at 2013/2014 Matriculation, where no fewer than 4, 907 Higher National Diploma and National Diploma students were matriculated, Ladipo, who was represented by the Deputy Rector (Academic), Mr. Innocent Akhuemonkhan, said: “It is imperative that we recognise that the primary purpose of your enrollment in this college

is to acquire high quality education. Therefore, you must aim at academic and professional excellence in your respective disciplines. To achieve this, you should dedicate yourselves to consistent study, regular attendance of lectures, practical classes and tutorials, as well as optimum use of the library and other learning facilities.

“The college has some compulsory courses which must be taken by all students throughout their stay in the college. One of these is Entrepreneurial Studies which trains you from your first day in school on how to be self-reliant. It is expected that by the time you graduate, you would have acquired the necessary skills to be an entrepreneur and an employer of labour rather than just job seekers.

“It is also worthy of note that this college is the first higher institution in Nigeria to establish a full-fledged Centre

for Entrepreneurship Development, with strong linkages with the world of commerce and industry,” adding that “another compulsory course is Information and Communication Technology (ICT) studies which enables you to be proficient in the use of computer and other ICT tools.”

The don who noted that the 4,907 candidates admitted in the college’s seven schools of Art, Design and Printing, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Management and Business Studies, School of Science and Mathematics, Technology and Liberal Studies, was a far cry from the over 110, 000 candidates that applied to the college as the more preferred institution, however re-affirmed that “in line with the Federal Government’s direction and our resolve at improving access to education, we have made concerted effort to improve our carrying capacity through the construction of more structures that will provide additional sitting space for our students.

120 Nigerian teachers get UNESCO, Microsoft certifications

BY EMEKA AGINAM

I

n line with up-skilling Nigerian teachers for 21st Century skills , no fewer than 120 teachers of Doregos Private Academy and St Bernadette Schools have become the first schools in Africa and Nigeria to certify their teachers in UNESCO Standard, Digital Literacy and Microsoft certifications.

With the certification, students will be prepared for

the new academic session with 21st Century skills needed in a world where technology is prevalent and quickly changing.

The teachers from the schools are now certified as Microsoft Certified Educators (MCE) and Internet and Computing Core Certified (IC3).

Educators holding a MCE and IC3 certifications have the competencies needed to apply technology skills to the

teaching and learning process, creating a richer learning experience for students, and saving precious time.

The Microsoft Partners in the learning group have a professional development programme to help teachers develop the attributes needed for innovative teaching.

The teachers are undergoing rigorous training for four weeks at New Horizons, the world’s leading IT training institution in Nigeria.

Students rejoice as UNN VC promises 50% internet fees reduction

By Kelechukwu Iruoma & Faith Ehiremen, UNN

T

he entire community of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was in a state of happiness as the new Vice-Chancellor; Professor Benjamin Ozumba has promised to reduce internet fees by 50 per cent.

The call was made at the Cliq Fest event organised by Etisalat, in which over 1,000 students were privileged to participate in activities set out by the service provider where a lot of prizes were won.

N12,000, which was being paid by students every session, had been a challenge because not all students had access to the internet service which was being accessed only in some places in the school.

The internet fee was made mandatory for students during the 2012/2013 academic session, under the administration of the past VC, Professor Bartho Okolo.

In an interview with a student who bared her mind on the new proposed development, Ibeh Mariam, a 300-level student of Library and Information Science said it was a wise decision made by the new VC, because they do not have access in their various hostels and "it is painful to pay that kind of fee for internet service we are not enjoying."

She, however, urged the new VC to improve the network services so students can have access in their various hostels.

Ekwualor Emmanuel, a 300-level student of pharmacy said “it is a very good move by the VC.” He also said that this development is going to reduce the tuition fee being paid by students every session.

Mighty Oaks School introduces entrepreneurship curriculum

By AMAKA ABAYOMI

I

n its bid to give its students a solid and well rounded foundation, Mighty Oaks School, Olude, Ipaja, Lagos State, has disclosed plans to introduce entrepreneurship in its curriculum to make them total individuals.

This was disclosed by the Proprietress, Mrs. Oyetunde Adejumo, who said the introduction would propel them to become successful entrepreneurs who will use their knowledge to change the society.

Listing some of the activities in the entrepreneurship curriculum as hairdressing, bead-making, photography, among others, Adejumo said the objective of the school is to mould young people for service and leadership positions in the country.

“The new programmes are being offered free as part of the school's resolution to build Godly citizens and nurture their minds as future leaders in the society. We want to deliver world class education with high moral and ethical values for a life of service and fulfilment within the next 10 years.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 31

32 — Vanguard,THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — A1

C M Y K

A2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — A3

C M Y K

A4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — A5

C M Y K

A6 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — A7

C M Y K

A8 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard,THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 33

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

A

SEMINAR: Oladele Hunsu, President, Issa Aremu,General Secretary, National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, and John Olarewaju, Executive Secretary, Textile and Garment Employers' Association, at the Lagos seminar

Textile union enlightens members on Ebola …Says spread message of dangers, not the virus Liberia, medical terrorism “I agree with those who said by allowing Patrick Sawyer whose sister had died. of the same disease, the Liberian authorities had knowingly and inadvertently engaged in medical terrorism against a sister country — Nigeria.

Sawyer, who possibly contracted the virus ‘from his late sister, was criminally cleared to engage in an ill-fated travel to Nigeria for a conference organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) without notifying the Nigerian Government. As a labour member of the National Conference, I urge President Goodluck Jonathan to implement the relevant recommendation of the Conference’s Committee on Foreign Policy and Diaspora Matters which says that Nigeria should promote discipline within the ECOWAS Community. Sawyer ’s case was clearly another evidence of diplomatic indiscipline within ECOWAS for which Nigeria as usual pays the ultimate price.”

Awareness about EVD Aremu who is also a Vice-President of NLC, reminded Nigerians that “there is no vaccine, and there is no cure for Ebola for now. Survival rates can be as low as 1 in 10. So far in West Africa, just over 60% of recorded cases have ended in death. Like AIDS, prevention

Continuous enlightenment “Above all, there is the need for continuous enlightenment and sensitization on the Ebola virus. This explains why we are holding this workshop to enlighten our members about the disease and ways to prevent it. Like other public health issues, the first victims usually are the workers in this case the health workers notably doctors and nurses.

Health care is a labour intensive industry and, in most countries, Health Care Workers, HCWs, constitute a major sector of the workforce. They comprise a wide range of professional, technical and support personnel working in a large variety of settings.

In addition to health professionals, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, social workers and others involved in clinical services, they include administrative and clerical personnel, housekeeping and dietary staff, laundry workers, engine.ers, electri-

remains the best strategy we must employ. Above all we must make lifestyle choices which will help combat the epidemic. This sensitization is put together to address the 5Ws and H of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, namely what it is, who can contact it, where it can be transmitted, when can it be fatal, which measure can be taken to prevent and manage the symptoms, and how can it be contained,.

“The World Health Organization, WHO, has called this Ebola outbreak an international emergency. The worst affected countries include Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. Nigeria has so far confirmed 10 cases of Ebola, including the doctor who treated the Liberian man that brought the disease to Ebola is real and more dangerLagos. The doctor is said to have recovered and had ous than we know. Awareness been discharged. Howev- for now is the best way to avoid er five deaths have been recorded in Nigeria includ- and control it as there is no cure ing Patrick Sawyer who brought the disease to Nigeria, the nurse who participated in the cians, painters and maintenance workinitial management of the index case ers who repair and refurbish the .buildand a member of staff of West African ing and “the equipment it contains.

It is self-evident therefore that trade regional economic body ECOWAS. Others that have tested positive to the unions have a lot to do in educating virus are undergoing treatment at iso- members about the danger of Ebola. lation centres. A total of 169 people This enlightenment therefore should were being monitored in Lagos, after have been better done by NLC whose eight others were cleared, including all members are daily exposed to the disof Sawyer’s primary contacts from when ease.”

,

S part of its health and safety programmes for the workplace and also a response to the general concern for the prevention of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, infection in workplaces and communities, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, recently organized two seminars in Lagos and Kaduna, aimed at promoting awareness and enhancing knowledge of members and allies on EVD, its causes and prevention.

The union equally explained that the workshop was also to develop the capacity of trade union officials to lead the prevention team in their workplaces.

Welcoming participants, President of the union, Mr. Oladele Hunsu, told the gathering that Ebola was not a new health challenge as it was an issue in 1976 in a remote village in Congo, explaining that while it was curtailed, but warned that with Nigerian population, it would be a disaster of catastrophic dimensions should it be out of control in Nigeria.

According to him, Ebola is real and more dangerous than we know. Awareness for now is the best way to avoid and control it as there is no cure. Please spread the message about the dangers of ebola to your family, colleagues at work, church or Mosque, and not the virus to them.”

In his remarks, Chairman of Lagos State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Idowu Adelakun, recalled that during the 2014 May Day celebration, labour called on government to be proactive on the dangers posed by Ebola Virus Disease since it was already ravaging neighbouring West African countries.

He lamented that it was obvious that the advice was not heeded and however, expressed pleasure that Lagos State Government was involving workers, community based organizations and other stakeholders.

According to him, “EVD is no respecter of anybody, whether rich or poor. If it were for the poor alone, probably government would not have paid much attention to it. But today, the President of the country can contract it and the state governors can equally contract it.” Speaking, General Secretary of NUTGTWN, Comrade Issa Aremu, recalled sadly that EVD came into Nigeria on July 20 through a 40-year old Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer.

He said: “Sawyer was a diagnosed Ebola patient who mysteriously found his way to Nigeria and later died of the disease in a Lagos hospital on July 25, 2014.

The Liberian government had since apologized to Nigeria for the official complicity in exporting Ebola to Nigeria. However, the late global icon, Nelson Mandela said we should forgive but at the same time not forget so that our rights are again not violated.

he entered the country.”

Occupational health, safety NUTGTWN General Secretary noted that “we can see that the first victims are working people, namely nurses and doctors. Thus Ebola is primarily also an occupational health and safety challenge for organized workers. At risk are the port workers, namely air transport, sea and road entry ports. Others are nurses. We commend the efforts and measures so far taken by the Federal and State government particularly Lagos State to contain the spread of the disease.

The disease has been declared a national emergency. We call on all stakeholders to support and cooperate: with the Federal Government’s effort to curb the spread of the virus in the country. ‘We also commend individuals and organizations that are complementing government’s effort to rid the nation of this disease.

,

NUPENG president gets honorary D.Sc degree

P

RESIDENT of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Mr. Igwe Achese, has been conferred with a Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa, (Hon. D. Sc.) in Human Resources Management and leadership by the European-American University, Commonwealth of Dominica.

The honorary doctorate degree was bestowed on him by the university council for his outstanding contributions and performance as an industrial relations practitioner, a motivator, a human resource expert who believes in capacity building and infrastructural development.

Achese, born on August 22, 1965, attended Enito High School, Bokori, Port Harcourt, Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, and later University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He is a staff of the Nigeria National

Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which he joined in 1991 till date and started his union activities as a representative of a branch at the committee level.

Achese served as chairman Port Harcourt Refinery Branch of NUPENG from 1998-2000.

He rose to become Port Harcourt Zonal chairman of NUPENG, 2005 deputy president of NUPENG, 2009 and later President of NUPENG, in December 4, 2009 National Trustee of NLC till date. Achese is an executive member of IndustrialAll Africa Region.

He has attended many courses at home and abroad including trade union Administrative and leadership workshop, National Labour College, Maryland USA in 2009, workshop on medication and skill acquisition, London, Great Britain.

Vanguard,THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 35

Kogi retirees lament unpaid gratuities since 1995

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

D

ESPITE efforts of the state government led

by Governor Idris Wada towards prompt pension payment in Kogi State, hard times are far from being over for pensioners.

Though there has been remarkable improvement in prompt monthly pensions’ payment, the reverse is the case on the issue of gratuity pay-

ment.

Before the present administration of Captain Idris Wada, payment of monthly pensions and gratuities had been problematic. While the situation has changed with the monthly pension payments, gratuity payment is another story.

Since 1995, retirees and or their next of kin, have not been paid gratuity and the pensioners are not finding it funny.

This has created a serious problem for senior

citizens of Kogi state.

Speaking with Pension &You, state chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Onuh Abdullahi, said the state governor must be applauded for the prompt payment of monthly pensions to both local government and state retirees. His words: “Since the coming of Captain Idris Wada, the monthly pensions payment of retirees has not stopped. I can tell you that there has not been

a spill over to another month since March this year. We have to give him kudos.”

Gratuity, pension harmonisation “However, I must say what we gained in pension payments, we have lost in gratuity. The state government has failed to meet up in the gratuity of retirees. I can say that only 1991, 1992 and 1994 retirees have received their gratuity.”

Aside the issues of gra-

tuity, Abdulalhi said the state was yet to honour the constitutional provision that pension harmonization should be done every five years.

“The constitution of Nigeria and the Pension Act stipulate that pension harmonisation should be done every five years and whenever there is any salary increment, the pensioners should also be considered.

“As I speak with you, the state has only conducted pension harmon-

isation once, in 2004.

Which means two harmonisations before 2004 were jettisoned and there should have been three others after 2004 that have not been put into consideration. Also, workers have enjoyed salary relativity, minimum wage, 12% increment, 25% increment, but the state has not thought it wise to extend such gesture to the pensioners. Pensioners in the state have only been getting the old salary scale as pensions.”

Pension & You gathered that the state government's refusal to embark on pension harmonisation is due to suspected inflation of the number of retirees, making the government to vote N5million to the State Pension Board to carry out pensioners verification last October.

"The outcome of the verification as we speak, is yet to see the light of the day," Abdullahi said.

He added he was not surprised because the union had warned the governor not to give money to the Board since it was the same management that had allegedly been inflating the figures of pensioners.

He however said the union had taken the burden for the verification and conducted a self verification exercise which saw a large difference in the figures of pensioners from the one presented by the Board.

“The verification exercise is just concluded and the report will be sent to the state government. There is a vast difference in the figure. At the end of the exercise, we have 7,864 state retirees and 6,800 local government retirees; a figure that is far from what is being circulated by the Pension Board."

Pension debt The state chairman of NUP said the state requires N8billion to offset the gratuity and pensions arrears of the pensioners.

To him, the monthly contribution of N1million from each of the 21 Local Government Areas and the N50 million from the state government; totaling N71 million’ to settle the backlog of both Local Governments and State retirees gratuities and pensions was a far cry to what was needed.

36 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014—37

LAWYERS TO NEW NBA PRESIDENT:

Pursue transparency, electoral reform

BY INNOCENT ANABA and BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

M

R. Austine Alegeh, SAN, has finally taken over the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA and this is time to put to work, all his electioneering promises for the bar, as lawyers in the country look up to him, to fulfill what he had promised, while seeking their votes.

To perhaps add by way of advice and agenda, some lawyers, who spoke to Vanguard Law and Human Rights, listed some areas the Alegeh leadership of the NBA must give priority attention.

Those who spoke include former NBA President, Chief OCJ Okocha, SAN, former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Chief Morah Ekwunoh, Carol Ajie and Udo Jude Ilo. Chief Okocha, SAN The motto of the NBA is promoting the rule of law. I believe that if the new administration carries on with that in focus, it will do well. So, I urge the new president of the association and all the members of the executive committee to ensure that the rule of law is upheld in Nigeria at all levels (federal, state and local government).

Chief Ozekhome, SAN Young and old, but impecunious lawyers’ welfare; stamp and seal e-voting, including decentralisation and democratization of the voting process to enable all lawyers vote, rather than the delegates system.

A stronger proactive voice and posture on national issues especially as we approach the critical 2015 general elections is important. The new NBA President’s agenda should further include rooting out quackery in the legal profession; enthroning stronger discipline in the legal profession; democratization of National Executive Committee, NEC proceedings and procedure.

The NBA President should fight hard to ensure that acquisition of SANship is democratised and made transparent; strengthening the legal profession by beaming

•Mr. Austine Alegeh, SAN

Justice Ayotunde Phillips The NBA President, Mr. Alegeh, SAN, should ensure a better and stronger relationship between the Bar and the Bench, as they are partners in progress, and officers in the Temple of Justice.

The NBA should join hands with the judiciary to ensure that the latter is information technology compliant to remove all bottle necks from the system

,

the searchlight on corrupt judges, complicit lawyers and stamping out mediocrity from the system of training lawyers at the various Nigerian Law schools.

,

There should be a reorientation of the members of the bar in order to ensure speedy justice delivery as opposed to achieving the opposite. Implementation of the code of con-

duct as enshrined in the Legal Practitioners Act, towards demanding a very high standard of practice from all members of the NBA, should form part of his agenda.

The SANs and very senior members of both the Inner and Outer Bar should be made to mentor the younger lawyers towards ensuring a much higher standard of practice throughout the country. The NBA should join hands with the judiciary to ensure that the latter is information technology compliant to remove all bottle necks from the system.

Chief Ekwunoh Such hot issues as the hydra-headed monster of crushing insecurity that has regrettably left the country at a tipping point, brazen corruption and human rights violations deserve pride of place in the cardinal programme of the

Lawyers reject Wali’s constitution proposals — Pg.40

new NBA administration.

Other issues touching and concerning welfare and well- beings of lawyers, particularly at the juniorate level, as well as executive encroachment on the financial autonomy of the judiciary are, also, worthy of priority attention by the new executive.

In the crucial case of financial autonomy of the judiciary, singular efforts of Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN,who through selfless litigation brought it to public domain stand out for commendation and emulation by the executive and other members of the Bar. I strongly feel that the issues of insecurity, corruption, human rights violation and financial autonomy of the judiciary should be fought with the same, if not more zeal and vigour which the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and late Alao Aka-Bashorun would have fought with if they were still alive.

Peace and security in the country, no doubt, is, at present, a mirage, while the economy is comatose as a result thereof, while corruption and human rights abuses have combined to leave the country at cross-road. In these respects, the social engineering role of the NBA need to be reinvigorated so that, among others, it serves as the voice for the voiceless and as an effective bulwark against injustice, oppression and repression by the state against its citizens.

Carol Ajie Mr. Alegeh, SAN may not be the first President of the NBA with nil knowledge of the civ-

il society but before now little known in NBA circles; for a lawyer enrolled in 1986, it was when J.B Daudu SAN was elected in 2010 that sought Mr Alegeh’s ‘enthronement’, first by creating the NBA Database Verification Committee which Mr. Alegeh chaired until his election this year.

So, it was a fast track arrangement that saw Alegeh beat all other candidates in a fiercely contested election that threw up some of the known NBA activists who also had sizeable war chests.

Alegeh out-spent them in a race the South West was unable to agree a standard bearer, and at which Alegeh presented the agenda of e-voting for lawyers, and resulted in his emergence as our President.

Unfortunately, after his election, his e-voting tone changed to “e-voting for delegates only” but we have re-stated it unequivocally that we will accept universal suffrage for lawyer, every lawyer on NBA database should be entitled to vote at the next election in 2016, one click away. He set up a Constitution Review Committee to write and submit its recommendations to him on or before November 30 and regrettably gave the committee wrong terms of reference which provoked blog debates. We have said to them we agree the principle of “one lawyer, one vote” upon which he was understood to have ran his campaign and some of the benefits include increase in NBA revenue base, more lawyers paying practising fees, independence of the bar, ability to chose bar leaders in a free and fair election, away from money politics, so that the NBA may get some of the best brains to move the association towards her millennium goals.

For the first time in the annals of the association, his acceptance speech actually set as part of his agenda, lobbying for board and committee appointments as the official policy of the NBA President

Continues on page 38

How to restore integrity, independence of the NBA (2) —Pg.40

38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Lawyers reject Wali’s constitution proposals E

FFORTS by out gone President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Okey Wali, SAN, to effect fundamental changes in the constitution of the association and alter its leadership and administrative structure was rejected by lawyers at the just concluded annual general conference of the association.

The remodeling of the NBA secretariat, after the International Bar Association, IBA, structure, would have grossly whittle down the powers of elected national officers of the NBA and vested same on the secretariat staff headed by the Executive Director, who is at the beck and call of the President.

As a matter of fact, under Okey Wali administration, elected NBA national officers were mere officers in name and nothing else, as they had no office at the NBA secretariat and could hardly get a sit when they visit Abuja to perform their respective statutory duties, with the exception of very few officers.

NBA national officers, including the three Vice-Presidents, who while carrying out their duties for the association, had to hop from one rickety cab to the other while in Abuja, while NBA official cars are parked at the secretariat for the President to look and to allocate as he so pleased.

However his efforts at institutionalizing this anomaly were roundly rejected by members, who rejected 24 out of his proposed 33 amendments to NBA constitution.

Presenting his report at the just concluded conference in Owerri, Imo State, Chairman of the Committee, Mr.Okey Amechi,

,

BY INNOCENT ANABA

Mr Okey Wali, SAN conduct of the last NBA elections when lawyers voted to elect new national officers and

The proposal to abolish the offices of the Assistant Financial Secretary, Assistant Publicity Secretary and Second Assistant Secretary were also rejected by lawyers

SAN, thanked lawyers for the confidence reposed on him and his committee during the

,

constitution amendment.

The proposal to introduce Associate membership into the

association was rejected with all the purported advantages and privileges some had. The proposal for the association to publish on its website the names of defaulting lawyers in the payment of Practising Fees by the fist of April as provided by the Financial Secretary was turned down.

Also rejected was the proposal to appoint an Executive Director of Administration, who shall be in charge of the Directorate of the association

Lawyers to new NBA President: Pursue transparency, electoral reform Continues from page 37 Alegeh, having now listed a committee headed by the Chairman of the Midwestern forum, to be the ones lawyers should be ‘lobbying’. He calls it “appointment into positions committee” I call it a committee of “tokenism and official patronage.” Wrong message to the public.

Curiously, the NBA President formed all his NBA Committees in fragments. The 3 or 4 committees named in his acceptance speech Friday August 29, were all broken, incomplete, truncated lists. Hear him: “more members of these committees and alternate Chairs to be announced in due course,” leaves it less than average.

Although there are some mouth-watering offers to lawyers verified, to expect NBA Identification chip cards to enable us enjoy discounted rates from proposed corporate partners; some questions on capacity to

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com

implement these. He said he is still talking to the airlines to agree on discounts and some hotels but known to him, some of those hotels have blacklisted NBA over non-payment of NBA debts.

Transparency needs on NBA agenda for public good: the NBA President should, out of respect to the generality of members who co-own NBA, disclose the terms of NBA-BOT deal on NBA Victoria Island property built on NBA land by Stabilini Nigeria Limited under the supervision of one of our members in the estate world, commissioned on August 12, this year by his immediate predecessor-in-office, Mr. Wali who did not allow lawyers access to our NBA estate information.

Mr Udo Jude Ilo

NBA suffers currently from huge credibility deficit sustained by an opaque operational system that undermines its effectiveness; a political process that lacks

transparency and a distorted strategic vision that suffers from incoherence. Its value to the professional development of lawyers is on decline and it faces the danger of becoming irrelevant. However, NBA is a brand that has a rich history and huge potentials. To reposition this organisation, the current leaders should do the following: Urgently implement the report of the NBA Committee on the Professionalization of the National Secretariat. This is key for a number of reasons. There is low morale at the secretariat making it difficult for staff to work optimally. NBA is in breach of many laws regarding employment, health insurance and Tax. In this situation, it is difficult for NBA to talk about rule of law without obeying the law in its own operations. Financial procedures are well below standard calling into question the integrity of the organisation. This report referenced above has

recommendations on how these issues can be dealt with.

The NBA must engage national issues from objective and empirical standpoint. We should prioritise our interest and programmatically engage issues with clear understanding of what we want to achieve. To do this, it is important that the NBA establishes an effective programme department that will guide its engagement with the national issues, partnership with civil society organisations and collaboration with international development agencies.

Welfare of lawyers has always been a major campaign message but there has really been no realistic structures on ground to achieve this. There is need to have further consultation with experts on this issues (not necessarily bar leaders) to develop a business module that can help lift lawyers in Nigeria.

with all the responsibilities attached thereto.

The power of the President to appoint and remove such Executive Director was also rejected. The proposal to stop any of the NBA branches of the NBA from instituting legal action in court against the association without first having such a dispute heard and determined by the President or a Committee set up for that purpose or the National Executive Committee, NEC of the NBA was also rejected.

Wali’s proposal for NEC to remove from office any erring National Officer found guilty of any misconduct was rejected but the proposal to remove from office any National Officer, who commits fraud or becomes bankrupt or insolvent was approved.

Also approved was the amendment to remove from office an officer who accepts appointment from any arm of government ( except as a member of an adhoc committee or panel), the proposal to remove an officer who is convicted of any offence by a court of competent jurisdiction was also approved.

Also approved was the proposal to remove from office, any officer who: breaches any of the provisions of the Code of Conduct for officers duly approved by the NEC, or who engages in public misconduct owing to intoxication by alcohol, drugs or other intoxicants or stimulants or any bestial acts or an officer who engages in any act or behaviour that brings or is likely to bring the association into disrepute; acts of disobedience to the association, NEC, the President or any of its organs.

Provided, however that such officer may be removed from office by two thirds majority of NBA NEC members present at a meeting of the NEC where the matter is raised.

The proposal to abolish the offices of the Assistant Financial Secretary, Assistant Publicity Secretary and Second Assistant Secretary was also rejected by lawyers.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014—39

THE SAN'S PULPIT with Awa Kalu, SAN CHIEF CHIKE OFODILE, SAN: The most handsome is gone (3)

A

T the close of the exchange, I thanked the Head of State, accepted the offer, shook hands and made my exit.” The late Onowu is said to be “an enthusiast for tradition, profoundly appreciative of his community’s culture” who “took the Onitsha Nze-na-Ozo title with the agnomen ‘Akukalia’.

In 2003, His majesty the Obi of Onitsha honoured him with the title, Onowu Iyasele Ngadaba Orimili (the traditional Prime Minister) by which he became the first person of Umu Eze Aruli kindred in the very long history of Onitsha to hold the title of Onowu. He held that title for 11 years, until his death on the August 3, 2014. Another account of his sojourn on earth acknowledges that “Onowu’s later years

appeared a whirl of ceaseless feting. He was made a life member of the body of Benchers. He and his wife had celebrated both their Sliver and Ruby wedding anniversaries. They also celebrated their Golden in 2003, and their Diamond in January, 2013.

Onowu marked his Golden Jubilee at the Bar and retirement from practice with a church service and reception in 2009. His annual Ofala ceremonials were grand, his processions into the royal arena, spectacular.

On the invitation of CKC Old Boys in the USA, he was Keynote Speaker at their convention in New Jersey in 2005. In 2007 he saw his son become the first second generation SANs in Eastern Nigeria, and in November, 2013 trav-

elled to Abuja for the thrill of his granddaughter ’s call to the Bar. President Musa Yar ‘Adua invested him with the order of OFR, in 2008. It was amazing that despite his achievements and acclaim, he remained a man of immense humility”. What a story!

Onowu is survived by his wife of 61 years, Nwaononaku Josephine Ofodile, six children and many grandchildren, a brother and a sister. All that remains is for me to pray our God Almighty to grant the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. May the soul of Onowu Ofodile, extraordinary lawyer, philanthropist, community leader, man of great charm, rest in perfect peace.

LIM HOLDS SESSION Lawyers in the Media Forum, LIM, held its session at the just concluded Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, annual general conference in Owerri, Imo State.

*From left: Former President NBA, Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN; former Director General, Nigerian Institute of Advance Legal Studies, NIALS, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN; Mr Dafe Akpedeye, SAN and D-G Vox Populi, Mr John Egwuonwu representing Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN.

*From left: Director of Strategy All Progressive Congress, APC, Osun State, Mr Kunle Oyatomi; Publicity Secretary NBA, Mr Gbolahan Gbadamosi; former Financial Secretary NBA, Marc Enamhe and former President, Common Wealth Lawyers Association, CLA, Mrs. Boma Ozobia

Law Pavilion partners NBA

T

HE just concluded Nigerian Bar Association, NBA annual general conference in Owerri, Imo State, which had LawPavilion as its official ICT partners has been considered to be the most information technology driven conference the legal industry has ever had.

This year ’s gathering witnessed new innovations with regards to IT. LawPavilion as a result of its great commitment in promoting excellence in the legal industry and a demonstration of its investment in the success of the Nigeria lawyers became an official ICT partner to the NBA to bring advancement in technology and support to the growth of the legal profession at large.

During the conference LawPavilion provided free internet WiFI hotspot area where lawyers could go and surf through the web. LawPavilion as an electronic law reporting firm concentrates on providing IT services for the legal industry because of its passion and drive to bring speedy dispensation of justice.

Mr. Ope Olugasa, CEO Grace Info Tech, Publishers of LawPavilion, who spoke on the topic “21st Century Lawyer: Key Strategic Tech-

nology to Advance Your Legal Practice” at the conference amplified the advantages of technology to lawyers listing some available technologies for lawyers, which include electronic legal research/e-library, websites and social media, case management software. He emphasised the need for every law firm and lawyer to have a website and social media platforms which will help lawyers network better. He advised everyone to take a bold step,

and re-invent their business model.

As part of its IT support for the NBA conference, LawPavilion during a presentation by its Managing Director, Ope Olugasa officially launched its “Tabletarization campaign,” offering every lawyer in the country an opportunity to own a tablet.

Meanwhile, the premium brand also unveiled a subscription version enabling young lawyers access its electronic law reports for just N3, 000 monthly subscriptions.

*From left: Mr Yemi Fakeyejo, Director Legal, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; Mr Ibrahim Bawa, former First Vice-President NBA, Mr Osas J. Erhabor and former chairman, LIM, Mr Charles Odenigbo.

NBA-SBL elects Ighodalo, others

T

HE Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Section on Business Law, SBL, has elected officers and members of its Governing Council to run the affairs of the Section for the next two years.

The election, which took place at the just concluded annual general conference of the NBA in Owerri, Imo State, produced Mr. Asue Ighodalo-Chairman, Mr. Olumide Akpata-Vice chairman, Mr. Seni Adio-Secretary, Mrs. Priscilla Ogwemoh-Treasurer. Mrs. Funmi Roberts, Mr. Chuka Agbu, SAN, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, Mr. Ayuli Jemide,

Mr. Mena Ajakpovi, Mrs. Funke Agbor, Mr. Soji Awogbade, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu were elected as Council members of the Section.

Immediate past chairman, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, thanked members of the Section for the support given to him during his tenure as chairman and urged members to support and encourage greater support to the new executive. He thanked God that the section had enjoyed smooth transition to new officers and council members, who will fly the flag of the Section and achieve the aims and objectives of the Section.

*From left: First Vice President of LIM, Mrs. Vera Chinwuba; Chairman NBA Aguata branch, Mr E. N. Ezeonwuka; former Secretary NBA; Mr Obafemi Adewale and Deputy Editor, ThisDay Law, Mr Jude Igbanoi.

*From left: Mena Ajakpovi; Mr Chuka Agbu, SAN and former Secretary NBA Section on Legal Practice, SLP, Mr. Elachi Agada.

40—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

How to restore integrity, independence of the NBA (2)

BY AHURAKA ISAH

T

HE United States further revealed the obvious lapses and traces of official ineptitude and corruption in the Nigerian Judiciary when it stated rightly thus; “Judges frequently failed to appear for trials, often because they were pursuing other sources of income and sometimes because of threats against them.

In addition, court officials often lacked the proper equipment, training, and motivation to perform their duties, with lack of motivation primarily due to inadequate compensation”.

A foremost human right activist and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana had once described Justice Mukhtar in his own words as follow: “I first met the CJN as a High Court judge in Kano in 1984.

My client, a trade union, had sued a powerful Lebanese company in the Kano State High Court for illegally withholding the check-off dues deducted from the wages of all the workers in its employment. The company, which had boasted that it had the judiciary in its pocket, was taken aback when the trial judge, Justice Muktar, granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiff and ordered the company to refund and pay to the union the check-off dues which it had illegally withheld. Since then, I have watched the judge from afar and followed her impec-

,

A foremost human right activist and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana had once described Justice Mukhtar in his own words as follow: “I first met the CJN as a High Court judge in Kano in 1984.

,

cable judicial carrier. In a country where judicial corruption has been virtually institutionalised, I make bold to say that Justice Muktar has never been associated with corrupt practices or any form of abuse of office. She is conservative but ready to take a radical stand in defence of the rule of law. She is quiet but aggressive in dealing with cases of corruption.

Her decision to team up with Adesola Oguntade JSC (as he then was) and Walter Onnoghen JSC in writing powerful dissenting opinions in the controversial case of Mohammadu Buhari v Independent National Electoral Commission convinced the reactionary forces in the legal establishment that she could rock the boat if allowed to become the head of the country’s judiciary. The clean bill of health given to Justice Ayo Salami, the suspended President of the Court of Appeal by a Committee of the National Judicial Council chaired by Justice Muktar was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. A plot was therefore hatched to prevent her from becoming the CJN”.

On March 5, 2013, a candidate in the 2014 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election, Mrs Funke Adekoya (SAN) have this to say about Justice Mukhtar in “Thisday Newspaper” “- - - - - -Hercules did the job by using unconventional methods, he diverted two rivers flowing near the stables off their course,

Justice Mariam Mukhtar, CJN to flow into the stable yards and out through the rear, before rejoining the river course, while taking all the filth and dung along with it.

From this Greek tale, the phrase “cleaning the Augean stable” emerged to mean performing a large, unpleasant and seemingly impossible task that has long called for attention. When the incumbent Chief Justice of Nigeria Hon. Justice Miriam Aloma Mukhtar was sworn into the office in July last year, there were many calls upon her to restore the Judiciary to its pride of place in the body polity by investigating the rumours of corruption that were rife, and acting on the many complaints about judicial behaviour. As she has only two years in office as Chief Justice of Nigeria, this is her Augean stable”.

The Guardian Newspaper Editorial of Tuesday 15 July, 2014 commented thus; ‘’Speaking at the opening session of a conference on judicial reforms organized by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in conjunction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and some Non-Governmental Organisations, the Chief Justice accused SANs working in tandem with corrupt judges being investigated by the National Judicial Council (NJC) of being guilty of corruption and misconduct.

She cited a particular instance where a judge accused of corruption invited about six SANs to represent him before the NJC. The conference on judicial reforms in which the Chief Justice spoke could not have come at a better time in view of dwindling public confidence in the judiciary. It is indeed noteworthy and commendable that Chief Justice Mukhtar has waged a relentless war on corruption in the judiciary since she assumed office.

Lawyers may very well hide under the guise of their rules of professional practice to defend anyone that seeks their legal representation and the issue of fair hearing which some of the judges being investigated raise is always germane to the cause of justice. Nevertheless, the CJN’s position remains a call on lawyers to be more alert to their responsibility as ministers in the temple of justice. Where senior lawyers rise to defend judges accused of corruption to the extent that the accusation is not allowed to see the light of day, let alone the accused judge allowed to defend himself, there is obvious danger to law and order.

BY BUNMI OLUGBADE

A

CCORDING to Comrade Adams Os hiomole-Governor of Edo State in 2013 after the NBA June NEC meeting held at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, while condemning the NBA position on the crisis of election of the Governor’s Forum.

“I watched the President of the NBA, saying in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State that the Governors Forum should be discarded. I think the factor of location influenced his conclusion.... The environment and the overall circumstances known and unknown that led the NBA President to call for the freezing of the rights of Governors to associate boarders on corrupt practice.”

There is hardly any doubt that NBA is an influential body. It is expected to be the guardian of our nascent democracy and the protector and defender of the Rule of Law and due process. Regrettably, that influence and relevance to defend the rule of law, protect fundamental liberties of the Nigerian people and protect democracy has virtually disappeared.

At the NEC meeting held in Ekiti State in March 2014, the Ekiti State Chief Judge stated repeatedly in his address that NBA has lost its voice. The silence of the NBA at these critical times can never do the Nation any good. It is not only the legimate expectation of the people, but it is also the duty of the Bar to speak to powers-that-be at all times. NBA must wake up from its slumber to once again take its rightful position as the conscience of the Nation.

Let it be stated that the long standing crises that has plagued the judiciary of Rivers State must attract the new NBA leadership’s attention with utmost urgency. It is a common knowledge that Lawyers in Rivers State have not gone to Court in the last six months or neither have litigants been able to have their matters adjudicated upon. The business of the third arm of government in Rivers State has been totally and effectively frustrated by the impasse between the State Government and the National Judicial Council.

Strangely, this all important issue was never discussed ones at the NBA NEC. The outgoing administration under Okey Wali, SAN, heard nothing, said nothing and did nothing. This can only be likened to “ a blind man surrounded by deaf people.”

Clause 9 of the NBA Constitution generally empowers the NEC to exercise control and manage the affairs of the Association including but not limited to its finances, appointments of representatives to statutory bodies and to express the views of the Association upon any matter of public interest or general interest o the legal profession.

It is also the powers of the NEC to generally exercise all the powers vested in the Association so as to promote and carry out the aims and objectives of the Association. We pray that the era of “approved, approved” at NBA NEC shall be gone for the good of all Lawyers in Nigeria.

Furthermore, the constitution empowers the NEC to exercise all the power vested in the Association so as to promote and carry out its aims and objectives. These clear provision were serially breached with relish by the last three successive Administrations of the Association all of whom one after the other ran the affairs of the Association like Dic-

•Bunmi Olugbade tators or Sole Administrators.

The new President must thread the path of Democracy and Constitutionalism. Internal democracy must be returned to the proceedings NEC, plurality of opinions must be encouraged and promoted. Democracy and Good Governance must be institutionalized. Like we all say, you cannot give what you don’t have “Nemo dat quod habet”.

Other critical areas requiring urgent transformational focus and attention include but not limited to the issue of electronic voting universal lawyers suffrage, that is to say, “One Lawyer, One Vote”.

The delegate system has been highly abused, totally misused and out rightly corrupted, it must be stopped forthwith.

My experience at the last delegate election in Abuja was particularly worrisome

,

Justice Aloma Mukhtar: Views from home and abroad (2)

Other critical areas requiring urgent transformational focus and attention include but not limited to the issue of electronic voting universal lawyers suffrage, that is to say, “One Lawyer, One Vote

,

and not palatable. The leadership of the Electoral Committee of the NBA pretended and feigned ignorance of what election is all about. Thus he created huge credibility problem for the product of the exercise.

How does one explain an electoral process in which a candidate is notified of his disqualification a few hours to the election proper when the NBA Constitution provides for 24hrs for such notice. I read a letter written by R. O. Balogun to NBA President dated 31st July 2014 on his “unlawful exclusion from the NBA 2014 Elections” with consternation, pity and prayers for the Electoral committee and the future of NBA. He cited the authority of OGBORU V UDUAGHAN (2010)LPELR-CA/B/EPT/ 38/10 where His Lordship Moniga B. Dongban-Mensen (JCA)held: “The law as we understand it, is that “election” is a generic term; a process which embraces the entire gamut of activities ranging from accreditation, voting, collation to recording on all relevant INEC Forms and declaration of results.”

The question now is how he interpret the above authority in relation to Article 20(f) of the Second Schedule to the MBA Constitution as it affected R. O. Balogun.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014—41

Politicisation of Boko Haram insurgency, bane of Nigeria’s anti-terror fight Being paper delivered at Portcullis House, House of Commons, London by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, APC, on Monday

S

INCE the formation of our party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, our political opponents have strenuously tried (but failed) to misinform Nigerians and the international community that the APC is linked to Boko Haram, claiming ‘our actions, utterances and body language’ support or sympathise with Boko Haram.

Of course, this deliberate political misinformation and manipulation continue to flounder and fail spectacularly, not least because successive events prove these claims to be hollow, but also that it is our political opponents who are playing a ‘Boko Haram Poker Game’.

In particular the PDP and anyone for that matter (including their hired American PR firm, Levick) have failed to produce any substantial and even anecdotal evidence linking the APC with Boko Haram!

Anecdotal evidence Keen followers and watchers of Nigerian politics are well aware of recent revelations by Dr Stephen Davis, a renowned Australian hostage release negotiator hired by the Goodluck Jonathan government over the Chibok saga, who confirmed some few days back that indeed the sponsors of Boko Haram are nestled in the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan government – in the persons of Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff (former governor of Borno State) and Lt. General

LAI MOHAMMED Ihejirika (former Chief of Army Staff). The value of this revelation is hardly about its newness, but that it corroborates previous revelations, such as those by the former NSA (late Major General Azazi Owoye) and even by President Goodluck Jonathan himself!

My task here is incomplete

without providing this august gathering with logical, empirical and evidencebased explanation and accounts of goings-on about the Boko Haram ‘crisis’ in Nigeria.

I emphasize that The Boko Haram sect Boko Haram is a “crises” because it is no longer a was the Maitatsine single event but multiple Crisis in the northern intertwined crises. city of Kano that left There is the crisis of Boko thousands of people Haram violent attacks, but also dead in 1980. crisis of the PDP-President A decisive Jonathan’s inept response by the then mismanagement, crisis of Federal Government Nigeria’s military response and saw the crushing of operations, crisis of refugees and the sect, which was internal displacement, and crisis fiercely antiof insecurity in general. modernism.

Maitaisine was the Political nickname of the sect Map of Nigeria misinformation f o u n d e r , Mohammed Marwa, whose forbidden (haram), however, the What I present here are hardly preaching attracted a huge group’s ideology transcends this mine and APC’s hunches or number of youths, unemployed to mean the rejection of western guess-estimates or attempts at immigrants and others who felt culture and civilization of which political misinformation, but that mainstream Muslim teachers education is a vehicle for its logical accounts, insights and were not doing enough for their transfer.

In recorded interviews by the information contained in open- communities. By December 1980, source materials, thus verifiable. the group had started launching BBC with the late founder of the I proceed to share this important attacks against other religious group (Mohammed Yusuf), he empirical account of events about figures and the police in Bauchi stated that ‘ western-styled Boko Haram as detailed in media and Bulukuntu (Maiduguri), education is mixed with issues reports, academic papers and forcing the government to call in A known senior member of Boko Haram, research, and even from different the military. In the ensuing sections of the Nigerian clashes, about 5,000 people Late Boju Foi, was actually appointed a government under five main including the founder, died. But commissioner by former Governor Ali Modu in the end the sect was dead and headings: buried for good.

•Origin of Boko Haram Sheriff •The Politics of Boko Haram that run contrary to our belief in profile of its leader (Mohammed •Boko Haram and Resource Messianic Islam’ and ‘our land was an Yusuf) increased to the extent that Allocation revivalism Islamic state before the colonial he was included in the Borno •The Boko Haram Crisis and masters turned it to a Kafir state committee of clerics GEJ Security Spending Spree Fast forward to 2009, almost following the introduction of •New Thinking and three decades later, Boko Haram, (infidel) land.

Sharia Law. A known senior Approaches to a salafi-jihadi group that member of Boko Haram, Late Western Ending Boko espouses messianic revivalism of Boju Foi, was actually appointed Haram: The APC’s Islamic religion and cultural civilisation a commissioner by former Prescriptions. practices (sharia) and which The current system is contrary Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.

The Origins of translates literally as “ Western This marked official and to true Islamic belief. Another Boko Haram: education forbidden” was in full When the sect swing and following in the path recorded interview with the unofficial connections between “Nigerian Taliban”, of the Maitatsine. It is no use group’s spokesperson clarified the group and influential the precursor of hiding the fact that the emergence that ‘Boko Haram’ does not in any politicians and government today ’s monster of Boko Haram and its armed way mean Western education is functionaries that facilitated the called Boko Haram, insurgency from 2009, has a sin…(It) actually means western flow of patronage, financial resources and immunity from started off in 2002, it changed the political, economic, civilization is forbidden. prosecution for The difference is that while the police was another fringe security and socio-cultural Mohammed Yusuf (whenever he first gives the impression that we sect along the same landscape of Nigeria. was arrested, he was promptly are opposed to formal education pattern of many But who and what is Boko before it, which started off under Haram? Why and how did it come coming from the West…which is released based on intervention by the cloak of religion but were in about? Boko Haram’s original not true…the second affirms our influential politicians).

The fact that Boko Haram real sense, in response to the name is the Jama’atu Ahlis belief in the supremacy of Islamic widespread poverty, deprivation Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad culture, for culture is broader, it became a magnet for thousands and the injustice that have (People Committed to the includes education but not of youth made politicians on all hallmarked post-independent Propagation of the Prophet’s determined by western sides to seek to use it for election purposes.

Boko Haram Nigeria.

Teachings and Jihad) education.

The emergence of Boko Haram thereafter began spreading to Before now, the most movement. ‘Boko Haram’ when remembered, for the scale of its translated literarily means as a movement and the evolution neighbouring Yobe, Bauchi and share brutality and mass killings, ‘Western education’ (Boko) is of its armed insurgency could be Adamawa states.

To be continued

,

By LAI MOHAMMED

divided into five phases: Phase One: This pertains to the earliest recorded information about the group and its ideological foundation and organizational development as a movement. There is a loose consensus that Boko Haram is an offshoot of the Nigerian Taliban Movement that was first reported in media circles around 2001-02 (following the US-led NATO military campaign in Afghanistan), that the top leadership of the group were adherents of the Ibn Taymiyyah Sect.

The group relocated (undertook Hijra) from Maiduguri city (capital of Borno State) to a remote location in Yobe State (Kanama) in 2002 to establish its own community that was governed in accordance with strict Islamic law and culture (Sharia).

Following disagreements and clashes with neighboring communities over fishing rights and police action between 2003 and 2004 the group was dislodged from Kanama and it relocated back to Maiduguri in 2004.

Phase Two: This chronicles the regrouping, activities and growth of the group between 2004 and 2009. Boko Haram’s relocation to Maiduguri in 2004 led to its creation of a new base (the Ibn Taymiyyah Masjid around the railway area, north of Maiduguri). The group is alleged to have got financial support from within and outside Nigeria with which it set up businesses and started providing welfare services to the hordes of jobless, homeless and illiterate young people in Maiduguri.

Mohammed Yusuf’s recorded and live public preachings started circulating and attracting wide audience during this period. With this, the group’s membership grew astronomically and the

,

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMPER 11, 2014

C

OME October 11, 2014, barely a month from now, Senator Mohammed Bindow Jibrilla, representing Adamawa North Senatorial District and the Adamawa State Acting Governor, Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri will go into contest for the Dougirei Government House, Yola.

By Umar Yusuf

J

IBRILLA is flying the All Progressives Congress, APC, flag, while Ahmadu Fintiri is on the ticket of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP. Both candidates are upcoming politicians as far as Adamawa State politics is concerned but arguably they are the front runners in the bye-election and a similar characteristic being legislators. Though the Jubrilla is in the National Assembly while Fintiri was a state lawmaker, and indeed, the speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly before the impeachment of Admiral Murtala Nyako as governor, recently.

Their chances As the two go into full campaign preparatory to the bye-election to complete Nyako’s tenure, Adamawa State is in for a tight and two-horse race.

Mohammed Bindow Jibrilla Currently, the vice chairman Senate Committee on Defence, Jibrilla, according to records hails from one of the richest families

•Bindo

•Fintri

Adamawa 2014:

The battle of two lawmakers in Adamawa state.

The APC candidate is a dogged fighter to have fought tooth and nail to beat other aspirants to clinch the party ticket. Worthy of note is the ability of the Senator to defeat an aspirant sponsored by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the APC primaries. Bindow Jibrilla has all it takes to put up a big surprise in the October re-run.

He is said to enjoy the support of APC national leaders and

members in Adamawa.

Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri Leading the Adamawa State House of Assembly to impeach Nyako has endeared the acting governor to the people of the state. Fintiri has good leadership qualities as he is thought to be the only speaker to have kept members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly united.

Fintiri also enjoys the support of six other aspirants who

stepped down for him in the course of the struggle for the PDP ticket.

The aspirants, if they match their words with action will surely give the acting governor the necessary support to emerge victorious in the election. Fintiri also enjoy the support of PDP hierarchy.

The acting governor is expected to benefit from the incumbency factor. With the huge government resources at his

disposal apart from his personal wealth, his supporters expect him to remain at the Government House till May 29, 2015.

As the election draws closer the two candidates are expected to consolidate on their chances to outwit each other by telling the electorate their vision, mission and how to accomplish them. It is to be seen where the pendulum of victory would swing.

Senate: How and why PDP won Niger-East by-election

By Wole Mosadomi

L

AST Saturday’s Niger East senatorial bye-election was more than a bye-election. It was a fierce battle between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), a tussle that started in 2007 after the primaries for the governorship election.

Then, some of the aspirants on the platform of the PDP including Barrister David Umaru protested the outcome of the primaries which did not favour them and Umaru along with other aspirants eventually left the party.

Umaru eventually became the governorship candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2007. He got an overwhelming support of his Gwari people, who

complain of being marginalized in the scheme of things politically since the creation of the state and under the administration of then Governor Abdulkadir Kure but the overall victory went to the PDP. In 2011, Umaru picked the governorship ticket of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).Though some political analysts advised Umaru to jettison his gubernatorial ambition for the Senate he still saw himself as winning the seat and contested. He also lost. Till date, the Gwari still see the outcome of 2007 and 2011 general elections in the state as stolen mandates which should be returned Umaru.

The death of Senator Dairu Awaisu Kuta on June 12, 2014 paved the way for another

opportunity especially for the Gwaris to get their mandate back and after consistent persuasions from the state right to the APC national level, Umaru decided to contest the bye-election.

His entry made the PDP to field a core Gwari and a Christian who could fight David Umaru to a standstill and this led to the choice of Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu.

Though the PDP preferred a consensus candidate, a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Musa Abdullahi insisted on contesting challenging Nuhu for the PDP ticket. He scored 14 votes to Nuhu’s 386.

Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu’s exposure especially as commissioner for Health and Works during the military

administration of General David Mark and as deputy governor for eight years during Kure’s administration made him very popular.

His kinsmen most especially saw him as going into alliance with the incumbent governor, Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu whom they said would take over from him as PDP candidate for the same seat in 2015.

Babangida Aliyu though from the same senatorial zone is not a Gwari by tribe. Governor Aliyu had, however, at different fora debunked the insinuations pointing out that he had neither discussed nor declared his intention to go the Senate.

Zagbayi and Umaru go to the same church-ECWA Good News but they are not enemies except for the latest game which must

•Nuhu: Won bye-election have in no small way pitched them against each other and also polarized their church members politically.

Before the August 30 bye-

Continues on page 43

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMPER 11, 2014—43

Implementing confab report ’ll save Nigeria — Igini MR MIKE Igini, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Cross River State, in this interview reels out steps to ensure the implementation of the just concluded National Conference report among other issues. Excerpts:

By Dapo Akinrefon

T

HE national conference despite initial fears that it would not go far has come to an end, what is your assessment?

My assessment is that against many odds, it went well. The odds against it were the polarized national political discourse prior to the convocation of the conference and the consequential disputes. Yet, despite these polar political positions, the conferees, including nominees of all state governments were able to attain consensus on many important issues, and surprisingly accepted to defer to the most contentious issues by temporizing decisions on it to a more technically structured decision making body.

There are divergent opinions on whether the draft outcome should be subjected to a referendum or not and whether it should be sent to the National Assembly. What is your view on this?

In order to strengthen the legitimacy of the process and reducing what in constitutional parlance is referred to as the propensity for self-dealing, it should by subjecting the draft document to a referendum.

As a principal part of the process, we cannot dispense with the legislature in legitimating the process but in this regard the legislature should be mindful that whatever role they play in legitimating the document they should look beyond their immediate comforts and sacrifice

,

In order to strengthen the legitimacy of the process and reducing what in constitutional parlance is referred to as the propensity for self-dealing, it should by subjecting the draft document to a referendum

At the end of the conference, it is a fitting tribute to the capacity of Nigerians to overcome their differences in the very congenial way the conference ended.

,

for future Nigerian children that we may never know or see, but whose future welfare as compatriots, living at peace with one another, depends on the foundation that this document

•Igini will lay. But we cannot wholly dispense with the legislature in its legitimation process because as the principal stakeholders in the implementation of the constitution, we must allow them ample space for a buy-in to the new republic.

There are few people who still argue over the legitimacy of the conference on the grounds of the absence of an enabling law and the non-election of the delegates.

There are no trans-national standards for the convocation of a conference of a people to

determine the charter of their coexistence. Interestingly, in our own case here, the delegates were in fact nominated by an elected president and Governors of the 36 states and so what other form of legitimate authority are we talking about beyond the authority of elected people who delegated part of their authority to nominated delegates?

So contextual adaptation and the intent by people to succeed and coexist peacefully is the key factor. Again, on this legitimacy question, bear in mind that apart from nomination from elected constituted authorities at federal

Senate: How and why PDP won Niger-East by-election Continues from page 42 election, there had been war of words from the two parties but certainly not politics of personalities. The two parties had on several occasions accused each other of planning to rig the polls.

Two days to the election, the Polo ground which was to be used as the final campaign ground for the APC was put under lock and key with heavily armed policemen standing at the entrance and made sure that nobody gained access to the venue.

National officers and big wigs of the party led by its National Chairman, Chief Odigie Oyegun, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and Senator Bukola Saraki among other prominent members of the party

across the country had no alternative than driving through major streets of Minna, the state capital in a long convoy with brooms in their hands chanting their political slogans. They took time out to visit the former military president, Ibrahim Babangida to seek for his blessing. The party boasted that the APC would win Niger-East senatorial seat.

The election Nine local government areas were involved and they are Chanchaga, Bosso, Gurara, Munya, Paikoro, Rafi, Shiroro, Suleja and Tafa. Each candidate had been involved in an extensive campaign that took them to all the local councils.

On August 30, voters defied a heavy downpour in most of the voting units and came out to vote for the candidate of their choice.

The election went on peacefully

and results announced the second day.

Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo who announced the results said, APC polled 84,689 votes; APGA, 2,099; PDP, 89,640; and SDP, 460 votes.

A winner was not announced because of hitches in some areas, which necessitated a repeat election in the areas affected Re-run Onucheyo said that due to some irregularities ranging from ballot snatching, arm-twisting of electoral officers and violence, results in some units in six local government areas were being withheld and re-run fixed for September 6. The local governments involved were, Bosso, Chanchaga, Munya, Gurara, Rafi, paikoro, Tafa, Shiroro and Suleja.

At the end of the re-run, he announced the final results, declaring Nuhu of the PDP, who polled 92,056 votes to APC’s 87,405 votes as the winner and Senator-elect.

APC rejects result The APC has rejected the result describing it as “unacceptable” to the party.

Niger State APC Spokesman, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa said though the party was yet to take a final decision on the results, the national headquarters was still looking into the result and will come out with a statement soon.

Whatever it is, the bye-election has indicated that the 2015 general election especially the governorship will be a tough fight between the APC and PDP in Niger State.

and state levels, many of them were representatives of established statutory, academic, and civil society bodies, which have passed through election processes in such bodies.

Therefore, the constitutional adaptations of the resolutions must be seen from two dimensions, the spirit of the document which is the intent of the delegates and the letters of the document which are the commitment of the delegates and eventually all stakeholders to the goals and ideals which the letters aspire to.

We must learn to embrace the letters and spirit of the commitments which the resolution obligates in our words and in our actions, they must become a creed.

Which are the specific areas of success of the confab that you consider significant in strengthening our federalism towards rapid development?

Some significant areas of successes include the proposal to remove the immunity from prosecution for criminal offences for executive public office holders.

This is progressive because our practical experience has shown that many office holders did not display the maturity required to enjoy such immunity, instead they turned it to impunity, and impunity; the lack of consequences for wrong doing is the number one enemy of Nigeria’s progress.

Nonetheless, the removal of the clause in this context was instigated by the failure of the legislature to act as effective checks without necessarily acting as obstructionist to governance, necessitating a judicial reenforcement.

Other important landmark innovations include the resolution on de-listing local governments from the constitution and making this tier of governance purely matters for states, with the liberty to create as many as they desire as long as they can fund them. There is also the resolution on the formation of a revenue mobilization Commission at state level, but this should be empowered by ensuring express fiscal autonomy clause on revenue generation authorities for local governments to the extent that will make them viable.

I am particularly enthused by any administrative mechanism that empowers governance at the local governments, enlightened state governments will expend a lot of energy to ensure devolution and effectiveness at this level, because it frees the upper levels of governance from expending too much time and resources on small development efforts that are better done from the local wards, that way state and federal governments can free material resources and time to do bigger enabling things.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Veg diet and compassion for the animals T Hakeem Jimo’s

HE greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. - Gandhi, Indian spiritual leader This column brings up a topic that is not yet very popular in Nigeria. However, it is the very same reason why many people in the world become vegetarians org vegans these days. The plight of animals - be it farm animals, companion animals, marine or wild life animals. Many believe, like human animals, they have rights and deserve to have their best interests taken into consideration, regardless of whether they are useful to humans.

More people believe that animals are not ours to use for food, clothing, entertainment, experimentation, or any other reason. By switching to a plantbase diet, human societies will be able to alleviate the needless suffering and deaths of countless animals, the irreparable damage d one onto the earth like air and water pollution, the erosion of lands, waste of precious energy, and deforestation. Raising and eating meat leaves behind an environmental toll that generations to come will be forced to pay.

Ve ggie Victory

veggienaija@gmail.com

cats, and people do. More than 25 billion animals are killed by the meat industry each year - in ways that would horrify any compassionate person.

In modern factory farms, animals are routinely injected with hormones and stimulants to make them grow bigger, faster and increase egg production cycle in hens. This practice has also arrived in Nigeria. I heard of a child who unfortunately ate the first batch of these

manipulated eggs and had a life threatening allergy reaction.

More of these frightening reports will come as the pressure to make profit does is also in the Nigerian meat industry while regulation and supervision is not adequate.

One of the speakers at the upcoming LagosVegFest (October 10-12 at Freedom Park, Lagos Island / www.lagosvegfest.com) will address this topic.

Ebola: Dettol commences campaign on hygiene

T

•Animal rights Modern high-pressure agriculture commonly keeps cows, calves, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and other animals in overcrowded stalls, cages, crates, or sheds where they are often unable to turn around or take even a single step for their entire lives. Deprived of veterinary care, exercise, sunlight, and even the feel of grass beneath their feet, these living, breathing, thinking,

feeling beings, whose senses are so much like our own, suffer and die at the rate of millions per day just so that we can have burgers, patties, nuggets, and wieners. Deciding what we will eat means choosing between the horrors of factory farming and respect for animals.

Pigs, cows, and chickens are individuals with feelings - they experience love, happiness, loneliness, and fear, just as dogs,

HE Federal and State governments in collaboration with Reckitt Benkiser, manufacturer of Dettol antiseptic, have flagged off a campaign aimed at increasing the adoption of appropriate personal hygiene habits.

The campaign was flagged off in Abuja by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu.

Marketing Director, West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili said the initiative which is part of the organisations’s Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, will focus largely on enlightenment on prevention of Ebola infection through cultivation of proper hygienic habits.

“Over the next couple of weeks, we would launch out panNigeria with the Ebola Public Enlightenment Campaign. Some legs of the campaign include

airing an Infomercial by the Minister of Health on Ebola, storming Garages, Neighbourhoods, Religious Centres, Schools etc. educating Nigerians on proper hygiene practices like correct washing of hands amongst others, and by providing up-to-date information on ‘All you need to know about Ebola’ through the traditional media and other digital media platforms. ‘‘The prevention of the Ebola virus starts from good hygiene practices like washing of hands, Dettol has six steps of how to properly wash our hands to kill germs’’, he added.

Over the past 50 years, Dettol has been at the forefront of educating Nigerians on health and hygiene benefits via mass consumer education programmes like New Mom Programme where 5 million mothers have been reached since 2006.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

H

ELLO everybody and welcome to a new week.

Today’s article will feature a mixture of new product reviews and questions from our readers. We will be reviewing products that can help with male arousal, performance energy and erectile dysfunction. As many of you may know, oral supplements are the most common aphrodisiacs used for arousal. But there are other forms of aphrodisiacs too, many of which are not even supplements. Some of them come in the form of adult toys while others come as adult movies. The adult movie versions are what is referred to as visual aphrodisiacs.

This is because they rely on the visual stimuli of the brain in order to initiate genital arousal. When a man fails to get aroused during foreplay or intercourse, it does not necessarily mean that he is suffering from erectile dysfunction. Sometimes the brain just needs the right visual stimuli before it can come alive and send signals to the genitals through the nervous system. That is why adult movies can help with arousal. The sight of other people having intercourse can be a powerful motivator and aphrodisiac for the brain and new movies such as Old Friends and Booty Call can provide just this type of incentive. Old Friends and Booty Call are shot in Blu ray and DVD as well, thereby providing the viewer with a wider range of options.

Sometimes, tactile stimulation can also help with arousal. Whether it is done by hand or mouth completely depends on the adults involved. But with the increasing popularity of oral sex, many documentaries have been made on the subject, one of which is the instructional film The Better Sex Guide to Great Oral Sex. This is a well-researched film on the many pleasures, advantages and systems of oral pleasuring and a great knowledge of what it teaches can help adult women in helping their men get aroused when facing challenges regarding getting in the mood.

But sometimes, adult movies and genital stimulation are not enough to wake up a sleeping lion. At times like

this, stronger measures are required especially when it regards age related erectile dysfunction and low genital arousal. That is when a powerful oral aphrodisiac can be of great help, an example of which is Kangaroo, our newest performance supplement for the treatment of male genital arousal, weak erection, erection loss, lack of stamina and staying power. Kangaroo is also an organ enlarger and works in the system for up to three days with the consumption of just one table. Kangaroo erection enhancer is all natural, is intended for adult consumption and requires no prescription. It is a powerful erection enhancer that can benefit men with the above named challenges. So these are the performance enhancing solutions for this week’s review. Let us now take a few questions form our readers.

When I am having intercourse the first time, I ejaculate quickly. By the second time, I tend to last a little longer.

But first impressions matter so I want to impress my woman in the first round - Andy Andy there are many solutions to premature ejaculation.

You can use delay condoms like Safex Delay Condoms or you can use a variety of lubricants, sprays and penis sleeves.

A spray like the Ultra Maximum delay spray can help you and so can the Kamasutra Prolonging Gel – Uche There is an instant penis enlarger you wrote about some weeks ago. Please I am interested in it. My wife also needs an arousal gel or something for vaginal dryness – John I believe the penis enlarger you are talking about is the Optimale Instant Penis Enlarger and yes it is available.

For your wife, I recommend the Fifty Shades Come Alive Pleasure Gel – Uche That is all for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 07086754515 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014—45

Support FG in fighting insurgency, other crimes, Iwuanyanwu pleads

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI — A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Publisher of Champion Newspapers, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has called on Nigerians to continue to support the Federal Government in its current fight against the Boko Haram Islamic insurgents and other serious crimes in the country, such as kidnapping and armed robbery.

Iwuanyanwu, who made the appeal while fielding questions from journalists in Owerri, also opined that the nation’s founding fathers never envisaged what the country was passing through now.

He noted that although Igbos fought a 30-month war of survival, they had continuously pleaded with Nigerians to ensure the unity and integrity of the nation.

“It is true that Igbos fought a 30-month war of self survival. It is also true that today, we are championing the crusade for one Nigeria,” Chief Iwuanyanwu said.

The Champion publisher recalled that events in Nigeria dominated discussions at the 20th World Igbo Congress in Houston Texas, United States of America, stressing that “at the end of the exercise, we unanimously

endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term.”

According to him, Nigerians owe a lot of gratitude to journalists for their roles in the restoration and sustenance of democracy in the country.

“Our people forget easily.

Nigerian journalists must be commended for staking their lives in the fight for the restoration of democracy. They have also worked very hard for its sustenance,” Iwuanyanwu said.

BRIEFING: From left, Secretary, Christian Professionals Association of Nigeria, CPAN, Mr. Elochukwu Ezike; Counsel to the CPAN, Nwachukwu Doris; Lead Counsel, Mr. Victor Ukutt, at the CPAN's media briefing on the ban of churches' crusades on account of Ebola Virus outbreak, in Lagos. Photo: Etop Ukutt

Truck somersaults in Aba due to bad road ... As robbers flee with loot

By Eric Ugbor

A

BA — THE failed portion of Osisioma junction on Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway in Abia State, which has given residents of Aba and its environments nightmare over time, was some sort of saving grace for an Aba-based

businessman whose truck load of rice was stolen by an armed robbery gang in the early hours of yesterday.

It was gathered that the trailer loaded with about 600 bags of imported rice had entered the city very late Tuesday night, but could not be off-loaded immediately.

The driver and his conductor were said to have parked the trailer in front of the warehouse of the owner of the goods on Tenant Road and decided to sleep inside the truck till yesterday’s morning when the bags of rice would be offloaded.

However, while the driver was

2015: Gov Orji re-jigs media team

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA — ABIA State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji has re-jigged his media team ahead of 2015 to fight the barrage of media attacks on his administration by the opposition.

In the new appointments, the former Chief Press Secretary, Ugochukwu Emezue was reappointed Special Adviser,

Electronic Media; while former NUJ President, Bonnie Iwuoha and Uche Nwosu were also reappointed into the media team.

They were part of the government until October last year when the governor sacked all his advisers with the exception of a few.

When contacted, Emezue confirmed the appointment which was not announced on the state

radio as was the case in the past, and commended the governor for bringing them back to join in his “good work in the state.”

Emezue assured the governor that the people he reappointed would not let him down but would do their best to project the state in good light.

He called on critics to be objective and avoid unwarranted attacks on the government.

waiting, an undisclosed number of armed men stormed the area around 3.00a.m., shot sporadically before collecting the key of the truck from the driver and zoomed off with the bags of rice.

The road that had given users nightmare, however, turned to be the businessman’s saving grace as reports had it that on getting to Osisioma junction, on Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, perhaps not knowing how bad that portion of the highway was, the hoodlums drove into one of the craters and the vehicle somersaulted.

The armed robbers, who were not hurt in the incident, were reported to have jumped out of the truck, and took to their heels while the businessman later took possession of his goods.

Auto Spare Parts Association may head to A-Court over election crisis

By Onozure Dania

L

AGOS — Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association, ASPMDA, which had been embroiled in leadership crisis, may be heading to the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, as a Lagos High Court held that it lacked the competence to discharge an ex-parte order obtained by a faction of the association.

A Lagos High Court had on August 7, 2014, granted an exparte order restraining former

President of the group, Chief Anthony Ughagwu, from handing over the leadership of the Association to the newly elected executive, headed by Chief Daniel C. Offorkansi, pending hearing of the Motion on Notice filed by three members, namely: James Umeji, Ngozi Emechebe and Okwudili Chukwuma (claimants) However, he directed that the file should be returned to the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Funmilayo Atilade, for re-assignment to another

judge.

The claimants had, through their lawyer, Chief Olalekan Yusuf (SAN), sought for a declaration that the purported election of the Association which was held on July 30, 2014, was a charade and unconstitutional.

The claimants urged the court to declare the Independent Electoral Committee, INECA, that conducted the election as illegal and a breach of the constitution of the Association.

They further urged the court

to nullify and cancel the purported election, describing it as fraudulent, unconstitutional and an abuse of the constitution of the Association and the electoral process.

The defendants, Anthony Ughagwu and Daniel C. Offorkansi, through their counsel, Lanre Ogunlesi, (SAN), argued that contrary to insinuations by the claimants, the election was free, fair and transparent.

FUTO ex-VC wants professionals to take over Imo governance

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI — THE former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, Professor Jude Njoku, wants professionals to take the centre stage in future affairs of Imo State.

Professor Njoku, who spoke at a function organised in his honour by his friends in Owerri, yesterday, also remarked that professionals should start getting involved in the democratic process.

The academic and university administrator, who was a former Commissioner for Education and Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development in Imo State, opined that professionals should not complain in the event of bad governance, if they failed to use their knowledge and experience to serve the people.

He said: “As well trained, trusted and experienced professionals, they are in a better position to change the face of any state."

Student group endorses PDP guber aspirant

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA — IMO State chapter of Abia State Students Associ- ation has endorsed Dr. Uche Ogar, a PDP governorship aspirant in Abia, saying he posses- sed the quality to take over from Governor Theodore Orji in 2105.

Rising from a meeting in Owerri, the students described Ogar as a lover of education and one who would take the welfare of students at heart and encourage them with the necessary incentives.

In a statement made available to Vanguard in Umuahia, the association called on all Abia people to support Dr. Ogar to realise his aspiration for a better Abia State.

The statement, which was signed by the coordinator of Abia students in Imo State, Emmanuel Nwokoaka, said the group was working hard to enlist the support of Abia students in other states.

46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Lokoja FMC boss vows to challenge suspension of 4 doctors

2015: 'Why Oshiomhole's aides are gunning for elective positions'

L

By Boluwaji Obahopo

OKOJA—CHIEF Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Lokoja, Kogi State, Dr. Gbadebo Eleshin, yesterday, said the centre would appeal the suspension of four of its doctors by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

Last week, the Medical and Dental Council suspended Dr. Temitope Gabriel Onile for three months, while D r s Nzurumike Charles Nanna, Danmusa Adamu Ochala and Omotayo Oluwa Damilola were each suspended for six months.

At a briefing, Eleshin said the suspension was carried out “in error by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. The suspension was issued to the four doctors as a result of a pregnant woman whose time of delivery went beyond the Expected Day of Delivery, EDD, which was admitted for observation. When her condition eventually defied normal delivery and induction, and it was discovered that the woman’s

B

ENIN CITY— AHEAD of the general elections, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Mr Mika Amanokha has said Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s aides are vying for elective positions because they have gone through the necessary training that can take Edo State to the next level.

Amanokha who is Special Adviser to Governor Oshiomhole and an aspirant for the House of Assembly seat for Etsako East constituency, asserted that Oshiomhole had impacted positive leadership on his followers to ensure that even after he must have left office, good governance would continue to reign in the state.

The APC chieftain who was reacting to insinuations in some quarters that Oshiomhole’s aides are gunning for elective positions ahead of the election, said: “It is only mischief makers who are reading meanings into it.

One way you can assess a leader is when he is able to lead and hand over the mantle of leadership to credible people.

"If most of his disciples are aspiring, it is simply because they have gone through the necessary rudiments, the necessary training that can take Edo State to the next level."

uterus had ruptured, the doctors quickly prepared her for caesarean session, to save the mother and the baby, but both gave up the ghost on the way to the theatre as a result of complications.”

He revealed that the deceased’s husband, Pastor

Philip, a friend of the doctors, petitioned the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal even after the hospital sent a special delegation to him.

He said: “To tell you how close we are to Pastor Philip,

we even paid a condolence visit to the family, but he petitioned Medical Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal and eventually the tribunal tried the case and suspended these doctors, on the ground that it was the drug they administered on her that led to her death.”

FUNCTION: Chancellor, Diocese of Ogoni (Anglican Communion), Senator Magnus Abe (right), Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. Solomon Gberegbara (left), and his wife, Stella, discussing at a function in Rivers State.

ADAMAWA GUBER POLLS: We won't be caught unawares —APC chieftains

I

By Ola Ajayi

BADAN—CHIEFTAINS of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the South West yesterday said the party would not be caught unawares in the next month's Adamawa State governorship elction.

The APC chieftains who were drawn from Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, Ondo, Lagos,

Ogun and Kogi states, spoke in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The chieftains under the aegis of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Collectives, AAA, said the Adamawa election would not be like that of Ekiti State which they claimed was stolen by the leadership of the PDP with alleged connivance of the presidency.

Led by Bode Ajewole, the

zonal leader of AAA Collectives, said, “Ekiti election was stolen by the presidency. We were caught unawares. That was why we rose up to our responsibilities in Osun State. For this coming election in Adamawa, we are very much prepared.

The election will be won like that of Osun.”

They said they believed in

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

the leadership of Atiku who had made much impact in all ramifications of life.

According to the spokesperson of the group, “we are friends of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from the entire South Western states and Kogi. We are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that Atiku winning the primaries of our great party will be the beginning of the party’s success in next year's presidential elections.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe (nwamad@yahoo.com)

Ebola: On September 22 as rresumption esumption date for schools

I

AM not extremely surprised by the outrageousity of this genocide. “the world is not dangerous because of those who do harm but because of those who look at it and do nothing” Albert Einstein.

Mr. Onuchukwu Chinedu — Activist

G

OD we thank you for your love on mankind, even though the sin remains on the high before you. This also is an indication of hope for the average Nigerians of God’s presence among us. Mr. Agada Akor — Worker

M

ONEY and vaccines cannot not heal Ebola but if our leaders will change from their evil ways and hear the cries of the less privellege and orphans, GOD will cure Ebola diseases in our country. Ms Anuli Anona— Businesswoman

T

HIS order to close all schools in Nigeria because of Ebola is pure madness and borne out of desperation to score cheap political points. Why stop there, why not all workers both in public and private sector ask, in fact all Nigerians to also stay at home as well. Ms Sandra Adichie — Model

The next logical extension to Ebola is to summon all stakeholders and form a government of national unity. Party politics has consistently been the cog in our wheel of progress and unity. Mrs. Morayo Iyoke — Trader

If Federal Government had protected our airports and banned any flight from Liberia, Sawyer wouldn’t have gained access to Nigeria in the first place. However, it is good that they are doing their best to curtail it.

Mr. Eyinna Okpani — Graduate

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 —47

2014 Hajj: 502 pilgrims airlifted in Kano

By AbdulSalam Muhammad

K

ANO— NO fewer than 502 intending pilgrims, yesterday, departed Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano to Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s hajj.

The first batch of pilgrims, who left the country in the early hours aboard Max Airlines, was part of 5,708 total pilgrims billed for the operation from Kano.

At a sensitisation workshop before their departure, Executive Secretary of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Laminu Rabiu, said already the board had received 5,126 visas of 5,708 from Saudi Arabia Consulate in Kano.

He, however, expressed optimism that others would be ready before the final departure period.

This came just as the Youth Pilgrims Welfare Association of Nigeria, YOPWAN, advised pilgrims to be conscious of their hygiene and others in the holy land.

Laminu noted that airlift operations would last 12 days, pointing out that concrete arrangement had been made with the three official flight operators, Max Air, Sky Power and Kabo Airlines.

He urged the pilgrims to remain worthy ambassadors of Kano and Nigeria, stressing that government would not tolerate any act of misconduct by any pilgrim in the holy land.

“We have urged our pilgrims to be of good conduct and adhere to the rules and regulations guiding the hajj operations. We told them we don’t want to find anybody wanting in any form,” Laminu said.

The executive secretary disclosed that the board disqualified 13 female pilgrims who were pregnant and explained that their rejection was in line with Saudi Arabia policy that disallows pregnant women from performing hajj rituals.

Speaking, Kano State Head of Service, Alhaji Umar Minjibir, urged the board to guide pilgrims on eating habit and health care management while in the holy land.

NUPENG expresses concern over worsening insecurity in North-East

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

T

HE Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has expressed grave concern over worsening insecurity in the North-Eastern part of the country, as Boko Haram insurgents are over-running towns and villages in the area.

NUPENG recalled that at the last count, Gulak, Madagali, Michika, Uba, Bazza in Adamawa State have fallen to the insurgents, while Banki, Gwoza, Bama have fallen in Borno.

The union in a statement by its President, Mr. Igwe Achese, called on the military to declare the area a war-zone and flush out the insurgents as there could not be a caliphate within a republic.

According to NUPENG, “the military must be fully armed with modern day weaponry to challenge and flush out the insurgents who are carrying sophisticated arms.

"We demand a concerted effort with the support of our neighbouring countries, namely Cameroon, Niger and Chad to help stem the current

tide, as the insurgents will have no hiding place. We call on the Federal and state governments in the NorthEast to address the refugee problem.

"The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, must deploy more men and relief materials to assist the refugees. It is a high time an action was taken to nip the current invasion of the terrorists in the bud, before it leads to serious security implications on our existence as a nation."

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Transport, Prince Godwin Ntuk Udeh (left) recieving Best State Commissioner Award from Alhaji Garuba Guluma, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Inter Governmental Affairs, in Abuja.

Kwara PDP chairman in court for contempt

I

By Demola Akinyemi

LORIN— CHAIRMAN of Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Iyiola Oyedepo, was yesterday docked at an Ilorin High Court for alleged contempt of the court.

The state chairman was absent at the court without reasons on Tuesday, hence, the order for his appearance, yesterday.

Justice Isiaka Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court had on Tuesday ordered the PDP chairman to appear before the court to respond to allegation of contempt levelled against him by a factional chairman of the PDP in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Alhaji Toyin Olosasa.

Trouble started when Oyedepo on the Wednesday, September 3, 2014 swore in the Alhaji Yusuf Amuda Olugbon-led PDP executives in the local government, claiming that he had not obtained the court’s order before the inauguration.

Counsel to the applicant, Mogaji Oba Abdulkadir, told the court on Tuesday, that Oyedepo’s absence in court without any reason was “clear disobedience to the court order.”

Abdulkadir prayed the court to

issue a warrant of arrest against Oyedepo and compel his court attendance.

In his submission, Oyedepo’s counsel, A. O. Abubakar argued that the process of the contempt proceeding was “pre-matured and defective,” saying the defendant was entitled to seven days to file response to the allegations in accordance with Order 11 Rules 1 and 2 of the court.

The Judge in his ruling on Tuesday agreed with applicant's counsel that Oyedepo’s absence was a disobedience to the court order, hence, he ordered him to

appear on Wednesday to respond to the contempt charges.

However, upon his appearance, yesterday, Oyedepo’s counsel filed a counter-affidavit challenging the processes of the contempt proceeding as well as the jurisdiction of the court.

The applicant counsel, Abdulkadir asked the court for short time to file responses to the counter-affidavit.

In his ruling, the Justice Yusuf adjourned the case till Monday, September 15, 2014.

THREAT TO LIFE:

IGP orders probe

L

AGOS — THE Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, has ordered investigation into a case of alleged threat to life, harassment, intimidation, unlawful possession of arms and armed brigandage reported against a group of people in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

Abba gave the order following a petition by the Mosenne Chieftaincy Family of Ikorodu, through their counsel, Mr Tunji Busari, alleging that a group of people attacked Mr. Taofiq Mosenne and some members of the family on May 12, 2004 while conducting routine check on the family land.

It said: “They were surprised when they were way-laid by these unknown men carrying assorted rifles and cudgels, cutlasses and local charms.

Our clients fled for their lives.”

Detectives from the Monitoring Unit of the Office of the IG Abuja, last week reportedly detained four suspects in connection with the incident, while investigation continued on the matter.

Meanwhile, the Mosenne Chieftaincy family members have gone before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikorodu, praying the court to grant them statutory rights of occupancy in respect of the entire large tract of land situated at Oju-Ogbe on Beach Road, Ikorodu, Lagos State, covered the composite plan No. LA/1496/85, and an order granting beneficial owner of the land to them.

Claimants in the suit are Chief Adebayo Olomo (Olootu), Mr. Olukayode Olomo, Mr. Biodun Lambo, Chief Wasiu Sekoni, Mrs Raliat Shogbamu, Otunba Tajudeen Adelaja, Mrs. Sunkanmi Arepo, while the defendant is the Sholebo family.

APC calls for Kogi council boss' impeachment

L

By Boluwaji Obahopo

OKOJA— All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on the legislative arm of Kabba/ Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State to immediately impeach the embattled council chairman, Funsho Emmanuel.

State Chairman of the party, Hardy Ametuo, in a statement said the council chairman, currently on suspension over alleged mal-administration and financial recklessness, is better

impeached than return to office.

According to Ametuo, “it is the only way to save the local government councils in the state from the hands of their chairmen who have refused to pay salaries despite public outcry and protest from the workers.”

Ametuo commended the patriotic zeal of the councillors who refused to give in to intimidation and threats from the cabals that

have held the Kabba/Bunu chairman hostage.

The APC chairman, who alleged under performance by the PDP administration in the state, said his party was working to ensure the ruling party was routed out of the state in 2015 general election.

The council chairman was suspended following the alleged diversion of funds and award of contract without due process by all the 15 councillors who unanimously endorsed the suspension.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

OPENING: Head, Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Lloyd Onaghinon; Chairman, Landmark Property Co Ltd, Mr. Okey Enelemah; Chairman, Landmark Group, Dr Pascal Dozie; Group CEO, Landmark Group, Mr. Paul Onwuanibe and MD, Procter and Gamble, Mr. George Nassar at the grand opening ceremony of Landmark House in Ikeja, Lagos.

LAUNCHING: Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (right), displaying his new e-passport, while the Comptroller, Immigration Service, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Suleman Wunti, watches with delight, during the launching of the e-passport reforms, at the Passport Office, FRSC Road, Yenagoa.

SEMINAR: From left; Dr Taofik Folami, Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Environment; Major Gen. Sansaliyu Awosanya, Chairman, Perabeam; his wife, Funmilola; Eng Akindele Abayomi, MD, Pera-beam and Mr Junhwa Jeong, Product Manager, LG Air Conditioning and Energy Solution, W'Africa during a one-day Seminar on Energy Efficiency Advocacy organised

by Pera-beam in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele

AWARD: Comrade Ferdinand Okolie, Director of Welfare, Student Union Government, UNIBEN, presenting an Award of Excellence to Dr. Caroline Ajuyah, Mni, Perm Sec, Delta State Hospitals Management Board, when she was honoured by the National Association of Delta State Medical and Dental Student, UNIBEN chapter. ( L E F T ) P R E S E N TAT I O N : From left; Prof.

Abdulganiyu Raji, Acting Dean, Faculty of Technology, Univeristy of Ibadan; Dr. Nureni Adewole, S u b - D e a n , Undergraduate, Faculty of Technology; Dr. Olusegun Akanbi, HOD, Industrial Engineering and Mrs. Wale Odufalu, GM, Coporate Services Alpha Mead Facilities Management & Services Ltd during the presentation of laptops by AMFacilties to the faculty.

INAUGURATION: From left; DPO, Festac Police Division, Shehu Alao; CSP Sunday Akibor; Vice President, Festival Town Residents Association, FTRA, Deacon Emmanuel Ukaegbu; Area Commander, Area ‘E’ Command, Dan Okoro, ACP; Shola Fakorede, President, FTRA, after the inauguration of the new executive officers of the association.

ENDORSEMENT: All Progressives Congresss, APC, aspirant for Etsako East, Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Amanokha Mika (donning white cap), being endorsed by APC youths in Edo State, yesterday.

FUNERAL MASS: Deputy Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Leo Ogor, representing Isoko constituency, (left); Dr. Paul Owhe, Commissioner, National House of Assembly Service Commission, (2nd left), and others during the funeral mass of Dame Pauline Ekoko, late wife of Professor A. E. Ekoko at St. Mathias Catholic Church, Uzere, Delta State.

MEETING: From left; Alhaji Junaid Owokorodu; Prince Biodun Adeola; Otunba David Ekiyoyo and Princess Folashade Olabanji Oba, at the meeting of Eminent Persons of Ikorodu Division, EPID, in conjuction with Conference of Leaders of Ikorodu Division, COLID, on the Permanent Voters Card/INEC Voters Register Updates at the town hall, Ikorodu. Photo by Shola Oyelese.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 49

50— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 51

Umana lauds Attah for advocating open contest

I

MMEDIATE past secretary to Akwa Ibom State government and gubernatorial aspirant in the state for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket, Mr Umana Okon Umana, has congratulated Obong Victor Attah, former governor of Akwa Ibom State, for his open advocacy of a free and open contest in the upcoming PDP primary election.

In a congratulatory message issued in Uyo to the former governor and cochair of the committee on Resource Control at the just concluded National Conference, Umana said Obong Attah has lived up to his true billing and status as father of all Akwa Ibom people through his clarion call for a level playing field for all the gubernatorial aspirants, irrespective of their senatorial districts, in the build-up to and during the PDP primary election to be held in a few weeks’ time.

He described as a manifestation of true statesmanship, Attah’s declaration during a reception for him at Asan Ibibio that zoning is not the way forward for Akwa Ibom because the “need to restore confidence in government and rebuild

the state” was stronger than the clamour by some people for zoning.

In a speech at Asan Ibibio, the cradle of Ibibio civilisation, during the weekend, Attah said with reference to the process of choosing the next governor of the state, though some people would expect a sequential movement of power to Eket through zoning, the time and circumstances of the day demanded that such a sequence in power shift should bow to the superior consideration of meeting the crying need of the people to recover, restore and rebuild the state for the benefit of all those who call it home.

“As I looked around, I see a number of faces here of people I know who are aspiring to the office of governor of this state,” Attah said in a prepared address, copies of which were distributed to people present at the reception, thereby taking necessary care to check misquotation and distortion. “A large number of those aspirants are from Eket Senatorial District. This is as should be expected because of the sequential logic that after Uyo and Ikot Ekpene, it should be Eket. “But there

must be a level playing field for all aspirants. This is particularly true at this time when there is such a crying need to give hope back to our people: to restore their confidence in their government and to rebuild the state. ”Zoning will certainly be a major consideration, but at a time like this certain other compelling determinants cannot be sacrificed on the altar of zoning alone.”

Umana said the Attah declaration at Asan Ibibio was consistent with the position of the national leadership of the PDP and the demand of the overwhelming majority of Akwa Ibom people freely expressed at the PDP Elders and Stakeholders Town Hall Meeting of April 15, 2014 in Uyo.HE Obong Attah is a member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP. Another BOT member of the party from the state, Atuekong Don Etiebet had on August 20, 2014 in Uyo during the celebrations of Umana Okon Umana’s birthday called for open, free and fair party primary as the way best way for choosing the party flag bearer for the 2015 governorship election.

52—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Ekwueme, Clark others ask Jega to resign Continues from Page 5

tional polling units than any of the zones in the South? z How can the additional polling units for the South-East be so minimal when it is a well known fact that the Igbos have been relocating back to the South-East from the North East since 2011? zIs Prof. Jega not giving fillip to conjectures that there is a tacit design to “clean-off” registered voters from areas (particularly the South East) that are perceived to be strong holds of the present administration ahead of the 2015 general election?”

INEC yet to create additional polling units –Jega

Speaking on the issue yesterday, Jega, who justified the need for more polling booths, however, said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission has not yet created the additional polling units. It has simply approved the framework and guidelines to facilitate the creation of these additional Polling Units by the Resident Electoral Commissioners and the State Officers of INEC.” He explained that

INEC had already, in collaboration with other government agencies, especially the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGOF, produced maps with the location of existing polling units nationwide. He further stated that this was done in order to provide the states a rational, scientific basis for the practical exercise of reconfiguring and locating additional polling units.

According to him: “It is only when the states have used the framework and guidelines and have proposed the new polling units for each state, that the Commission will cre-

ate the polling units.”

Jega explained that the basic aim of the exercise “we are presently undertaking is to ease the access of voters to the ballot box in the 2015 general elections and beyond, by de-congesting overcrowded polling units and dispersing voters as evenly as possible among all the polling units; locating polling units more effectively within commuting distances of voters, given that movement is usually restricted on Election Day; relocating the polling units from private houses, and such other unsuitable places to public buildings or where this

is not possible, to open public spaces where tents can be provided; locating the polling units inside classrooms or such other suitable enclosures, in line with international best practices; splitting large polling units such that they have an average of 500 registered voters; and creating additional polling units to cater for the splitting of large polling units as well as new settlements not serviced by any existing polling units.”

Throwing more light on why it became necessary to create new polling units across the country the INEC boss said that “the present structure of polling units in the country was created in 1996 by the

defunct National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON), which created 120,000 polling units and 8,809 wards. This structure of polling units has been used for the 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011 general elections. We are all witnesses to the congested polling units on election days in 2011 and since then in many parts of the country.”

He further explained that from 1996 to date, there has been an exponential growth in Nigeria’s population and severe demographic shifts resulting from new settlements in major urban areas.

He said: “For example, in 1996 when the current polling unit structure was established, the estimated population of the country was about 110 million. In 2006, after a national population census, the population was 140 million. In 2011, when the voters’ registration was undertaken, the population was estimated to be about 160 million. Today the population is estimated to be around 175m.

This represents nearly 60 per cent rise in the population since 1996.”

South West leaders back Jonathan, set agenda Meanwhile, South-West leaders, yesterday threw their weight behind President Jonathan and urged him to declare his intention to run for a second term.

They said they took the bold to support Jonathan’s re-election against the backdrop that the Yoruba nation must be encouraged to return to the mainstream of national politics.

These were part of the decisions taken by the leaders at the end of a meeting, under the aegis “Egbe Iyipada Yoruba” and held in Abuja. Prominent Yoruba leaders from the six states of the zone were in attendance.

Present at the meeting were former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George; Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim; National Secretary of the PDP, Professor Adewale Oladipo; National Auditor of the PDP, Adeyanju Adewole; Ondo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko; Chief Ishola Filani; Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun; former Speaker, House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; former Minister of works, Adeseye Ogunlewe; former Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel; Senator Iyiola Omisore; Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan; former Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade; and former Lagos State Deputy governor, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele among others.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 —53

Inspection of Osun election materials delayed by APC, PDP disagreement

By Gbenga Olarinoye

D

ISAGREEMENT over video recording of the inspection of electoral materials used in the August 9 governorship election in Osun State, yesterday, disrupted the inspection as All Progressives Congress, APC, counsels and its Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, counterpart, clashed for the second day running at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Osogbo.

The two parties were granted permission by Osun State Election Tribunal to inspect the election materials used during the last governorship election in the state.

Their lawyers Tuesday almost resorted to physical combat and disrupted the planned inspection of the materials for several hours before the intervention of the INEC officials.

Yesterday’s exercise was disrupted following disagreement between counsels to PDP, Mr. Kehinde Adesiyan and APC Mr. Daud Akinloye.

While APC counsel insisted that the inspection exercise must be recorded, the PDP counsel claiming the recording might be used mischievously on Osun State owned television station by APC.

In an attempt to resolve the matter, INEC offered to do the video recording of the exercise and give the video tape to any interested party.

But APC’s counsel rejected the offer, saying such recording by INEC might be doctored or edited.

The two lawyers were almost at each other throat only the intervention of security men prevented them from exchanging blows.

The incident brought the inspection to a halt and did not continue at the time of this report.

Speaking on the decision of the APC and Aregbesola to have a video recording of the inspection, Akinloye said it was part of strategy to prevent PDP from voiding the ballot papers on the pretext of the inspection.

But Adesiyan claimed the APC was deliberating slowing down the process , saying “the APC lawyers

were deliberating wasting time because they want to slow us down and prevent us from progressing.”

Speaking on the development, the State Secretary of PDP, Prince Bola Ajao, who was also part of the inspection team, claimed APC did not seek an approval to have a video recording from the tribunal and that the issue of recording was not in the order granted by the tribunal.

ADDRESS: Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, addressing workers, who trooped out en masse to rejoice with him after his victory for second term in office. With him are: Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam (2nd left); Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Owoeye (left); Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, and others, at Governor's Office, Abere, Osun State, yesterday.

Ebola: OAU female student tests negative

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO —After the initial scare yesterday, the female OAU student who was rushed to Lagos quarantine center, has tested negative .

She was said to have been

one of those under observation in Port Harcourt but tested negative .She then came back to school and fell ill yesterday (Tuesday),also exhibited symptoms which bore resemblance to Ebola infection.

She then confessed she was

in contact with the Port Harcourt doctor .She was rushed to the Lagos quarantine center where the tests were conducted.

The student was evacuated from the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, OAUTHC, IleIfe, where she was receiving

treatment to Lagos, Tuesday, night for clinical analysis of her sicknesses.

The student took ill and was rushed to the university hospital where she was said to have confessed that she had contact with EVD victim in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, said that the university was calm, adding that the management was awaiting the result of the screening on the final year student of the university.

Olanrewaju maintained that the case of EVD was yet to be established in the university until the "World Health Organisation WHO and other health bodies which carried out various test in Lagos gives the report on the girl to determine whether it is Ebola or not."

Fashola pays condolence visit to Dimgba Igwe’s family

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

G

OVERNOR B A B AT U N D E Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, paid a condolence visit to the family of late frontline journalist and Vice Chairman of The Sun Newspapers, Mr. Dimbga Igwe.

Dimgba, who was also Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, was knocked down by a yet-tobe indentified hit-and-run driver while jogging around his neighbourhood, Saturday morning.

He was thereafter rushed to a hospital where he later died at the age of 58.

Fashola was accompanied on the visit to the deceased‘s Okota home by some of his aides, including Mr. Hakeem Bello, his Special Adviser on Media.

They were received by the wife of the deceased, Obioma, his children, and other family members.

The governor condoled with the family on the loss of their patriarch and prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul.

Late Osogbo Chief Imam buried

By Gbenga Ariyibi

O

SOGBO — THE remains of the President General of League of Imams and Alfas in the South-West including Edo and Delta states,Sheikh Mustapha Ajisafe, who died Monday were yesterday interred at his family house in Arikalamu area of Osogbo, capital of Osun State.

The Chief Imam of Ibadan-land, Sheik Haroon Suara led the janasa prayers for the respose of the soul of late Ajisafe, at the Osogbo City Stadium at about 10:50 am.

Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, his Deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye Tomori and the Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Najeem Salam were among the dignitaries that attended the ceremony.

Ajisafe was also the Chief Imam in Osogboland during his lifetime.

54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Sapele people adopts Jonathan, Obuh for 2015

Oshiomhole assures security operatives of support

By Simon Ebegbulem

By Festus Ahon

U

GHELLI—AHEAD of the 2015 general elections, the people of Sapele, Delta State, have adopted President Goodluck Jonathan and Mr Tony Obuh as their presidential and governorship candidates respectively.

Moving a motion for their adoption at a meeting of Delta United for Tony Obuh hosted by the member representing Sapele in the state House of Assembly, Chief Monday Igbuya, the member representing Uvwie constituency in the state House of Assembly, Mr Efe Ofobruku, said President Jonathan and Mr. Obuh have the requisite qualifications and experience to be entrusted with the office of the president and governor respectively.

Justifying the motion, which was unanimously adopted, Ofobruku said the President and Obuh are marketable candidates. He expressed the resolve of the group to work for their victories in the 2015 elections.

B

ENIN CITY— GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has assured security agencies in the state of continuous support and cooperation in combating crime in the state. The governor gave the assurance, yesterday, when he received the new AIG Zone 5, Mr. Musa Daura at Government House, Benin City.

Oshiomhole said “We appreciate that nothing is possible without security. Maybe in the distant past, not many Nigerians understood the issue of security as something that is a precondition for every other thing you want to do. Over the past few years, more and more Nigerians have come to recognise that without security, there can be no peace.

So, it is clear that we all need to contribute our quota by supporting security agencies to maintain law and order in our state. So, I want to assure you that you can take our support for granted. In any way and matter you want to consult with us, feel free and if we have any, we will not hesitate to reach out to you.”

Oshiomhole, who acknowledged the efforts of security agencies in the state, said “Let me use this opportunity to also thank the commissioner of police as well as his officers and

men for their contributions in making Edo a relatively safer place compared to other SouthSouth states. We have had our fair share of crime and criminality but we also have enough evidence that criminals have paid heavy tolls as a result of the efforts of the Police and other security agencies.”

Earlier, the New AIG, Zone 5, Musa Daura said he was at Government House to inform the governor of his recent posting to the state as the new AIG, Zone 5.

He said, “Before coming here, I was briefed by the CP on how you have assisted the security agencies generally in fighting crime in the state. There is no way

we can achieve peace and order without the assistance and cooperation of the state government. You have done a lot and I have no doubt in my mind that you will continue. I was going round this week and I saw a lot of achievements made by your aministration and I have no doubt that you are equal to the task.”

Okubor seeks end to feud between oil and gas stakeholders

T

HE Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba, Dr. Festus Okubor, has proposed the concept of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, Hostcom partnership as panacea to end the feud between government, oil companies and host communities where oil and gas are explored.

He gave the advice when executive members of Hostcom, Delta State chapter visited him at his Boji-Boji, Owa, Agbor home to thank him for the supportive role he played in building bridge between them, oil companies and the Delta State Government.

Okubor said that the time has come for these bodies to establish a relationship that will help achieve sustainable development of the oil industry and improve the peoples’ economic base.

He said,“I believe that the

concept of hosting partners must be explored for lasting peace for the benefit of all stakeholders in our state and the oil industry. This concept envisages that the oil companies, the government and the communities where the economic activities are taking place must readjust their mindsets, and begin to see themselves as partners in the same business. Government must see itself as a partner in the business because it is from that business that it gets its funds to fund services for her people. The oil companies must see themselves as partners because it is from the activities in our state that they make their profits for their shareholders and their workers. The communities must therefore, necessarily see themselves as partners. Partners that will benefit from the profits of

the business, partners who, because of the benefits they will get from the profits of the business will see the need for them to protect the business.”

Earlier, Chairman of the state Hostcom, Dr. Peter Egedegbe, said he and his colleagues came to Okubor to show appreciation for his tenacity of purpose to the oil and gas producing communities of Nigeria, Delta State chapter.

He said, “You have demonstrated your dexterity to support the course of the Hostcom which happened to be the life wire of the growth of the economy of the state and, indeed our country, Nigeria. We have no doubt that when people like you are in power, you will contribute meaningfully to the upliftment of the oil and gas producing communities whose issues should be placed on the priority list of the state.”

Magege dedicates award to Uduaghan

C

HAIRMAN of Delta State Waste Management Board, Chief Olori Magege, has dedicated the Best Board Chairman of the year award given him to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State.

Magege who spoke while receiving the award presented to him by Mr. Oshiomah Austin on behalf of Nigeria Print Journalism Development Organisation in his office, thanked God for providing him with the skill and know-how as well as Governor Uduaghan

for appointing him to serve the board.

Said Magege: “I thank my boss, Dr. Uduaghan, who provided me with the platform to serve our people that invariably has led to this award. If I was not made the chairman of the Board in the first place, the issue of being the best chairman would not have arisen.

So, I accept this award on his behalf. It is not for Olori Magege.

This award is for Dr. Uduaghan, whose mandate I am executing as the chairman, Delta State Waste Management Board.”

NTI boss advocates civic education

D

IRECTOR-General of the National Teachers Institute, Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu, has called for urgent and sustained move towards promoting socioeconomic skills through social studies and civic education in the country.

Sharehu who made the call at the 2014 Social Studies and Civic Educators Association of Nigeria, SOSCEAN, national annual conference at the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, noted that social studies and civic education will provide the much-needed new direction which the country yearns for her transformation drive towards the top 20 world economies in 2020.

The director general who chaired the conference said that

as a nation, Nigerians need to renew their commitment and redouble their efforts in assisting the government to realise her set goals. He tasked experts at the conference to re-orientate Nigerian citizens who will be proud of their country and willing to contribute to its overall development so that it will take a centre stage in the comity of nations.

The conference brought together members of the academia, legislators, experts in the education sector and students of social and civic education. The conference is expected to last for three days with participants lined up for presentation, discussion and developing of curriculum for the newly introduced course.

From left— BOWEN Ward Chairman, Mr. Tosan Ebiyon, Dr. Meyiwa Erewa, and Mr. Hope George, Hon. Ojere Edeyibo at a meeting of Bowen Ward 6 stakeholders, Warri South Local Government Area.

Bayelsa commissioner advises youths on employment

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—IN a bid to break the over dependence on government for employment, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, has charged youths in the state to take advantage of programmes sponsored by government at both state and federal levels to acquire skills that will make them self reliant as no government can employ all its citizens.

Bayelsa is a predominantly civil servant state with government as the highest employer of labour.

Dr. Tuodolo, made the appeal,

yesterday, while receiving the state's first female film director, Miss Ebikoli Bestman, alongside three other male directors, who successfully completed their training programme at the Del York Film Academy.

The commissioner, who described the entertainment industry as highly lucrative lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for the fund provided the sector and the support of the state governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, that saw four indigenes of the state successfully complete their training programme.

Tuodolo, who noted that the

state has been short-changed in the film industry, challenged the graduates to change the scenario by producing films with local content and emphasised the ambition of the state government to turn Bayelsa into a film making destination.

He said Bayelsa has the longest coastline, beaches, lakes/creeks, as well as cultural relics and artifacts that depict the best aesthetic destination yet unutilized for film/movie locations,” adding that they should explore the state’s rich cultural heritage, diversity and destinations to excel in their chosen profession.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014—55

Jonathan orders removal of #Bring Back Jonathan banners zAPC describes directive as good first step

By Ben Agande

A

BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has directed that the #Bring Back Jonathan 2015 signs and banners around Abuja which he and many Nigerians be brought down immediately.

This came as All Progressives Congress, APC, in its reaction, described the President’s directive as a good first step.

The #BringBack Jonathan 2015 hash tag has provoked national and international outrage as it is seen as unfair imitation of the popular #BringBackOurGirls which was launched by some activists to campaign for the release of the over 200 girls abducted at Chibok, Borno State,

by Boko Haram.

But a statement yesterday by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, read: “President Jonathan wholly shares the widely expressed view that the signs which were put up without his knowledge or approval are a highly insensitive parody of the #Bring Back Our Girls hash tag.

“While President Jonathan appreciates the enthusiastic show of support for his administration by a broad range of stakeholders, he condemns the #Bring Back Jonathan 2015 signs which appear to make light of the very serious national and global concern for the abducted Chibok girls.

“The President assures all Nigerians and the international community that his administration remains fully engaged with efforts to rescue the abducted girls and that he will not knowingly promote any actions that will fly in the face of the seriousness of their plight and the anguish of their families.”

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has described as a good first step the order by President Goodluck Jonathan for the removal of the #BringBackJonathan, which is a mockery of the #BringBackOurGirls hash tag that had helped to call global

attention to the fate of the over 200 girls abducted by Boko Haram almost five months ago and remained in captivity.

In a statement in London, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party, however, said the President made a mockery of his administration and his country by waiting for an international condemnation of the shameless and brazen usurpation of the #BringBackOurGirls hash tag before issuing the directive for it to stop.

"Had the US newspaper, Washington Post, not written a stinging editorial skewing the Jonathan Administration for appropriating the BringBackOurGirls hash tag for his re-election, the Administration would have continued its brazenness without regards to the feelings of the parents of the girls or indeed the Nigerian people.

"Again, the administration has waited for a global opprobrium before doing what is right. Recall that it took an international media campaign before the Jonathan administration acknowledged, after all of 19 days, that the Chibok girls were missing in the first instance.

"Recall also that it took a 17-

year-old, Yousafzai Malala, to make the President realise that he should meet with the parents of the girls, even if he eventually insulted the grieving parents by inviting them to Abuja instead of going to visit them in their abode? It is important that we don’t make a mockery of our own people, so that we don’t become objects of international mockery,’’ it said.

APC said belated as the President’s directive on #BringBackJonathan hash tag was, it was a good first step that must be quickly followed by another directive ordering the socalled Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, to immediately stop its rallies that have offended the sensibilities and intelligence of Nigerians.

The party said the noisy and sycophantic rallies being held across the nation, ostensibly to collect signatures from Nigerians urging President Jonathan to seek re-election, contrast with the challenges currently facing the nation, which is being dismembered town by town by the terrorist group Boko Haram. ‘’Nigeria is in a state of war, a state of anarchy, a state of loss never witnessed since the end of the unfortunate civil war in 1970.

By Henry Umoru

Terrorists are capturing towns after towns and hoisting their flags over the seized territories, Our troops are engaged in an epic battle to ward off the terrorists.

Our people are being daily slaughtered by the marauding terrorists. And Ebola is very much here with us. ‘’Therefore, this cannot be the time for festivities and celebrations, the type being orchestrated by the government under the TAN banner. The rallies insult the troops who are battling Boko Haram. The rallies insult Nigerians who are fervently praying for the unity of the nation in the face of the madness by the marauders. The rallies offend the sensibilities of the families of our citizens who are being mowed down daily by Boko Haram. They must stop forthwith,’’ it said.

APC wondered whether the organisers of the rallies and those who have been mocking the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners know that Nigerians are not fools, hence can see the deceit, the callousness and the insensitivity of the Jonathan administration in secretly funding the rallies and the anti-BringBackOurGirls campaigns.

B U JA —S E N AT E President, Senator David Mark, said yesterday, that he would use every available means to ensure that more states were created to correct the imbalance in the polity.

Specifically, Senator Mark assured his Idoma kinsmen of

BUJA — MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed, has paid over N600 million to indigenous contractors for work done this year.

Consequently, the Association of Indigenous Contractors of FCT doing business with the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, expressed appreciation to Minister for the regular payment of contract bills.

In a statement, yesterday, by their Chairman, Chief Emma J. Ashikwe, the Association also commended the Minister for the bold steps taken to solve the perennial housing problem in the FCT through the introduction of land swap and social housing programmes.

According to Ashikwe, “the Nigerian contractors have been paid over N600 million as mature bills by the FCTA under the Minister this year and the association has never had it this good.”

…says it’s not for scheme

By Caleb Ayansina

A

DONATION: Engr. Abdullahi Sule,MD, Dangote Sugar (2nd left), presenting car keys to Dr. Paul Orhii,DG, NAFDAC (2nd left); Mr. Murtala Zubair, HR/Admin, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc (right); Alhaji Yusuf Hashim Ubale, Director, Narcortics and Controlled Substance, NAFDAC (left), and others, during Dangote Sugar's donation of four Pick-Up vehicles to NAFDAC, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

.Says he'll soon declare his political ambition A

A

NYSC speaks on N4,000 fee for printing call-up letters

For balance, I’ll ensure more states are created— MARK

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

FCT minister pays N600m to indigenous contractors

Benue State that he would use his last breath to ensure that Apa State was created from the present Benue State.

Mark, who gave the assurance when four members of the House of Representatives and nine chairmen of local government councils from Benue South senatorial district visited him in Abuja, said it was the desire of most Nigerians to

have additional states to correct the imbalance and give every Nigerian a sense of belonging in the system.

He said it was the legitimate demand of the agitators, adding that even if it took his last breath, he would pursue the creation of the state.

“I will put in my last breath to ensure the creation of Apa State for my people,” the Senate

President vowed.

Responding to the call by his constituents to contest the 2015 senatorial seat the fifth time, Senator Mark told his people: “I am a loyal, faithful and dedicated party man; I will only make my intention known when the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, releases the guidelines and programme for the elections.”

BUJA — NATIONAL Youth Service Corps, NYSC, yesterday, explained that the N4,000 fee imposed on prospective corps members for printing of call-up letters on-line was for services and infrastructure to be deployed by the collaborating firm.

Director General of NYSC, Brig-General Jonhson Olawumi, said the money was neither for the scheme nor the corps producing institutions as it was being alleged by some quarters.

NYSC, in a bid to improve its operations in line with global cutting-edge technology, went into partnership with a private company, Messrs.

SIDMACH Technologies Nigeria Limited, for the full computerisation of the mobilisation process.

56 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 57

brought on Nigerians. To Ezeigbo, the wanton act of killing the defenceless is akin to the brutal pogrom that precipitated the civil war.

On the overall evaluation of Ezeigbo and this collection, we could see that the poet is a craftsman who is aware of the overall demands of poetry. She thus writes under the influence of her society and artistic medium to balance form and content.

Aesthetic appeals in contemporary Nigerian poetry

By JOHN UWA

A

KACHI Adimora-Ezeigbo is a contemporary African writer of Nigerian extraction whose fictive oeuvre does not only adumbrate contemporary feminist issues, but also raises a finger of protest in the theory and practice of feminism in Africa and the rest of the world. Her “accommodationist” ideology which provides an alternative

established poets like Tanure Ojaide, Odia Ofeimun, Niyi Osundare and Tayo Olafioye have variously received critical reception.

A semiotic analysis of the Dancing Masks renders a spectacle of people, grappling with floods of socio-political aberrations that are masked in hope and humour, signified by two dancing masks on the front

Ezeigbo presents us with a mask behind which most people live, and “behind which certain human tendencies are disguised ideological canvas for the criticism of African feminist fiction strikes my critical curiosity; but not in the same way that this collection (Dancing Mask) elicits some sort of curiosity to reveal that which the “dancing mask” conceals.

In Dancing Masks, Ezeigbo reveals her maturity from her first three collections of poetry by presenting a superior sociopolitical vision for which

B/Haram: country

Bamaiyi’s

By Prisca Sam-Duru

H

cover page of the collection.

Ezeigbo presents us with a mask behind which most people live, and “behind which certain human tendencies are disguised”.

The collection is divided into five parts, and each deals with distinct contemporary issues in Nigeria. The first section “Signs of the Times” which contains nineteen poems deals with the themes of nature, woman, sex,

IS state, Adamawa, is boiling upon a volcano ignited by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgency. And rather than sit down and wallow in the pool of despondency or perhaps join the pack of unpatriotic citizens helping to drown Nigeria, Agoso Arnobius Huladeino Bamaiyi well known as Dr Arnobb, takes to the task of publishing books which he believes will help in delivering his people from total annihilation.

Arnobb is a pastor, Theologian, counsellor, motivator, life couch and on-air personality who has so much in his kitty including Doctor of Science (Dsc) in Spirituotherapy and Psycho-theology.

Recently, he came out with three books; 'Numan My Numan', a collection of poems that touches various subjects centred on Bamaiyi’s beloved home town, Numan, the Bwatiye people of Adamawa State; 'All For Love', which chronicles a journey of love like none other, showing how love can change lives for good and bring expectations to fruition; and 'The Dream', a captivating piece written as the author’s dream for his people- the tough and courageous Bwatiye people. He desires to see real development in the area.

Explaining what informed the chosen subjects, Bamaiyi said, “I wrote the book to encourage the minorities in Nigeria so they could take their destinies into their hands and overcome their challenges. I’m from a minority tribe and I know the challenges

love

echo

prostitution, exploitation, sexual violence, corruption, love etc. In this section, Ezeigbo seems to be moved by a miscellany of poetic muse which allows her to peck on various contemporary issues of our society from environmental pollution to other social aberrations.

In “Weird world” and “Winter whiplash” Ezeigbo exhibits her romantic tendencies in dealing with the changing manifestation of nature; but unlike the “nature” poets who praise the beauty of nature, Ezeigbo goes a step further to question the disaster that is wrought by nature, especially the pollution that “uncoils like deadly snake”.

Using seven irregular verses in conformity with the free verse tradition in “News flash”, this emergent poetic voice takes a poignant look at governance and exploitation. The word “Ajabu” and the words “Ghana-must-gobag factory” in the fifth verse are images or symbols which help in creating some sort of imaginative or mental pictures of the high level of financial

for

Bwatiye,

those from the minorities are facing. I’m not trying to create a difference between minority and majority but we have unique challenges that we face every day.”

This is to reach out to this minority tribes especially in the north east which is where I do most of my works now. Everything in the books appeal to everyone in Nigeria and they are a step further to my motivational programmes.”

“I saw a need to encourage •Bamaiyi individuals, communities and tribes to try and be empowered well as other states, is a crucial and do something great with their area the government has to work lives instead of sitting down on. Right from late 1970s we saw waiting for the government, even the present security situation though I know that the coming . But security forces didn’t government has a lot to do. We do anything. We heard clerics talk cannot wait forever for the about Jihad and encouraged government otherwise, we will faithfuls to fight for their rights. it wait indefinitely. Obviously, the was not checked, now we government cannot do everything unfortunately have a generation so we need to get up and do willing to further that course. something meaningful.”

Government should face reality, communities are not helping Inspirational matters by harbouring books insurgents.”

He however corrected the The Founder and president of notion that unemployment was Harvestfield Ministries the monster that birthed Boko Incorporated who writes poems, haram, pointing out that most short stories, pamphlets and insurgents gave up their jobs for faith-based instructional and violence. inspirational books, believes that As a way forward, Arnobb education is necessary in helping suggests that “The unemployed curb the confusion ravaging should find out what they are Adamawa State. good at, get training in it and stay According to him, government with it, University degrees are not should build adequate helping us especially with the infrastructure for education to scarcity of jobs. Talents bring thrive , train teachers, give us more money than university steady power supply which will degrees, so youths should not help grow our industries. Most sit back and wait for the importantly, addressing the government.” security situation in Adamawa as

Dancing Mask by Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo published by Kraft Books, pages 140, 2014.

misappropriation and corruption that is being practised at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by elites and the political class.

The scourge of kidnapping which has become a national monster in Nigeria has placed both security and civilians alike at red alert without much being said about those unholy actions that have sparked off these threatening reactions.

The last section gives tribute to the fallen, which have exhibited unflinching courage in the pursuit of justice before embarking on a permanent absence from earthly activities.

One of such is Odumegwu Ojukwu, the late Biafran leader.

However, it is the fourth section which she composed in pidgin that appears most poignant, hilarious and expressive. In “I no fear boko haram” she paints a panoramic picture of the mortal fear and destruction that the bestial activities of the sect has

Poetic diction She presents a collection in which the themes are suggested by the society and weaved by her artistic skills. Good poetry cannot do without poetic diction, musicality, theme and subject matter, style and technique.

Ezeigbo does not only show that she is conversant with, and aware of these poetic elements, she also suggests a broad frame work for the evaluation of poetry through her experiment with pidgin, cultural imports and the Japanese form.

In this collection, Ezeigbo reactivates an African evaluative consciousness which seems to be relegated in the evaluation of poetry.

Though these achievements alone cannot be the yardstick by which we judge aesthetic appeals, they have however fertilised the ground on which Ezeigbo can lay legitimate claim to fame in the criticism of contemporary Nigerian poetry.

Author Mumuni rolls out 300 free books on terrorism

By ANOZIE EGOLE

I

N line with commemorating the 13th anniversary of terrorist attack in Untied States

by Osama Biun Laden, an Astute politician and prolific writer, Abayomi Nurain Mumuni has completed plans to roll out notless-than 300 copies of his book, entitled; Global Terrorism and Its Effects on Humanity for free in the United States of America.

Abayomi Mumuni who made this disclosure while addressing newsmen recently in Lagos, strongly believes that the matters raised in the book would not only help in the fight against terrorism, but provide a long-lasting solution to the scourge that has claimed the lives of many innocent people and destruction of properties.

The former gubernatorial candidate of Lagos state under, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 general elections said, “There is no doubt that terrorism, a man inflicted malignant epidemic, is ravaging humanity at an alarming rate, and the United States is a victim country. In our present eyes, terrorist groups attacked United States in 2001, killings thousands of innocent lives, this week (September 11) marks 13th anniversary of the bombings.

I believe the best way to show

support in the fight against terrorism, which is still the biggest threat to America, is to come up with an intellectual work of this nature, and roll out, free copies to the States.” he said.

According to him, the book provides an educated, well researched primer on all aspects of terrorism, including its causes, recruitment tactics, methods, and terrorists’ agendas, and also how to fight and end the costly war on terrorism. “There have been different discussions, debates and issues bothering on Global Terrorism in the 21st century world, none has been able to present an overview of its origin, types, justification, flight or fight and its effects on humanity as captured in this book. That’s why I have divided it into about 7 chapters for everybody, irrespective of nationality or race,”.

Abayomi Nurain Mumuni

58 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 59

British leaders battle to save United Kingdom T

HE British political establishment descended on Scotland yesterday to plead for a united Kingdom, after polls suggested the oncefanciful notion of Scots voting to break from Britain has become a real possibility in next week’s referendum.

The leaders of the three main London-based parties all of them unpopular in Scotland wooed skeptical Scottish voters with the fervor of a rejected lover. But some Scots seemed unmoved, and increasingly confident independence leader Alex Salmond accused his opponents of succumbing to panic.

In a rare display of crossparty unity, Prime Minister David Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband and Liberal Democrat chief Nick Clegg all pulled out of a weekly House of Commons question session to make a campaign dash to Scotland, as polls indicated the two sides are neck-and-neck ahead of the Sept. 18 referendum.

Cameron said Scottish independence would break his heart, in a

personal plea aimed at preserving the 307-yearold Anglo-Scottish union and preventing himself from going down in history as the last prime minister of Great Britain. He is likely to face pressure from his Conservative Party to step down if Scots vote to secede.

“I would be heartbroken ... if this family of nations is torn apart,” Cameron

Oscar Pistorius knows fate today

I

T has been called the “trial of the century” and elicited headlines such as “Bladerunner turned Gunrunner”.

Now, 18 months after Oscar Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, we are about to find out what the judge believes happened that Valentine Day’s morning.

South Africa has no jury system so Judge Thokozile Masipa will decide on the verdicts herself with the help of two assessors.

It is a keenly awaited

Americans feel less secure ahead of 9/11 anniversary

O

N the eve of the 13th anniversary of 9/11, almost half of Americans feel less safe than they did before the attacks, a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds.

According to the poll conducted Sept. 3-7, 47 percent of 1,000 registered voters surveyed said the country is less safe than before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. That’s more than twice the level of fear among Americans a year after the attacks, when 20 percent said the country was less safe, and an increase of 19 percentage points from last year.

And 26 percent of Americans now believe the nation is safer than before 9/11. (Twenty-six percent said they feel about as safe.) The poll comes after the beheadings of a pair of American journalists at the hands of Islamic State militants, and ahead of President Barack Obama’s prime-time address to the nation on Wednesday night, when he is expected to lay out the U.S. plan to combat extremists in Syria and Iraq .

According to the poll, 61

told an invited audience at the Edinburgh headquarters of the Scottish Widows insurance firm.

While Cameron has ordered the blue-andwhite Scottish flag to be flown over his office at No. 10 Downing Street until the vote, his critics noted that he did not risk speaking before an uninvited audience of Scots on the street.

percent of American voters support the United States taking military action against IS, the terrorist group also known as ISIS and ISIL, which wants to establish an Islamic state in Syria and Iraq. Thirteen percent believe such action is not in the United States of interest, while 24 percent said they don•ft know enough to have an opinion.

ruling on a trial which has held most of South Africa and many millions who have followed it on live television across the globe - in thrall.

Will she rule that he was, as the prosecution has suggested, a jealous, rich man who stormed down his bedroom corridor after his frightened girlfriend and deliberately shot her through the toilet door in an angry tantrum?

Or will she go with the defence’s case, that he was a terrified, emotionally immature young man who felt excessively vulnerable due to his disability and fired his gun because he believed they were in danger?

The world-renowned athlete, who achieved global recognition by becoming the first amputee to run in both the Olympics and Paralympics, will find out along with everyone else over the next two days.

Judge Masipa will go through the four charges facing Oscar Pistorius, explaining how she’s reached her decision.

France ready to strike ISIS

F

RANCE said yesterday it would take part in military air action against Islamic State militants in Iraq if necessary, but it said any action it takes against the group in Syria would take a different form.

“In Iraq ... we will take part in military air action if necessary. The situation in Syria is different,” Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in a speech at the Sciences Po academy in Paris.

“Some in the media say France is ready to act in Iraq, but not Syria. No! We must act in both cases, but not with the same modalities,” he said, according to a copy of his

speech sent to Reuters.

The United States is building a military, political and financial coalition to defeat the militants controlling parts of Iraq and Syria.

As part of those efforts, French President Francois Hollande and Fabius will travel to Baghdad on Friday ahead of a conference of regional and international powers in Paris on Monday to coordinate efforts to tackle Islamic State.

“An international mobilization is necessary to respond to this transnational danger that can reach our territory,” Fabius said.

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 61

62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

AFCON 2015 qualifiers... AFCON 2015 qualifiers

DR Congo sweep aside Sierra Leone D

EMOCRATIC Re public of Congo got their first points of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations group qualifiers after securing a 2-0 victory over Sierra Leone.

The match had been moved from Sierra Leone to Lubumbashi because of fears over the spread of the Ebola virus and DR Congo made the most of playing an away fixture in their own country.

Firmin Mubele scored DR Congo’s opener and Jeremy Bokila doubled his side’s advantage, which proved enough to give them a much-needed win after they lost their opener at home to Cameroon last weekend.

The Leone Stars, however, are rooted to the bottom of Group D following two consecutive defeats.

Ernest Ufele loses cancer battle

H

CELEBRATION .... DR Congo player celebrates after beating Sierra Leone.

Ethiopia go down to Malawi

T

WO goals from Atusaye Nyondo helped Malawi to a 3-2 win over Ethiopia in their Africa Nations Cup Qualifier in Group F. The win takes Malawi to three points in the group after they had lost 2-0 to Mali in their opening game on the weekend while Ethiopia lost 2-1 to Algeria, meaning they stay on zero points.

University of Pretoria striker Nyondo struck in the 16th and 66th minutes while Frank Banda netted after 63 minutes.

Meanwhile Bidvest Wits forward Getaneh Kebede netted in the 44th minute for Ethiopia and Yussuf Saleh got their second in the 90th.

E was so young that they called him School Boy International when he became a star footballer right from his school days at Ziston Ozubulu Grammar School in now Anambra State.

Ernest Ufele was so good a defender that he earned a shirt at the famous Port Hacourt Red Devils and was in the team that won the Challenge Cup in 1962.

He later played for ECN of Lagos before moving to Enugu Rangers at the end of the Civil War. One of his memorable goals was scored against Mehela of Egypt in the African Champions League in the 1970s.

He overlapped to the centre of the field and on seeing that the goal keeper was not well positioned he lobbed the ball from almost the centre of the field and it sailed into the net. It was a goal that reduced the tally to 3-1 in favour of the Egyptian side who eventually lost 3-0 in Enugu and were eliminated from the continent.

Ernest Ufele died in India on Monday. He suffered prostrate cancer. He was survived by wife and children.

Suarez set for El Clasico comeback

B JOYFUL... Malawian players in joyous mood after their victory.

Walcott backs Welbeck to shine for Arsenal

D

ANNY Welbeck will be a better player for Arsenal than he was for Manchester United, his new Gunners teammate Theo Walcott has said.

Welbeck, 23, joined the Gunners from United in

a 16 million-pound deal on transfer deadline day.

He scored nine Premier League goals last season — and Walcott said he believed he would improve on that this year.

“He’s going to be better for us than he was at Man United, definitely,” the forward told Arsenal’s official website. “He’ll get more opportunities and he’s got a point to prove.

“I know he’s worked hard and he’s still very young, and I think the boss will enjoy working with him.

ARCELONA’S Uruguay forward Luis Suarez can make his debut in the La Liga ‘Clasico’ at Real Madrid on October 25, the day after a FIFA ban for biting an opponent at the World Cup ends.

Spain’s professional league (LFP) had earlier confirmed the date of the game, the first meeting of the bitter rivals since Real beat Barca 1-0 in last season’s King’s Cup final.

“Luis Su will be able to play in the ‘Clasico’ at the Santiago Bernabeu on Oct. 25,” Barcelona said on their web-

site.

“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed to FC Barcelona that the Uruguayan forward’s sanction expires the day before,” they added.

•Suarez

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 — 63

Congo hit Sudan twice!

Burkina Faso

T

HE Red Devils of Congo shot to the top of Group A of the AFCON qualifiers after they beat Sudan 2-0 at the Stade Municipal in Pointe Noire on Wednesday.

Congo now have six points after they stunned African champions Nigeria 3-2 in Calabar at the weekend.

Bulgaria-based midfielder Fode Dore gave Congo the lead after four minutes.

Prince Oniangue, who scored in Nigeria on Saturday, made the game safe for Congo in stoppage time with a second goal.

Next month they will take on South Africa both at home and away.

They will welcome Bafana to Pointe Noire on October 11 and four days later, they will be in South Africa.

Interestingly, Congo were reinstated in the qualifiers for Morocco 2015 only after Rwanda were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player in the previous round of the qualifying series.

NPL resumes!

T

HE Nigeria league will resume on Sunday after the country’s referees called off a boycott.

The League Management Company (LMC) announced the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) have declared they are ready to resume officiating two weeks after they announced the boycott from the league.

“The NPFL will resume this Sunday, September 14. The Nigeria Referees Association says it is now ready to work now that the rightful leaders of the NFF have resumed in their office.” LMC tweeted.

Pillars top the 20-team championship with 43 points after 25 rounds.

•Irabor

FLOORED . . . Super Eagles’ midfielder John Mikel Obi (C) falls next to South Africa’s defender Thabo Matlaba (L) and midfielder Sibusiso Vilakazi (R) during their AFCON 2015 qualifying match in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo:AFP

Eagles Continues from BP Parading the likes of Austin Ejide, Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Godfrey Oboabona, Elderson Echiejile, Ogenyi Onazi, John Obi Mikel, Nosa Igiebor, Ahmed Musa, Gbolahan Salami and Emmanuel Emenike, Coach Keshi must have thought that his side were going to continue his winning run against the Bafana Bafana.

With the likes of Senzo Meyiwa, Anele Ngcongca, Erick Mathoho, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Thabo Matlaba, Mandla Masango and two-goal hero against Sudan, Sibusiso Vilakazi in his squad, Coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba side, rattled the Eagles for most period of the match but failed to score.

South Africa pegged the Eagles back in their own yard for most of the first half. th In the 16 minute, South Africa almost made a breakthrough as Oupa Manyisa caused all sorts of problems but was crowded out by the Nigerian defenders.

With the hosts having the upper-hand, Nigeria attempted to claw their way back into the game as goalkeeper Meyiwa was called into action to deny a corner kick which looked to be drifting in at the far post.

South Africa created their

AFCON 2015 qualifiers results

best attacking chances down the left flank but they were guilty of overelaborating, allowing the Nigerians to walk away with a point.

On 36 minutes, a good chance went begging for Eagles as Nosa Igiebor latched onto a poor headed clearance before setting himself to shoot from the edge of the box. However, he was unable to control his shot, smashing the ball way over the bar.

Two minutes later, Nigeria threatened again down the left flank, but Musa’s cross evaded everyone in the box before flying out for a goalkick.

Tempers flared in the centre of the pitch as John Obi Mikel and Thabo Matlaba squared up. Both escaped a booking, though, as the referee decided to turn a blind eye.

In the second half, both sides continued to waste chances with the Eagles coming out stronger in the

Congo South Africa Malawi Algeria Angola Lesotho S/Leone Cameroon Togo Uganda Mozambique Cape Verde Botswana Egypt

2 0 3 0 0 1 0 4 2 2 1 2 0 0

dying minutes. th In the 54 minute, Vilakazi forced a corner after playing the ball off the legs of a Nigerian defender. The ball was cleared only so far as Oupa Manyisa, who fired over from the edge of the box.

Nine minutes from the end of the game, the Eagles went agonisingly close to grabbing the winner as Musa sent a cross into the box from the right flank, but Osaguona’s goal-bound header was cleared off line

by Mathoho.

Lions Continues from BP nine minute into the second-half, curling N’Jie’s cross into the top corner to complete his brace.

N’Jie completed his double in the 76th minute, bringing down Aboubakar ’s cross with

his chest before firing an unstoppable volley into the back of the net.

The Elephants next Group D encounter is away at the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Cameroon will travel to Sierra Leone next month.

Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Mali B/Faso Gabon DR Congo Ivory Coast Ghana Guinea Niger Zambia Senegal Tunisia

0 0 2 0 3 1 2 1 3 0 1 1 2 1

Continues from BP tunities in the first half with Angola goalkeeper Dominique denying Alain Traore in the 6th minute, while Manucho was unable to get his header on target at the other end in the 31st minute.

The visitors eventually took the lead in the 43rd minute when Bance beat the goalkeeper with a low shot after he had been set up by Jonathan Zongo.

Paul Put’s men doubled their lead in the 49th minute when Pitroipa ran onto a lobbed pass from Traore before placing the ball pass the exposed Dominique.

Zongo and Bance then combined in the penalty area in the 58th minute before the latter squared the ball for Pitroipa to finish from close range.

Angola almost scored a late consolation in the 90th minute but Chara was denied by a brilliant save from Germain Sanou.

The result leaves Burkina Faso at the top of the group with six points from two matches, while Angola occupy last place with zero points.

Black Stars Continues from BP But the hosts were left heartbroken as Atsu settled the game in Ghana’s favour, boosting their hopes of qualifying for a competition they have won on four occasions.

Togo will have been keen to get back to winning ways after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Guinea in their opening match last Friday.

And Tchakala Tchanile’s men promptly made a superb start as Ayite capitalised on a defensive mistake from the visitors to find the net at the second time of asking after seeing his initial effort blocked by goalkeeper Stephen Adams.

Yet Togo’s lead lasted just 12 minutes, striker

Gyan levelling matters with a towering header into the bottom corner, before midfielder Agyemang-Badu completed the turnaround in the 34th minute.

The Udinese man was left unmarked by the Togo defence and made no mistake as he nodded home Abdul Rahman’s low cross at the near post.

Ghana held out for much of the second half with little difficulty, however, Adebayor set the stage for a frantic finale when he netted with a towering header.

But it was Atsu who had the final say, the 22year-old using his pace to break free from the defence, confidently slotting home to seal all three points for Ghana.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Lions devour Elephants •Cameroun 4 Cote d'Ivoire 1

C

AMEROON move top of their 2015 Afcon Qualifying Group following a convincing 4-1 win over Ivory Coast at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in the country’s

Nations Cup:

Eagles heighten fears ON THE RUN.........Bafana’s Sibusiso Vilakazi (L) beats Ogenyi Onazi during yesterday ’s A F C O N qualifier in Cape Town.

Photo: AFP

S/Africa Nigeria

0 0

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

L

AST February at the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa provided the best scene for Nigerian football as the Super Eagles were crowned kings of African football.

But 18 months after their triumph in South Africa, the story is a different one as the champions of Africa are steeped in a deep struggle to qualify for the next tournament in Morocco. They ended their match with South Africa 00 yesterday.

Continues on Page 63

capital of Yaoundé yesterday.

Vincent Aboubakar and Clinton N’Jie scored a brace apiece to register the Indomitable Lions second win from two qualifying games.

Cameroon opened the scoring through N’Jie in the 15th minute. The Lyon forward’s left footed strike took a deflection off an Ivorian defender before settling in the back of the net.

The visitors only took 10 minutes to level

matters. Fabrice Ondoa spilled Serge Aurier ’s cross into the path of Manchester City ace Yaya Toure , who made no mistake from close range.

Aboubakar restored the hosts lead in the 37th minute, running onto Maxim ChoupoMoting’s chip over the defensive line, before firing a low shot past Boubacar Barry.

The Porto for ward stretched the Lions lead Continues on Page 63

Burkina Faso hammer Angola 3 - 0

B

URKINA Faso in creased their lead at the top of Group C when they defeated Angola 3-0 in their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations encounter at the Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda yesterday.

Aristide Bance broke the deadlock in the first half and Jonathan Pitroipa added a double after the break as the Stallions coasted to a second straight win.

Both sides had oppor

Continues on Page 63

Black Stars beat Togo 3 - 2

C

HRISTIAN Atsu scored a late winner as Ghana claimed a dramatic first victory of Africa Cup of Nations qualification, beating Togo 32.

The winger, on loan at Everton from Premier League rivals Chelsea, hit home the winner five minutes from time to give Kwesi Appiah’s men victory in the Group E clash in Lome.

Having been held to a 1-1 draw by Uganda last Saturday, Ghana appeared set for further disappointment when Floyd Ayite put the hosts ahead after 12 minutes.

First-half goals from Asamoah Gyan and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu quickly turned things around for Ghana, only for Emmanuel Adebayor to seemingly rescue a point for Togo 13 minutes from Continues on Page 63

Congo hit Sudan twice! — Pg.63 QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Laud (6) 5 Deflect (6) 9 Troubled (5) 10 Sweetmeat (6) 11 Ruin (6) 12 Contradict (5) 14 Staunch (4) 17 Decay (3) 18 Leer (4) 20 Hell (5) 22 Generate (5) 23 Slandered (7) 24 Ease (5) 26 Hold-up (5) 29 Hero (4) 30 Wager (3) 32 Part (4) 33 Senior (5) 35 Botch (6) 36 Usual (6) 37 Pry (5) 38 Considered (6) 39 Required (6)

DOWN 1 Penalise (6) 2 Entertained (6) 3 Blackleg (4) 4 Consumer (5) 5 Liability (5) 6 Inactive (4) 7 Enmesh (6) 8 Named (6) 13 Sited (7) 15 Domesticated (5) 16 Decoration (5) 18 Command (5) 19 Lawful (5) 21 Gender (3) 22 Cot (3) 24 Teased (6) 25 Loll (6) 27 Appeared (6)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Harsh 7, Mantis 9, Jar Pod 12, Night 13, Loud 15, Ledge Repose 19, Stab 20, Melee 22, Tap Resided 27, Rat 28, Erase 31, Opus Gullet 35, Crate 37, Woke 38, Canoe Ear 41, Rap 42, Define 43, Stand.

10, 17, 24, 33, 39,

DOWN: 1, Emblem 2, Unfurl 31, Sip 4, Hang 5, Aries 6, Schnapps 8, Solo 11, Destitute 14, Deer 16, Dead 18, Peer 21, Elephant 23, Peel 25, Saga 26, Drew 29, Atomic 30, Eleven 32, Scorn 34, Lead 36, Read 40, Rep.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K

C M Y K

C M Y K

C M Y K